Month: June 2022

Categories
Parenting

Struggling with Mom Guilt? You’re Not Alone.

A specific type of guilt that comes with motherhood is mom guilt. That’s not to say that other parents don’t feel it too – but it is often attributed to moms. Mom guilt occurs because we feel responsible for everything. We want to do everything as a mom, even when it’s impossible. Since we can’t do it all, we feel bad no matter what we do.

Mom Guilt
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So what is mom guilt? 

Almost all moms will struggle with mom guilt because that is how society has framed decisions that moms make. Everything we do is wrong in someone’s eyes.

Worrying about making the right or wrong decisions, choosing between working, parenting, bed-times, school plays, trying to find help if you need it (admitting your need or don’t need help), a new business – and if the frozen peas are good enough. 

So if you are struggling with mom guilt, remember that you aren’t alone. Here are some of the common reasons for mom guilt and some things you can do to ease it. 

Reasons for Mom Guilt (and what you can do about it)

Being bored

Ever been sitting watching a children’s show for the 40th time? You can’t go outside because the weather is bad, and you don’t have any activities planned. Boredom sets in, and you can feel guilty that suddenly you don’t feel fulfilled by what you have. 

It’s totally normal to get bored of Thomas The Tank Engine and crave some adult conversations. Being bored doesn’t mean you’re bored of your life or aren’t grateful it’s a normal thing that many parents experience. Try to find something to help while away the hours – even if it’s Twitter! 

Screentime

Everyone has a different opinion about screen time, and you’ll always get unsolicited advice about it. You should only give your children 5 minutes of screentime every six days. And even then – it’s too much. Our parents and those before them didn’t have screen time; instead, kids played outside until the streetlight came on. You’ve heard all of these things before, and it’s done nothing but make you experience mom guilt.

Use the tools you have at your disposal to make your life easier, not harder. That might mean you give in to a few hours of iPad time while getting things done. Your great-great-grandparents likely would have let their kids have screentime if they had the tools then. Ignore what people say and do what feels best for your family.

Remember that the type of content your child watches or plays matters. Again, this is up to your discretion, but make sure their electronic usage matches your values and belief systems.

Unsolicited advice 

Your neighbor’s daughter’s friend’s aunty’s new baby doesn’t cry that much. And their older children play silently. The parents also cook a roast every day, have full-time jobs, etc.

It can feel like no matter what you do, someone is waiting in the wings to tell you ‘told you so’ or to question what you are doing. 

You aren’t under any obligation to take their advice – or even listen to it, for that matter. Judgments and criticisms can also come from closer to home – but again, you don’t need to follow what your parents or anyone else do. 

Getting angry 

You don’t get a moment’s break – ever. Not even when the children are asleep, not really. You’re the 24/7/365 on-call person. And that means you will see tantrums, tempers, throwing, school problems, arguing, and more. 

From time to time, you might lose your temper. Every child has their moments, and it’s important that when you get annoyed – you quickly check yourself (take a breath, drink a glass of water, step outside for a moment) – then forgive yourself. 

If the last one rings a little bit too true, here are some great tips: Manage Stress As A Parent With These Simple Tips – Mom Wife Wine. 

Categories
Adulting Outside Fun Parenting

An Easy Guide for How To Set Up Your Kid’s Sports Team

If your local area lacks a kid-friendly sports team, you can set one up yourself. Setting up a kid’s sports team is a great way to get to know parents in your local area. It also gets your children involved in exercise and helps them socialize with other kids. Here’s some advice on how to set up your kid’s sports team.

Set Up Your Kid’s Sports Team
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How To Set Up Your Kid’s Sports Team

Talk To Other Parents

The easiest way to work out how much interest there will be in setting up a sports team is to talk to other parents. Talking to other parents will help you determine which local sports are popular, whether there are other local kid’s teams your child could enroll in, or whether they’d be interested in helping you set up a team. Other parents want to be a vital part of setting up a successful kid’s team so getting them active early is essential.

Choose A Sport

Are there any local kid’s leagues that your team can join? What are the most popular sports in your state or local area? Pick a sport that kids will want to sign up for and also that you have some natural ability in. If you’re not an expert, then you’ll need to be prepared to invest in a coach with more talent than you in the sport.

Get The Name Colors, And Logo to Set Up Your Kid’s Sports Team

Once you’ve set up your kid’s sports team, you need to decide on the team name. It should be fun, memorable, and relevant to your sport. Try a team name generator if you’re feeling stuck for ideas. Once you’ve chosen the name, you need to decide on a logo and team colors. There are many custom sports kits online that allow you to get your kid’s sports team kit professionally printed with your logo.

