Health & Wellness 4 No-Brainer Tips For Living A Long And Healthy Life 7:00 AM 4 No-Brainer Tips For Living A Long And Healthy Life Living a long and healthy life doesn't just happen. You make it happen.A long life expectancy may be influenced by genetics but there are other factors to consider.So, what is the secret to a long healthy life?It's not as difficult or as expensive as you think. The right diet and a switch to a healthful lifestyle are crucial. Make it a habit to maintain your mental and physical health, and get professional attention when necessary.Here are 4 no-brainer tips to follow if you want to live a long and healthy life. 4 No-Brainer Tips for Living a Long and Healthy Life 1. Make time for your friends and family Both your friends and family are a huge part of who you are and what you can become.Make time for people who lift you higher, and who fill your love tank.When was the last time you spent quality bonding time with the people who are good for your heart?Happiness and a positive attitude greatly impact your well-being. The more you surround yourself with good and positive energy, the healthier you'll become. 2. Daily health habitsThere are two habits that are keys to your overall health: Nutritious meals - Eat well-balanced, rich in vitamins, minerals, and protein foods.Working out - Choose an exercise or workout that suits your lifestyle and personality. You can work out at home, in a gym, or participate in sports.Our daily habits determine how our future health condition would be.Consider what you do today a deposit to your "health bank". Is there enough for you to withdraw later in life when you need it the most? How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives (Annie Dillard). Here are 10 daily healthy habits to help you live longer. 3. Do MORE of what makes you happyYour mental health is just as important as your physical well-being.Whether it's pursuing arts, traveling, reading a good book, participating in a group activity, or staying home with your fur baby, for as long as it gives you a good endorphin rush, do it.Do more of it.Being in a good mental state can improve your overall physical health condition.Negative emotions can cause sickness. The morbidity and mortality due to stress-related illness are alarming. To be happy and healthy or to be miserable and sick are choices you must make.Which one would you pick?4. Get professional help when necessary The older you get, the more prone you are to health deterioration. Visit your doctor or other medical professionals to get the help you need. An annual or semi-annual general check-up is vital as not all health problems are visible or obvious. Have your hormone levels checked.Hormonal imbalance is common among men and women. Ehormones MD offers Testosterone replacement therapy in Philadelphia. Depending on where you're located, there are health care professionals guaranteed to assist you. A lifestyle switch may sound daunting at first but once you've started making it a habit, it's a no-brainer. Living a long and healthy life is achievable. Start today.
For Moms How Will Fostering Affect Your Family? 5:40 PM If you are interested in fostering, you will have to consider its short term and long term impact on your daily life. Whether you have a family or live by yourself, fostering will have an impact on your daily routine. Fostering is not an overnight decision and you need to consider how it will change your life before you make any decisions. There are some changes that are unique to fostering children and there are many others which occur when there is an addition of a new family member. How Will Fostering Affect Your Family? Needs Every child has their unique set of needs and a reason why they are in foster carer. There could be numerous reasons why children end up in fostering and the reason will have an impact on their behavior. Children might have gone through an abuse or neglect and this could have an impact on how they adjust in your home. Some of their behavior might be annoying or disturbing to you and it could also have a negative impact on other children in your home. You will have to consider how your children will behave with the foster child and how will their behavior impact your child. Are you willing to give up the evenings and weekends that you spent by yourself? Do you have the patience to allow the foster child to adjust in your home? Can you help the child process their feelings? You need to remember that the entire atmosphere in your home will change and you will have to spend more time looking after the children. You might have to give up your ‘me’ time in order to ensure that the foster child adjusts inside your home. Appointment As a foster parent, you will be responsible to ensure that the child always reaches on time for the appointment. You will have to take them to and fro and ensure that it does not disrupt your schedule. If you have a tight schedule, you will have to take out time for the child. There could be some last minute appointment as well and you will have to add them to your schedule. Fostering