Hello! With the stay in order in Ohio still going strong, I definitely have been spending more than the average amount of time on social media. So, I figured it was a great time to remind all of you that you are more than welcome to friend me on Facebook at: Sarah Mushenheim. Just send me a message so I know who you are and I’ll accept your friend request so you can see all of the dope memes I’ve been sharing. 😉
And, in case you don’t know what I look like, this is my profile picture:
The sad truth is that many people aren’t looking after their skin as much as they should. Because of that fact, more folks are complaining of things like skin irritations, sunburn, and even getting strange new marks that they’ve never had before. If you’re guilty of paying too little attention to your skin, read on and find out how you can begin improving:
If you’re something of a night owl, now’s the time to change your habits. Thousands of websites explain why you should get at least six to eight hours of uninterrupted good-quality sleep.
What you may not know is that sleeping well each night does wonders for your skin, hence the term ‘beauty sleep’! When you go to sleep, your body does a lot of housekeeping behind the scenes. One of its tasks is to help your skin cells and tissue get rejuvenated while you rest.
It’s not uncommon for people to get small dark circles appearing in random parts of their body as they age. But, what if you have recently noticed a large patch of dark skin appear on your body? In such cases, you need to get it checked out by a general practice medical center like CBD Medical. That’s because moles that are large and suddenly appear or perhaps change shape or bleed could be a precursor to skin cancer.
One of the things that many people are guilty of each day is not drinking enough water. It’s no secret that water is one of the things vital to our well being and helps to keep our bodies functioning as they should.
If you are often dehydrated during the day, one thing you’ll notice is that your skin begins to feel rough and may even crack. With that in mind, be sure to drink several glasses of water each day. After all, water is free and is a natural skin moisturizer.
If you live in a busy city or even in the suburbs, it’s likely your face will attract all kinds of dirt and pollutants from the air around you. Having a bath or shower each day will help to get rid of some of those pollutants. But, you should also add in a non-toxic face cleansing session to your daily routine.
Lastly, be sure to apply the right level of suntan lotion protection to your skin. Doing so will prevent your skin from getting cooked by the sun and making you resemble a lobster! Plus, it will substantially lower the risk of developing conditions like skin cancer.
Begin taking better care of your skin today with the tips above!
Featured Image By: Pixabay
Hi! Once upon a time, I was SO close to falling asleep when my boyfriend shook me out of my tired haze to inform me of something he deemed highly important. So, can you imagine my annoyance when he told me that Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 syncs up perfectly to Pink Floyd’s album “Dark Side Of The Moon”?! Then, he showed me an example clip in the style of Wizard Of Oz syncing up to the album but with Paul Blart and my annoyance dissipated immediately:
^^^ And, as always, I have no rights to these songs or videos!
If you watched any of the example clip, you will see that the legend is true and Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 and Dark Side Of The Moon go together like peanut butter and jelly. Within a week, my boyfriend and I watched the album synced up to the movie in its entirety and I don’t think I have ever laughed so hard in my life. In fact, I spent half of the time wiping the tears from my eyes from the constant laugh attack that the experience gave me.
So, I have decided to share the wealth. Not only am I informing all of you that it’s hilarious but I am also sharing this discovery with the vinyl record club that I take one of my clients to. As luck would have it, I found a Mall Cop collection in the discount DVD bin at Walmart for three dollars and seventy-four cents (lol) and I realized that this had to be my choice for when I bring in my album.
Is it stupid? Abso-freaking-lutely. Is it one of my favorite things in the world? Abso-freaking-lutely. I am so excited to introduce my friends at record club to this spectacle and, even if no one appreciates it as much as I do, at least they get to hear Dark Side Of The Moon, right? 😉
What other movies does Dark Side Of The Moon sync up to? What is something stupid that you find hilarious? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah
Featured Image By: Film School Rejects
If you pay attention to the news of animal-loving organizations such as The Dodo or your local animal shelter, you’re probably aware that some dogs have a hard time with terrible owners. Abandoned, malnourished, chained all day long in the garden, this is not what a dog’s life should be about. Thankfully, the world is full of caring people who go the extra length to bring joy and love into the lives of these dogs.