Establish The Ability Level

What level is your kid’s sports team going to be? Is it going to be a beginner’s-friendly club where everyone is welcome? Or are you going to have tryouts to create a professional club? Before deciding on your team’s ability level, be honest about your talents. If you aren’t an expert in the sport, you aren’t going to be able to coach kids of higher ability.

Get Volunteers

Volunteers are the lifeblood of your kid’s sports team. Try and entice other parents to volunteer when their kids join. Think of having an allocated treasurer, someone in charge of first aid for injuries, a snack preparer, and even a carpool arranger for their matches. Volunteers take the pressure off you because you aren’t the only person running the squad. Ultimately, sharing responsibilities among parents will also save them time in the long run.

Have Fun Being A Sports Parent

Setting up your kid’s sports team is a fun introduction to the world of a sports parent. Enjoy taking your kids to matches, sorting out the team roster, and ultimately watching these kids grow into talented and achieving teenagers and young adults. 

Final Thoughts: Set Up Your Kid’s Sports Team

Being a sports parent is fun, but only if your child enjoys the experience. If your child wants to play a sport and you can’t find a team in your area, don’t give up. Foster your child’s interests and set up your kid’s sports team. There are likely other kids with similar interests who would love to give it a try.

Categories
Adulting

6 Easy Tricks to Make You Look 10 Years Younger

There is a growing trend for people to make themselves look younger. Aging is beautiful, and it is a privilege that you shouldn’t be afraid to encounter. However, as we grow, there is no doubt that there are some parts of the vitality of youth that we wish to retain or re-capture. Here are some tips and tricks that will make you look ten years younger:

Look Younger
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Look Younger With These Tricks

Increase your vegetable and fruits intake 

There is a saying that you are what you eat. Believe it or not, what you eat reflects on your body and general health. If you want to look ten years young, processed foods, unhealthy fats, and refined sugars cannot be your go-to foods. Opt for lean proteins, cereals, and low-fat dairy.

Maximize your fruit and vegetable intake. Foods rich in antioxidants are good since they help fight inflammation and radical damage in your body. Homemade green juices are beneficial remedies that help add years to your life. 

Tip: Learn to cook your meals as it is the only way to control what you eat. 

Exercise is good 

Studies show that regular exercise reduces the signs of aging and keeps your skin radiant. Exercising is beneficial for physical health but can also do wonders for your skin. What’s more, is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. You can stay active with functional fitness or simple exercises that use many muscle groups at once. Walk around your neighborhood and do shoulder presses, planks, and squats. 

Try cosmetic surgery 

Another trick to looking young is opting for cosmetic surgery. If your goal is to become more comfortable, content, and confident with your physical appearance, you shouldn’t shy away from trying surgery.  

For instance, as you age, you might experience your lips growing thinner, losing their rounded, feminine shape. If this happens, it can make you feel uncomfortable as it’s not what you’re used to when you look in the mirror. Luckily, you can opt for lip fillers to improve the overall shape. If you are in Oklahoma, you can contact a lip filler specialist, Dr. Amanda Satterwhite to help bring back that youthful face.  

Of course, cosmetic surgery isn’t for everyone. If you’re uncomfortable with it, don’t feel pressured. You can make some lifestyle changes or embrace how you look as you age instead. Whatever you choose is fine, and you’re beautiful no matter what.

Sleep is good 

Did you know sleeping allows your body to continuously release hormones that promote cell turnover and renewal? Yes, your skin blood flow increases, allowing the organ to rebuild its collagen and repair damage from UV exposure reducing wrinkles and age spots. Try to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night. It’s simple: don’t skimp on sleep. 

Make healthy habits if you want to look younger

According to research, people involved in healthy habits and social activities are at lower risk of health problems. As you know, staying away from health problems is one way of staying young. Find new hobbies and adventures, travel, socialize, avoid the sun, drink plenty of water, join a yoga class, etc. These things contribute to your well-being and help you stay young. 

Avoid stress 

For you to feel and look young, you must avoid stress. As you know, how you feel on the inside comes through on the outside. If you don’t feel mentally attractive, you won’t look good on the outside. Every time you are stressed, your body releases hormones that negatively impact your skin. You will find yourself with acne, dry skin, rashes, and wrinkles. These things don’t make you look young at all. Below are ways to help you limit stress: 

  • schedule time for relaxing activities        
  • avoid drugs and alcohol 
  • talk to others, i.e., mental professionals, especially if it’s chronic stress 
  • learn to take things easy and slow- avoid life pressures 
  • practice self-care

Final Thoughts on How to Look Younger

Looking young is not hard to achieve. Invest in positive lifestyle changes to help you stay healthy as you age. You can also go for cosmetic options that can help rejuvenate your looks!

