Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Fashion Sense 101: Your Health Is More Important Than Your Dress Size

By    9:10 PM // No comments
About this same time every year, we start feeling guilty because we’ve broken yet another New Year’s resolution. This was finally going to be the year when we would stick to a diet long enough to get down to a respectable dress size. But, after all, what is a respectable dress size? Does every woman need to look like a Victoria’s Secret supermodel? What size is respectable, anyway? Is it a size 0, 1 or 3?
Image result for measuring tape and health
What Is the Perfect Size for Women?
If so few women will ever be respectable, so why bother? Once you come to the realization that we are all unique individuals, right down to our hair color and body shape, you will finally know the secret to good fashion sense. You will also know the secret to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight for your age, gender, and state of health. That, in a nutshell, is what good fashion sense is all about. If you need advice on healthy eating habits that will enable you to safely take the pounds off, visit sites like Health Row, but by all means, don’t let size determine your fashion sense!

Plus Size Fashions Are Trendy Too!

In recent years, many of the big-name fashion houses have begun designing trendy lines for plus size women. The truth is, Americans are notoriously overweight and, as such, there was a real need to offer clothing lines appropriate for larger women. Although carrying that extra weight around isn’t healthy, the sad fact remains that more than one in every three Americans are overweight, with a huge portion of those falling within a range that classifies them as obese. It’s all about your Body Mass Index, BMI, and since one-third of the population might require larger sizes, fashion designers have begun creating lines just for larger ladies.
Right Resolutions for All the Wrong Reasons!
Part of the reason why so many of us fail to lose weight as a result of a New Year’s resolution is the fact that most are doomed to fail. If you are trying to shed pounds so that you can look good in that sexy new Victoria’s Secret lingerie, it will almost always take longer than you are willing to wait. You didn’t put that weight on overnight, so you can’t expect to safely take it off overnight either. You are making a healthy choice to take pounds off, but try to approach it from a health perspective rather than concern for your physical appearance.
Read up on all the issues an unhealthy weight can result in and then take steps to correct your eating and exercise habits – or lack thereof! Learn how to eat the right foods and how much activity you should be getting daily/weekly. If you approach weight loss from this perspective, it will be easier to learn patience than if you are looking to drop five dress sizes by Easter or by summer vacation on the beach. Fashion should always take a backseat to health and once you’ve learned that, you’ve just graduated from Fashion Sense 101 and are ready for the next level – a whole, new and healthy you.






4 Hidden Gems In London

By    12:01 PM // No comments
London is a great city with so much going on but people only tend to visit once. When they’ve seen all of the best attractions that the city has to offer, they think they’ve done it all. That’s such a shame because you’ve only scratched the surface and there is plenty more to see and do around the city. Beyond all of the well publicised tourist attractions, there are plenty of hidden locations that only the locals know about. It’s by finding these places that you’ll get a truly authentic London experience. These are some of the best hidden gems the city has to offer.




Ginglik
When you’re looking for places to spend a nice evening, an old Victorian toilet probably isn’t top of your list, but it should be. Ginglik, a Victorian toilet that has been transformed into an amazing music and events venue. A lot of famous British comedians play there and you can often see bands down there as well. Some of the Best West London Hotels are in Shepherds Bush, very close to this great little venue so it’s a good place to stay while you’re in London. It’s one of London’s most fashionable clubs but most tourists have never even heard of it.


Fake Downing Street
When you’re in London you can see Buckingham Palace and you can visit Downing Street, the home of the Prime Minister. The problem is, you can’t get down the road to actually see it up close. If you’re desperate for a picture outside the front door, head to the fake Downing Street on The Strand. This replica of the front door is so accurate that it’s difficult to tell the difference between the two in photographs. Nobody has to know, you can just tell them that you were invited to stand outside the real 10 Downing Street.


Wiltons Music Hall
Wiltons music hall claims to be the oldest music hall in the entire world. Whether that claim is true or not, nobody knows, but it’s still worth visiting. The beautiful building, which is now grade 2 listed, was founded in 1743 as an ale house for ship captains before being turned into a music hall in the 1800’s. There are all sorts of events on there but they mainly hold concerts on a regular basis. Even if you can’t make it there for a show in the evening, it’s still worth going to see the building itself during the day.


Britain’s Smallest Police Station


Chances are, you might have walked past this one a couple of times if you’ve been around the city doing all of the normal touristy stuff because it sits right in the middle of Trafalgar Square. It’s easy to miss though because it’s tiny. It was originally built as a post to monitor protests in the area in the 1800’s. It has a lamp from Nelson's ship, the HMS Victory sitting on top of it. This interesting little piece of history isn’t used as a police station these days though, the council use it as a storage cupboard now.


