Author: Rebecca Alston

5 Healthy Habits For Busy Parents

If you’re new to parenting or are a master at managing time, you know that having healthy habits is the key to staying sane, staying strong, and oh yeah—staying healthy.

Plus, you’re not just thinking about yourself. You’re looking at all the ways that your actions positively affect your partner and children.

Most parents realize that they are setting the standard by what they think, say, and do. And, it’s not that we have to be a perfect specimen without flaws. Heck no. We are human beings. We will mess up and muck around sometimes. 

But in the big picture, we all want to live well and live quality lives to a ripe old age. We want to be there to see our babies grow up, go to college, get married, and have kids of their own. 

So, what can you do today to create the healthiest habits for yourself and your family? 

Here are 5 tips to steer in a smart and healthy direction.

Drink More Water

As human beings, we are made up of a large part of water. The only thing is, we tend to forget this until we’re thirsty. One of the most important things you can do is drink water. Drink it early in the day. Drink it often. Drink it instead of sugary stuff. Drink it and get your family in the habit of choosing water. 

It’s a single thing you can do. You might want to have a sip right now. 

Use Stainless Steel Cookware

We’ve all heard about the nasty stuff in aluminum pans. It’s not what you want to share with your precious loved ones. Choosing stainless steel saucepans is a smart way to feel good about what you’re cooking. You will keep your family healthy and safe.

Plus, you’ll make the most delicious sauces for healthy meals. Pasta with tomato sauce, anyone?

Eat Your Greens

If there’s one thing that you can do to help yourself and your family, it’s eating more produce. Eat greens that you’re getting locally—at a farmer’s market, or self-pick farm. Choose seasonal produce to keep things interesting and in tune with the changes in the seasons.

We often tend to model the habits of people around us. No doubt you notice this with your children. If you are picking away greens, guess what your kids will do? If you are pushing produce off the plate in favor of starchy foods, your kids will follow suit.

By eating more greens, you will naturally eat less meat. You’re building a healthy habit and nurturing yourself and those around you. 

In addition to eating healthy, it’s advisable to take some dietary supplements as well, to ensure that you’re getting enough vitamins and minerals on a daily basis. There are a lot of different brands available in the stores, but not all of them are equally good. Make sure to check the label with ingredients before making the purchase. Supplements with natural ingredients, such as Nature’s Happiness, are a great choice.

Get Active

Staying healthy goes well beyond the kitchen. One of the most powerful habits you can build is getting active and staying active. 

You can do this alone, with your partner or spouse, and with your children. Many families find that by exercising together, they have quality time to connect, play, and stay healthy.

If you’re short on ideas, talk to other parents. Take a look around your neighborhood. Make a point of talking to people who are exercising and staying active. Find out what they did to get started. How did they get and stay motivated? Explore different activities in your community. Is there a park, walkway, or hiking trail to go on? 

Additionally, look for opportunities to make exercise a group activity. Perhaps there is a community center or local group that already has activities planned. You may meet other parents and children, expand your network, and boost your activity levels. 

Link To Other Habits

The interesting thing about healthy habits is that they support each other. If you do one, you’re more inclined to do another. In other words, if you’re drinking more water, you may be choosing fewer sweet sugary drinks. If you’re eating more greens, you’re likely eating fewer nasty fats. If you’re getting and staying active, you’re not modeling being a couch potato for your kids.

In addition to healthy habits supporting more healthy habits, there’s another secret to staying healthy. Start small. Start to link on new habits to ones you’re already doing. For instance, drink a sip of water while you brush your teeth. Drink a bottle of water while you exercise. By linking up new efforts with existing ones, you’re boosting your overall health—and healthy habits.

Five Struggles That Most Women Can Relate To

Today’s woman is faced with just as many struggles as she had fifty years ago, but many things have changed as to what exactly those struggles are. Everywhere you look there is gender bias, fights over reproductive rights, differences in equality in the workplace, and the list goes on. 

It seems there is so much that women fight through on a daily basis that it’s a wonder how they can still show up every day and be the amazing career women, moms, and just overall people that they can be. Let’s look at some of the struggles today’s women may deal with, so they all know they’re not alone.

Questioning If She Still Has “It”

With the ridiculous beauty standards set by society, many women are faced with self-esteem issues on a regular basis. Especially as women get older and go through body changes, having children, menopause, or other issues, they may constantly question if they are still attractive and appealing to their partners, or even just want to feel better for themselves. 