Categories
Adulting How To

4 Proven Techniques for Getting Rid of Neck Wrinkles

Neck wrinkles are one of the most annoying signs that affect your overall appearance. When it comes to taking care of your skin, the neck often gets overlooked. However, your neck skin is as essential as the skin on your other body parts, and it deserves your attention. You’ll be happy to know that getting rid of neck wrinkles is entirely possible.

Although neck wrinkles can appear at any stage, they are most common in adults over 40. Besides aging, here are some other factors that cause wrinkles: 

  • Smoking 
  • UV rays 
  • Pollution 
  • Repeatedly looking down at the phone, etc. 

So, are you too struggling with necklines and seeking ways to get rid of them? We’ve got you covered! Here are some proven techniques to make neck wrinkles fade away. 

Getting Rid of Neck Wrinkles
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Tips for Getting Rid of Neck Wrinkles

1. Stay Hydrated 

Staying hydrated all day is the key to getting healthy-looking skin. Also, it is one of the easiest ways to guarantee a better-looking skin for your neck and beyond. Did you know that water makes up more than 64% of your skin? Dehydration can cause a decrease in collagen production, resulting in speeding up the aging process. 

In addition to drinking water, you can include several foods high in water content. These foods include:

  • Watermelon
  • Cucumbers
  • Peaches
  • Pineapple
  • Celery

2. Undergo A Surgery 

Most people often opt for home remedies and over-the-counter products to treat neck wrinkles. While these methods may help you, they will only offer short-term results. Also, using chemical products on your skin can make your situation worse. So, instead of running behind the short-term results and making your skin worse, undergoing a neck lift surgery can be a better option.

So, how does it work? A neck lift procedure involves smoothing necklines, realigning muscles and tissue structures, and removing excess fat. However, reading online resources like facial plastic surgery performed by Dr. Doshi will give you a deep insight into how it’s done and whether you are eligible for this procedure or not. 

The best thing about undergoing plastic facial surgery is that it is safe, simple, effective, and offers long-lasting results. 

3. Cleanse And Exfoliate Your Neck Area 

You wash your face at night, but what about your neck? As said earlier, your neck skin is as important as your face skin. Neck skin is sensitive, and exfoliating it once a week will do the trick.

However, you must be careful while choosing the right exfoliator for your neck skin. Your exfoliator should contain Aqua, Butylene Glycol (hydration), Salicylic Acid, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, etc. All these acids will help you remove dead skin without rubbing. 

4. Keep Your Chin Up 

Holding your chin up can prevent the occurrence of necklines or wrinkles. During this work-from-home period, you are more likely to spend most of your time sitting in front of a laptop or computer. If you find yourself hunched over your computer, invest in a stand to meet your eye level. 

Wrapping Up: Techniques for Getting Rid of Neck Wrinkles

Your skin is what you show to the world, and you should devote proper attention to it. Use the tips mentioned above to get rid of necklines in no time. Also, these strategies will help you enhance the overall appearance of your skin, not just around the neck. 

Categories
Adulting Health Healthy Living Parenting

5 Healthy Tips To Help Moms Lose Weight

Losing weight as a busy and working mom can be a hectic task. However, if you are consistent, dedicated, and creative, you can lose weight. These tips help moms lose weight, and all that you have to do is follow your plan to reach your goals.  

Moms Lose Weight

Tips To Help Moms Lose Weight

Sleep regularly  

It can be hard to balance raising your kids, working, and resting. It would be best if you slept regularly. Getting regular and adequate sleep is essential when you wish to lose weight, just as exercising and dieting are.

Medical studies have drawn a close relationship between sleep deprivation, higher ghrelin levels (hormones that stimulate hunger), and increased body weight. To lose weight as a mom, you have to start a sleep schedule of at least seven hours every night.  

Consume smaller meals with increased frequency  

As a mother looking to lose weight, you must pay attention to portion control. Ideally, it’s best to eat a maximum of six small meals every day. Additionally, you have to evenly space these meals throughout the day. You can also eat small-calorie snacks in between.

When you spread out these calories throughout the day, it helps you keep your energy up. Keeping your energy levels up helps reduce your fatigue and stress, which is a pretty common struggle for mom.

Moms lose weight by maintaining hydration

Water is essential for several reasons to the human body. First, it helps promote nourishment throughout your body system and helps flush out things from the body.

Concerning weight loss, when you drink enough water every day, it would help you promote satiety (feeling of fullness) and also help keep your energy keels up. However, sometimes when you think you’re hungry, it might be due to dehydration. Also, if you exercise every day, you should increase your water intake as needed.  

