Tag Archives: food

Freebie Alert!

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Freebie Alert!

Hi! To those of you who love coffee, free things, and free coffee – I have a Freebie Alert for you! If you sign up for the rewards program through Dunkin’ Donuts, I believe it’s called Dunkin’ At Home, they will send you some free samples of their make at home Cold Brew Coffee Packs. They will be shipping the samples out while supplies last until May 17th. This is the email address that sent me the notification: updates@e.dunkinathome.com

I have received coffee samples in the mail from Dunkin’ before, and they are definitely not stingy with what they send you! I am so excited to get my Cold Brew Coffee Packs samples in the mail, because I am a huge iced coffee fan. 😀 Can’t wait!

What is your favorite coffee chain? How do you drink your coffee? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Is It Possible To Speed Up Healing From Injuries?

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Is It Possible To Speed Up Healing From Injuries?

When you have suffered an injury, the first thing that you’re going to wish for is a return to normal health and function as soon as possible. Unfortunately, this is usually easier wished for than actually achieved — and most of us accept this. In the event of injury, you’re going to have to wait for your body to heal.

However, it’s worth wondering… is there anything you can do to speed up this process? Is there a way to boost your body’s natural healing ability? Well, as it happens, there is. So whether you’ve had a serious injury requiring the assistance of William R. Rawlings Injury Lawyers to claim recompense for, or have sustained a mild injury caused by clumsiness, here’s how you can boost your body’s ability to recover:

Exercise — gently!

Doing an amount of exercise every day is genuinely beneficial, even when you have suffered an injury. Too much rest can be a bad thing and may even harm your chances of healing quickly. Light exercise that is mildly, not seriously, painful helps to remind your body it needs to heal, as well as oxygenate the damaged area.

Obviously, you have to be very careful about how you do this. If you begin to feel intense pain, or you need to medicate the pain to allow you to exercise, then your body clearly isn’t ready for such strenuous activity. Try and tone your exercise down until you’re comfortable doing it; one of the best exercises to try is swimming, as this is low-impact and the water can help support the injured area.

Before you begin your exercise regimen, it is a good idea to speak with a doctor for their recommendations. They might advise appointments with a physical therapist or sports chiropractor to help get you started. Exercising with an injury needs to be done carefully to avoid causing more damage. This is something you could be doing without even knowing it so getting advice from a professional with the know how is most beneficial.

Find the right supplement:

There are a number of supplements to consider to help promote healing, though it is worth mentioning that there is no absolute proof that these will help. There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence for the benefit of supplements, and (providing your doctor agrees) there’s no harm in giving them a try, but it’s probably best not to expect miracles.

  • For broken bones, supplement calcium.
  • For damaged muscles, supplement magnesium.
  • For soft tissue or skin issues, supplement collagen.
  • For cuts or scrapes, using honey to treat the area may help to accelerate healing, though you should only do this under advice from your doctor.

Eat a nutritious diet:

The better your nutrition during the healing process, the faster the healing itself should be. Fill your diet with vegetables if you are seeking to promote quick healing, particularly with dark, leafy greens.

You should also add protein to your diet. The easiest way to achieve this is by eating plenty of meat or, if you’re a vegetarian, tofu. If you’re particularly concerned about your protein intake, then speak to your doctor, as they may be able to recommend a protein shake that would be beneficial for you.

In conclusion:

By trying the above and a little bit of luck, there’s every chance that you’ll be back on your feet, or wherever you injured, in no time.

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Yayyy!

Is Nutrition Just A Balancing Act?

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Is Nutrition Just A Balancing Act?

A lot of times when we read articles about nutrition or see a nutritionist terms such as “balanced” and “in moderation” show up. Yet, surely nutrition must be a little more complex than one big balancing act? Not necessarily. We as humans like to over complicate things due to our intelligent and ego driven brains when nutrition, like so many basic aspects of life, is a very simple equation.

You’ve probably heard of the saying “you are what you eat”. Indeed, this may have been drilled into you from an early age – but how much attention do you honestly pay to this principle? You don’t need GI doctors to tell you that all that sugar, saturated fat, and caffeine is bad for your health and well being. We all know that excessive sugar, fat, and salt are bad for our hearts and can cause Type II diabetes… yet, we keep on doing the same thing.