is not an easy job but it is the most rewarding job you will ever undertake. You can check here to learn more about fostering. Social Workers Your main point of contact for fostering will be the social workers who will make regular visits to your home. This is done in order to ensure that the family is adjusting with the child and they aim to check the well-being of the child. You should be prepared for regular visits from the social workers and you will have to let them in your home. Entertainment You might be a travel enthusiast and before fostering, might have traveled across the world without giving a care. With a foster child, you will have to get permission before you travel with them. You will have to speak to the social workers for day travels and if you wish to take the child out of the state, you will have to seek permission from the court. You also have to understand that there are restrictions in terms of entertainment activities as well. Foster children cannot participate in risky activities and sports without the permission from the social workers and the parents. Fostering will definitely change how you are as a person and how you travel or indulge in adventure activities. Schedule Your entire schedule will change with the addition of a child in your life. There will be a change in your routine due to the appointments, social worker visits and also your travel plans. Depending on the age of the child, you might not have a consistent schedule. If the child is an infant, you might have to constantly be there for them, they need to have food at a certain time, they need to be in bed at a certain time and you need to be around whenever they need you. Fostering means changing the various aspects of your home in order to meet the needs of the child. You might have to seek help from your family members to ensure that the foster child feels safe and comfortable in your home. Consider fostering only and only if you are ready for the changes in your daily routine and in your life. You need to understand the looking after a child is not an easy task and you will have to give all your heart and head into the process. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
Fashion & Style Searching For Flawless Skin? This Will Help! 1:38 PM When it comes to skin care and skin products, it call all get a little confusing. There’s so much to add to your routine, like toners, moisturizers, hydration boosters, facial plumping serums, BB creams, primers – the best of the best, and a whole lot of other products that seem to promise winding back the clock and giving you the skin you had ten years ago. So if searching for flawless skin leaves you feeling a little, lackluster then don’t worry. You’re not alone! The truth is that a simple, straightforward skin routine will get you a step closer to the flawless skin you’ve always wanted. Don’t believe me? Try these tips. Searching For Flawless Skin? This Will Help! Get more sleep Hate to break it to you, but beauty sleep is real. And you’ll find that those with gorgeously flawless skin get on average about 7 hours of it each night. Those unsightly dark circles under your eyes? They’re caused by a lack of sleep! Skin looking tired and grey – it’s all related to a lack of sleep. So if you want the skin of a princess, you’ll have to get as much uninterrupted sleep as one! Protect your skin We’re all aware of the dangers that prolonged exposure to the sun can have on our health. Not only that, but sunlight and UV rays are linked to obvious signs of aging, such as wrinkles., facial lines, freckles and skin thinning. If you protect your skin by using a foundation with as SPF rating or simply add sunscreen then you’ll be protecting your skin from aging and the risk of skin cancer. Even if it’s winter, the sun is still powerful, and you can still suffer from sun damage. Learn how to relax Easier said than done, I know. We all live such busy and hectic lifestyles, it’s a miracle if we get to sit down and relax any earlier than 8pm. However, if you want flawless skin you need to try and find a way to combat your daily stress struggles. Stress releases causes outpourings of a hormone called cortisol which breaks down collagen, and basically gives you wrinkles! So have a go at finding a way to relieve your stress. Whether that’s meditation or even exercising a little more. Moisturize regularly Retaining your skins natural moisture is difficult so those with flawless skin give it a helping hand by using a good moisturizer. If you want good skin then you need to be in tune with when your body might need a bit of help to retain it’s moisture. So, straight after your hot shower, you should be moisturizing, in the cold harsh winter winds – you need to moisturize more, if the weather starts to warm up again as Summer rolls around, then you can ease up a little. Sweat Desperate to imitate that gorgeous, natural glow? You need to start a regular exercise routine. Exercise means getting the blood pumping throughout your body and in turn, nourishes your skin cells. Helping them to look younger!