As a dog lover, you know that you’ll never be the owner who neglects their pup. You love dogs, and that’s why yours gets plenty of food, a warm shelter, and regular walks. But, before you praise yourself for being the best dog owner in the country, you might want to check that you are, indeed, doing everything right. Sometimes, when we try to do the right thing, we end up doing our pets more harm than good. Don’t be the dog owner who unknowingly puts their pet at risk.
You’ve got long days at work. So, to make sure your beloved Rex doesn’t feel bored or lonely, you’ve bought him a few toys. Here’s the thing, though. Your dog, just like you, needs to socialize to be happy. If you don’t take the time to play with your dog in the evening or to let him play with other dogs, you may be endangering Rex’s mental health. Did you know that dogs that don’t receive enough attention can get depressed? So, also consider how you could fulfill your dog’s social needs day after day. We get it: After a long and hectic day, all you want is to sit on the sofa and chill. But spending quality time with Rex can go a long way!
Rex doesn’t like fences. He can’t see what’s going on.
You may not want to block your dog’s view, but you can’t leave Rex in an open garden. Your pup is likely to run away. If you don’t want to spend countless hours every day looking for your dog, you need to put fences up. Additionally, running into a foreign neighborhood could confuse or scare your pet. Cities are loud and filled with terrifying vehicles. A panicked dog could run amok, get injured, or even hurt someone. You don’t need your neighbor to complain about getting bitten by a dog, especially when it’s yours. Scared dogs can become aggressive because they believe they are under attack.
Sharing your snacks with your dog is the most natural thing. As a pet owner, you want to let your dog have something nice too. However, your sweet attention may be affecting your pet’s health. Treats should not become a symbol of your love. Too many dog owners are facilitating obesity when they only hope to be kind to their pups. Make sure to control portion sizes and to choose healthy snack options.
Dog lovers are often guilty of putting their pets at risk without noticing it. Because you want the best for your pup, you can make the wrong decisions with dramatic consequences. The golden rule, when you are responsible for your pet’s health, is to ask yourself how your choices affect Rex’s mental and physical well being.
Featured Image By: Pexels
Music has been a big part of cultures around the world for centuries, but it seems like independent and aspiring music producers have become more prevalent in recent decades. Thanks to innovations in technology and music-making equipment, at-home production is more accessible than ever before.
Even if you don’t have room for a full studio in your home, there are some fantastic instruments and music-making tools out there that don’t take up a lot of space. One of these is the Alesis v25, which is a 25-key MIDI keyboard with drum pads. Despite not being as popular as other 25-key MIDI keyboards out there, Alesis v25 reviews make it sound like an excellent choice for producing music and beats at home. It’s also one of the most affordable at $179 retail.
The Alesis V25 is a very intuitive and powerful MIDI keyboard for at-home music production. It has 25 keys, eight drum pads, and four rotary knobs to expand the melodic range and chords you can produce with the keyboard. You can even play bass lines.
Once you have the ideal keyboard for making music, it’s time to stock up on some other home recording equipment to mix, edit, and refine your work.
Your home recording studio or station should include some critical pieces of equipment, but you don’t need to pay an arm and a leg for it. The list of essentials is quite short and you can find proper quality equipment for affordable prices both online and in stores like Best Buy and even Walmart. The leading necessary audio recording equipment you should have includes:
Home music production cannot be achieved successfully without a microphone and long-lasting mic cables. For home recording, cardioid microphones are best because they help reject any sound coming from behind you. While you can easily spend over $1,000 on a quality condenser microphone and stand, there are several excellent options for $300 or less.
Be sure to get a quality mic stand as well! You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a high-quality microphone, only to knock it over and ruin it. There are excellent mic stand options for any budget, and you can probably spend less than $50.
Your smartphone earbuds won’t do for home recording, so be sure to invest in a good pair of over-the-ear headphones for mixing and monitoring when you’re recording. Before you buy, compare the specs based on your needs. Look into the headphones’ drivers, impedance, and sensitivity.
A USB audio interface is necessary to connect your headphones, microphone, and speakers to your computer for editing and mixing sounds. You can probably find what you need for less than $200, depending on the kind of system and types of features you require.
An inexpensive and essential piece of equipment for any home recording studio is a pop filter or pop shield, especially if you’re recording vocals. Pop filters not only protect your mic from vocalists’ spit, but they also block “plosives” and maintain the quality of your vocals. You can probably find a quality pop shield on Amazon for less than $30.