Rather than beat yourself up and make all sorts of rules about what you can and can’t eat, the best way to approach the great balancing act of nutrition is to picture a bank account. With a bank account there are deposits and withdrawals. The deposits nourish your bank balance while the withdrawals deplete it. If there are too many withdrawals, the account becomes overdrawn, and you end up in financial trouble.

Using this metaphor as a parallel for nutrition, it’s clear that deposits and withdrawals exist. As an example, drinking a vitamin filled smoothie could be considered a deposit because you are investing nutrients that are going to replenish and revitalize your body. Whereas eating a chocolate bar would be considered to be a withdrawal because it is not doing anything for you.

Making the occasional withdrawal is fine, as this way, there is still an equilibrium. If you are to withdraw more from this bank account nutritionally then you are putting in is when you run into problems. That’s when serious diseases start to occur. The word disease represents that your body is in a state of dis-ease; meaning it is out of balance.  No matter what your current condition of health is, the best way to ensure a long and healthy life is to keep your bank account in credit and balance the books!

Nutrition is important. And what is equally as important to what we put in our mouths, is how often and how intensely we move our bodies. Just a twenty minute walk at a moderate pace with some good music will do the trick to get you into the “aerobic zone”.  One of the most universal and all around forms of exercise that requires very little equipment, and is accessible for all, is swimming. It is easy on your body and it sure is fun.

The bank account of your health depends primarily on two things; the food you eat and the amount of exercise that you complete. Hopefully, this simple metaphor of the bank account will inspire you to make better day to day choices and keep on top of the balancing act that is nutrition.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Pop Some Bubly

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Pop Some Bubly

Hello everyone and welcome to a post on my latest obsession – Bubly sparkling water! A fact about me is that I am a huge fan of drinking pop, specifically Diet Coke. But, we all know that that isn’t the healthiest of drinks so I am definitely trying to cut back on it. I have always enjoyed drinking sparkling water and the cute as can be commercials for Bubly and Ellen DeGeneres’s Bubly Skybox on her show enticed me enough to want to give it a whirl. I’m glad I did!

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First of all, I LOVE Bubly’s packaging. Something as simple as putting “hi” on the tab makes me smile every time I see it and the color palette is bright and fun. Second of all, it tastes AWESOME. Sparkling water has such a distinctive taste and Bubly brings a splash of apple flavor to it that tastes like it belongs in the drink as opposed to a flavor added as an afterthought.

I have enjoyed all eight cans in the pack of Apple Bubly that I got and my only complaint is that there isn’t enough per package! I’m looking forward to trying all of the Bubly flavors and can’t wait to give the Strawberry one a go next.

Which flavors of Bubly have you tried? What is your favorite pop? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

5 Changes To Your Diet That Will Make Your Skin Glow

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5 Changes To Your Diet That Will Make Your Skin Glow

Tired of having dull, lackluster skin? Want to achieve that natural glow that makes you feel great inside and out? Of course you do! While a good skincare routine goes a long way, the key to radiant skin starts from within. Read about five simple diet changes that will help to make your skin glow:

1. Drink more water:

You might be tired of being told to drink more water, but you won’t know the difference it can make to your skin until you give it a try. Drinking more water has many beauty benefits, and it can be a great anti-ageing tool to keep your skin looking plump and wrinkle-free. Start drinking around eight glasses (more if you’re exercising) and keep yourself hydrated.

2. Ditch the caffeine:

Caffeine might make you feel more awake, but it’s not great for your skin. While caffeine alone isn’t responsible for cellulite, it can add to its appearance – so you might want to lay off caffeine as a way to reduce it. If you’re already dealing with cellulite, you can get advice on how to get rid of it from cellulite.com – it’s a great resource for finding creams and lotions to help improve that. Try caffeine-free versions of your favorite hot drinks or beverages or, better yet, go for natural juice and water, instead.

3. Eat more fruits and vegetables:

Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins and minerals, which are all essential for helping your skin to glow. Some of the fruits and vegetables for good skin include vitamin C rich foods like green peppers, broccoli, and tomatoes. Selenium is a mineral that will boost skin elasticity and keep it firm, and you can find it in spinach, lentils, and carrots. Fill up your plate with healthy fruits and vegetables and feed your skin the goodness that it needs.