Lux Thinking Aloud Celebrating My Fantastic 36th Year On Earth 11:29 AM The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes. -Frank Lloyd Wright Just finished celebrating my fantastic 36th year on earth. It’s my last birthday as a single woman. Time flies when you’re having fun. Wasn’t it only yesterday I was reveling in my single journey, embracing the ups and downs, feeling the joy and pain of being “set apart” in a world cruel to someone choosing to walk alone? A bit dramatic, isn’t it? But that’s based on my experience. I’ve loved my single life. Every part of it---the good, the bad, and the ugly. I love the me-time, the quiet, the independence, and the freedom, even when I feel empty sometimes. Because that’s when I felt God’s presence the most. That’s when I’m most desperate for Him. Fantastic 36th Year on Earth Eating kindly This year I’ve decided to take baby steps towards eating kindly. However, I’m not a vegan yet. I'm a pescovegetarian. The reason being where I currently am, food choices for vegans are minimal. But I started because every time I eat meat, I can’t help thinking that what I am eating used to be alive and, if given a choice, I would not want to die just so I can eat. He’d instead be playing on the grass, eating, sleeping, and enjoying life. Not to be confined in a dirty, uncomfortable cage with little room for moving, enduring heat, getting tortured, and eventually killed in who knows what way. In the words of Jessica Chastain: “I don’t want to torture anything. … it’s about trying to live a life where I’m not contributing to the cruelty in the world. … While on this planet, I want everyone I meet to know that I am grateful they are here.” Nutritional and environmental reasons also pushed me to change my food choices---and lifestyle in general. I’m on my way to eating purely plant-based. I’ll get there someday soon. This year, I decided to eat kindly, which is fantastic! More travels I discovered my love for traveling when I was still single. It’s one of the things I wanted to do for myself: to find joy and be in awe as often as possible. To discover new places and experience new things. This year, that didn’t change. I am thankful for a fiance who loves traveling and seeing nature. And who stays in control, takes care of everything from planning to packing, and oversees everything that’s needed. That’s something you must strive to find, my dear single friends. Someone who lets you be independent but whom you can also always depend on. I’ve traveled both for leisure and business this year. Both I’ve enjoyed and am thankful for. Gift of romantic relationship I was single for six years before I met my fiance. Six years of no dating, no flirting, no emotional involvement. Six years of pruning, healing, spending time with friends, serving, working, and traveling. Most of all, it’s been a long journey of making peace with myself. It wasn’t easy. It was so loud outside. People judge and laugh at my choices. Well-meaning friends pressured me to settle with apparently just anyone they thought was “okay” for me. Thankfully, there is calmness inside me. Despite my doubts and fears, everything will work out in the end. I was so tired of kissing frogs that I was willing to forego dating for as long as the next one I kiss is the actual prince. I couldn’t help but marvel at God’s greatness. Although we are not perfect, He finds someone who is perfectly imperfect for us. And no matter how different we are, we fit just right like puzzle pieces to create a beautiful picture. When I was still single, I would take note of the things I wanted and did not want for my future husband. Sometimes I’ll be watching a movie, and when I love the spouse in the film, I’d whisper a prayer to God and say, “Please give me a husband like that, Lord.” Sometimes it happens when reading a book or even in real life. I’m very observant. If I see someone acting like a jerk, I’d say, “I’d rather stay single for life than be with someone like that.” This was when I decided that if I could not get married someday, I’d be okay with it. I’ll just keep traveling and enjoying life as it is. Somehow in my heart, I knew I was leading in this direction. Knowing that you’ll be happy to stay single and ready should there be a shift in the universe is such a wonderful feeling. 😉 God has plans for us far better than we have imagined. His generosity is boundless. I will forever be grateful to Him for finally giving me the gift of a romantic relationship. All worth the wait and the heartaches. “Adulting” at its finest One of the many Save-the-date templates I tested I’ve never felt more “adult” in my life than I have this year. What could be more mature, serious, and adult than planning for a wedding and paying bills? I can’t (and don’t want to) delve into details. But so far, this year has been the most stressful, busiest, challenging, and overwhelming time in my adult life. By the way, I’m selling my property. So if you’re interested, just shoot me a message. 😏 The gift of uncertainty Just because I’m thirty-six now doesn’t mean I have figured out everything about life. My future is still uncertain. I have plans and goals, but obviously, in my past, God has proven that His will is stronger and far more beautiful. Yes, there are still times when I doubt and worry. There are still times when the enemy seems to be winning in discouraging me. I want to always know what’s next. But I guess that’s the beauty of the future. You can create it today. I don’t know where I’ll be in the next year. I’m not sure how I will spend 2019, to be honest. All I can do is work on the things I can control and let go of the things I cannot. Allow God to do the impossible, as that’s His expertise. I can only hold on to His promises, remember the times He’s been faithful to me even when I wasn’t, and keep praying. I’m thankful that in all these uncertainties, there are two specific things in my life: That God will be there is already there, preparing everything I need, and that I have an excellent partner holding my hand as we’re facing the unknown together. That’s why my 36th is fantastic! How about you? How’s life been so far? Other birthday posts: Post-birthday Reflections Another Year Older And Hopefully Wiser My Birthday Gratitude List Life So Far This 2016 My Big Day Is Coming! Birthday Life Lessons