The best ways to combat this? First, ignore what society sets as beauty standards, as they are completely unrealistic. Make sure you are taking care of yourself and your body. And tune in — your body will tell you what it needs and when it is feeling good. Don’t hesitate to ask your friends, partner, or family for a reality check.

Managing a Good Work/Life Balance

A great career is high on everyone’s list. But so is having a great family life, and spending as much time as possible with your kids, partner, friends, and family. Many women struggle with finding a great balance in between. 

What’s important to meet this goal is to learn when to say no. You may want to be all things to all people, but first, you need to work on being all things for yourself. Also, if at all possible, don’t take work home. Or if you work from home, don’t let it leave the office that you work in.

Wanting to Be the Best Mom Ever

When mamahood takes over, sometimes it’s all we can think about. It’s easy to get lost in the spiral of questioning if what you’re doing is best for your child, how to set a good example, how to raise them right, and many other checkmarks you want to make sure you have. One of the best things you can do to teach your children right, though? Take care of yourself. 

Children, especially young children, learn best by copying. If they see you stressed out, they’re likely to be in more grumpy moods themselves. The next best thing you can do to be a great mom is to spend time with your children. Play with them, interact with them, get on their level and they will know how much you care.

Refusing to Let Emotions Be Emotions

Everyone feels a little down sometimes, or not quite themselves. More and more people in the nation are suffering from undiagnosed depression. Emotions are a natural part of life, and even these types of emotions should be addressed and acknowledged. It’s when these down emotions hang on for a long time that it’s important to talk to someone. 

Going to a counselor, talking it out with a friend, or even seeing a therapist is nothing to be ashamed of and is a part of taking care of yourself. You may even want to explore alternative therapies, as well. For those who may be wondering what is TMS for depression, this novel solution has been shown to be very promising in treating it. People who have tried this type of therapy have reported up to a 58% success rate in relieving depressive symptoms.

Being Taken Seriously

It’s happened to all of us and we all hate it: the dreaded mansplaining. Whether at work or in your daily life, it’s likely that you’ve encountered someone who wasn’t willing to listen to you or take you seriously. Sometimes it may even be the people closest to you who seem to be the worst culprits. 

If this happens, don’t be afraid to express your dislike calmly and clearly. The person speaking to you this way may not even realize they’re doing it. And if they continue, you can always walk away. You know your agenda; you don’t have to prove it to anyone else.

It’s no secret that being a woman comes with its own struggles, but please remember to show a little bit of compassion to yourself. At the end of the day, we’re all in this together, and knowing you’re not alone? It can make all the difference in both your mental well-being and your happiness.

5 Reasons to Book a Family Vacation to Key West

Planning a family vacation is tough when everyone has different interests. But that’s what makes Key West such a great choice for your next family get-away. From up-close opportunities to interact with nature and restful beach days to a wide range of exciting cuisines–whether you enjoy familiar favorites or prefer adventurous meals–the city of Key West, FL has the activities and amenities for every family’s need.

 

1.  Even Novice Snorkelers Can Enjoy Dry Tortugas National Park

While some visitors to Dry Tortugas National Park go because they enjoy visiting historical sites like Fort Jefferson or kayaking around the small keys where shorebirds make their home, the park’s biggest draw is the snorkeling. And while there are plenty of places to enjoy this sport around Key West, perhaps none is more popular with novice snorkelers than this national park. The waters are crystal clear and shallow enough for comfort. Visitors swim among exciting underwater sites like coral reefs and aged shipwrecks. There’s even a nocturnal snorkeling program that allows swimmers to see first-hand how active ocean life can be at night. For anyone in the family who’d prefer to stay dry, Dry Tortugas National Park offers a small beach area and a great opportunity to get panoramic views of the water and the park from the fort’s surrounding wall.

 

2.  Explore New Foods From Around the World and Familiar Favorites with Ease

Visiting Key West opens up the world of exciting foods without needing your passport. Try Santiago’s Bodega for an authentic tapas-style menu for lunch and dinner. Guests rave about the shrimp and chorizo dishes, as well as the croquettas and the spicy lentil soup. The mini quesadillas are always a crowd-pleaser, too. Santiago’s warm and welcoming dining room features reclaimed wood and recycled stained glass windows, too, giving it an old-world feel that’s still fresh and exciting. All along Key West’s Duval Street and the smaller side roads, you’ll find restaurants like Santiago’s Bodega, serving the best Italian, Spanish, Caribbean, Vietnamese, French, and Peruvian favorites, as well as popular American classics like fresh lobster roll from Eaton Street Seafood Market. Located in Old Town Key West, this restaurant offers outdoor seating and a take-out menu offering fresh-caught, made-to-order dishes. Enjoy the expertly prepared conch fritters, fish sandwiches, and fish tacos that keep visitors coming back.