Decent studio speakers or monitors are a must for any home recording studio. Without them, you may find that your work sounds very different (and less-than-desired) when played outside of your studio headphones. There are countless different speakers to choose from, but a few things to consider are amplification, placement in your studio, size, listening distance, and connection to your audio editing equipment. For a direct link to your computer or audio interface, a USB connection will do, but for interfaces with balanced outputs, you’ll want a balanced XLR or jack input.
When recording from a room or space in your home, you’ll need to think about more than just any sounds from the outside. The reverb of sounds within the recording area can affect the audio as well, so you will need to install acoustic panels and diffusers on the walls to create an accurate acoustic environment and make your sound better. You can make your own panels and DIY bass traps for a fraction of the cost of acoustic treatments, which can get pretty pricey.
A DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) is the program that you will be recording and arranging your music in. This is one of the most important pieces of equipment you’ll need for your home studio. Luckily, there are many affordable, and even many free DAWS available for musicians on a budget.
Use the tips above, start recording your tunes, and maybe you’ll catch your big break!
Featured Image By: Reinhold Schlager from Pixabay.
If you’re looking for ways to look after your glasses but you’re unsure where to start, then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’ve just ordered your first-ever pair of glasses or you’ve been wearing them for years, you need to make sure to protect them. Luckily, there are lots of ways in which you can do that. From investing in insurance to keeping them in a case, the more you’re doing to protect your glasses the better. With that in mind, here are 5 ways to look after your glasses:
One of the best things you can do when it comes to looking after your glasses is that you buy high-quality glasses to begin with. Although they will cost more, buying glasses that are durable and sturdy will be less likely to get damaged. If you’re on a budget and you need to buy a pair that is slightly cheaper, make sure you’re doing as much research as you can when it comes to durability. For a guide to the best glasses brands to buy, you can visit this site here.
If you’re worried about breaking your glasses and whether or not you’ll have the money to buy a new pair should they get broken, you may want to invest in insurance. Although you will have to pay a monthly sum towards your insurance, it will save you from having to pay a large amount should they break. For tips and tricks when it comes to finding insurance for your belongings, you can visit this site here.
Another great way to look after your glasses is to keep them in a case when you’re not wearing them. Although this might not be often, ensuring you’re always putting your glasses in a case will reduce your risk of damaging them or losing them. If you’re putting them into your bag, you should always use a case to avoid scratches on your glasses lenses.
It goes without saying that you should be doing everything you can to take care of your lenses. From cleaning them at night to keeping them in a safe place, the more you’re doing to care for them the less likely it is they’re going to get damaged.
Finally, you need to be sure you’re replacing your glasses at least every two years. Although you can replace them before that, two years is the suggested amount of time to have your prescription checked again. If you’re experiencing difficulties, you should go before.
Keep all things in 20/20 vision by taking the best care of your glasses that you can!
Featured Image By: Free-Photos from Pixabay
The thought that your dog could be feeling a little depressed is so upsetting that it almost makes you want to check yourself in for counseling. How could such an adorable being ever feel low? It is not right.
Dogs, however, just like people, can suffer tremendously from the blues. While their psychology might not be as complicated as ours, there’s no doubt that they can have a similar experience. Dogs that feel depressed find it hard to muster the energy to do the things that regular pooches love. They just sit there, looking at you with those big sad eyes.
Dogs can feel sad for many reasons. Here are some of the primary contributing factors:
Just like their human owners, dogs need a minimum amount of daily attention to enjoy their lives. If they don’t get it, they can often wind up feeling low and sad – not what you want.
The reason for this comes down to their social nature. Dogs need to be in groups, whether with people or other hounds. If they’re by themselves, they feel worried, panicked, and anxious. They don’t know what to do with themselves and they can’t find an outlet for their natural energy. It is enough to make anyone feel depressed.
Everyone knows that dogs need regular exercise to keep them in tip-top shape. If they don’t get it, then they slowly put on weight. Not only does this make them unhealthy, but it can affect their mental well being. They can’t get outside and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of the open air. They feel chained to their dog bed.
The solution to this is easy: just buy a special weight loss formula food from the pet store and stop feeding them human food at dinner time. And, make sure you’re scheduling regular walks with your pup! It’s also very important to remember that certain breeds of dogs require a lot of exercise and play time to keep them happy. If you think your pup isn’t being stimulated enough, it’s a good idea to enter a search for “mini schnauzer temperament” (or whatever breed you have) and learn more about their needs for a healthy, fulfilling life.
If your dog was lively last week, but looking miserable and depressed this week, then the most likely suspect is pain. Pain tends to take the wind out of doggy sails. They don’t know how to process it, and so many just lie down and stay still, hoping that it will pass.
The good news is that, as an owner, there’s a lot that you can do. As www.relievet.com, some dogs respond well to alternative pain medications. Plus, you can go to your vet and talk about possible anti-inflammatory drugs if the issue is arthritic.
Dogs aren’t like most animals. They form strong bonds with particular individuals that they like. When those people pass away, it can make them feel depressed. While they don’t have a concept of death, the absence of a particular relationship can affect them profoundly.
Finally, dogs tend to mirror the feelings of their owners according to www.petmd.com. If you’re happy and excited, your dog will be too. If you’re feeling down in the dumps about life, then so will your dog. Remember, dogs can sense our feelings much better than anyone would think possible.
Use the tips above to help shake the blues from your sweet pup and get to enjoying the spring weather with a much needed walk for the both of you!
Featured Image By: Pixabay
Desk work hardly seems like the most dangerous occupation in the world, but it can pose many long-term health dangers. The combination of sitting down for long periods, being indoors, and doing repetitive actions can lead to a number of illnesses and injuries. Here are a few problems to look out for and how to relieve/prevent them:
Sitting down for extended periods of time increases your risk of developing circulatory problems. Your blood may not flow as freely around certain parts of the body such as the hands and feet, causing it to pool up. This can lead to blood clots, varicose veins, a stroke, or even a heart attack.
If you regularly experience numbness, tingling, or cramps in the hands and feet, it could be a sign that you’re experiencing circulatory problems. Red dark blotches are also a key sign. Compression socks and clot-dissolving drugs may be able to ease discomfort and return circulation to normal, but the best solution and prevention method is to be more physically active. You could opt for a standing desk or you could simply make it a routine to get up every hour for five minutes. Deskercises may also help.
Lack of physical activity can also lead to weight gain – if you’re not being active, you’re not burning calories. Being overweight can increase your risk of everything from diabetes to heart disease.
The obvious solution to this, as with circulatory problems, is to be more active during the day. You could also plan exercise for before or after work, as well as trying to be more active at the weekend. Changing your diet could also be necessary (you may be able to keep up a sedentary lifestyle and not gain weight simply by eating healthily).
A lot of people working desk jobs experience lower back pain. This is usually from craning over a desk for long periods, which causes stress on the spine. When it comes to relieving discomfort, there are many new lower back relief products and herbal remedies that you can try. Procedures like massages and acupuncture may also help. Improving your sitting posture could meanwhile stop your back pain from getting worse. Try to ensure that your back is straight – lowering your chair or raising your monitor could prevent you from leaning forward.
Another way to provide relief for pain that is far less invasive than an acupuncture procedure is doing a small dose of CBD gummies. These are especially good for the constantly aching back or tender wrists after typing all day. There are plenty of “best of” lists online, which will help you narrow down the best kind for you. Observer, for example, has a list that also links to products and additional information to browse through.
Being indoors all day isn’t good for us. As well as the lack of sunlight, being surrounded by dusty air and other people’s bacteria can result in nausea and respiratory issues. This is sometimes known as sick building syndrome.
Good ventilation and regular cleaning could make for a healthier indoor environment. Meanwhile, going outside on your lunch break could get you some fresh air during the day, which could help to clear out your lungs.
Typing on a keyboard for long periods of time can sometimes lead to an RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). The wrists and knuckles may start to cramp up and in severe cases this could lead to permanent pain.
Having your keyboard in the right position may prevent an RSI from occurring. Ideally, the keyboard should be directly in front of you and your elbows should be at the same height so that your forearms are horizontal when typing.
Use the tips above if your desk job is giving you grief and, as always, visit your doctor about your concerns, too!
