Tag Archives: food

Apr11

Iced Coffee Obsession

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Iced Coffee Obsession

Hiii everyone and happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is having a fabulous week so far. So, if there’s one thing that a Lil Red loves, it’s her coffee! I’m a caffeine fiend, so a smooth, strong, hot cup of coffee is a must for me when I am working, lounging, doing nothing, and doing everything. I am a hot, black coffee drinker through and through and I will be a monkey’s uncle before I succumb to putting cream or sugar in my cup. But, when the warm weather hits, which has happened this past week in Ohio, my tastes change to absolutely craving a good cup of iced coffee.

One of my favorite things to treat myself with is an iced coffee from Starbucks. A venti iced coffee with cream and vanilla, to be exact! “But wait! I thought you don’t believe in cream in your coffee!” You might say? I DON’T. But, iced coffee is a totally different story. I hate iced, black coffee more than anything and I just need that little splash of cream to turn the beverage into a drinkable delight. So, yeah.

Anyways, it’s a rare occasion that I get Starbucks now that I don’t work at the mall, so I always really enjoy it when I get it. But as you all know, I am constantly balling on a budget and it’s not like I love spending three dollars for a drink that I could totally make at home. So, make it at home I did. I have been making my own iced coffee every day for the past week and it has been an absolutely delicious experience. My coffee concoction has tasted great every time, and not shelling out the dough for basically the exact same thing at Starbucks has been a freaking blessing, lol.

An iced coffee recipe may seem self explanatory, but mine has turned out really freaking good so I’m going to share it on here, anyways:

Sarah’s Iced Coffee Masterpiece

  • Make yourself the amount of coffee that you plan on drinking.
  • Once complete, let the coffee sit for about an hour so that it can cool.
  • Add 4 to 5 ice cubes to a glass and pour the now room temperature coffee over it.
  • Add a splash of flavor. I have been totally obsessed with Coffee Mate’s Natural Bliss Vanilla creamer.
  • Drink and enjoy!

If you aren’t hip to the Coffee Mate Natural Bliss creamer collection, then you need to get on it ASAP. It is the purest, richest vanilla creamer that I have ever tasted and it literally will transform your iced coffee. I do not say this lightly, because it makes my coffee creation taste one million times better than what I used to get at Starbucks. AND it costed like two dollars for a bottle, which is awesome!

My iced coffee revelation may seem like a simple thing, because it really is pretty simple. BUT, I am so excited that I’ve made myself something that 1) saves money and 2) doesn’t sacrifice the taste, just in time for the warm summer weather ahead! GO ME!!

So there you have it, my Iced Coffee Obsession! Who else makes their own coffee creations at home? What is your caffeine beverage of choice? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr10

Technology To Keep You On Track

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When it comes to health and fitness we could all use a helping hand. Whether it’s counting calories or charting our progress, it can be difficult to keep on top of things when we’re trying to get in shape. Increasingly, the worlds of technology and fitness have been overlapping. Here’s how you could be using some clever tech to get fit just in time for summer:

Healthy Eating: There are plenty of tech gadgets that make eating healthily easier. Apps are particularly popular for those looking to lose weight. We’re told a lot about the importance of keeping a food diary and holding ourselves accountable. This is good advice but can be so difficult (and annoying!) in practice. When we cook at home or eat out it’s difficult to track our calorie and sugar intake. Not only that, but it’s a lot of work to carry around a food diary and fill it in every day.

Certain apps allow users to check their intake easily. These apps are pre-programmed with nutritional information from thousands of restaurants and recipes. Not only can you keep track of your calories, but these apps can also tell you how far away from your goal you are. They can even work out the right amount of calories you should be eating, based on your BMI. So if you’re wondering what your BMI is, then you’ll need to look into a BMI calculator online to try and figure that out (they’re free). Some apps also have features which allow you to input your workout and see how many calories you’ve burned. So handy!

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YUM!!

