June 13, 2011

Soybean oil in hand lotion

Introduction post

Hi everyone,

I have some recent experiences with hand lotion and soybean oil to share.

As you know, I'm allergic to soy. By the symptoms it appears to be non-IgE allergy. About 2 months ago I was in an office and used a little lotion that was by the sink. It worked very well and I thought I might buy some for myself - but on checking the ingredients it contains soybean oil. I had sinus pain for the rest of the day, probably from the oil.

A few weeks later I was at another place and used a little of the fancy scented lotion in the bathroom. Then I remembered my earlier experience and checked the ingredients and it also contained soybean oil. This time I washed it off and didn't get any sinus pain.

I've been using the same types of natural soy- and camomile-free lotions for a few years, and I hadn't looked at other lotions. I don't remember soybean oil being such a common ingredient. But maybe it was and I thought it didn't matter since I wasn't eating it.

When I first learned I have IgE allergy to ragweed I learned that camomile cross-reacts with ragweed and stopped using cosmetics that contain it, with a noticeable improvement in symptoms. I've also gotten sleepy from antihistamine cream, just like taking an antihistamine orally. So now I know from experience that things put on my skin are absorbed into my system, including soybean oil.

So it's important to check the ingredients on lotions, deodorants, and such for allergens. Remember, if you have allergy symptoms from mid-August to the first frost, it's probably ragweed allergy, and avoiding camomile will probably help. :-) And remember, lecithin is a soy product.

Take care,
Julia

Convenient egg substitute for baking

Introduction post

Hi everyone,

This is an egg substitute I've used in baking for several years.

2 tbsp water
1 tbsp oil
1/2 tsp baking powder

Mix these together and stir before adding them to the batter. I've found it useful to double the amount needed for the recipe - that is, if it calls for one egg I double this. But it may depend on altitude and humidity and such.

March 9, 2011

My resume

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Introduction post

Hi everyone,

I was recently laid off and this web address is on my business cards, so I think it might be a good idea to post my resume here. Needless to say, if anyone knows of an opening for which I am qualified, please let me know!

JULIA BARESCH
Chicago, Illinois 60642

Julia 372 at gee mail
www.juliasallergysite.blogspot.com

5 years experience with medical research and regulatory, plus experience in insurance and accounting. Especially good with administration, research, details and analysis.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Executive Assistant/Bookkeeper at Clinical Device Group - full-time February 2006 – February 2011
www.clinicaldevice.com
- Internet research involving medical studies, medical devices, and FDA regulations for client or company projects
- Accounting support with QuickBooks in which I streamlined the monthly reconciliation process, cutting time spent by more than 50%, and developed a report showing credit card fees as a percentage of sales
- Administered registrations for web conference events and made sure customers had the information they needed to log in
- Maintained data in customer database and issued data reports
- Obtained, scanned and formatted medical device Federal Register preambles for publication
- Transcribed web meetings from recordings
- Business correspondence
- Shipping of customer orders, both domestic and international
- Tracked and ordered office supplies

Temporary Administrative and Customer Service - full-time temporary June 2005 – January 2006
- Long-term assignment with Manpower providing back-office accounting support at an insurance company where I researched and entered payments
- Registered convention attendees at McCormick Place for Front Office Staffing

LEAP Consultant with Signet Diagnostics July 2004 – June 2005
www.nowleap.com
- Found and enrolled Chicago doctors in the LEAP Disease Management Program for patients with immune sensitivity to foods (non-IgE allergy)
- Trained and supported them in implementing the program
- Got three doctors up and running in this program

Claims Data Technical Coordinator at an insurance company – full-time March 2002 – June 2004
- Supported Claims Adjuster and our group with processing claim payments
- Designed and built an MS Access database to process and track claims activity. This enabled my group to process exponential growth in claims without hiring more staff.
- Trained and supported users of my database

Temporary Administrative and Technical Support - full-time temporary 1995 – 2002
Provided long-term temporary support with various temporary agencies to Chicago companies.
- Administrative support
- Word processing
- Spreadsheets and charts
- Data entry
- Travel arrangements
- Coordinated installation and distribution of computers and other equipment

RECENT SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE

MS Office 2007 and 2003
Internet Explorer and FireFox
Word
Excel
QuickBooks
MS Access
Outlook
Adobe Acrobat
Visio

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

I took Spanish lessons in 2009 and I’ve also been in a Language Exchange program. I’m an assistant organizer of the MeetUp Chicago Spanish Language Club.

CEUs
- 13.70 continuing education credits in medical device industry courses provided by Clinical Device Group.
- Beginning and advanced courses in QuickBooks.

College
College credit hours at Chicago City Colleges and DeVry Institute
- 37 hours in Math,
- 40 hours in Science,
- 10 hours in Business,
- 13 hours in Liberal Arts.

Certifications
Certified Microsoft Office Specialist
- Word
- Excel
- Access

OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS

I co-authored the article "Exploring 30 Years of Preambles" with Nancy J. Stark in the MD&DI 30th Anniversary Issue. June 2009, Vol. 31, No. 6, page 58.

I launched an informative web site about allergies at www.juliasallergysite.blogspot.com.