November 2019 - Mamas Like Me

5 Tricks to Help Stressed Moms Chill Out

Even though being a mom is one of the most beautiful and rewarding things in life, we can all agree that it can also get extremely stressful at the same time. If you’re a mom who feels stressed out at the moment, just keep on reading because we’re here to help you out. Here are five useful tricks that can help you chill out, so check them out!

Learn your stress signs in the first place

Identifying your stress signs is the first and one of the most important things you should do. Once you figure out how you react to stress, you’ll be able to tune in to your body and understand how it works in stressful situations. Some of the most common stress signs include high blood pressure and increased heart rate that can make you feel dizzy. These symptoms can be unpleasant, which is why many people turn to natural remedies, such as CBD products from companies like Gold Bee and many more, in order to make themselves feel better. Besides these, some moms also tend to get very irritated and impatient while raising their voices at the same time, which can negatively affect their kids. When you notice any of these, you’ll know that you’re stressed out and that you need to calm down as soon as possible.

Make sure to stay physically active

Exercising is a very effective way to combat stress and take a break from your everyday routine, so make sure to be physically active. Even a brisk 15-minute walk can do wonders for your body if you don’t have enough time to go for a gym workout, so go for it as soon as you wake up and you’ll see what we were talking about. Apart from that, you can also pick an activity you can take part in as a family. Some of the available options are biking, swimming, and hiking in the woods near your hometown. Needless to say, exercising is one of the best ways to chill out and cope with stress, so don’t forget to give it a try!

Rely on natural remedies

When it comes to dealing with stress, we must say that aromatherapy is one of the most powerful natural remedies that can lower your stress levels and relieve anxiety. Even though it probably seems a bit silly, smelling soothing civizliedhealth.com essential oils can be extremely helpful, so start with lavender oil that can calm your mind and improve the quality of your sleep. The same goes for lemongrass essential oil that can promote relaxation and reduce the symptoms of anxiety. On the other hand, you can also opt for quality marijuana concentrates, which are getting increasingly popular among moms these days. These are known for helping you relax and sleep better, as well as for relieving pain, so give them a fair shot and you’ll see why more and more moms are relying on them!

Schedule date nights with your husband

Yes, we know that having a romantic date night with your husband is often an impossible mission, but you know what? You don’t have to spend a bunch of money and plan for a luxurious date – instead, find some time to spend it alone with your significant other, no matter where you are. This means that you can go for a walk in a park, watch a rented movie, or simply sit in the car in your driveway with a glass of wine and some cheese. Yes, we know that it seems funny, but you’ll quickly realize that spending time alone with your partner makes a huge difference. So, stay happy and stress-free and your kids will certainly appreciate that!

Don’t stop socializing

When a woman becomes a mom, she often tends to neglect her social needs and dedicate her time to her family only. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with your partner and kids, but you should remember that socializing should be an extremely important part of your mom’s life, too. Relationships with your close friends can help you restore balance and reduce your stress levels, so don’t neglect your best gals once you become a mom. Just try to spend more time with people you feel comfortable with and you’ll do a fantastic job!

As you can see, there are so many things you can do to help yourself relax and successfully lower your stress levels. If that’s your ultimate goal, all you need to do is to stick to our five useful tips and you’ll surely accomplish it, without a shadow of a doubt!

Tips for Parenting Active Boys

Are you raising kids who are a bundle of energy? You will struggle to keep up with them before they get out of that playful stage. Although every child is different, the following tips will help you to keep up with active and playful boys:

Exercise

You should incorporate some exercise into your daily routine. Whether you opt for active games or exercise activities, just make sure that you add plenty of activity to your day. With plenty of exercise, your kids will burn energy and release stress.

Moreover, it is important to form healthy habits earlier in life. Buy a first aid kit for treating cuts and scrapes that result from rough play. However, if your little one gets badly hurt, you should take him to hospitals such as Seaview Ortho foot and ankle for a checkup. Our health is important at any age. Growing kids need the support of proper footwear just as much as adults do so they can maintain correct body alignment and stay comfortable in their active lives. Kids’ shoe inserts can help flat shoes be comfortable and supportive, which is especially important for children who are active.

Come up with a Routine

Spontaneity is fun but you need to teach your kids how to stick to a routine. If you are dealing with a hyperactive child, he will thrive on routines. If it is bedtime, you should have a bedtime routine that your kids can follow. Without a bedtime routine, you will have a hard time getting your kids to sleep.