 

3.  A Fishing Charter Makes Family Bonding Fun

The quickest way to make kids roll their eyes is to suggest a family bonding activity. But booking a fishing charter allows everyone to enjoy an activity together without any pressure, which allows all members of the family to relax and enjoy the experience. A fishing charter can be tailored to your preferences, from a half- or full-day trip to deep water, wreck, reef or flats fishing. All In Fishing Charters’ boat captain and crew ensure that guests have everything they need for a successful expedition, from rods and reels to bait and tackle. All you need to bring is a packed lunch and sunscreen. The skilled crew can provide guidance if needed, and the captain’s expertise ensures you’ll be right where the action is, whether you’re fishing for grouper, tuna, mahi or any of the other delicious fish that frequent the waters around Key West.

 

4.  Enjoy Beach Days for All

Whether you enjoy sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling or just building sandcastles, Key West’s beaches have something to make it a great beach day for everyone. Even though it’s a small city, Key West offers four public beaches open to visitors. Guests on the island can also enjoy the beach at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, which describes its beach as the largest in Key West. Most beaches offer chair and umbrella rentals, as well as snorkeling gear rentals. Travelers who bring their pups with them should check out Dog Beach in particular, where four-legged friends are welcome.

 

5.  Book Custom Experiences

If you’re planning a trip to Key West to recognize a milestone birthday or accomplishment, there are a couple of great ways to make the experience even sweeter. Consider booking a customized picnic experience with Key West Picnic Company. Discuss your dream picnic with them for an amazing, one-of-a-kind experience. In addition to a basket packed with food, you may get luxury linens and pillows to sit on, real cutlery and plates, and even a Bluetooth speaker for a little light music. Or book tickets on a sunset sail to nowhere. Several sailboats offer evening cruises out of Key West and back again. Guests are typically served light snacks and beer, wine or liquor. There’s usually live or recorded music to enhance the evening and set the mood, too. It’s a great way to honor a graduate, mark a wedding anniversary or celebrate a big birthday.

 

Take some of the stress out of planning your next family vacation and arrange to spend it in Key West. There are activities to suit any intensity level and a range of opportunities that foster togetherness. Discover why so many families choose Key West.

How to Choose a Newborn Baby Stroller

It is such an adorable thing to choose a stroller for your baby. When you take out your baby for the first time to show the world, you will need a good stroller to rely on. It is a crucial decision for you, as you would need it often for your baby’s outing. Selecting the right stroller is going to help you in a lot of ways. It makes it easier to carry your baby on tour on regular days. Whether you visit a mall, to a party, or to take a stroll out on the street, a stroller can make your life easier. Choosing a newborn baby stroller for the first time can be challenging for you. Plus, you need to be particular about the quality and the safety because it is for your baby. So you must know how to choose a baby stroller before directly selecting any of them. Here is a complete guide about a baby stroller, from its types to essential features.

What are the different types of strollers?

There are various kinds of strollers ideal for different situations like jogging, traveling, or walking. Here is a rundown of the major types.

  • All-purpose stroller

Also popular as a full-time stroller, an all-purpose stroller is useful for all the activities. From taking a walk and going out on a trip, it is the ideal stroller for your daily use and is the most preferable when you want it for all purposes. It’s a multipurpose stroller that offers a smooth ride along with additional features like a string basket, cup holders, and seat recline. However, some of the full-time strollers are heavy and bulky, and it might not be easy to fold them. But it is not the case with all of them. They are available in different price ranges, from hundreds to thousands. Some of them also offer the feature to change the direction of the seat.

  • Lightweight Stroller

Also known as umbrella strollers, these weigh less than your regular strollers. You can easily lift them and can take them anywhere, keeping them in your car trunk. They are slimmer than other strollers and are ideal to pass through thin doorways and busy sidewalks. They are also a perfect fit for traveling. You can fold them, and some of them are so small that they can fit in overhead airplane bins. You can choose from a wide range of prices that offer cheap to the best quality baby strollers. 

  • Jogging Stroller

These strollers are perfectly ideal for you if you want to take your baby on a ride while you are out jogging. They are perfect for bumpy, uneven levels as they absorb the bouncing that happens during riding fast. If you know where to buy baby strollers, you can look out for this type and can make a difference in your jogging routine with your baby.