4. Switch to healthy fats:

We all know that consuming too many fatty foods is bad for you, but that doesn’t mean that all fats are bad. There are healthy fats that can help give your skin a boost, including omega 3, which is found in oily fish like salmon and mackerel. Avocados, walnuts, and olive oil also contain beneficial fats that will help to nourish your skin. Breakfast is a good place to consume healthy fats, so start your day off right with some eggs and other good fats to help your intake.

5. Lower your soda intake:

Soda isn’t recommended for living a healthy diet, and this is particularly true when it comes to your skin. The syrups and sugars contained in soda can have different effects, including the ageing of your skin. Sodas are also very high in calories, and consuming too many calories can lead to weight gain. Opt for sugar free versions if you must drink soda, or cut them out altogether and stick to water.

Glowing skin is an amazing confidence booster that will help you radiate from within. By starting with a good diet, you can help create a glowing complexion and keep your skin looking healthy and youthful. Make some changes to your eating and drinking habits today to experience the benefits for yourself.

Featured Image By: Pxhere

Are You Struggling With Your Health?

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Are You Struggling With Your Health?

Are you constantly feeling run down, as though you’ve got no energy left to do anything at all? It’s a common occurrence for people to start feeling like that. There are so many things that we could be doing to potentially harm our bodies, yet we carry on doing them. Even the littlest things like how much sleep we’re getting can dramatically reduce our health within a few weeks. But to get to the point where you feel as though you’re struggling with your health can be pretty worrying, so we’ve got some ways to solve the most common ways that people could be damaging their health:

Toxins:

The main reason why so many people struggle with their health is due to the many toxins that they’re including in their diet. It can be a range of things, but one of the most common ways we’re doing it is through the abuse of alcohol. A cheeky drink at the end of every day can so easily turn into an addiction, and an addiction can be hard to crack. One thing you might want to consider doing if you ever got to this point would be addiction counseling. It is one of the easiest ways to get out of the habit that you’re in, and it is always good to talk to someone about what you’re going through.

Depending on the level of your addiction, you might need something more intensive than counseling alone like an outpatient treatment center or a live in rehab. If this is the route you want to take, be sure to find a facility that fits your preferences. It could be a program that’s out of state, a rehab specific for men or a rehab for women, or a facility with a pretty view to inspire. You want a place that you can thrive so make some calls and take tours to find your best fit. It can feel scary to make a big change and taking tours of different facilities can help ease your mind. That way, you will know exactly what you’re getting into. Take the time to research different Drug and alcohol rehab centers and be proud of yourself. This is a big step!

Other toxins that so many of us are putting into our bodies is through food. We’re going through a time where people are skipping the vital vitamins and minerals from their diet, and replacing them with foods that are high in fats and sugars. If you want to get back on track with your health, consider changing to a diet that includes a lot of leafy greens and fruits.

Aging Problems:

Some things we can’t help, but it is just something that we go through as we get older. For example, menopause for women is not a nice experience to go through. A lot of women actually really struggle with the process, and it can make their health feel really low. There’s the sweats, mood swings, and fatigue, among many others to try and cope with. But, it is a natural aging process that can’t be stopped. Another, possibly more crippling problem, is arthritis. Again, something that can’t be avoided, but can be managed. The best thing to do is use anti-inflammatory gels to reduce inflammation and, more importantly, keep the joints active so that it doesn’t seize up.

Work Related Problems:

The work that we do sometimes can cause us the biggest issues. Even something that might seem so easy as sitting at a desk can cause us to struggle with our health. For one, you’ve got the postural issues to contend with. Sitting at a desk for hours a day will no doubt affect it, but you can get foam cushions that will support your back to keep it up right. Then, there’s the issue of weight gain if you’re a snacker at the desk. It might not seem bad in the beginning, but the lack of exercise during the day coupled with a poor diet will eventually equal weight gain. Try and stay as active and healthy as possible by walking around the office and standing every hour to stretch after a stint in your chair.

Lifestyle choices can be altered and can improve your health for the better, one simple change at a time.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Special K Cereal Obsession

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Special K Cereal Obsession

Hi everyone and happy Monday! Cereal has always been the perfect anytime food, to me. It’s great in the morning, but I find that it’s even better for dinner or a late night snack. My grocery store recently was giving away a box of Special K cereal as their weekly freebie, which was pretty sweet in itself. But, oh my goodness, the sweet deliciousness definitely lies in the cereal, for sure.

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The Special K cereal with berries and peaches is the freaking bomb.com. The cereal flakes have the perfect amount of crisp crunch to it, even after you pour your soy or almond milk over top of it. And, as soon as the milk hits the dried berries, they instantly plump up, making them taste freshly picked. The peaches and blueberries are as sweet as can be, and the raspberries add just the right amount of tartness to it to tone down your sweet tooth a smidgen!

But, the best part? The yogurt pieces!! These amazing little guys are jam packed with probiotics and taste EXACTLY like white chocolate. So delicious! So much so, that I think I am going to go pour myself a bowl right now. 🙂

What is your favorite kind of cereal? When is the best time to eat a bowl of cereal? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Big Idea

Treats That Won’t Throw The Diet Out The Window

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Treats That Won’t Throw The Diet Out The Window

We all need a treat from time to time. The opportunity to indulge. For most people, that opportunity is all about sitting down with something delicious. However, if you’re dieting, it might feel like you’re forever cut off from those treats. But that might not be the case. In fact, there are some treats that might not be as bad for you as you think, and even have their own benefits, like the following:

Chocolate:

This one might have alarm bells ringing for some as, indeed, it can be one of the most tempting treats of them all. But chocolate isn’t something that you have to avoid entirely. In fact, dark chocolate, in particular, can be quite good for you. Not only does it have some benefits when it comes to fighting aging and cancer, but the flavanols in dark chocolate have been proven to improve heart health, improving circulation and helping you control your cholesterol levels. This doesn’t mean that you should have a huge bar every day, but when you’re craving a sweet treat, it’s not as bad for you as you may have been led to believe.

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 YUM!

Butter:

It gets a bad rap, often considered to be one of the worst fats you can put in your body. But the truth is, that butter isn’t as bad for you as previously thought. Butter is a saturated fat, but now studies from places like the World Health Organization are saying that saturated fats can make up to 10% of your calorie intake without too much danger. What’s more, livingthenourishedlife.com shows that butter has plenty of benefits of its own, improving your gut health and boosting your metabolic system. That means that a little helping of butter on your baked potato can actually help you burn calories better. Who would have thought?!

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 Lol, that butter looks so picture perfect.

Popcorn:

When you think of butter, your thoughts might immediately go to what it’s best served with. There’s no competition there, of course: it has to be popcorn. Popcorn is fast becoming one of the favorite treats of those trying to control their weight, especially those with stronger cravings. As healthline.com shows, popcorn is a high-volume, low-calorie food, meaning that you can eat more of it without increasing your calorie intake too much. Toffee popcorn doesn’t quite have the same benefit, unfortunately, so you have to be selective.

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 Love me some popcorn!

Wine

Too much alcohol consumption can drastically increase weight gain, there’s no doubt about that. However, a glass of wine with dinner can do you a world of good. Moderate consumption, i.e. a small glass, can boost your body’s calorie burning processes for up to 90 minutes after you drink it. Wine has also been shown to have some benefits in cognitive health, improving long-term memory, as well as preventing the clots associated with heart disease. How awesome is that?!

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#bottomsup

Set aside a treat for yourself every now and then but, as with everything, do it in moderation. Schedule it in as part of your regular routine, keeping it under control so that you don’t end up slipping into the deep end with your diet.

Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas Finale

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Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas Finale

Howdy! I decided to make my Blog Post Ideas For When You’re Out Of Blog Post Ideas post a series, so today we are going to wrap things up with the grand finale! Writer’s block and blogs with no content will be a thing of the past, because after this post yours truly will have provided FIFTEEN prompts to help get you started. We will conclude with these ideas:

You could write about…

Your Pets:

Who doesn’t love animals? Whether it be your dog or cat or maybe you have more exotic pets like a snake or parrot, animal posts are always fun. I, myself, have written about my two beloved rescue pups, Gem and Ollie, many a time. You could share pictures of your furry, feathery, or scaly friends, which is sure to bring a smile to your reader’s faces. Or you could write about the rescue organization that you adopted your forever friend from. No matter how you go about it, pet posts are sure to please!