Next time you head back to London, skip all of the tourist stuff and find some of these hidden gems instead.  







Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Keep Your Kids Entertained WIth These Simple Tricks

By    5:00 PM // No comments
Some you time
If you live in a family house, it’s likely that finding time for yourself is no easy task. If you have more than one kid, the chances of your finding some time becomes even less, and at this point, you’re just wishing you had something to keep them distracted. Well, the good news is, there’s plenty of ways you can go about this, you just need to find out which works best! There are many parents out there who neglect specific methods as they feel it will have a negative impact on their children, such as video-games and certain movies. It’s true that you should control what your kids do at a young age, but make sure you do your research before you block out possibilities on things you’ve overheard people saying, or something heard on the news.
Video games
For many parents out there, video games are seen as brainwashing machines that will turn their kids into murderous psychopaths, and there are many activists out there who would insist on this too. Good news! That’s not true in the slightest, and not all video games are the same. Not all games are just senseless violence that offers no other purpose, some are known to be quite educational with their storytelling! If you’re frightened by the idea of your children playing video games, you might want to do your own research on them beforehand; as there are many out there that are made for children as young as three years old! The varieties are endless. You could start the day racing around the streets of Italy and finish it building a powerful empire in Final Fantasy XV. Just because there are well-known “shoot ‘em up” franchises, doesn’t mean you have to brand every game with that same image! If you still feel worried about it, you might try giving it a try for yourself before giving them to your kids; this way you know what they’re going to be up to!
(Source: Pexels)
Extra activities
If you have the money and the time to look into extra activities for your kids to join, you might end up killing two birds with one stone! There are many different clubs out there for kids of all ages and kinds, and it’s not likely that you’ll be stuck for what to pick! Not only do you gain some personal time from it, but it’s a great opportunity to help develop their social skills while having a great time. There’s something out there for everyone, just make sure to look into whatever you join beforehand!
Everyone knows how stressful being a parent can be, especially when your kids are younger. Your kids are important, but it’s also important to make sure you have that alone time when you need; as it can help greatly when it comes maintaining your patience and not overworking yourself! Finding time for leisure is important for everyone out there, no matter their responsibilities.







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Set The Right Example By Revising For Life's Financial Tests

By    4:57 PM // No comments
When we become parents, most of us get pretty good at helping our kids revise for tests. From the moment they enter school, after all, there’s one test or another to worry about. And, our kids aren’t the only ones who face tests. The chances are that there’s also a few in store for you. To be in with the best chance of passing, you should put those revision skills to good use. Of course, you don’t need to know your times tables to pass. Though, maths could serve you well, as most of the tests you’ll face involve finances. Money is always an issue. And, the chances are that you’ll encounter at least a few significant financial tests each year. So, how exactly can you revise? Read on to find out.

School breakSchool breaks are always financial tests. No sooner have the kids gone back, than they have another week off. This can make things tricky. No matter how you approach the issue, your finances will struggle. When you’re at home playing with your kids, you aren’t earning money. Of course, you could stay at work and employ childcare during the days. But, that isn’t going to be cheap. You’d likely spend your wages on the service. Besides which, most employers are pretty understanding about this. It may be that they give you the time off, or let you switch to half days instead. Both of which result in lost money. So, how can you pass this test? By saving, of course. Setting aside spare cash when you are working should be all it takes to afford the time off. Just develop a financial plan, and watch your spending during those vacation weeks.
Unpaid time off workMost years, you’ll only ever take your allocated holiday from work. Sometimes, though, we have no choice but to take unpaid leave unexpectedly. It may be that your kids are ill, or you have to stay with an unwell loved one. Your savings can help here, too, though you don’t want to spend them before you need them. As such, you might want to find ways of making money while you’re at home. There are many sidelines which could see you through. Or, it might be that you’ve experienced an injury which leaves you unable to work. If this happened through fault of someone else, don’t hesitate to contact a personal injury law office and file a claim. That should be more than enough to see you pass this test with flying colors.
Birthdays/holidays
Just when you think you’ve got your finances under control, surprise tests crop up in the form of birthdays and holidays. These shake you up and test your knowledge on the spot. And, to ensure you pass, it’s important to budget. Think of this as one of those questions in maths tests at school. Work out how much to dedicate to the cause, and make that money last as long as possible. Whatever you do, don’t overspend!