When coming up with a bedtime routine, you should make it clear that they are not allowed to act crazy. Tell your little ones to calm down and prepare for sleep.

Assign Age-appropriate Chores

You should show your little one that you trust him with little responsibilities such as watering a plant. Odds are that your little boy will take joy in the chore instead of sulking as a teenager would. Toddlers love to contribute to the house chores because it makes them feel like a part of the household.

When the chore is complete, your child will have burnt energy and you will have one less thing to do around the house. Moreover, natural consequences such as the death of a plant usually teach great lessons. The key is to ensure that you give your son age-appropriate chores and supervise him.

Sports

Enroll your child in an active sport that keeps him running around. A good sporting activity allows your child to burn energy whilst encouraging cognitive and physical development. Sports also teach your child teamwork and discipline, making him a well-rounded individual. If your child ends up getting hurt on the field, you should visit professionals such as Portland sports injury doctors.

Offer Choices

Whenever possible, you should try to give your child choices. Make sure that the choices you offer are suitable for his needs and appropriate. If you are raising an independent child, offering him choices will make him feel independent. However, choices are not always an option – when such situations arise, you should make it clear that there is no other choice.

Get Dirty Outdoors

Not every child likes to get muddy and dirty. However, you should let yours know that it is an option when playing outside. Life is too short to worry about staining clothes; you should let your child be a child. Digging in the soil is a great way for your little one to burn excess energy.

Of course, you should encourage your son to ask permission before going outside to play in the dirt. This way, you will be able to supervise his activities and ensure that he does not do anything dangerous.

Conclusion

Raising an active boy can be overwhelming, especially if you cannot keep up. You should enroll him in a sport, encourage exercise, offer choices, come up with a routine, assign age-appropriate chores, and allow him to get dirt outdoors.

5 Best Vacation Activities for the Whole Family

Going on a vacation with your family is one of the best things in the world! It’s a chance for you all to take a break from your busy schedules and enjoy your free time. However, wherever you go and whatever you like to do, you’re going to find a number of different activities that could turn your holiday from ordinary to amazing. It’s all about finding the right activities and making sure every member of your family enjoys them. Therefore, here are five family-oriented activities you should explore next time you’re on vacation.

Camping

If your kids are outgoing, outdoorsy and adventurous, this is the right activity for you and them. Although camping is one of the most enjoyable things you can do in nature, it actually isn’t as easy to do it while you’re at home, so going on holiday might be the perfect opportunity to go camping. This activity will make your kids understand why nature is so important and amazing, and they’ll surely start appreciating it more than ever after spending some time in the forest.

Of course, before you go camping, you need to get prepared. Learning a few basic things could go a long way, so spend some time doing that first. Find the right spot, improve your safety, make some cool food, and find a few games you could play while camping. This is something your kids will remember for the rest of their lives, so it’s definitely an idea to consider.

Rafting

This might not be the perfect activity if your kids are still young and can’t swim, but if they’re older and aren’t afraid of spending time in a tiny raft, this is the thing for your family. Rafting is another amazing way for your kids to be in the open and learn more about nature around them. Moreover, this activity is particularly interesting if your kids have never done anything as adventurous – this will turn into the most exciting day of your holiday, and your kids are going to love you for giving them a chance to go rafting.

However, you need to be extra careful when rafting with your loved ones. Make sure you follow instructions and don’t do anything even remotely dangerous. It goes without saying that you should make sure your kids are comfortable with this idea before you start planning it.

Scuba diving

If you notice that rafting is something your kids have enjoyed, you could take things to a new level and explore the idea of scuba diving with them. This will help them perfect their swimming and diving skills, and introduce them to an underwater world they can’t see anywhere else. After all, all of these things are vital for their general knowledge and understanding of the world, so it’s an activity that’s great on so many levels.

Again, you should check this idea with your kids and teach them a few things about scuba diving first. Also, make sure you all have some professional scuba diving equipment that’s going to turn this activity into an experience to remember. You could even consider getting this gear for your entire family and stop renting it every time you all want to dive together. This activity will bring you closer together and your kids will learn how to rely on you more than before, and that’s something all kids need to feel.