Health & Wellness Understanding Parasitic Diseases – 8 Basic Tips To Avoid Them 5:21 PM Did you know? Millions of microbes dwell in our bodies from the gut to the skin. Some of these microbes are good as they aid digestion, while others are harmless. But parasites can infiltrate our systems, and these are harmful disease-causing agents.Understanding Parasitic Diseases & 8 Basic Tips to Avoid Them What are Parasitic Diseases? To understand what parasitic diseases are think of an external organism latching on to your body and using you as a host. This parasite then slowly consolidates itself in your body and starts taking your nutrients. They reduce the energy and nutrients that your organs are supposed to get. There are other complications as the parasite grows and becomes more powerful. Some move around the body and cause horrible things to happen when they end up in the wrong place (e.g., neurocysticercosis). Parasites are bad news. Various types of organisms can lead to different conditions. These parasitic diseases range from mild digestive disorders to grave complications in other delicate human organs. Parasites can take their toll in so many other ways. Unexplained tiredness and other symptoms can affect mental health in the long run if not addressed.Many who suffer from parasitic diseases cannot concentrate, affecting their work and personal lives. Understanding the basics of parasitic infections can help you find ways to avoid them. Here are eight basic tips to follow:1. Drink filtered waterEating out and long-term traveling leave you a little vulnerable. The least you can do is stick to bottled water. Always check the cleanliness levels of an eatery before you have a meal there. If possible, get a glance at the cooking area.For your home, it's best to use a water filter system to get rid of water contaminants including parasites.2. Avoid cleaning up after your pets Pregnant women have to be especially careful since there are parasites that can cause complications to the baby. They should avoid cleaning up after their pets. Cat litter is a major source of parasites.3. Wash your hands regularlyWashing hands is elementary but very effective in reducing the chances of parasitic infections.Children, especially, need to be trained in hygiene as they can be very susceptible to parasitic diseases. Here's a short video reminding you how to wash your hands properly. 4. Store foods properly Many parasites are in raw, uncooked food. Never bring raw meat in contact with your other food. Store it in the freezer. Or better yet, go plant-based.5. Wash vegetablesWash vegetables for salads thoroughly. Add a bit of vinegar to the water. You can also soak the veggies in a brine solution as the salt will kill the organisms present.6. Clean your homeCleanliness around the home will inhibit the growth of parasites. Use dustbins to store your garbage and handle them carefully wearing gloves.7. Dispose of stagnant waterWater puddles in the garden can help many organisms breed, so do not allow stagnant water to collect near the house.8. Detoxing to Get Rid of Yeast A yeast infection is a form of parasitic disease.The yeast can be growing on folds of your skin, or it may have infiltrated your digestive system.Yeasts like candida are found in the human body and are inconsequential in small amounts. When it is allowed to nourish and grow, the results can be severe.The symptoms are digestive bloating, constipation, diarrhea to chronic fatigue and are challenging to track. They can derail your lifestyle.One of the best ways to rid your body of parasitic infections by yeasts is to follow a detox diet.Adopt healthier eating habits. Yeasts like candida thrive on carbs, so you need to lower your carb intake. That would mean no more fast food for a while as there are a lot of carbs and sugar there. A high-fiber diet also helps regulate your bowel movement and expel the yeast. Take probiotic supplements to replenish the good gut microbes that help in your digestion. If you are considering this, you could check out this Bio X4 review page to see what those who have tried think about this supplement. It may help you decide if this could be an option for you. Probiotics are naturally found and abundant in food, but you can also get them from other sources like Bio Complete 3 probiotics to keep your gut lining healthy.Here are seven probiotics-rich food you should include in your diet:Yogurt Sauerkraut Miso Tempeh Kimchi Kombucha Pickled veggiesPrevention is Always Better than Cure Be smart and informed to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. Parasites can often live undetected for months and years in our system. Awareness and understanding of parasites and the diseases they bring help prevent health risks. Have your family checked by physicians and keep an eye on your surroundings.Follow these simple tips to avoid getting parasitic diseases.