  • Double Stroller

It is an incredible stroller for twins or two close babies. You can choose from two designs; there are side by side -doubles and in line. There is a convertible stroller- you can turn them into a double stroller whenever needed.

  • Travel Systems

These systems come with a stroller and a car seat that you can attach right to it. The benefit is you can use them right from your baby’s birth, second-when your baby is sleeping, you do not have to wake it up to transfer to the stroller.

Features to consider when looking for a baby stroller?

  • Certification- You should make sure that the stroller you are choosing has a brand name and logo. It should be certified by the JPMA.
  • Wheels- The large wheels are ideal for a baby stroller when you want to take it out for long walks and bumpy grounds. At the same time, the small wheels are suitable for the city roads. Consider the wheel size according to your requirement.
  • Amortization- This is a crucial thing to consider while buying one; amortization prevents any shocks to affect your baby. It is essential for your baby as they cannot control their neck and spine at their age.
  • Breaks- A friendly newborn baby stroller should have the capability of locking both wheels simultaneously. You may need breaks in a situation where you have to stop the stroller suddenly.

5 Natural Ways To Reduce Symptoms Of Menopause

Women who reach their late 40s and early 50s will naturally experience the symptoms of menopause due to the inability of the body to produce estrogen. The body goes through different stages namely, perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. During these stages, women may experience different signs and symptoms that usually do not need medical treatment. However, menopausal women are also vulnerable to health complications such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Hence, some symptoms can have serious health problems and require medical attention.

While menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, weight gain, chills, night sweats, sleep problems, and mood swings could last for months and even years, there are natural remedies that will alleviate these irritable symptoms. Furthermore, natural remedies are the best option for women who do not want to undergo estrogen therapy.

1.Prevent Osteoporosis By Eating Foods Rich In Calcium And Vitamin D

When the body stops producing estrogen, menopausal women become vulnerable to osteoporosis. During menopause, bones can weaken due to hormonal changes, thus, it is vital to consume foods that give nutrients to your bones.  Calcium-rich foods such as fish, dairy, and green leafy vegetables can easily be obtained in the market. Moreover, cereals, fruit juices, and soya drinks are fortified with calcium. Vitamin D intake, on the other hand, can strengthen your bones and highly prevent fractures. Sunlight is the main source of Vitamin D, however, there are food supplements such as fish oil or cod oil that are also fortified with Vitamin D.

Vitamin D deficiency not only affects bone health but also is linked to cancer and chronic diseases. While there is much expensive therapy such as anticonvulsants and menopausal hormone therapy, the need for an inexpensive alternative therapy should be a high priority. Hence, treating vitamin D deficiency could eliminate the symptoms of menopause. Furthermore, vitamin D deficiency is also attributed to mood disturbances and musculoskeletal aches.

2.Consume Black Cohosh Herb

Black Cohosh is used to treat menopausal women who experience night sweats. It helps relieve the body of sleep disturbance as well as prevent mood changes. Fortunately, Black Cohosh is already in tablet or capsule form, hence it can easily be obtained.  As with other food supplements, it is always crucial to talk to your doctor before taking Black Cohosh as this may cause interference with your other medications.

3.Consider An Acupuncture Therapy

Acupuncture is another natural remedy for menopause that has essential benefits. It is a treatment that alleviates conditions relating to anxiety, hormonal imbalances, insomnia, and mood irritability. When you go through the treatment, acupuncture balances your hormones to improve your emotional wellbeing. In some medications, acupuncture is combined with aromatherapy to improve your health during the menopausal stage.

Acupuncture as a therapeutic alternative in treating menopausal symptoms has effectively treated menopausal women who are in the perimenopausal stage. Moreover, acupuncture therapy is safe and effective in treating hormonal fluctuation and other various health conditions.

4.Practice Relaxation And Controlled Breathing

Relaxation is very important for women who are already experiencing the negative impact of menopause. While this may be an easy thing to do, a lot of women are having a hard time controlling their mind and emotions. During menopause, factors that trigger your symptoms are inevitable, however, you need to get familiar with your breathing pattern. To do this, you need to go to a quiet location and free yourself from anxiety and worries.

Mental imagery relaxation is a type of relaxation that focuses on creating positive thoughts and affirming positive talks. You need to identify negative thoughts and transform this negativity into positive ones. On the other hand, progressive muscle relaxation can be done by letting go of all the tensions in your body, take a few deep breaths and exhale slowly. In this way, you are able to process your emotions and eventually create a positive feeling.