Opt for medical weight loss programs  

Medical weight loss programs are another option for moms to lose weight. Usually, medical weight loss involves exercising and losing calories. What differs between medical weight loss programs and other weight loss programs is that you see a physician that specializes in medical weight loss.

Seeing a specialist is essential since they evaluate you and then help you check for any other medical problems. They also help with a customized weight loss program that meets your needs based on your history, blood levels, etc.

Also, experts in medical weight loss programs at BAMMC suggest using medical weight loss programs like FDA-approved appetite suppressants, MIC Methyl B12 injections, Intermittent fasting, and other programs that can help weight loss.  

Exercise regularly  

When you perform aerobic exercise or cardio, you increase your heart rate, burning calories. When you add aerobic exercise to routines, it promotes weight loss, especially when combined with a healthy diet.  

You can get the best results by performing at least 30 minutes of cardio every day. 30 minutes each day adds up to around 250 to 300 minutes every week. 

That’s A Wrap: Moms Lose Weight With These Tips

Several factors affect weight loss, and some of them could be exercising and diet. Additionally, you can make some changes to your lifestyle since it can help in promoting lasting weight loss. If you include some of the tips above in your daily routine, you will get significant results.

Categories
How To

5 Tips to Extend the Life of Your BOTOX Results 

Botox results vary from patient to patient, and how long they last depend on how many units one receives, how well your skin heals, and what kind of Botox it is. Regardless, most patients can expect to see some beneficial results after the first treatment, but there are several things you can do at home to get the most out of your Botox treatments.

Botox treatments

Extend the Life of Your BOTOX Treatments

Avoid Direct Sunlight 

Botox does not withstand direct sunlight or other sources of UV rays. Avoid going out in the sun as much as possible, especially if you have injectable treatment. Sunlight breaks down the collagen that causes wrinkles and sagging skin. In addition, it can cause pigmentation changes in the skin, such as freckles or age spots.  

Apply Sunscreen  

The sun’s ultraviolet rays can cause damage over time, leading to premature aging and skin cancer risks. You should always wear sunscreen with an SPF 30 or higher outdoors, even on cloudy days and at night. It’s also important to reapply often, especially if you are sweating or swimming, because these activities wash off the sunscreen on your skin. Even if you do not plan on spending time outside, it is still essential to wear sunscreen every day.

Drink Water to Extend the Life of Botox Treatments

Drinking water is an essential part of any facial treatment. It helps you maintain hydration and get rid of toxins that may have accumulated in your body. It also helps to reduce puffiness around the face and neck area. People who get their Botox at Total Glow suggest that hydration is essential for long-term results because it encourages collagen production and keeps the skin soft, smooth, and youthful-looking.  

Avoid Smoking 

Smoking can cause premature aging by damaging blood vessels in your face and neck, decreasing blood flow to these areas, and making it difficult for nutrients and oxygen to reach them. It can also cause wrinkles around your mouth and yellowing of teeth. The combination of smoking, sun exposure, and repeated facial expressions can cause wrinkles to become permanent. 

Eat Right 

Eating right is one of the best ways to maintain your BOTOX or filler results. Your skin is an organ and thus needs nutrients just like any other body part. Eat foods that contain antioxidants, which help prevent damage from free radicals that cause aging. Antioxidant-rich foods include blueberries, strawberries, spinach, and tomatoes. Additionally, gaining or losing weight can affect how your body reacts to the treatment. So if you want to see optimal results, make sure you keep a balanced diet filled with fruits and vegetables, lean proteins like fish and poultry, whole grains, and nuts. 

Final Thoughts on Botox Treatments

There is no one-size-fits-all solution to lengthening the time it takes for your Botox treatments to wear off. Instead, there are many little things you can do to try and extend the life of your results. It will be up to you to determine which tips and tricks work best for you. We hope that our suggestions help you get more favorable results from your Botox treatments.

Categories
Parenting

Prevention Tips For Most Common Childhood Injuries And Accidents  

Kids and injuries go hand-in-hand. No matter how often you have warned your child, their curious nature often leads them to trouble. And sometimes, these troubles can lead to common childhood injuries and accidents.

You can treat minor injuries with ointment, first aid, and a bit of love, but major injuries require immediate medical attention. Don’t delay visiting the nearby Ottawa hospitals and getting your child’s injuries treated.

Nevertheless, if the injury was due to someone else’s negligence, you must also file a personal injury claim.  

Why File For Personal Injury? 

Even though kids are playful and invite unwanted troubles, not every problem is because of their carelessness. Instead, sometimes injuries caused by falls, road accidents, or drowning are caused by the other party’s carelessness.

If you have proof of such negligent behavior, you must request your Ottawa Personal Injury Lawyer to use the evidence to get the claim. By using their skills, the professionals will ensure that you get the maximum compensation.  

Still, prevention is always better than cure. So, below are some common injury and accident prevention tips to follow: 

Common Childhood Injuries And Accidents (and how to prevent them)

Falls 

Falls are the most common type of accident that kids unintentionally encounter. It can happen anywhere, at a house, park, or local shop. If your child is still learning to stand or walk, the chances of falling are even more. You must supervise the kids, childproof the hazardous areas using gates, and install anti-slip doormats and tiles.

If your kids are going to the park or playground, make sure they have dressed appropriately and have worn their protective gear, especially when playing.  

Motor Vehicle Accident 

Motor vehicle accidents are another common cause of childhood injuries. To avoid accidents, make sure you or an adult accompanies your child when on the road. Teach them how to crossroads, what the road signs symbolize, and whom to contact in case of an emergency.

Similarly, teaching your kids about car driving safety is also essential, especially in their teenage years.  

Bumping Into an Object

Kids bump into things frequently, especially when playing sports. These run-ins are often minor, and the child recovers after resting. However, sometimes it may lead to severe injuries such as a sprain or torn ligament. Make sure your kids wear safety gear during play. Educate them about the common signs of injury so that they can contact the hospital or emergency care immediately if you aren’t there.  

Make sure your kids are well aware of their surroundings, especially when handling dangerous equipment. And teach your kids how to use first-aid. It will help lower the impact of injury to a great extent.  

Common Childhood Injuries
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Wrapping It All Up: Common Childhood Injuries

These are some of the common injuries and accidents that kids experience. Follow preventive measures and seek assistance from a personal injury attorney when necessary. They can guide you about the right and lawful steps to take.

Categories
For the Home

6 Simple Tips for Anyone Struggling With A Patchy Lawn

Some years are more challenging than others on our yards. One area that tends to show problems sooner than others is the lawn. A once green and lush lawn can quickly turn into a patchy, yellow, and dry space.

If you have the budget and want the best results, calling lawn care specialists is often the best option. However, you can try getting your lawn back to its glory by yourself before calling in the experts.

Patchy Lawn
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***This post contains affiliate links. It costs you nothing extra, but I may receive a small commission.***

Tips for Anyone Struggling With A Patchy Lawn

Grass

Unless you carefully select the type of grass you have, you might not know what your lawn already has. While most of us see grass as grass, some different types and combinations can create a lawn.

Just like flowers, different grasses are best for different climates. Some grass likes a warm temperature while others don’t. There are also grasses that are fine with fluctuations in temperature and weather.

Warm-season grass

  • Bermuda
  • Carpetgrass
  • Centipede
  • Zoysia
  • Bahiagrass Pensacola
  • Argentine

Cool-season grass

  • Bluegrass
  • Ryegrass
  • Creeping red fescue
  • Bentgrass
  • Tall fescue

There are guides online to help you identify the type of grass you have and how you can best take care of them. 

Feed

Keep in mind that grass is naturally low in the nutrients it needs to thrive. Invest in high-quality fertilizer and follow the instruction down to the letter. 

Professionals will use a fertilizer combination for your type of lawn, while the regular products we find in the stores aren’t specific.

The higher fertilizer quality, the more likely you will see slow-release coatings, micronutrients, and bio-nutritional materials. You’ll see great results when using the right fertilizer combination or brand.

Watering 

Like the rest of your garden, your grass needs watering to stay healthy. The amount you water and how often you do it has a big impact on your lawn. Watering can be hard to do during water bans, though.

Watering can be hard to do during water bans, though. It can be beneficial for you to collect rainwater in water buckets for dry seasons.

Most grass species need between one and two inches of water a week. You’ll need to balance that against any rainwater you have had in the same week. Too much water will cause root rot; even if the grass appears yellow and patchy, you can overwater it.

Aeration to Fix a Patchy Lawn

One thing that is often considered the secret to an amazing lawn is actually aeration. As well as water and good fertilizer, having space to breathe is essential. Little holes are made in the lawn using an aeration machine, and tiny soil plugs are pulled out. These little holes allow for better watering and for the lawn feed to penetrate further into the soil. 

You can also use manual aeration tools or shoes with spikes on them. Click these images to check them out:

Tips for Anyone Struggling With A Patchy Lawn

Getting your lawn back in great condition is one of the steps you can take while giving the yard a much-needed facelift: Best Tips For The Perfect Yard Makeover: Start Enjoying Your Space Now.