Listicle Make Sure You Diversify Your Portfolio 7:00 PM All sensible investors know about diversification and why it’s essential for a successful portfolio. It’s really important for you to own stocks from various industries and sectors, as well as from different territories and even in different forms, like commodities, stocks and ETFs. Having a diversified portfolio spreads out the overall risk to it because if one company or sector takes a hit, the rest of the assets bear up and stop your portfolio losing too much, if any, value. It looks like we may be facing some turbulent economic times soon, too, so diversification is even more important. Times like these make investing in physical assets a really good idea because when things are unstable and financial indices are unpredictable, tangible assets come to the rescue. Precious metals are ideal here, so look into bringing some into your portfolio; you’d be surprised by cheaply you can get started. Make Sure You Diversify Your Portfolio Why should you diversify beyond your regular stocks Most people think diversification is more about having holdings in different sectors and commodities; they rarely think about buying and holding the actual physical thing. Having lots of different industries and sectors is great, especially while the economy’s buoyant, but we all know that the sky isn’t always blue. If a big market correction is on the cards, then physical assets can act as an insurance. This is why investors are increasingly choosing to buy gold, silver and other metals. When there is a market correction, some investors panic, sell their usual stocks and plough the money into precious metals. This reduces the market supply of metals, which pushes up their prices. So, if the economy falters in 2019, or we’re suddenly hit with high inflation, your precious metals won’t be facing the same risks as your paper commodities and your dollar-linked vehicles. Back in the 2008 global crash, gold did much better than pretty much all the stock-based portfolios out there. Now is the best time in a long while to go shopping for metals because there’s a chance that their prices might start to rise soon. You also need to diversify your metal portfolio Most metals investors start off with gold and silver – the trusty old players – but it’s a good idea to add in platinum, copper and palladium, as well as vary the size and formats of your bars, ingots and coins. Having different sizes, from gram to ounce, for example, means you can sell smaller bars to raise smaller amounts of cash. Of course, the crash will probably not be anything as bad as we’re imagining. This doesn’t mean that you’ve wasted all your money on a bunch of shiny trinkets, though! Metals always increase in value, with a few dips along the way, of course, so after a few years you’ll have your pile of precious metals and it’ll have grown in value. You can sell some or all of it at a decent profit, or maybe pass it onto the children or grandchildren so they can use it for their college funds or house deposits. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks! Listicle Travelling in 2019? Read this first 6:19 PM If you’ve got plans to head abroad and travel the world in 2019 then I’m sure that your already packed, got your route planned and decided on the first thing you’re going to do as soon as you land at your first destination. But, before you say goodbye and jump on that plane, take a look at our checklist for travelling in 2019 and make sure you remembered to do these too! Travelling in 2019? Read this first Your insurance You might already have your travel insurance sorted, so if anything happens to your luggage, if your flight is cancelled or if there’s a problem with the airline then you’ll be covered. But what about your medical travel insurance? Getting yourself some travel medical insurance – through uhc safetrip for example, will ensure that if anything happens to you while you’re abroad then you are covered medically. This could be anything from tripping in the foyer of your accommodation and breaking your leg to chipping your tooth on a sweet treat at the local market. It will also ensure you have access to the best medical care, transportation to the hospital and – if the worst should happen – repatriation home. Head to your GP Heading to your GP before you travel ensures that you have a clean bill of health before you head off on your next big adventure. It’s a great opportunity to discuss any niggling medical problems you’ve been putting up with – like a nasty cough or a rash – and then eliminating the possibility of them ruining your travel plans further down the line. Take the opportunity to pick up prescriptions, get yourself sorted with contraception options, you could even book a cervical sweep before you travel, so you don’t miss it and make sure you have all the relevant vaccinations too! Your passport There’s nothing more worrying then having your passport stolen. So, if the worst should happen – make sure you have a back up plan. Make copies of your passport and have them with you, you could also leave a copy back home with someone you trust as well as having an electronic copy stored in your emails. Get in touch with your embassy You have to expect the unexpected when travelling, so registering with your embassy at your destination means that if something happens or there’s a problem within the country then your government will be able to contact you quickly and get you to safety. Your tickets If you already have places, venues or activities in mind then see if you can book online and in advance. That way, you don’t have to worry about missing out, and you can even skip the endless queue of tourists! Research You might have an entire evening at the local market planned, trying new foods and experiencing local life. But had you done a little research then you might have known about the local festival that was happening on the other side of town. Avoid missing out on once in a lifetime opportunities by doing a little research before you go and don’t worry about “spoiling the spontaneity”. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks! Newer Stories Older Stories
Listicle Travelling in 2019? Read this first 6:19 PM If you’ve got plans to head abroad and travel the world in 2019 then I’m sure that your already packed, got your route planned and decided on the first thing you’re going to do as soon as you land at your first destination. But, before you say goodbye and jump on that plane, take a look at our checklist for travelling in 2019 and make sure you remembered to do these too! Travelling in 2019? Read this first Your insurance You might already have your travel insurance sorted, so if anything happens to your luggage, if your flight is cancelled or if there’s a problem with the airline then you’ll be covered. But what about your medical travel insurance? Getting yourself some travel medical insurance – through uhc safetrip for example, will ensure that if anything happens to you while you’re abroad then you are covered medically. This could be anything from tripping in the foyer of your accommodation and breaking your leg to chipping your tooth on a sweet treat at the local market. It will also ensure you have access to the best medical care, transportation to the hospital and – if the worst should happen – repatriation home. Head to your GP Heading to your GP before you travel ensures that you have a clean bill of health before you head off on your next big adventure. It’s a great opportunity to discuss any niggling medical problems you’ve been putting up with – like a nasty cough or a rash – and then eliminating the possibility of them ruining your travel plans further down the line. Take the opportunity to pick up prescriptions, get yourself sorted with contraception options, you could even book a cervical sweep before you travel, so you don’t miss it and make sure you have all the relevant vaccinations too! Your passport There’s nothing more worrying then having your passport stolen. So, if the worst should happen – make sure you have a back up plan. Make copies of your passport and have them with you, you could also leave a copy back home with someone you trust as well as having an electronic copy stored in your emails. Get in touch with your embassy You have to expect the unexpected when travelling, so registering with your embassy at your destination means that if something happens or there’s a problem within the country then your government will be able to contact you quickly and get you to safety. Your tickets If you already have places, venues or activities in mind then see if you can book online and in advance. That way, you don’t have to worry about missing out, and you can even skip the endless queue of tourists! Research You might have an entire evening at the local market planned, trying new foods and experiencing local life. But had you done a little research then you might have known about the local festival that was happening on the other side of town. Avoid missing out on once in a lifetime opportunities by doing a little research before you go and don’t worry about “spoiling the spontaneity”. If you like this blog post about life and love, please share the article using the social media buttons below or on the left. Thanks!