Since menopausal women tend to be emotional and depressed, the practice of slow breathing helps decrease fatigue and stress. Daily repetitions of slow breathing techniques reduce the symptoms.

5.Include Regular Exercise In Your Daily Routine

When you are already in your menopausal stage, it is most important to develop a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise. It will not only benefit your body by minimizing the effects of menopause but exercise will also improve your overall health. With regular physical activity combined with a healthy diet, you will eliminate the possibility of gaining weight. Depending on your body needs, you can do so many physical activities that will strengthen your cardio, burn body fats, and strengthen your bones.

Yoga and meditation are also effective in dealing with menopause because they promote relaxation and relief. Consistent yoga practice promotes better blood circulation throughout the body. Yoga is also associated with eliminating weight gain, improving mental focus and emotional stability.

 

When should you see a dentist for an emergency tooth removal?

It’s difficult to tell which dental problems are accidents because there are so many different types. Having to wait a day and seeing the dentist in more extreme situations can be the difference between leaving the tooth and losing it. Don’t know how to tell what’s important and what can wait? Look out for these signs to know when you need to visit an emergency dental clinic.

Discomfort or sensitivity 

The newly crowned tooth could be fragile right just after surgery when the anesthesia wears off. If the crowned tooth still has a nerve in it, you can sense heat and cold sensitivity. Your dentist can advise you to clean your teeth with such a toothpaste that is designed for sensitive teeth. When biting down, any pain or sensitivity means that the crown would be too far forward on the teeth. If the problem persists, your dentist can recommend a new dental crown.

 

Experiencing toothache

Gum disease and inflammation can cause unexplained, chronic, and serious toothaches. Try any at-home remedies first if the pain is mild. However, if the pain persists or becomes more severe, you can contact an emergency dentist. You might have had an abscessed tooth in the worst-case scenario. If there is indeed a lump on the tooth that gives you discomfort, feel along the gums. Fever, tooth irritation, and swelling of the mouth or face are some of the other symptoms to look out for. Find an emergency dental clinic as soon as possible if you have either of these signs.

 

Chipped crown

All-porcelain crowns are accessible, as well as porcelain modified to metal crowns, some of which are effortlessly chipped. If the chip is minor, it can be repaired with a composite resin while the crown remains in the mouth as a temporary replacement. If the chipping is still beyond repair, the dentist will ask you to remove the crown. In this scenario, it becomes necessary for you to immediately start locating emergency dentist nearby.

 

Crowded tooth

To avoid crowding, your dentist can recommend tooth extraction if you already have more teeth than your jaw can accommodate. Some patients, for example, will have a tooth pulled for orthodontic purposes in order to maintain a straight face. Any dentists and orthodontists would rather not have to remove a tooth before starting orthodontic treatment. It could, however, be appropriate for certain patients, and hence in such cases, tooth extraction may be necessary.

 

Loose crown

The cement throughout the crown will also wash away, causing the crown to loosen. It not only causes the crown to loosen, but it also enables bacteria to enter the tooth and induce decay. If a crown feels weak, get it repaired or removed as quickly as possible.

 

Abnormal Teeth Development 

When multiple teeth get affected or fail to emerge from the gums, abnormal tooth development happens. Infections and diseases associated with discomfort and gum irritation are more prevalent in teeth that have been affected. If you have either of these signs, you can seek treatment at a nearby hospital that offers emergency tooth extraction. When there isn’t enough space in the jaws, wisdom teeth get entrapped. As a result, wisdom teeth get lodged in the gums or force other teeth out of the way.

These problems are more common in people who have wisdom teeth. The majority of people grow wisdom teeth and have them without problems, while others are unable to hold them and may have them extracted. If your kid is experiencing sudden abnormal teeth development, you must take him or her to a pediatric dentist Voorhees NJ.

 

Crown falls off

The crown may come loose for various reasons, including deterioration of the existing tooth and loosening of the cementing substance. If anything happens to you, you’ll need to scrub both the crown and the front of your teeth. A dentist will be using a temporary tooth cement or dental glue to replace it temporarily. For long-term outcomes, the dentists will provide detailed guidance about taking care of the tooth and crown. A dentist may decide to re-cement the crown or replace it with a new one.

 

Allergic reaction 

Many people can develop allergic reactions to the metal used in crowns. This is extremely rare; however, if this happens, opt for another material for the new crown.