Quitting Your Bad Habit: It’s no surprise that people looking to increase their overall health and fitness try and cut back on any bad habits. Whether your indulgence is chocolate, alcohol, or cigarettes, it’s best to try and curb these less than healthy habits for good. The world of technology came up with vapes and e-cigarettes as an alternative aid for those looking to quit smoking. Vapes and e-cigarettes require liquid and chargers, like the ones found at Vaporesence. This aid to stopping smoking is usually used as a first step on the road to cutting down or cutting out cigarettes altogether for an ultimately healthier lifestyle.

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Pixabay Image

Lumo: Lumo is at the forefront of some pretty impressive fitness tech. Lumo Run, for instance, is a sensor that you clip onto your running shorts. The device links up to an app on your phone and gives you a post-run analysis. Along with the usual details, Lumo Run can advise you about your running form and even recommend specific personalized exercises. It measures your pelvic drop, rotation, bounce, and braking to come up with feedback on how to improve your technique for a better work out.

Lumo Lift, on the other hand, is all about great posture. Again, you attach a clip to your shirt and it will gently vibrate when you slouch or have bad posture. It can track your posture, calories burned, steps, and distances too. So get those shoulders back, but if not, let Lumo remind you! Now, straighten up!

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Go, go, go!

Apr7

Are You Looking After Your Skin The Way You Should?

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Are You Looking After Your Skin The Way You Should?

As the largest organ in the body, our skin’s health is something that we should always take seriously. When we look after our skin, not only do we avoid a range of diseases and disorders but it also looks more beautiful, too- which is not a bad thing! Nice skin can improve confidence and self-esteem and is something that will always be considered an attractive asset. Are you looking after your skin the way that you should? Here are some things to bear in mind:

Cut Back On (Or Quit!) Your Vices:

Smoking, alcohol, and drugs all have a huge impact on the skin. Using these toxic chemicals will make you more prone to age damage, cause the skin to become dehydrated, and even give it a sallow appearance. Not only are these vices horrendous for the body but they’re not good news for the way you look, either. If you’re suffering from addiction, speak to your GP who can advise you on what to do next. If not, cut back on the things that you know are bad for you.

Another habit people have is cooking themselves in the sun in the name of beauty – but that tan will fade. However, the damage it leaves behind won’t! Clinics these days have great treatments to combat the signs of aging, Botox for example from companies like http://kitagawadermatology.com/botox can help to blur fine lines and wrinkles. Botox is a great tool for an instant glow up on your face and it is so important to go to someone reputable for it. This is especially true if you’re going in for a more specialised treatment. It’s now possible for example, to go to a dentist for Botox injections and other oral treatments, but it’s important to be safe. To find a trusted practice, you should search online for a “dentist that does botox near me“ to find a reputable clinic in your area. But of course, keeping your skin youthful for as long as possible is your best bet. So start looking after your skin today, your future self will thank you!

Exfoliate The Right Way:

If you’re regularly exfoliating your skin, that’s great news. It can remove dead skin cells which make the skin look dull and also stimulate the skin to create more collagen. However exfoliating should always be gentle. If your face feels raw, tight, or sore afterwards, you’re either going too hard or using the wrong product. Never use a body exfoliater on your face, the grains are far too large and can cause damage. On the flip side, try to avoid ‘microbeads’, too. While these work well for gently exfoliating the skin, they’re awful for the environment and water companies struggle with removing them from the water. Cleansing brushes are also a good option as they clean deep down into the pores and also remove flakes and dead skin, too. These can be used with your regular facial wash. Again use gentle motions and be very careful not to scrub too hard which will damage and irritate the skin.