Featured Image By: Pexels
Home security is of huge importance today. Below, we are going to take a look at some effective home security suggestions to keep you and yours safe:
A monitored burglar alarm is one of the most effective security methods available from alarm companies today. You can have complete peace of mind that your home is protected at all times, no matter if you are away on holiday or you simply spend a lot of time out of the house on a day-to-day basis.
Monitored alarm systems provide communication between your home security system and a central monitoring system. So, if your control panel acknowledges a security breach, it will send a signal to a central monitoring station. There are also police monitored alarm systems, which connect your home security system to the police. With most police monitored alarms, if there is more than one emergency signal registered within less than half an hour, the police will be notified.
Another option to consider is a SMART monitored home alarm. These alarms are connected to your devices, such as your mobile phone or tablet. This means that you will be immediately alerted if there is a breach. When you are doing your research for a new alarm, it is so important to choose a service that provides you with round the clock care 24/7 and 365 days a year. You can have peace of mind with products like the Verisure Smart Alarms for starters or other home security businesses in your area.
A monitored alarm can give you full reassurance that your property is protected. No matter where in the world you are, someone will be on the scene to ensure any issues are dealt with. Not only this, but monitored alarms can easily be integrated with other security systems, including CCTV and door entry access.
An audible alarm system is one that makes a noise when it is activated. So, if someone unauthorized tries to access your home, a loud noise will sound. This will ensure someone comes to the scene immediately while also warning any criminals off. No one is going to proceed to burgle your home once a loud alarm sounds! This system is well suited to those who live in a busy area where neighbors will hear the alarm. If you live in a remote location out in the countryside, you’d be better off with a different type of alarm.
One of the important decisions to make when choosing between home burglar alarm systems is whether to go for a wired or wireless alarm. Both have their advantages. Wireless systems are faster and much less disruptive, but the battery will need to be changed regularly.
Use the tips above to keep your home and family well protected today and in the future.
Featured Image By: Pixabay
We live in an age where people are following so many different diets to try and get the perfect figure or feel happier. But the big problem with this is that they are all, to an extent, fad diets. We live in a world where there’s so much fantastic food that the old expression “everything in moderation” is a far better option for everyone. But why should we avoid going for fad diets? And what can we do to make sure that we follow the rules of a balanced diet? Read on to find out!
From a tres leches cake to Neapolitan ice cream, Aberdeen Angus burgers, and everything in between, there’s so much great food out there it can feel like hell depriving ourselves of these treats. Sometimes you’ve got to take inspiration from European cultures like the French. They know there’s so much fantastic food out there that they allow a little indulgence. When people opt for such a strict diet they’re doing it to make themselves feel better, but they seldom do. But if you can just follow the rule of eating healthily 80% of the time and allowing the rest for the things you really fancy, you can still eat all of that delicious food without feeling guilty.
Sometimes a more balanced diet can be as simple as exploring new recipes with an emphasis on what you need to be including more of. For example, if your diet lacks protein you could try out these ground beef recipes or search for dishes with plenty of beans or lentils if you are a vegetarian. Need more veggies? There are so many fabulous ways to dress up a salad to your liking! Trying out new recipes is not only an exciting way to switch things up but will provide yourself with more of what your body needs.
We’ve got to get rid of the word “diet” and think about it as a lifestyle change. When we go on a diet for a specific goal like losing weight, as soon as we end up hitting our goal it’s likely we will put it back on. You’ve got to think about the overall benefits of a lifestyle change. For example, eating the right foods can help your skin, make you feel healthier, and even sleep better. But when we go on a diet of such extremes we are pushing our psychological limits. We might even be calorie counting in our sleep! It’s far better to make a gradual swap to a new way of eating.
Because there are many fad diets that purport to be the key to youth, a lot of these diets don’t have the evidence. The one true barometer when you change your eating patterns is to listen to how you feel. So many people go to such extremes to lose weight that they can feel the shock. A crash diet is something that people do before bikini season, but does going through all that psychological hardship make you feel happier? The one true test of eating well is a little bit of what you fancy combined with foods that you know make you feel good.
Everything in moderation is the key. And when you eat the things that your body wants it rewards you with extra energy and less need for sleep. If you can follow the 80/20 rule where you eat healthily 80% of the time and leave 20% for treats, you’re not depriving yourself mentally and will still reap the benefits.
Featured Image By: Pexels – CC0 Licence
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