 

The appearance of dark line on crowned tooth 

A faint indentation along its gum line of your crowned tooth is normal if you have a porcelain-fused-to-metal crown. The crown’s metal seems to have been visible across this dark line. This is not really a problem in and of itself, and you need to visit a dentist and ask him to remove it if you do like the way it looks. If you need a recommendation, you can get fillings from the Dentist in Clifton.

 

Make sure if you or any one of your loved ones is facing any of these issues, you must visit the dentist immediately.

6 Easy Projects to Prep Your Home For Spring

You’ve probably discovered some of your solutions for getting your home or business in Tip-Top shape for the sunny season. However, we have looked into some of the best 6 easy projects to prep you for spring. Pests and many other pesky critters always want to enjoy the summer indoors. Bugs of all different varieties seek shelter in the confines of your home or workplace.

A smaller but equally annoying pest is the tunnel-digging underground inhabitants, the ant. The Argentine ant is a nuisance pest in and around homes, building its nests and constantly scavenging for food. Indoor nesting sites where ants decide to build nests include wall voids, cabinets, and appliances, behind door and window frames, and under floors and foundations. Redding Spray, which is pest control in redding California, suggests that you check all of your pest control, weed control, and lawn care needs before spring and summer to keep out these unwanted visitors.

1. Keep the Outside Food-Related Areas Clean

The ants can access food in some of the most curious yet popular feeding sites. Keep grill areas clean, lids on your trash cans, and maintain gardens. Rodents are also a big challenge in many homes throughout the country. Norway rats, roof rats, Mice, Moles, Voles, Ground squirrels, are a few of the smaller pests that want to snuggle in the warmer places in your home. Some things that draw these animals to your home are Open trash cans and recycling bins, Gardens and fruit trees, Leaking pipes and fixtures, and more. These rodents love eating any crumbs or residual food left out, and once they infiltrate your home they can be very difficult to remove. This can be infuriating for homeowners that look in cupboards or cabinets only to find animal droppings! They also love our yards, like mice, rats, and other rodents hide under woodpiles and brush piles. They prefer ground cover and tall grass and overgrown gardens. They have even adapted to living in our temperature-controlled homes and businesses.

2. Keeping a Clean Area Inside

This is another one of the best ways to prevent nuisance animals whether you’re protecting a home, office, warehouse, school, or hospital. Keeping kitchens and other high traffic areas free of food and debris will ensure the level of cleanliness needed to keep pests out. It might be challenging, but always sweep up residue from food or crumbs off the floor!

3. Have Your Home or Business Inspected by a Professional

A thorough inspection of your property alerts people to a possible pest problem that is affecting your home or workplace. This inspection allows a professional to develop a customized treatment plan for your home.

4. Find Repair Leaky Pipes, Sinks, Tubs, and Clogged Gutters

Creatures take advantage of any moist damp areas they can find. It is best to repair any leaks that can be a breeding ground or water source for bugs or animals that want in your home! Many ants enjoy moist locations and especially spills in the house.

5. Pick Up or Purchase a Stand for Your Pet’s Food Bowls

Critters love leftovers from animals, as well as your beloved pooches dog chow. Make sure to pick up your pet’s leftover food once they finish eating, to keep any rodents or bugs away.

6. Remove Excess Landfill from Your Surrounding Home

Rodents love burrowing close to their food source. Take excess precautions in keeping your yard free of large vegetation deposits. These areas can harbor freeloading rodents that live close to your home or business.

When talking about prepping our home or business for spring, there are a couple of key things to focus on when striving to keep pests out. These are just a few of the solutions that may take extra work, but the reward is surely worth it. Having a pest and bug-free residential or commercial property brings about peace of mind and higher quality of life. Follow our 6 easy projects to prep your home or business for spring

7 Fun Arts and Crafts Activities to Keep Kids Entertained Without Electronics

Nowadays, it’s easy to find anything that can help distract your kids. Most of the time, this distraction will involve electronic gadgets.

Although it’s easy to rely on devices to entertain your kids, you should refrain from letting them spend their time on these gadgets. Meanwhile, you should do your best to engage with them.

You should find arts and crafts activities to do with them. That’s because such activities can help with their development.


Courtesy Of AGS Scientific

That said, here are seven arts and crafts activities you can do to keep your kids entertained.

Raised Salt Painting

Raised salt painting is an exciting twist to the usual activity of painting. All you need to have with you to do will be glue, salt, watercolor paint (liquid), or even food coloring if you don’t have liquid watercolor paint.