Eat The Right Foods:

A well as looking after your skin on the outside, you also need to nourish it from the inside, too. A healthy diet will provide your body with all of the vitamins and minerals that you need to keep your skin at its best. If you lack in anything, it will be quick to show in your skin. Fresh produce, healthy fats (such as avocados and fish), and whole grains will all boost your skin’s health. Hydration is important, too. Eating fruits and veggies with a high water content and drinking plenty of water will all be beneficial for your skin.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Apr7

Your Kitchen Has Only One Boss: You

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In our day and age, it’s not uncommon for people to spend only the minimum amount of time possible in their kitchen. After all, all you need at the end of the day is to order a nice meal from your favorite takeaway place. Or is it really? As more and more young generations are moving back into the kitchen, they start a journey of discoveries with apprehension. In some families, young adults have never seen their parents cook besides using the microwave oven or the traditional oven to warm up pre-made dishes.

So, needless to say, it can be a little overwhelming at first to adjust to the idea of becoming a perfect little cook. But don’t let fear blind you: You can easily manage the flow of the operations in your kitchen. All you need is to ensure that the room has all you need, give it some personality with confidence-boosting gadgets, and learn all of the simple tricks that can save the meal. Ready, steady, cook.

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Revive your kitchen and your skills

Get the design of the room right:

Unless you have designed your kitchen specifically for your needs, it’s likely that it doesn’t completely suit you. Whether it looks dated or isn’t truly functional, there are a few tips that you can borrow from professional designers to improve your kitchen for good. For a start, your workplace needs to clean, clear, and roomy. This is the area where you will be preparing your food, so it’s worth considering a looksee into a new counter top.

Light is also important in your kitchen; you need it as part of your cooking process – cooking in a half dark room isn’t the guarantee of a successful meal. The easiest solution is to add lights underneath your cupboards. This will change the way you approach food! Finally, you can’t cook without electricity. Some recipes need a few sockets to plug your food processor, mixer, electric whisk, etc. In short, you need a kitchen with plenty of power sources for a power cooking sesh.

Give yourself a little boost of confidence:

Remember, the best way to make friends with your kitchen again is to begin to like it. Turning a functional space into a peaceful and loving area can seem a little difficult, but all you need is to surround yourself with things that you love. If pink is your favorite color, why not use it to paint the kitchen? Or maybe you could hang photos of your loved ones on the walls, as a silent word of encouragement. If you are looking for ways to engage positively with cooking, you could check the apron collection on https://www.chefworks.com. They are cute and bring a touch of originality to the room. When you begin to love your kitchen again, you will feel a lot more confident with the idea of cooking in it.

Impress effortlessly… but don’t let them know:

If you are not an experienced cook, you may want to start with simple recipes. There’s no shame in it! http://www.marthastewart.com has plenty of impressive looking dishes that are dead simple to prepare. From a steak with a wine sauce and a dauphinoise recipe to a yummy asparagus risotto, there are plenty of easy recipes that look amazing. You’ll never say no to a night of cooking at home or entertaining friends and family again. Just be sure to invite us to your next dinner party!

Mar30

Kitchen Ideas From Professional Interior Designers

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Kitchen Ideas From Professional Interior Designers

You will find that your kitchen can quickly become tired and look dated, which can require a few little updates and tweaks every couple of years. There’s no need to do in depth remodeling every time, but still, a little bit of design and decor work will really go a long way! But with all of this continuous work, you could end up running out of creative ideas for your kitchen. Where do you turn once your inspiration dries up and you just can’t think of how to update the room?

You need to turn to the professionals, of course! Interior designers specializing in kitchen remodeling are constantly working on new kitchens and will definitely be brimming with some fantastic ideas. In fact, here are some amazing ideas that have come straight from professional interior designers themselves:

Update Worktops: One area of your kitchen that will need to be regularly updated is the countertops. That’s because these are often exposed to raw meats and other food products that could easily spread bacteria. If your worktops or counter tops ever get damaged and chipped, they could become breeding grounds for germs and bacteria so it could be necessary to replace them. But, many interior designers believe that you should regularly update yours for style purposes. New materials are constantly coming in and out of fashion, so switching the ones in your worktops could make all of the difference to your kitchen’s overall style!