The 10 Most Forgotten Items When Packing For A Holiday

By    7:50 AM // 1 comment

When packing for a holiday, there’s always something that gets left behind. Some of these forgotten items can be minor nuisances, whilst others can be more serious. Here are some of the most commonly forgotten items to check off your list before you jet off.
Toothbrush
We’ve all forgotten our toothbrush at some point. Whilst it can be frustrating arriving at your hotel room to find you haven’t got this item, toothbrushes are easy and cheap to replace.
Sun cream
Sun cream is another commonly forgotten item that’s easy to replace. If you easily burn, it’s worth taking this with you wherever you go in case there’s a heatwave – even ski holidays can result in sunburn due to sunshine reflected off the snow! Airports may limit how much of this liquid you can take if you’ve only got hand luggage.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are also easy to replace. It can be worth packing two pairs as these items can often get lost on holiday.
Swimwear
Whether or not you plan to use pool, it’s worth packing some swimwear just in case. Whilst you might be able to buy replacements, it can be frustrating if you’ve spent ages hand-picking some nice swimsuits and bikinis in the shops beforehand only to leave it on the clothes rail.
Phone chargers
Not having a phone charge can be a big inconvenience. This can be worth putting in your hand luggage in case there are any places to charge your phone en route. If you’re going to be driving on your holiday it could also be worth getting a car charger. Portable chargers meanwhile are ideal for backpacking adventures and camping trips.
Adaptor plugs
Some countries abroad may have different plug sockets. Even if you’ve got your charger, you won’t be able to plug in your phone if you haven’t got an adaptor. Check if the country you’re going to requires these adaptors before going.
Padlocks
Padlocks are handy for keeping your luggage safe in transit. Whilst you can usually buy these at the airport, you might be able to get them cheaper elsewhere before you go.
Travel document copies
It’s worth having hard copies of any documentation – just in case your phone dies. This could include flight information, hotel booking information, transfer information, travel visa receipts, travel insurance documentation and potentially hire car information. A copy of your driving license and passport might also come in handy if these items get lost.
Plastic/ziplock bags
Having a few bags handy can be useful. These could be used for storing rubbish, dirty laundry or for separating wet swimwear and towels.  
Medication
It’s worth packing a small medical kit of essentials such as plasters, paracetamol, tampons, contraceptives, diarrhoea medication (the difference in water quality can give many people the runs) and any anti-allergy medication. Medication catered to specific conditions may be harder to come by on holiday, so try to list this as a priority item (going back to the prior point of documentation – it could be worth bringing proof of a prescription).

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Monday, January 29, 2018

Insomnia: 12 Potential Causes To Investigate

By    4:41 PM // No comments
Source

Sleep is many things to people. To some, it’s a delight; there’s nothing in the world some people enjoy more than snoozing a day away. To others, sleep is an inconvenience; a necessary function that uses time they would rather spend immersed in tasks. For everyone else, sleep is not something they feel particularly passionate about… but they know they need it.

Sleep deprivation is dangerous. This is a known, established medical fact-- yet sometimes, sleep evades us. If you find yourself falling into a pattern of struggling to sleep, then how you feel about sleep as a general concept is irrelevant: you’ll soon feel the impact, and know that you need to do something to return yourself to a peaceful slumber.

Of course, doing this is easier said than done. You drop lavender essential oil on your pillow and try to relax yourself before going to bed; you do all the things people are meant to do to encourage sleep. Eventually, you may find yourself wondering why you’re struggling so much-- and that’s where this post comes in.

Below are 12 issues that can impact your sleep. Sleep is such a complex, delicate thing that it’s impossible to reduce down to a short list; so let’s try and be comprehensive. Check off the potential causes, one by one, until you find the culprit, and can then set yourself back on the path to restfulness.

#1 - Sleep apnea
What should I do about it? You can ask your doctor for a sleep study. This will assess your breathing during your sleep. If you are diagnosed with sleep apnea, there are many treatments offered by sleep doctors that can help.

#2 - Monthly cyclical hormonal changes
What is it? Hormonal changes during your monthly cycle can influence how well you sleep. Many women find that they experience insomnia during ovulation or right before their period, then they return to normal sleep patterns for the rest of the month.

What should I do about it? Monitor your sleeplessness and see if it falls into a cyclical pattern. You can use an app like Clue to help track your cycle and then compare the two diaries. If you find you consistently struggle with sleep during a particular part of your cycle, then you can alter your habits during the time you’re most likely to be affected. You could, for example, exercise more during the impacted days, so you are more likely to be tired.

#3 - Early or perimenopause
What is it? The same hormonal changes that occur during your monthly cycle can also make sleeplessness more common during early or perimenopause. Other symptoms include feeling hot, sweating excessively, and mood changes.

What should I do about it? See your doctor if you believe you have menopausal symptoms-- bear in mind that any woman, of any age, can go through the menopause. Your doctor will be able to run hormone tests and, if necessary, provide medication to help you control the symptoms.

#4 - Discomfort
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What is it? If your bed or pillows are not comfortable, then there’s every chance that this small issue could be causing you to struggle to get to sleep.

What should I do about it? Switch your mattress and invest in new, supportive pillows. This might seem like a simple change, but it’s one that you should definitely consider-- sometimes, Occam’s Razor has the answer.

#5 - Blue light exposure
What is it? Blue light -- which is emitted by devices such as mobile phones, televisions, and even lightbulbs -- can interrupt our circadian rhythm. The blue light tells our mind that it’s still daytime, so the hormonal changes that allow for sleep are postponed.

What should I do about it? Don’t use any devices for at least two hours before going to bed. If you cannot avoid this, then orange blue-light-blocking sunglasses might not be the most fashionable thing to wear, but they can make a difference.

#6 - Thyroid problems
What is it? Both over and underactive thyroids can cause issues with sleeplessness, though it is more likely to occur with overactive thyroid problems (hyperthyroidism). Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include persistent thirst, a general feeling of agitation, sensitivity to heat, and mood swings.

What should I do about it? See your doctor if you fit the symptoms. They can run a blood test to determine whether you have thyroid problems; if so, there are a range of effective treatment options available.

#7 - Anxiety disorders
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What is it? All anxiety disorders can cause problems with sleep due to the excess adrenaline they tend to create. If you have issues with anxiety, stress, or struggle to cope with unwanted unpleasant thoughts, then it’s worth investigating this as the cause.

What should I do about it? You can take the GAD-7 -- the standard test used for diagnosing anxiety disorders -- online. If you have a high score, then speak to your doctor; they will likely arrange either medication or therapy, and your sleep issues should be resolved.

#8 - You enjoy lie-ins on the weekend
What is it? Yes, it’s true; your beloved lie-in might be the cause of your sleep issues. Our bodies, and particularly our circadian rhythms, like stability. When we get up early during the week, our bodies change to adapt to this rhythm, but struggle to know how to cope when we lie-in during weekends. This can lead to disturbed sleep patterns, as your body is unable to develop a routine, and thus struggles to “switch off” for sleep at all.


What should I do about it? Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends. If you do want to “catch up” on sleep over the weekends, it’s far better to get up as normal and then nap for around 30 minutes in the afternoon. This allows your body to establish its normal pattern, and still gives you a chance for a refreshing doze that won’t disturb your overall sleep habits.

#9 - Your bedroom is too quiet
What is it? Many people struggle with the absolute silence that tends to descend on a household at night. It keeps their mind alert and awake, because every sound that you do hear -- such as an owl hooting outside -- is amplified due to the lack of competing noise. As a result, your mind goes into overdrive, and you struggle to doze off.

What should I do about it? You can try white noise apps on your phone or a white noise machine that plugs into the mains. You may need to experiment with the different sounds to see what works for you; some people like whale song, others do best with a basic white noise sound, so play around until you find what works for you.

#10 - Your bedroom is too hot
What is it? Our bodies need a cool environment when we’re trying to sleep. If you struggle with temperature control when in bed, then this alone could be enough to give you chronic insomnia.

What should I do about it? If you live in a generally-hot climate, then looking for an HVAC quote for an installation of air conditioning could be the best thing you do for your sleep, as these systems allow you to control the temperature of your room absolutely. Other options include sleeping in light, cotton clothing that allows skin to breathe or looking for a cool-gel cushion pillow.

#11 - It’s a full moon
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What is it? Yes, full moons can influence your sleep patterns. Studies have found that it takes on average five minutes longer to get to sleep during a full moon, and overall sleep for the night is decreased by around 20 minutes.

What can I do about it? Sadly, not a lot, though being aware of what’s causing your occasional bouts of insomnia can at least put your mind at rest from worrying. As with hormone-related changes, it may be beneficial to exercise more during the full moon phase of the lunar cycle, in the hope that you’ll be more tired when you try to sleep.

#12 - You’re trying to sleep with your mind “full”
What is it? If you go right from your usual chores to bed, you’re going to struggle to sleep-- no matter how tired you are. Your mind needs time to relax from the day you have just experienced; if you don’t, you’ll find yourself wide awake, staring at the ceiling, and wondering why you can’t just switch off.

What can I do about it? Try to take 15 minutes before bed to sit quietly, meditate, or just do something soothing and simple like applying night creams-- you’ll be surprised how much of a difference this can make.  Another method some find helpful is to take CDB oil, which helps reduced anxiety and helps the mind relax. Check out https://thecbdinsider.com for details. While CBD can be ingested the reaction time is faster when you use a vape or dab rig to vaporize the oil. Take a look at these great dab rigs from SmokeSmith Gear and you will see that these water pipes are both elegant and affordable.

In conclusion
Hopefully, the source of your sleeplessness is listed above, allowing you to resolve the issue once and for all.