First, you draw an image using glue. After that, cover the glue drawings with salt. Make sure that you cover all possible sides of the adhesive. Once you do that, it’s time to start painting the glue lines, but remember to eliminate any excess salt.

A gentle touch of the brush with watercolor paint should help spread the paint around.

Origami

Origami is a decades-old traditional art form in Japan that will show you that you can make art with just a single sheet of paper.

Teaching this to your kids is an exercise for the dexterity of the fingers and the mind. Therefore, you’ll be occupying the kids with something, and you don’t need to spend a lot of money to do it.

There are plenty of easy origami instructions available online that can be as difficult or as easy as you want it to be. You can start slow and straightforward with them. It would be a good idea to get different colors of paper so that the creations look great.

Origami can help improve your kids’ fine motor skills and patience.

Marble Painting

What You Need:

  1. Marbles
  2. Small bowls or containers to hold the paint
  3. Paint
  4. Paper
  5. A cardboard box that the paper fits into

With marble painting, the marbles will serve as your brush. Dip the marbles into the paint, then put it on the paper.

The paper should be in a cardboard box that should have short sides so that you and your kids can see what they’re doing in the box without a struggle. Roll the marble around by tilting the box here and there.

Slime Making

Slimes are great for sensory practices for your kids.

To make one for yourself, that’s safe for kids, mix 12 oz of glue, one and a half tablespoons of baking soda, and two tablespoons of contact lens saline solution. Add washable paint to create the color of the slime that you want.

You can add more baking soda if the slime is too sticky. If it doesn’t stick together, add more saline solution.

Dream Catchers

The mystique behind dream catchers, the story behind them is sure to keep your kids interested. Once you explain what they’re for, they’ll be doubly interested in helping you make dream catchers.

To make one, you’ll need:

  • Embroidery Hoops (6″)
  • Yarn (different colors)
  • Feathers
  • Pom-poms
  • Beads
  • Any decorative material

Stock up on all these things so that your kids can have the right decorations that they want for their dream catchers.

Sock Puppets

Sock puppets are a classic way of crafting toys with your kids. You can even create an entire stage for them to perform on by using a cardboard box.

It would be ideal to stick to a theme, like a fairy tale so that you know how you want each sock to use. It will help your kids get into crafting while also using some spare scraps that you have lying around the house.

 

Paper Mache

Paper mache is a cheap but fun way of crafting with your kids.

Paper mache can transform into anything, depending on what you want. It can be a sculpture, a mask, and even a bowl or a pinata. It’s a great way of letting your kids run wild with their creativity.

Like the ones on this list, arts and crafts are great for engaging your kids’ minds. At the same time, it can be an opportunity to bond with them without relying on gadgets. That way, your kids will get a holistic parenting experience from you, and it should help them grow and develop well.

How to Use Bentonite Clay for Hair

Have you heard of bentonite clay before? It is a fantastic product that can add additional moisture to your hair, plus it can remove toxins too.

Bentonite clay is a natural product that is made up of volcanic ash. The substance has a texture similar to mud, and when fluid is added to it, the clay has a yogurt-like consistency.

 

Where can you use bentonite clay?

Bentonite clay can be used on your hair and scalp and is applied as a hair mask. It can also be used on your skin as a healing clay mask for your face or used all over your body, plus you can use it on bug bites to help your skin repair and get rid of the bite.

The clay has healing properties that benefit your insides as well. It was used as an alternative medicine many years ago to treat digestive issues. Consumers won’t find food-grade bentonite clay for sale, as it is not used in cooking and is not commonly used internally.

 

What are the benefits of bentonite clay hair masks?

There are many benefits that bentonite clay masks provide and can be used by everyone, although women mainly use them.

One of the main benefits is that it provides a deep conditioner to natural hair and will work on all human hair types. Plus, you can easily incorporate it into your hair care beauty routine to give your curls or locks an uplift.

If you suffer from issues such as a dry scalp, heat damage, frizzy hair, dull hair, or damaged hair, bentonite clay can help restore moisture and promote healthy hair growth. You may have tried other hair products before and not been content with the result; if so, see if the effects of bentonite clay will work for you.

Along with moisturizing natural hair curls, bentonite clay can help remove toxins from the hair and scalp, similar to using products like Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid shampoo and more expensive hair conditioners. The bentonite clay hair mask can help with oil production in the hair and ensures essential oils are not damaged. The way it works is that the bentonite clay has negatively charged irons, while toxins on your hair have positively charged irons. This makes them attach, and the clay can remove the toxins based on the negative charge and positive charge coming together.

 

How to make a bentonite clay mask

Instead of buying products like a hair mask that contains charcoal, you can use bentonite clay to make a mask that will hydrate your natural hair.

To make your DIY recipe, you will need a few basic ingredients, and the good news is you can adapt this recipe to your liking and add additional ingredients if you wish.

The basic clay hair mask ingredients are:

• 1 cup bentonite clay
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup water

You may be wondering why apple cider vinegar is a basic ingredient; the reason for this is because it has acidity, which helps to give your hair a nice shine.

If you would like to enhance your clay mask, you can add the following:

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or almond oil
• 1 tablespoon castor oil

You can experiment with more ingredients if you wish to create a hair bentonite clay mask that works best for your type of hair, whether it is straight or has nice curls. You can even enter your name and email address onto websites that offer a newsletter with hair tips if you want to discover more recipes.

Simply mix the ingredients to create a paste. You can mix more quantity of the clay mask if you like, although it is best to make it each time you use it instead of batch making.

Before you apply the bentonite, you can do a patch test on a small amount of hair to make sure you don’t suffer any side effects from the mask.

Once completed, you will need to get a spray bottle and spray your hair with warm water.

Then apply the clay to your natural hair, ensuring you cover the tips. This may take more than 15 seconds to complete to ensure your hair is sufficiently covered.

Let the mixture sit in your hair for some time. You can leave the clay on for up to 20 minutes, but you can leave it on for 10 minutes if you prefer.

Then simply rinse out to complete your hair care beauty routine. You will find that your natural hair growth will be better after use.

Bentonite clay for hair has become one of the hair care tips contained in beauty email newsletters. The email promotes many products that are great for women to use.

4 Delicious Ten Minute Baby Snacks Recipes

This list will help you by offering you four Delicious snack recipes full of great nutritional value for your baby.

1. Healthy Banana Bread Recipe

For this healthy banana bread recipe for your baby, you will need: 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, two bananas, ½ cup agave syrup, two eggs, ½ cup whole animal-based milk, and ½ cup butter. To add more vitamins to your banana bread or add a general sweetness, you can add more of any fruit that you choose, including strawberries, oranges, apples, or any other fruit you desire. Just make sure you measured additional fruits into an apple sauce-like consistency to prevent choking. You will bring your oven to 360°F, combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until smooth, place your mixture into a greased bread baking tin and the oven, bake for about 30 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean, then just allow your bread to cool and enjoy.

2. Homemade yogurt melts

Homemade yogurt melts are easy to make at home; just by purchasing your choice of healthy baby yogurt, you can find it sugar-free as well. You were going to choose your yogurt, add your yogurt to a Ziploc plastic bag and cut off one of the corners’ tiny corner, and just squeeze a little bit out onto a plate and place your plate into the freezer. Once your yogurt bites are solid, you can transfer them to another, a black bag to store them later, or serve them immediately. These yummy yogurt bites will melt in the mouth of your baby with literally no choking hazard. These yogurt melts can be made in less than 10 minutes; however, freezer time takes longer. These would be delicious on a hot summer or spring day.

3. Homemade puffs

Homemade puffs or made similarly to the homemade yogurt melts in the previous recipe. For this, you will choose your fruit or vegetable that you want your pasta to taste, and you’ll add them into a blender, blending them until they are smooth and creamy, possibly taking around four minutes. After that, you will add them to a bag of pastry bags or a Ziploc bag and cut off the corner again. He will then squeeze your puff mixture onto your parchment paper that is on your pan. At this point, you will bake your puffs in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes. However, it will need to bake another 30 minutes with the oven at 250°F if you want them to be extra crispy.

4. Baked oatmeal cups

Baked oatmeal cups are an excellent way to add oatmeal to your baby’s diet. For this recipe, you will need: 1/2 cup rolled oats, ground (or quick oats), 1 tablespoon chia seeds, 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 tablespoons raisins or other dried fruit snipped into small pieces, 1 teaspoon maple syrup, or honey, optional 3/4 cup milk, warmed until hot (but not boiling.

You need to preheat your oven for 375°F, grease your silicone mold or mini muffin tin, include your ingredients, then add the warm milk and stir. He will place about 1 tablespoon of butter and each of the months and then bake them for 10 to 12 minutes; at that point, you will remove them from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 5 to 10 minutes. Your baby would love this fun, healthy and easy-to-make addition to their diet.