Consider Getting An Island: If you have the space in your kitchen, you should really think about getting an island right in the middle. This is a lot more fashionable than having a dining room table in your kitchen. Islands can double up as a workstation as well as an area for eating. But an island can also add some definite walkways to your kitchen, which can help with the overall decor flow.

Be Clever With Light: I doubt just having one central light bulb hanging down from the ceiling is going to be enough light for your kitchen. So, you should think about adding additional lighting options. If you have some cupboards at head height, it’s a nice idea to add some lights underneath, especially if they are above a worktop. You might also want to use some very stylish lamps, which can add another element of elegance to your kitchen.

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Love that table set!

Plan Your Power: You will no doubt have lots of different appliances and tools in your kitchen that will need electricity to work. If you don’t have enough power points, there will be no way that these will be able to do their job! So next time you come to decorate or work on your kitchen, it is a good idea to review all the power points in your kitchen and see if you have enough for your needs. If you want a few extra ones added, you can always call up your local electrician to come and install some for you.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Mar30

Cures In The Kitchen

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Cures In The Kitchen

If you’re feeling under the weather or suffering from an embarrassing complaint, you might not have to visit the doctor at all. There are a number of effective cures for all kind of maladies sitting right there in your kitchen. Check out these kitchen cures for common illnesses and cut down on those annoying trips to the pharmacy:

Ginger: Ginger doesn’t just give your curry a kick and make your cookies taste better – it can also help to relieve sickness and cure menstrual cramps. Many pregnant women are advised to eat crystallized ginger or drink a tea made with the spice if they want to prevent morning sickness and it is very effective at doing just that. However, what is less well-known is that ginger can also be used to ease the pain of menstrual cramps, thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Cranberries: Urinary tract infections are no fun, nor is seeing your physician about the problem, but if you have some cranberry juice in the fridge, you might not have to visit the doctor at all. You see, cranberries contain proanthocyanidins – a compound that can fight the bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. By drinking a small amount of cranberry juice each day, you can protect yourself from further instances of UTIs, so it’s worth stocking up next time you’re at the store.

Cream of Tartar: Cream of tartar is usually used to leaven bread, cakes, and other foods, but did you know that it can help to cure everything from hemorrhoids to Candida, providing instant relief for the embarrassing conditions? Eating foods with cream of tartar in it or on its own might do very little, but if you can mix it with a glass of water and drink it down, it will do you a world of good. If that sounds too disgusting, a good cream of tartar supplement will give you all of the same benefits without making you want to throw up. Take it regularly and you’ll cut your chances of suffering from the conditions again in the future, although there is no guarantee of that.

Milk & Cheese: If you suffer from PMS and the mood swings that come with it, eating more calcium rich foods could help to reduce your symptoms. In fact, studies have shown that women with lower levels of calcium in the blood suffer more from PMS than those who don’t. So, drink your milk and have a slice of cheese daily to keep the condition at bay.

Sea Salt: If painful dry skin is your problem, before you spend your hard-earned cash on expensive skin creams and remedies, combine a cup of sea salt with half a cup of olive oil and massage it into your skin. Do this once a week and it is likely that you will see an improvement in the look and feel of your skin. This treatment, however, isn’t suitable for your face – a mixture of coconut and brown sugar will be better for those delicate parts of the body.

Although these remedies are all tried and tested, it is important that you seek your doctor’s approval if you have any doubts or questions about your condition.

Featured Image By: Flickr

Mar28

Recipes For A Happier Life

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Recipes For A Happier Life

Okay, so this isn’t a usual recipe post. There isn’t one particular set of instructions for you to create an amazing meal. Instead, it is a post which links to a few different recipes that we love.  Ones that are going to make you happy if you are feeling a bit blue, maybe after your holiday or because you are fed up with the weather. But, no matter how you’re feeling, we can all agree that food is awesome.

There is a lot of focus on our health and physical fitness. Some of us work towards our holidays by going for the ultimate bikini body whilst others pack a few self improvement books and read our way to a better place. However, what we fail to do is focus on regularly consuming a variety of nutrient rich, wholesome foods. You know, improving our diet to improve our life. It isn’t going to give you instant results, but eating good quality foods consistently will improve your mental function, mood, and energy levels. Now, let’s get cooking:

So! What should you be eating and where are the recipes?

First of all, let’s talk about fat.  You may have been told that fat is the enemy, but that isn’t true.  Trans fats are the enemy. You find this fat in processed foods like sausages and ready made meals. Unsaturated fat is really good for you. In fact, our brains are made up from 40% fat and we need plenty of it to ensure that our brain stays healthy. Healthy oils can be found in olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds. So, our first recipe is this fantastic Quinoa and Sprouted Sunflower Seed Salad & Avocado Dressing from the fantastic Food Spa blog. A delicious way of boosting your healthy fats.

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Love, love, love avocado!

In addition to these healthy fats, you also need essential fatty acids, AKA the Omega 3 Oils.  Research has shown that these improve mood and reduce depressive symptoms. The best sources of essential fatty acids are oily fish like salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, pilchards, and trout and you should aim to eat a couple of portions per week. So, here is an amazing recipe for Wild Salmon and Black Rice which will have you topping up on plenty of Omega 3s and a fabulous mood.

Next up is whole grains, fruits, and vegetables:

The best food is whole food – food in its most natural state. Think wholegrain cereals, beans, lentils, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables. They provide us with the fiber, vitamins, and minerals that our bodies need to function their best. So if you want to get fit fast, eat plenty of whole foods. Serotonin, Vitamin B, and Zinc are all really helpful at managing depression.  Eating complex carbohydrates such as oats, grains, brown rice, and vegetables such as squash will release serotonin into the brain. Marmite is a fabulous source of B vitamins or you could also buy fortified wholefoods.

Maple Roasted Butternut Squash with Freekeh is a perfect way of ticking all of the things on this list. Give it a go, because Freekeh is super delicious and the new Quinoa. You know the deal with fruits and veggies: 5 servings a day, okay? If you struggle with that, then buy a juicer or Nutribullet and blitz your 5 a day for breakfast. While it is better to maintain a steady supply rather than take them all in one hit, at least you know you are getting the recommended amount!

Protein, please (for vegetarians and carnivores alike!):

Protein is required for our bodies’ growth, maintenance, and repair. A lack of protein in our diets can lead to irritability, fatigue, and a lack of concentration. Most of us will think of steak or chicken when protein is mentioned. However, you can get plenty of protein in plant based foods like lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds. Soy beans, peas, and broccoli are also excellent sources of protein.

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Pexels Image

But, if you want a protein kick, then you can’t get better than Steak Frites. A delicious fillet steak, served on a bed of spinach with some sweet potato straw fries on the side. Perfecto! We also ought to add that eating dark chocolate, with 75% cocoa content, can improve your mood because of the protein in it. You’re welcome!

To wrap this post up, let’s talk about water – which we don’t have a recipe for! Water plays a huge role in our brain function. You need to be drinking around 2 liters of water a day to avoid effects like addled concentration, memory, and learning ability. Now, fill up a glass and drink up!

Delicious Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar27

Preventing the Aging Process

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Preventing the Aging Process

A lot of us take our lives for granted, and before we know it we are at a stage where we are unable to do the things we once loved. Unless we keep at something, do it regularly, or at least have it on the brain for a bit, there is little chance that we can go back to it and pick it up just like that – and that goes for both physical and mental activities. It also sets a standard for our health and well-being, too; if you don’t take care of your body now, then you are setting yourself up for trouble in the long run. Not everything lasts forever, as much as we wish sometimes that it would. Our bodies change over time, and sometimes there is no stopping what age can bring us … but we can prevent it, if only for a little while with these steps:

Take Care Of Your Teeth: Our teeth don’t last forever. There probably isn’t a person on the planet over the age of 70 who hasn’t had at least one of their adult teeth fall out or had them taken out. With good care they can last longer than expected, but at some stage they will just give up the ghost. This is due to our life expectancy getting longer and longer – the lifespan of our gnashers simply hasn’t caught up yet. They’re still living around 2000 years ago, where you were lucky if you made it to 40 or 50.