Your Job:

Being in the working force is something that almost all of us are familiar with. No matter if it’s the dream job or a dead end deal that you’re ready to move on from, chances are that your readers can relate. Of course, don’t spill details that you’re not comfortable with like your coworker’s names or the company that you’re employed by. But, do share humorous work stories like that time that your boss had toilet paper stuck to his or her shoe or when you accidentally asked for “one sex” instead of “one sec” while getting out your resume in a job interview. Or, perhaps you just need to vent about a bad day on the job. We all get it, so share away.

Your BFF:

With #friendshipgoals always being a relevant trending topic, why not write about your bestie? Maybe you have been best friends with your number one for over a decade, like mine. Or you might have met your A1 in an unconventional way. Your readers will be inspired by your loyalty to your ride or die AND your best friend will love being featured on your page – it’s a win/win. With friendship in mind, you could also write about tips for making new friends, which is especially beneficial to those that are shy or have some social anxiety. So, take a seat at your laptop and spread the friendship love!

Your Dreams:

What was the craziest/scariest/funniest/weirdest dream that you’ve ever had? Do you wake up with feelings of “wtf?” every morning from your vivid dreams during your snoozefest? Then, creating a dream log on your blog might be a great and interesting way to create content. We share our crazy dreams with people sometimes as soon as we wake up, so why not do the same on your page? Or, if you forget your dreams pretty easily, then you could always write about your daydreams, instead. A shopping spree or a trip to Europe, anyone?

Food & Drinks:

We all have to eat and drink, it’s a fact of life. And, because of that, us lucky bloggers will always have something to write about. Are you an adventurous eater? Or maybe you are a bit picky and are trying to branch out some more. Perhaps you love to host dinner parties. A meal brings people together in every walk of life, so food related posts can really help to bring a sense of community to your page. Share your favorite recipes, tell us your cooking disasters, and dish on your kitchen hacks that will make cooking and cleanup afterwards easier. Us foodies want to know!

I hope that this brainstorming series was beneficial to all of my blogging friends that tune into lifewithlilred. Thank you for checking it out! Which ideas are you going to incorporate into your blog? How do you go about creating content on your page? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Treat Yoself! Burrito Binge Edition

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Treat Yoself! Burrito Binge Edition

Hi! I like to think of myself as a fairly frugal gal. Yes, I like to shop – but I always try to score the best deals and get the most bang for my buck. One way that I try to optimize my savings is by being cautious about getting fast food when I am by myself. I have no problem with going out for drinks or dinner with friends one or two times a month. And I do love to snag a Starbucks drink every now and again. But, I try to keep my “I really could go for Taco Bell after work” trips to a minimum.

But, last month – I was bad! I got Chipotle and Taco Bell at least twice each. I also went to Moe’s, but I got that meal for free thanks to their handy app. Although I freaking LOVE T-Bell, Chipotle, and any food that is burrito related, I do sometimes feel guilty about eating out when there’s plenty of food that I could be eating at home. But, for some reason, I really didn’t seem to care last month.

I’m not going to lie, January was a real shit hole of a month. But, there was just something about answering my cravings and eating a food that I really enjoyed that was soothing. It was like, the world was shitting all over me, but I still took care of myself enough to treat for dinner at Chipotle or grabbing a coffee from Starbucks.

Now, is eating a fast food meal the most healthy way to take good care of yourself? No, of course not. But, damnit, a girl has gotta eat so I figured that I could be a little “bad” in my frugality regime. Treating yourself can be buying a new nail polish color, staying in and reading a good book, or taking a warm bath. In my case, treating myself was eating a massive burrito.

My burrito binge taught me that I can splurge for myself and it’s not going to destroy my bank account. But, it also taught me that, at the end of the day, I am the one in charge of making me feel good, first and foremost. And if making myself feel good means eating a burrito every once in a while, then I guess that that’s just my cross to bare!!

How do you treat yoself? What do you do to self soothe during trying times? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah