Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Recalls

Holiday Chocolate Bark Sold at Aldi Recalled amid Warning Products May Cause ‘Serious or Life-Threatening’ Symptoms

BEWARE, THE PRODUCT CONTAINS NUTS

Food allergies cause 2,000 hospitalizations and 150 deaths in the U.S. annually

Holiday chocolate sold at Aldi recalled - Choceur Cookie Butter Holiday Bark Choceur Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark

Holiday chocolate sold at Aldi stores across the U.S. have been recalled.

Silvestri Sweets Inc. announced a voluntary recall of its 5-ounce bags of Choceur-branded Holiday Barks sold at the stores, as it may contain “undeclared allergens,” according to a release from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA).

Silvestri Sweets Inc. said the recall was initiated after it was discovered that the Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark had been packaged in Cookie Butter Holiday Bark packages and vice versa. 

A subsequent investigation by the company indicated the problem may have been caused by a “temporary breakdown in the company’s production and packaging process.”

Due to the mixup, the company said its Choceur-branded Cookie Butter Holiday Bark may contain undeclared pecans. This means that anyone who may be allergic to pecans could have a “serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products.”

That product comes in a light blue packaging and shows a piece of the light-colored bark surrounded by holiday-inspired illustrations. At the top, the words, “Choceur Cookie Butter Holiday Bark” can be seen. The company noted that the bag had a best buy date of “05/2026,” printed on the back.

The company also noted that its Choceur-branded Pecan, Cranberry and Cinnamon Holiday Bark may contain undeclared wheat, and those who are allergic to it could also run the risk of having a “serious or life-threatening allergic reaction” if they consume the product. 

Those bags are a dark red color and have the words, “Choceur Pecan, Cranberry & Cinnamon Holiday Bark,” above a piece of light brown bark decorated with pecans and cranberries. The bag is framed with holiday decoration illustrations including pieces of cranberry and twigs. These bags have a best by date of “08/2026” printed on the back.

The company said that the products were distributed nationwide through Aldi grocery stores, and noted that as of Nov. 26, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this issue.

Customers who purchased the products are urged to discard them.

Melinda

Reference:

https://people.com/holiday-chocolate-bark-sold-at-aldi-recalled-due-to-undeclared-allergens-11870006

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Holiday · Men & Womens Health

Let’s Enjoy The Holiday Season With Music

Carrie’s voice is angelic and perfect for this song. Her range blows me away.

Vince Gill & Carrie Underwood – How Great Thou Art .. at the ACM “Girls Night Out” Awards

Melinda

Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Infectious Diease · Lyme Disease · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Tick Borne Illnesses

Are lone star ticks taking hold in California?

The lone star tick, notorious for spreading disease and causing a red meat allergy called alpha-gal syndrome, has long plagued the eastern United States.

Now, UC Davis researchers warn it may be edging closer to establishing itself in California.

Their study uncovered seventy-six lone star ticks reported across the state, including recent finds in the Bay Area and San Clemente. While field teams in 2024 and 2025 didn’t recover any during surveillance, climate models show coastal California offers prime conditions for the species.

Experts say the tick isn’t officially established yet, but the risk is real. With climate change and increased movement of animals and people, scientists caution that Californians should stay vigilant, check for ticks after outdoor activities, and report unusual sightings.

Click here to read the study in the journal Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.lymedisease.org/lone-star-ticks-california/

Celebrate Life · Cooking · DIY · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Spiced Wine Sachet Is A Cozy Beverage

This is a great hostess gift, great for parties, or makes an inexpensive gift for someone at the office.

You will need

Tea sachet/Cheesecloth

Spices

Dry red wine

Pot/Slow cooker

Orange slices

Honey/Sugar (optional)

To make

For a cozy beverage to have by your side, fill the tea sachet (or a square of cheesecloth) with cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and peppercorns to simmer in some wine. Or attach these sachets to a bottle of wine for a holiday gift.

To make spiced wine, pour a bottle of dry red wine into a pot or slow cooker, and place the sachet into the wine. Add a few orange slices and simmer on low, do not boil, for about 45 minutes. Sweeten the wine with a few tablespoons of honey or sugar, if desired.

Serve in mugs with garnishes like cinnamon sticks or star anise.

Melinda

Refernce:

Willow and Sage

Cooking · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Vanilla Chai Latte

This recipe sounds so good, I could use one right now!

Ingredients

2 black tea bags

2 cups full-fat coconut milk

1 tsp. raw honey

1 tsp. pure maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp ground cardamon

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

How to make

 Steep both tea bags in 1 cup of hot water for 5 minutes. Remove and discard

Meanwhile, warm the coconut milk in a small saucepan over medium-high heat to your discard bags

Pour the warm milk into a high-powered blender and add the brewed tea, honey, maple syrup, cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, and vanilla extract. Blend until the latte is combined and slightly frothy, about 1 minute

Pour into two cups and enjoy.

Melinda

Reference:

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort.

 Repost

 

Children · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Internet Good/Bad · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

What Every Parent Needs To Know About Only Fans!!!!!

Only Fans has some celebrity pages but there is more hardcore pornography on the site than regular content.


I’m sure you’ve heard the news about kids being expelled from school because the parents have an Only Fans sticker on their vehicle, the sticker is so big it covers the entire back window. One woman not only had the sticker but was advertising her page. 


These parents are advertising a porn site at school and they know their kid will be expelled from school. How would you feel if your child was exposed to a porn site at school? I bet you would blow a stack!


The schools have told parents with the sticker to park on the street but they refuse. The school needs to call Social Services to visit the parents, if they determine that the kid is in an unhealthy environment they will take custody of the kid. The school needs to take photos of the license plate and the sticker to show Social Services. No telling what a visit from Child Services will find.


I don’t play around when it comes to kids, I go for the throat.


The kids are innocent. Can you imagine the stress, anger, and mental health of the kids? I want to know how many kids have committed suicide after being expelled. To kids, their world has crashed down on them. That’s my homework for today. 


I can’t imagine a parent more interested in making money instead of the student’s education and the stress it causes. Today alone I’ve read two stories about kids being expelled for what their parents are doing.


What is wrong here?


One kid was expelled because he was looking up people on Only Fans on a school computer. In this case, the kid made a very bad decision and knew better. The school said they would reconsider having him back but not right now. That kid should be kicked out. In this case, it was a private Christian school with strict rules and the parents signed a document saying they would comply with the rules, which includes the student’s behavior. 


They will go as far as showing up to pick up their kid, the parents are warned and the next day come back with the Only Fans stickers still on there and will continue to come back and their kid gets expelled from school. What is wrong with this picture? What kind of example are they teaching their kids.


I think it’s time to punish the parents, not the kids. There are many options like banning them from entering the school campus, having off-duty police at the entrance of the campus who will keep them from entering, a restraining order, and going to the police to report pornography and advertising to underage kids. I would also look to see if they can be charged for trespassing. When the police hear pornography and kids they will be very interested. I would also look to see if the parent can be charged for trespassing.


I would also call Child Services so the parents clearly understand they could lose custody if they continue. Harsh? Hell Yes! 


That’s what it is going to take.  We can’t let our kids be expelled from school because their parents are self-centered. The kid’s education and mental health will suffer. 


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPud8KhQqZU


The information in the video is on YouTube. I have not vetted the video as accurate information but that should not stop you from watching, it’s eye-opening. I had no idea who they were, I’ve seen the stickers but never went to their website until yesterday. 

Even though the site says over 18, there are many ways kids are getting membership, including using their parent’s credit card or fake documents.


When I went to the site, on the first page it showed people having sex, it was hardcore pornography. They get paid based on how many people visit their page and it costs to look at their site, every time. The same goes for any page you look at. Some go as far as offering a membership to their site for a monthly fee. 


I would not want my kid to be exposed to pornography until they leave home and they can make their own decisions. If they are old enough they already know about porn from their friends. 

Parents who will not take the Only Fans sticker off the car or park off campus, are selfish and don’t care if their kid gets kicked out of school. What kind of logic is that? I

A letter needs to be sent to all parents saying if your vehicle has an Only Fans sticker you must park off the school campus and park on the street. The parents already know but use stronger language and tell them that if continue there are serious consequences. No exceptions. Many schools have this problem and need to punish the parent, not the kid. 


I don’t know what can be done but I want to find out more. The link is to a story about a kid who committed suicide because other students were showing him photos of his mother. 

My cognitive impairment is worse, today, if something doesn’t flow or half of a sentence is missing, be gentle with me. 

Melinda


Repost

Celebrate Life · Cooking · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Orange Ginger Honey Mini Cakes — A Little Slice of Christmas Sunshine By Guest Blogger Popsicle Society

Following Ribana is an all encompassing journey of travel, book reviews, creating recipes and so much more. When she shares a recipe, she walks you through the process in words and incredable photos. Be sure to visit her blog and go hungry!

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Daily Writing Prompt · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Moving Forward

Daily Writing Prompt

Daily writing prompt
Tell us one thing you hope people say about you.

I don’t hope for people to think or say nice things about me, that’s not important. What’s important is what I think about myself and it’s a bonus if people think kindly of me. I’m thrilled everytime a blogger sends me a nice comment or appreciates a post, it’s an instant smile every time. People judge or have a perception of you based on many factors and it’s beyond our control.

Living an authentic life is how I live and people will form their own perception of me. I’m mostly talking about blogging because my close family members are no longer here and it’s hard to make friends when you don’t leave the house.

Living life wishing or worrying about what other’s think of you is a waist of time. My reply is not meant to sound negative, it’s my reality and everyone’s is different. The difference it what makes the world go round.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Holiday · Men & Womens Health

Let’s Enjoy The Holiday Season With Music

Pentatonix – Hallelujah (Official Video)

Melinda