There are things that you can do if you are worrying that your teeth have gone past the point of no return. Check in with your dentist for a thorough checkup and see what they recommend or do a bit of searching online for methods that you may want to consider, like dental implants – you can get the info from dental brush. It’s not too late to really start looking after your teeth, and they will always benefit from a good brush and floss. Some people are looking more towards interdental brushes instead of the traditional dental floss for a more precise and thorough clean. Getting yourself into a good routine with it is definitely the way to go to keep your pearly whites picture perfect.

Wake Up Early: Making the most of your day is something that most people can’t do if they sleep in. When you wake up early, you have the chance to use up more time in daylight and generally when the majority of those around you are more sociable; plus you have more chance to get errands done around you with the stores being open. Not everybody lives in an inner city where amenities are open 24/7 and, even if you do, it’s still a thing that you ought to try out. It is said that those who wake up early are the ones with the best sleep routines, and this counts for a lot in life. It means that your body is getting the amount of rest that it needs and waking you up at the same time every day, indicating a pattern that you’re getting used to.

Early risers are linked with having better grades, being more productive throughout the day, and generally being happier people. If you arise before your alarm in the morning, then you have more time to organize yourself for the day and get stuff done – there is less to distract you in the early morning, especially on the biggest time-waster of social media … barely anybody else is awake to interact! It’s also linked to having a better mood, being more sociable, and sustaining a healthier diet. With all of these benefits to go hand in hand with waking up before everyone else, what’s to lose? Give it a try and see how you feel!

Be Kind: It’s hard to get yourself into a personality habit like being kind to everyone and everything around you – especially if you haven’t done it before. It’s not something that can’t be done, it’s just something that needs time and commitment so that kindness comes naturally instead of being forced. We often find it so easy to find the negatives in everything, but sometimes you just need to look for the positives. A lot of people who work with children tend to be kinder than those who are immersed in just an adult world, as the innocence of the kids passes over and you pass it on from them. It shouldn’t be this way – as in, you shouldn’t have to be kind just because you work with the youngsters of society.

In Scandinavia, the first few school years of a child’s life are not learning about the basics of math, science, and English, but teachings of how to be nice to everybody and earn respect. They have proven time and time again, country by country, that they have the happiest nation in the world. There’s definitely something to be taken from that. Spread a bit of kindness and see how far it gets you today.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep: Getting  your recommended eight hours of sleep a day can be tough in this busy world. If you have the chance to nap during the day, take it; it all adds up to your daily total. Quite a few of us have interrupted sleep, with tossing and turning throughout the night. Make your sleep routine better by taking out of your reach anything that can distract you when you wake up for those few seconds. If you have a smartphone, leave it in another room while you rest. These are the biggest distractions and the worst things that can be near us when we’re trying to catch a good night’s rest. The brightness from the screen just by checking the time is enough to wake your body up past the stage that it’s meant to be, meaning that the effects felt in the morning from your disturbance will be exaggerated just that little bit more. That’s definitely not what you want, especially if you have a busy day ahead. Respect your sleeping pattern and it’ll do absolute wonders for you.

Drink Plenty: We are meant to be drinking eight glasses of fluid every day, each containing 8 ounces. This is known as the 8×8 rule, and as long as you stick to it relatively well, there is little chance that you will become dehydrated throughout the day. Of course, you need to factor in more fluids for if you are doing strenuous activities like working out. There are certain things that you can do to push yourself along, such as setting reminders for yourself to get a glass of water, or even investing in a water bottle that will do it for you. Once your get yourself into a routine, you’ll be wondering how you ever got through the day without it; the benefits of drinking the right amount of water are that you will feel more energized, be more focused on what you are doing, and feel less bloated throughout the day. Who can say no to that? Especially the bloated part!

Eat The Right Things: We all know what a healthy diet looks like, and if we are unsure then a quick Google or visit to your local dietician can help. So why aren’t we doing it? Unfortunately, junk food is more accessible for us and generally quicker to get on demand when we are hungry. We look for the easy option. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. If you get the food ready before your week starts by meal planning, then there is less of a chance that you will be queuing up for the drive-thru when you feel a hunger pang. This will help you not only give your body the nourishment it requires, but hopefully set a precedent for those around you, too – especially those with children.

Do Yourself Up: For most, the secret of looking young is … well … looking young! Unless you invest in cosmetic procedures, there is little that can be done to stop the signs of aging apart from a good makeover. Doing yourself up every day and putting effort into your appearance is one of the few things that you can do to give yourself a confidence boost, make yourself feel great, and keep you looking more youthful. Invest in some good quality makeup and go to town on how you want to appear; there are tutorials on Youtube which are great to follow if you’re not sure where to start.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Mar8

How To Improve Your Physical, Mental, And Spiritual Health

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How To Improve Your Physical, Mental, And Spiritual Health

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can seem almost impossible to find the time to look out for Number One: Yourself. Creating a healthy lifestyle not only for your physical well being but for your mental and spiritual self, as well, can only benefit you in the long run. In this article, we will explore some simple changes that you can employ for a better, healthier you:

Your Physical Health

Start Eating Well: There’s nothing better for your health than making sure that you eat good food cooked from scratch. Convenience foods may be handy but they often contain more sodium and sugar than you should be eating, which can affect your fitness and moods. Start meal planning so you don’t get stuck for what you should have for lunch or dinner and make sure that you eat breakfast so you aren’t tempted to snack on candy and junk food during the morning at work.

Get Physically Fit: If you don’t feel as though you’re at peak physical condition, now is the time to change that. You don’t necessarily have to go to the gym every day after work – instead, start walking more and make sure that you start to take the stairs instead of the elevator whenever you can. Start a class like yoga or Zumba – you could even take a friend along with you for moral support and a good laugh!

Take Care Of Your Senses: As much as we may rely on them, we often overlook our senses when it comes to making positive changes for our health. Ensure a routine hearing check to get the full scope of your hearing health, and to see whether you might need hearing aids or not. Make appointments for eye tests, as well. As we get older, the chances of changes to these senses increase exponentially, so we have to be proactive in addressing them.

Pain Management: If your aches and pains feel constant, it is not only a huge deterrent to your physical health but mental health too. This is not something that you should simply live with but find a way to improve. Clinics like next pain management roswell (or something similar in your local area) can provide personalized treatment plans to help you get back to feeling your best. With excellent pain management, you will notice a boost in your energy levels and overall sense of well being.

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Namaste!

Deal With Your Chronic Conditions: If you have any chronic conditions, then it’s important that you deal with them carefully and that you get healthy to whatever extent that you can. If you have asthma, make sure that you use a preventative inhaler to stop yourself from getting tight chested and suffering from asthma attacks – Ventolin can be ordered online. If you suffer from chronic pain, make sure that you stay active and do gentle exercises to help ease the tension in stiff joints.

Your Mental Health

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Learn Coping Strategies: If you suffer from panic attacks or depression, then it’s important that you try to learn coping strategies that will help get you through every day. Learn to identify issues that will affect you – perhaps you don’t like crowded trains or there are certain things that your boss says that rattles you – and focus on how you can better deal with them. Breathing deeply often works wonders as well as giving yourself plenty of time to deal with anything that might arise.

Go To Your Doctor: If you think that you may be suffering from mental health difficulties, then go to your doctor. It’s an illness like any other and you shouldn’t feel ashamed if you’re affected by a condition like depression or anxiety. They can negatively affect a lot of areas of your life, which means that you need to get them sorted out as quickly as possible. Therapy can help a lot of people, as can medication. Remember, you’d medicate a physical health ailment so why not your mental health, too?