Road tripping

This is another way to help your kids learn more about the world they live in, but also a bit about the unknown regions in that world. Taking them on a road trip while you’re on a vacation is like a mini-holiday inside your regular holiday, so it’s much more fun than you could imagine. All you need is a car you can rent wherever you are, or Amarillo bus ride, a list of places you’d like the see, and some free time.

One of the ideas to explore is taking your kids on a history tour where they can visit all those important sites and places they learn about in school. This won’t be just an amazing learning experience for them, but an opportunity to see things they’ve probably never seen before. Ultimately, this might pique their interest in these things and show them how exciting historical items and places can be.

Volunteering

To be honest, this is an idea your kids are probably not going to love as much as they might love all the other suggestions. Volunteering is something not all people do when they’re at home, and it’s something even a few of them do when they’re on vacation, so why should you do it? Well, there’s one simple reason – because it’s the right thing to do.

It doesn’t matter where you’re vacationing, how much time you have and what sort of volunteering you opt for – as long as you’re doing something good for the people in need, you’ll be helping them quite a lot. Again, this is an activity you have to plan ahead, especially when you’re going on a vacation with your children, but it’s still an idea you can put into practice quite easily. Not only will you be doing something amazing for someone else, but you’ll also teach your kids a few things about being a compassionate and caring person, and that’s a life lesson you can’t put a price on.

Spending your family vacation on the beach is always a great thing to do, but being active and adventurous is even better. So, find an activity your entire family will love and turn your next vacation into the best vacation ever!

Peter is a parenting and health writer for Joyful Source magazine. Follow Peter on Twitter for more tips.

Breastfeeding or Pumping: Is There a Preferred Path?

If you are expecting a baby or have just given birth, you may be thinking about feeding choices.

If you are expecting a baby or have just given birth, you may be thinking about feeding choices. You favor breast milk for your baby, but are undecided about breastfeeding or pumping your milk.

Making the decision before you give birth

You have decided that you want your baby to benefit from the nutrients and from the immunizing antibodies of mother’s milk, but you’re not sure what is the best medium for delivering the milk.

Think about the following three options:

• Only breastfeed: This is an easy decision to make if you are not tied down to a work schedule away from home, or if you benefit from a long maternity leave.

• Only pump: Your many obligations are eased by the convenience of the ready supply of frozen breast milk stored in your freezer.

• Combine breastfeeding with pumping: This arrangement suits many moms. Enjoy the intimacy of nursing your little one, but supplement his feeding with your own expressed milk.

Advantages of breastfeeding

One of the unique advantages of solely breastfeeding your baby is that you are always there to soothe her with close skin-to-skin contact. The bonding that takes place between you and your little one lasts forever!

Note that many of the advantages of breastfeeding apply to pumping as well, as in both cases, your infant benefits from the abundance of nutrients in breast milk.

What to do when life happens

As we all know, we can plan and plan, and then life throws us a curveball. You plan the birth. You picture breastfeeding your newborn in the delivery room, and continuing to cherish him at home.

Then things happen, and you adapt.

One example of an unpredictable event is a premature birth. Thankfully, most of these tiny little ones grow up to lead perfectly normal lives. However, the period that they spend in the Neonatal ICU can be a trying for his parents. Depending on the size and development of the baby, his sucking reflexes may be weak, and interaction with him may be limited.

How do you deliver the abundance of nutrients that will boost his growth and development? How do you emulate the supply and demand magic that stimulates your milk supply?

The answer is straightforward: Use a breast pump. Neonatal wards are typically equipped with strong, hospital-grade breast pumps that are easy to use.

The advantages of pumping your breast milk

There are times when pumping is required in an emergency, such as the birth of a preemie. However, the use of a breast pump can also be appropriate for non-urgent life circumstances.

Major career decisions

When your maternity leave from work is over, employment while your baby is still nursing is made possible by expressing your milk. Your baby will keep gaining weight from the best possible nutrients for her development. Similarly, if you are working towards a degree or career diploma, you can pump the milk to be given to your baby in your absence. Pumping maintains your milk supply, allowing you to still enjoy the intimacy of breastfeeding your baby at home.

Time-outs

While breastfeeding your baby, you may find that you need a break from time to time. A date with your husband, coffee with a friend, or an outing with your other children, can be a real boost to your energy levels. Leave prepared bottles of your own pumped milk at home with the minder, and then relax…

Dad’s Participation

Many fathers are quite gung-ho on playing a prominent role in the care of their babies. When you pump your milk, you are providing the opportunity for your baby’s father to bond with your child.

Breastfeeding difficulties

If your baby gets a little lethargic while nursing, for example, if he is placed “under the lights” when jaundiced, this can impact your milk supply. To build up your supply, you can express your milk with a pump, between feeds.

Sore nipples can be a drawback for new nursing mothers. Positioning the baby properly at the breast can resolve this, but while you recover, pumping your milk will maintain your supply.

Using a breast pump – a few tips

Not all breast pumps are made the same. The experience of expressing with a manual breast pump or with an electronic breast pump, for example, can be quite different. The following ideas may help you find the most suitable pumping solution for you and your baby.

• A quality breast pump can make the difference between an easy experience and a frustrating one.

• A double breast pump halves the time it takes to express milk from both breasts. It is commonly held that a double breast pump is an excellent means for encouraging the growth of your supply, by stimulating the Prolactin hormone.

• Do contact your friends or a lactation consultant. They can be sources of invaluable advice.

• If you are concerned about the cost of a high-quality pump, a breast pump rental from a medical equipment company is a feasible option.

• The U.S Department of Labor stipulates that mothers of babies under one year old, must be allowed time to express their milk during working hours.

To breastfeed or to pump

Breastfeeding directly, or pumping your milk, is not a black-and-white decision. The two methods share common benefits and work best together as a team. During a crisis, pumping may be the only solution for you. At other times, you can happily breastfeed without any need to pump. However, when circumstances call for periods away from your baby, a combination of breastfeeding and pumping is an excellent solution.

4 Things to Consider When Elderly Parents Choose To Live Alone

Witnessing your parents grow old, lose their strength, and eventually even their independence is never easy.

Images source: https://unsplash.com/photos/VyarWMe4C2A

Witnessing your parents grow old, lose their strength, and eventually even their independence is never easy.

Still, they seem to cling so hard to keep it, even when you’re unsure whether they are still capable of living on their own. Studies show that 90% of older adults prefer to live in their own homes, and unless they are completely incapable of deciding, we can only respect such a choice.

But there are ways we can help them out in this new stage in their life and make it less risky for them. Read on to find out what you can do and how you can make this new situation easier for both sides.

Home Adaptations

Images source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/home-staircase-2098443/

We’ve all heard the gloomy statistics: one in four people older than 65 falls during a year, while every 19 minutes an elderly person dies as a result of such a fall. With age, mobility tends to decline, and the last thing your parents need is an injury.

To help your parents keep their independence as long as their health permits, one of the first things to consider is whether their home needs some adjustments. Even if your parents don’t have any critical issues with their mobility at the moment, talk to them about taking preventative measures.

Here are a few suggestions about adjustments you can consider:

Eliminate doorsteps.
Modify doors and hallways to make them wider.
Try to minimize the use of stairs by having a stairclimber or creating a single-level living space.
Ensure the stairs are clean and protected with non-skid treads.
Make sure the floor and all the pathways are clear to remove tripping hazards.
Add necessary changes to the bathroom: modify the bathtub into a step-in shower, add non-slip surfaces inside and outside the shower, grab bars, a shower chair, a raised toilet, etc.
Add extra lights and make the current ones easier to access.

If one of your parents has dementia or some other cognitive impairment, they’ll need more support to be safe at their home, so you will have to take some extra measures.

Health Care

Images source: https://unsplash.com/photos/wJvEIXAFUTU

Most elderly persons take their medications daily, and it’s important to be sure that they are following the doctor’s directions. Especially when there are some clear signs of cognitive decline, impaired vision, or decreased mobility, which could result in their inability to follow their routine completely on their own.

If you notice any of those, make arrangements with your parents to go to their next doctor’s appointment together, and get more information on their health needs.

Also, try to find a solution that your parents will find suitable, whether that includes using pillboxes that they will keep right next to their bed or a phone call to remind them to take their meds.

Sometimes your parent is going to need even more support, including the presence of a caregiver – their spouse, another relative, or a professional, so it’s important to have such care arranged on time.

You also need to be prepared for the cases of emergency, should your parents need to be taken care of as soon as possible. Talk to them about installing a medical alert system for seniors, so that you can rest assured that they will get help and assistance immediately.

Meal Preparation

Images source: https://unsplash.com/photos/IDTEXXXfS44

A healthy diet is essential for the physical and emotional wellbeing of your parents.

If they live alone, your parents will eventually need some support with their grocery shopping and meal preparation to be able to maintain a proper diet.

There is also a number of ways you can accommodate the kitchen to better fit the needs of older adults, and make everything, including cookware, more accessible.

Meals on Wheels can also be a solution, but if they still don’t feel like choosing such an option, fortunately, you can have food delivered to their doorstep. Either way, you’ll save them, or yourself, the trouble of driving and waiting in long lines.

Emotional Wellbeing

Images source:https://unsplash.com/photos/iIFLDQmXPiw

Living in their own home can make your parents happy only if their social and emotional needs are met too. Social isolation and loneliness are not uncommon in people of a certain age; as a matter of fact, more than a third of older adults in America admit to being lonely.

These factors pose a great risk to their quality of life and may result in many health issues, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, depression, cognitive decline, etc.

These are the issues you also need to address when caring for your elderly parent, and they’re just as important as caring for their physical wellbeing.

Talk to your parents about how they spend their days. If you find that they are mostly homebound and that they lack interaction with others or meaningful activities, look for ways to provide them with support in being socially active.

At the end of the day, the thing that matters the most to our aging parents, aside from maintaining their dignity and independence, is knowing that they’re loved and cared for. Sometimes a simple phone call or a message to ask them how they are and whether they need anything will be enough to brighten their day. Make sure to do that every day, no matter how busy you are.

Changing Surname Step By Step Process

Even though not something that is done too often, changing your surname actually isn’t all that uncommon.

Even though not something that is done too often, changing your surname actually isn’t all that uncommon. Of course, people tend to have different reasons why they’re changing their surname, but it is certainly doable.

Now, how easy you can do it, and how the process goes, does depend on where you are. For example, changing your surname in the United States can sometimes be very different from changing your surname in the UK. Changing your name in the United States also varies from state to state. For example, if you’re in California, the cost of changing your name might be different than if you are in New York. Details like location and pricing are important factors to consider when changing your name.

That being said, how is it done? Well, if that’s what you want to know, we’ve got a step-by-step process for you. Before we get to it, though, let’s take a look at the different situations that will allow you to change your surname.

What is your surname?

Your surname is actually a part of your name that you have either inherited, from your parents, or assumed, as a kind of nickname. As such, it’s not a part of the name you’re “given”, whether in baptism or otherwise.

Just like with your first name, there is nothing in the law that’s going to stop you from changing your surname, at pretty much any time. All that’s required is for you not to have any kind of fraudulent or criminal intent.

You get to choose any surname you want and use it in addition to, or as a substitution for, your current surname. There are a few things that you should know about changing it, though.

The surname also isn’t someone’s right or property. Nothing can stop you from assuming someone else’s surname. There are multiple cases to prove this, such as Dubolay v Dubolay.

When can you change your surname?

Even though you can do it at pretty much any time (with some limitations), the most common occurrence of changing your surname is when you’re getting married or divorced. When you’re getting married to your spouse, you can choose between continuing to use your surname, taking your spouse’s, or using a combination of both. This, legally speaking, is no different from changing your surname with a deed poll.

Now, getting married doesn’t oblige you to change your name. Nothing is wrong with assuming your partner’s surname, as long as you don’t have any fraudulent intention, and as long as you aren’t fraudulently claiming you’re married, when in fact, you aren’t.

When getting divorced, you can either choose to keep your married name, or you can go back to your maiden name. Also, when getting married for the second time, you can also choose to keep the married name from your previous marriage.

Are there any limitations?

To prevent abuse, there are certain limitations to changing one’s surname. For example, if a child is under 16 years old, only one change of surname is allowed, as well as one change of forename. And if there is a registered change of forename in infancy, the child doesn’t have a right to change their forename until they’re 16 years old.

For persons that are 16 years old, or over, up to three changes of the surname may be recorded. However, again, to prevent abuse, there must be a period of five years between successive surname changes. Note that these laws apply in the UK, other places might have different limitations in place.

So, how do you change your surname?

As mentioned earlier, you can change your surname during marriage or divorce. If you do this during the marriage, you shall use your new surname when signing your marriage license. However, if it’s done during divorce, you can ask your attorney to take care of this for you, and they should be able to revert you to your maiden name.

If it is done outside of these circumstances, you can change your surname with a deed poll. A deed poll is a declaration of your intent to assume a change of your surname, and as such, is evidence that you have done the change in good faith. You can use the deed poll to update your documents and records, and thus show you’re using your name publicly.

That’s it – it’s actually quite a bit simpler than you might think, but changing your surname can be done pretty quickly.

Ways to Enhance Your Beauty as a Busy Mom

Moms that work and all moms, in general, don’t get enough credit for what they are doing, which is work all the time, and most of that isn’t paid it’s for the family. During the busiest and most stressful weeks, it looks like that moms work more than 98 hours a week. So it is super important to spend some time pampering yourself to feel as beautiful as you can.

Eat Healthy Snacks

During those hard busy days having snacks is important because if you don’t, you will get hungry. When hunger hits you, if you don’t have some healthy food near you, of course, you will eat whatever you can find near you. To avoid those moments, prepare some healthy snacks for the upcoming week. Having a healthy snack will give you more energy and keep you from gaining unwanted pounds, and most important of them all, it will make you feel more beautiful and good about yourself. These Lactation Bites are delicious bite-sized snacks that include wholesome ingredients and beneficial herbs to give lasting energy. They’re also full of antioxidants and galactagogues which help Moms produce more breastmilk.

Sleep As Much As You Can

As we all know, sleep is essential. Most moms get only 5 to 6 hours of sleep per night. But that is not enough rest for a woman that works all day every day. Not getting enough sleep will affect how much you eat, how you look and how you feel. Moms need beauty sleep too. It is very important that you get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. With a good night’s sleep, not only will your body be thankful, but your skin and face will have a magical glow.

Always Wear SPF

Most moms don’t have the time to go out on a ton of different moisturizers every morning. But wearing SPF will protect your skin from sun damage and skin cancer. So before you start skipping on putting SPF, look for BB or CC creams that have SPF in them, with that you are putting foundation and SPF at the same time. With this step in the morning, you will not only protect your skin, but you will also enhance your beauty.

Moisturize Your Hands

Moms are always cleaning, washing dishes, doing laundry, and because of that, your hands will suffer. Because of that, you need to be moisturizing them all the time. Put little tubes of hand creams into places that are easily reached, like your purse, car, desk drawer, or cabinet. Keeping up with moisturizing your hands will make your hands feel and look amazing. And we all know that ladies feel most beautiful if their hands are smooth and nice looking.

Save Time by Getting Eyelash Extensions

This is one of the best time-saving beauty tips for moms. Getting eyelash extensions, you are saving time every morning because you don’t have to spend time putting mascara on and putting fake eyelashes. Lash extensions are out in your current natural eyelashes. Many women who get lash extensions don’t wear any eye makeup at all, because they are such beauty on their own. They won’t leak and smudge as mascara will, and you will have fuller and more curled lashes. All you need to do is get high quality mink lash extensions, and you will feel the most beautiful even right after you get out of bed.

These are some easy, quick, and practical beauty tips and products in mind as you go about your hectic mom’s life. As a mom, you need to take a few minutes every day to take care of and pamper yourself, and that will do miracles for both your inner and outer self.

Guest Blogger Bio

Maggie Holmes is a passionate blogger keen on writing about beauty and fashion. Her exclusive hobby is to surf the net to find amazing articles that can inspire her with some fresh ideas for article writing. She loathes being a common person who wastes her time.

You can follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MaggieH04666334

How to Detox Your Beauty Routine in 5 Steps

Read on to learn more about beauty routine detox.

Our beauty routine changes as we get older, which is quite understandable considering that our needs aren’t the same when we’re teenagers, so it’s only logical to change products that we use. There are so many various beauty products, that choosing something appropriate shouldn’t be hard, yet the biggest issues with a lot of these products are their ingredients. Unfortunately, not many people know how to read them, so they often end up using products that can be quite harmful to their skin and hair.

Therefore, in order to get the maximum out of your beauty routine, it’s sometimes necessary to do a bit of detox so you can be sure that you’re using the right products, so for that reason here are some tips that will help you make that happen:

1. Cut out the fragrances

Fragrances (often labeled as “parfum”) are the staple part of almost every ingredients list, and their main and only purpose is to provide you with a pleasant smell and also to cover the smells from more aggressive chemical ingredients. Since almost everyone loves floral and fruity scents in their products, it’s easy to see why brands still stick to adding fragrances. Yet, for some, these same fragrances can be the cause of allergic reactions, so if you’re looking to detox your beauty routine, the safest place to start is to switch to skincare and haircare products that are completely fragrance-free.

2. Learn to read the ingredients

Reading the ingredients can be quite hard, especially if you weren’t that keen on chemistry lessons at school. But, in order to understand what your product consists of, you should at least learn to recognize the ingredients that could potentially be harmful to your hair and skin. Also, it’s important to remember that the ingredients are placed in descending order of concentration, meaning that the most concentrated ones are always on top, so if you ever see drying alcohol or parabens near the top of the list, it’s better to skip buying that product.

3. Focus on plant-based and organic products

There is a difference between natural and organic products, and it’s totally up to you to decide which is your cup of tea. Still, if you’re looking to change your beauty routine, it would be great if you could try using products that contain more plant extracts and fewer synthetic ingredients. This can be especially important when choosing hair care products, as they’re often full of complicated ingredients that tend to weigh your hair down and cause buildup on your scalp.

If you are prone to hair greasiness and buildup, then you should consider getting an eco-friendly and allergy certified oily hair shampoo that will leave your scalp clean and your locks bouncy and shiny. Aggressive shampoos can strip off your scalp of its natural oils which can only cause further oiling, as your scalp works to make up for everything that’s been lost by using a sulfate-heavy shampoo.

4. Determine your needs

Every person had different needs and preferences, so for example, a skincare junkie would find great pleasure in Korean 10-step beauty routine, while an ultra-busy mom who juggles multiple tasks will benefit from a simpler skincare routine. So, in order to make your beauty routine simpler, first, you need to realize what is that you need. If you’re too busy (or lazy), then there’s no point in buying too many products that you won’t use. The best tip would be to start with the basics and then add other products if you feel like you need them.

5. Don’t overspend

Some natural and eco-friendly products are a bit more expensive than the mainstream ones, but that price is mostly due to their quality ingredients and ethical manufacturing practices. Yet, there’s no need to overspend, especially if you’re unsure whether these products are the right for you. In case you want to try a certain cream or a cleanser, then it’s best to buy a mini or travel-sized bottle, as these are more than enough to make sure whether these products are worth buying or not.

In conclusion, detoxing your beauty routine is necessary, especially if you’re suffering from certain conditions that simply won’t go away. Still, reading the ingredients and monitoring your skin and hair are the best ways to make sure that you’re using the right products that are beneficial to you.

5 Things You Can Do To Stay Alive When Trapped In Fire

Getting out of a high rise building that is on fire can seem impossible. But if you stop panicking and start thinking straight you might find ways to protect yourself from the damage. Here are a few things you can do when trapped in fire:

Close all the doors and windows between you and the fire

If you are at a safe distance from the fire, make sure you close all the doors and windows that are between you and the fire. Fresh oxygen might make it easier for you to breathe, but it also feeds the fire and makes it grow. To block all the paths between the fire and you and seal out the smoke from entering the place where you are trapped.

Notify the fire authorities

Once you have secured your location, make it a point to notify the local fire authorities. Give them your address and let them know where you are trapped so that they can locate you efficiently. Installing a smoke alarm or a fire protection system like abv phel can help in detecting such fires before they cause any damage and will also signal the fire authorities to take action.

Cover the vents and cracks in doors and windows

Even after closing the doors and windows between you and the fire, you can still be exposed to some smoke if there are vents and cracks in them. So try your best to close these vents and cracks before the smoke causes any harm to your health. Look for blankets, towels, sheets, or any other cloth that you can use to block the smoke from getting through these vents and cracks. Run the cloth under cold water and stuff it around the cracks and vents. This will keep the smoke out until the rescuers come for you.

Help Rescuers Locate You

If you haven’t been able to call 9-11, wave a light-colored cloth or a flashlight at the window to signal rescuers. You can also hang a sheet or cloth outside the window. You can open the window slightly until the rescuers see you. But make it a point to close it back if the smoke condition becomes worse.

Filter the air that you inhale

Heat and smoke tend to rise up whenever a fire breaks out. Staying low will help you reduce the amount of smoke that you inhale. If this isn’t helping much you can even use a mask to filter the air that you inhale. You can also wet cloth and cover your nose and mouth with it if you don’t have a smoke mask. It may not be perfect, but it will still help you filter the air that you breathe until the rescuers save you.

One thing you should avoid at all costs when trapped in a fire is getting out through the roof. By doing so, you will only be exposing yourself to the rising smoke, while limiting the options of your rescuers to save you.

Ways to Tackle Common Household Allergens

Nowadays, our homes are filled with a lot of allergens makes our lives miserable. A home should be a place you feel safe and relaxed, but these allergens can prevent that. However, you can tackle the common allergens in your home in various ways.

Be smart when dusting

Mold, pollen, and dust particles are the most common allergens in our homes. During dusting, make sure that you start cleaning from the top toward the bottom. This helps in avoiding the dust from spreading to cleaned areas. Remember also that you will need more than a cloth or feather duster to remove dust. You can use damp microfiber cloths, as they will hold the dust. Clean blinds, curtains, and ceiling fans.

Remember the filters

Ensure that your filters are clean and in good shape. These include filters in the air conditioning units and air conditioning and heating system.

If you don’t have filters in your home, consider adding them. You can get an air filter with HEPA if you have a single room. You can turn your air conditioning and heating system into a filter system that serves the entire home.

Cover and wash your pillows

Pillows tend to host dust mites. You need washable pillow covers. You should wash them every three weeks. Some pillows can also be dry cleaned or washed every four months.

Clean your home often

Consider vacuuming your home with a HEPA filter every week. This will eliminate indoor allergens like pet dander and dust mites. When cleaning around the books section, use an electronic or microfiber cloth. This will trap the dust and not just move them around. Remember to use a filter mask when cleaning since dust will fill the air.

As much as possible, avoid placing your carpet such that it extends wall to wall. Hardwood floors can be easier to clean because dust can be seen during cleaning. You can also clean with washable area rugs.

Having a clean home is crucial, but most people are always busy, which makes it impossible to clean their homes. That’s why it is wise to get Bennetts services to get your home sparkling clean and remove all allergens.

Avoid pet’s dander

Pets spend most of their time indoors during winter as we do. Pet allergens can be found in dog’s or cat’s dander and in the saliva. You can reduce the danger that they shed by bathing your pets every week.

Avoidance is crucial when it comes to animal allergies. However, you can wash your hands with water and soap after petting a dog or cat. Keep your pets out of the bedroom and vacuum carpet regularly to avoid allergens, the best vacuums for pet hair are much better for this than regular vacuums.

Check humidity levels

Since air is dry during winter, most people use a humidifier to add some moisture. If you use humidifiers to avoid dryness, remember to check the humidity levels. Failing to do so will be creating a perfect environment that dust mites and mold can grow in number. You need a humidity meter to keep the moisture level in check. The recommended humidity level is 50%. You can use a dehumidifier when required and a vent fan for you to eliminate moisture in the kitchen and bathrooms.

Reduce the pollen entering your home

You can keep pollen away from your home by ensuring that the windows remain closed. Avoid entering your home with shoes on or at least have a doormat to wipe your shoes before entering. You can also prevent humidity by ensuring that the temperatures are cool. Dust mites do well with high humidity.

Clean vents

Allergens can be found anywhere in your home. This includes vents. Cleaning the dryer vent helps in reducing the allergens. Clean the air ducts every year as dust mites, pet hair, and others can build up there. You will be sure that you are inhaling clean air when you switch on the heating and air conditioning system.

Get Mold Services

If you find that there are molds in your home, the chances are that it will bring allergies to your family. This will affect their health. When you can see visible signs that the mold is affecting your health, consider getting a mold removal service. The company will test your home and offer you the best action plan.

Use medications

The best step you can apply to tackle household allergens is to be aware of your allergy’s triggers. This will help in taking preventative measures. Medications usually eliminate allergy symptoms and make you enjoy staying at home. Consult your doctor on the right options you can take.

Conclusion

Allergens can make our home unbearable to stay in, but with the right steps on how to tackle them, you can make it much more comfortable. Apply the tips above to reduce allergens and keep your family healthy.