Sleep Better: It’s very difficult to get much done during the day if you aren’t sleeping well. If the light comes into your bedroom in the morning and wakes you up, then why not invest in blackout blinds? You should also make sure that you turn off all of your technology like your laptop and phone before you go to bed, because they can keep you awake. Instead, use the hour before you go to sleep as an excuse to have a lavender scented shower, read a book, or light some candles and meditate.

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Zzzzzz…

Your Spiritual Health

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 Pexels Image

Learn To Be Alone: If you don’t spend much time by yourself, now is the time to start. Learning to love yourself begins with realizing that you’re an interesting person to be around. Make sure that you indulge yourself in your hobbies – you can go to see movies alone, you can go to galleries, to shows, to concerts. Take a solo vacation and luxuriate in the joy of having only your own whims to attend to.

Be Around Good People: One of the battles of everyday life is instantly won when you’re around good people who truly listen and want the best for you. If you have any old friends who don’t make you feel good anymore, it’s okay to gently phase them out of your life. Friends who challenge you and make you think are great but if your friends don’t support you, they might not be a healthy fit for your current lifestyle.

Be Kind To Yourself: Finally, you need to make sure that you treat yourself with as much kindness as you treat others. Cut yourself some slack – make sure that you have a night in by yourself if you feel tired and worn out by other people and don’t beat yourself up too much for any little embarrassing moments. We often tend to treat ourselves a lot less kindly than we would treat others so try to remember how supportive you’d be for someone in your situation and treat yourself the same way. And remember: You’re one hundred and fifty percent totally awesome.

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Take some you time!

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Mar6

PMS? Or Just Pissed?

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PMS? Or Just Pissed?

Heyy everyone and happy Monday. So thanks to a not so subtle title, I’m sure you guys can all gather that it’s my “time of the month”. TMI? Maybe. But, it is my page which sometimes doubles as an online journal for when I just want to shout out to the void of the world wide web and be petty. So, let’s play out this new game show style segment and see what happens…

Sarah’s Bad Mood:

Is It PMS Or Just Pissed?

The Symptoms:

Well…Let’s see:

  1.  For a snack last night I ate three pancakes, two squares of Ghirardelli chocolate, a bagel and butter, a bowl of fettuccine noodles, and a delightful couscous salad.
  2.  I just told my dog who offered me a toy to “go away”.
  3.  My stomach feels like somebody is Mortal Kombat punching it.
  4.  I am SO freaking irritable that I seriously think I could Mortal Kombat punch a hole through the wall.
  5.  Did I mention that all I want to do is eat?
  6.  I literally think that if somebody looked at me the wrong way right now that I would scream and then immediately start crying.

Now, I’m no Web MD specialist but my conclusion to this riveting (admittedly TMI) new segment is…

PMS!

You know, when I was a teenager, my periods never bothered me. They were more of a monthly annoyance than anything and that was it. No pissy moods, no cramps, no wanting to eat everything in a twelve foot radius, no mood swings, no nothing. But now, as a twenty-two year old, my periods are the biggest pain in the ass on the planet. Cramps like a mother, my mouth turns into a vacuum that consumes literally ALL the food, and mood swings that would make Ohio weather seem normal.

I’ve mentioned this to a lot of my girlfriends and about three fourths of them have similar sentiments to mine. As if being a young twenty something pathetically floundering her way through life wasn’t hard enough already, mother nature gives me a week of torture monthly. I swear guys, I legit feel like I’m going crazy and it’s just exhausting! I don’t know why but today is just wearing me out and I’m already so ready for a drink and Netflix in bed.

Sorry to the people who read this that are grossed out by periods or whatever but sometimes being a girl really sucks and mama needed to vent. Besides, now we can all rest easy in knowing that it’s PMS rather than Just Pissed! 😉

Okay, now for some questions. Ladies, how do you deal with PMS? Gentlemen, what do you do when a lady in your life is PMSing (Staying away is not an acceptable answer!!)? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah