Creating A Safe Home Environment During Times Of Crisis And Beyond

 

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 Like every home, the family comes in various shapes and sizes. The pandemic's lock down and social distancing protocols mean you’ll likely spend more time than usual with your families. Working from home, virtual school with your kids, and ensuring your family's safety can sound pretty daunting. However, there are additional risks. A 2018 study asserted that the US recorded 125,3000 preventable fatal home injuries, a figure which represented 75% of all preventable home injuries. With your family spending more time at home now, check out these simple tips to secure your family. 

1.    Don't just dine, connect

 

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 Eating together as a family seems to be more and more difficult. But the rewards for finding a time to eat together at least a couple times a week can pay off big dividends. Dinner presents a fantastic platform to measure how well your children are navigating their teenage years. Studies have shown that the time you spend together with your kids is essential in reducing their chance of falling into conditions like alcohol or substance abuse, depression, or in the worst case, contemplating suicide. Dinner builds individual members into one collective family; 30 minutes of dinner together each day is enough to get the family more connected.

2.       Your home should be a haven

For your family to flourish, it’s essential to have a physically and emotionally safe space where every member feels secured and protected. Where else can you have that than your home? Children particularly need that safe place to re-energize and get going once again. Regardless of how independent they become after they begin having sleepovers and going to extracurricular activities like sports and other programs, they'll always need a home to return to. The home offers a safe spot where they can be themselves entirely and comfortably connect with the entire family.  

While we continue to face the pandemic, it’s practical to consider ways to make your home more comfortable for your family. Are you remote working, or are your kids' schooling from home? Here are some tips to make your home a haven.

• ·Allow more light into your home. whether that is to open the window treatments during the day or maybe get a light therapy lamp!

•  Have dedicated personal spaces regardless of whether you are sharing or living alone. It allows people to relax, regroup and unwind on their own time, in their own way.

• ·Prioritize presence and connection. Have a designated screen-free time (dinner would be perfect) to foster connection and rapport with other family members

•  Keep your home tidy and clean. That may be tough if you have kids. Don't feel as if you have to be perfect at it. You'd be surprised what a few minutes of tidying  up in the morning and in the evening can do for the feeling of peace within your space!

• ·Establish sound limits. Letting people know what your limits are is a good strategy. Make sure they are reasonable and that you stick to them!

3.       Pick up a family plan

As daunting as it may seem, picking the appropriate family health plan for your family is vital to protecting them. Choosing the right family plan is key to guaranteeing that even in your absence, your family will have some level of financial protection to cater for basic things like food and healthcare, mortgage, and care for the aged or disabled loved ones. You need solid leads to figure out which insurance agency is reliable and explore their products to find one that suits your family's needs. More serious health issues require more specialized coverage and could even require legal assistance. Some health issues can be the result of former employment with hazardous working conditions. For instance, mesothelioma is a common illness due to asbestos exposure. It's important to find a firm with highly successful mesothelioma attorneys to hold the company responsible.

4.    Examine your home for safety hazards

Statistics by Safe Kids Worldwide have suggested that an average of 2,200 children suffer fatal home injuries each year. Take the time to examine the various rooms in your home and eliminate any potential hazard source to secure them. Establishing control over the health and safety of your home is key to protecting your family. Make a consistent effort to remove any potential hazards. If possible, replace hazardous products with safer ones.

 5.  Prepare For Unexpected Emergencies

Being prepared for the unexpected will give you and your family more confidence that you can overcome problems with ease. These emergencies could be a power outage or natural disaster (or both at the same time). But, other emergencies can happen outside and around the house as much as inside it. Make sure you teach your kids (and partner) to be safe outdoors to avoid injury and accidents, even if it is as close to home as your front lawn. Make a point to learn more about potential personal injuries so you know your options and, hopefully, have the funds to pay for any legal fees you may have to get appropriate compensation.

 Make sure to have a plan for unexpected emergencies. Have a designated meeting place in case people get separated, have a 24-hour survival bag ready and accessible for everyone, store extra food and water in extra available space. A great place to store emergency food and water supplies is under beds and in closets.

Remember, all families are different. All families need safety, nurturing, love, and a place to grow. It's not an easy task, but so worth every little effort you make towards those ultimate goals!

 

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What is something you do with your own family to cope or prepare for challenging times ?

 

Amazing President's Day Sale At Del Sol

 Hello Gal Pals! This is a very quick post, done out of love for you and this company. I've worked with Del Sol for a number of years and have a yearly giveaway for them. They have the most amazing color-changing clothing, nail polish, kid products, jewelry, etc. They are the best! 

This is a non-sponsored post with non-affiliate links

Today they are having an amazing President's Day Sale that is so good,  I ordered twice! Everything on their site is 50% off with free shipping on all orders over $35.  A lot of their items are already on sale!
Plus, if you order any 3 teeshirts, you get one of their extremely high quality cloth, color-changing tote bags. I've included a few images of things I saw on the site! Use the code: GOODVIBES to get the 50% discount.

 

I'm a fan of everything at Del Sol and especially when their sunglasses are on sale, I make sure to get some. They are 100% UVA UVB, polarized and with a lifetime guarantee!

Have a wonderful President's Day!

The "L'amour #Giveaway" with Agapé Studio

 Happy Hearts Day! In honor of Valentine's Day I'm proud to give you the "L'amour" Giveaway, sponsored by Agapé Jewelry.

 

Top Six Reasons To Exercise Before Going To Work

 If you feel as though you are in a rush every morning before you go to work, then you are not alone. So many people are in the same position that you are in right now! But believe it or not, there are a number of reasons why you should try and work out before you clock in. Here are some very persuasive reasons to give some serious consideration to doing just that.

Give Yourself An Energy Boost

Coffee shops have sprung up on every single corner, or so it seems. It's safe to say that it's now easier than ever for you to grab one on the go. Research has shown time and time again that exercise gives you energy. If you are able to start your day on just 30 minutes of exercise, then you will soon find that you have a much better wake-up call when compared to having a cup of coffee. If you want this, you will soon find that you are able to wake up more and that you can have the best start to the day. If you are not a confident runner, then you're not alone there either. Go early, stick to the quieter streets and build your stamina.

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Book Review: Surge On Like A River

 

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Surge On Like a River

About The Book

Surge On Like a River is the English translation of the Tamil book titled ‘Nee Nadhi Pola Odikondiru’, originally written by Bharathy Bhaskar, a Chemical Engineer and an MBA, who is a banker by profession. She is also a popular columnist and speaker, and a household name in Tamil homes, thanks to the debates and shows she has spoken in.

The essays are written in a simple, engaging style, and filled with profound insights. These nuggets of wisdom primarily draw from the author’s life experiences and her empathetic observations of the people and situations around her.

This English translation by V. Shyamala captures the lively nature of the original, bringing it to a wider audience with the idea that the readers who do not know Tamil should not miss out on the wonderful collection.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon India | Amazon USA

Book Review

Surge On Like A River is a series of essays from the popular orator and anchor of a daily talk show, Bharathy Bhaskar. The translation was generally very well done, maybe a bit ambiguous in some parts, especially since the culture in India is very different from America. But the wisdom, wit and humor from Ms. Bhaskar is spot on. In fact, she reminds me a bit of Nora Ephron when she wrote, I Feel Bad About My Neck. It was a great read in order to get a feel for the differences in cultures and appreciate the women there. It was great to see that in many ways, though different, our cultures are concerned about the same things! I loved the thoughts about mother/daughter relationships. There are some real gems of advice for that. There are some great observations about the seemingly never-ending quest for beauty among women. In fact, it seems that women in India are just about the same in that regard and Ms. Bhaskar reminds us that beauty can be found in so many different versions of what makes a woman who she is. She addresses the plight of the elderly in India, women in higher education, how to use spare time, love, and so much more. I went away feeling like I could identify with and learn so much from women in India, especially through Bharathy Bhaskar's well-trained and very keen vision! It was a nice change from the historical fiction that usually takes up my reading time!

Pulling Out The Gratitude Card + #MyPostMonday The Week's Best Original Content

Have you ever heard the old story about the waiter who asked a customer whether he had enjoyed the meal he had been served? The guest replied that everything was fine, but it would have been better if they had served more bread. The next day, when the man returned, the waiter doubled the amount of bread, giving him four slices instead of two, but still the man wasn't happy. Ever persevering, the waiter doubled the bread again the next day, without success.

On the fourth day, the waiter was extra determined to make the man happy. And so he took a nine-foot-long loaf of bread, cut it in half, and with a smile, served it to the customer. The waiter could hardly wait for the man's reaction.

After the meal, the man looked up and said "Good as always. But I see you're back to giving only two slices of bread." (As told by Dieter F. Uchtdorf)

And I'll bet you know someone like that. We all do---Someone who never acknowledges the good things that are happening around them, but are always noticing and mentioning what is wrong. It drives people up the wall. It's a toxic personality flaw. The person who can't be grateful.

And fortunately for everyone, there are those people who, no matter what they are going through, are always able to look around and see the good. Because in all actuality, we Americans have had it pretty good for a long, long time. 

The vast majority of Americans have been able to have food on the table, a place to stay, family, friends and endless entertainment options, whether that be vacations, movies, gaming, hobbies, social media, etc. Of late, I've felt to be more appreciative of the many things in my own life that give me comfort, ease, and fulfillment. I often wonder what it would be like if I had to live in a 3rd world situation. Would I be able to pull out my gratitude card then? 

How To Lose And Maintain Your Weight Successfully

 

 Are you satisfied with your current weight? If not, which measures have you taken to achieve a healthy weight? Obesity is a major cause of various health issues. Therefore, weight maintenance is an essential health aspect that every person should pay close attention to. I'm not talking about what I like to call the "Vanity Pounds", a 10-20 lb. discrepancy between what the charts say and your own weight. I'm talking about the unhealthy kind of weight that endangers organs, heart, ligaments and glucose levels.

Basically, for individuals struggling with obesity, a unique solution to achieve a permanent solution does not exist. Human bodies respond differently to various food and weight loss remedies. Hence, what works effectively in one person may not yield a similar result to another.

To discover a weight loss strategy that is likely to work effectively, you need patience, determination, and experiments based on different diets and food. The following are some of the ways you can apply and lose and maintain your weight successfully.

 

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1.      Reduce Calories, Carbohydrates, and Fats

Obesity can cause serious health issues, both physically and mentally. At times, due to size changes, it can negatively influence your choice of fashion. Discounted clothing may be your only option since your previous clothes may no longer fit you. Your choice of diet can have a significant impact on your weight and physical appearance.

According to experts, when you cut calories, your weight may reduce in the first few weeks. Therefore, to achieve a constant weight loss, you should continue reducing calories. Calories also have different impacts on the body based on the type of food. 

Some people eat food as a way of relieving their stress. This may slow any weight loss plans. The role of the hormone insulin is also another essential process linked to the weight of an individual. Consumption of carbohydrates triggers the body to produce the hormone.

Insulin prevents fat cells from discharging fats to be burned as fuel by the body. The hormone also creates extra cells for storing fats that cannot be burned by the body. As a result, you will gain extra weight. Consequently, the body needs more fats to burn. Hence your eating habits increase automatically. 

Reducing the number of carbohydrates can help in breaking this cycle. The reduction of fats that you consume can also have a significant effect on your weight. Avoid diets that comprise a lot of fats. Try as much as possible to include fresh vegetables and fruits in your diet. 

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Weekend Fashion Deals!

Cents Of Style

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It's live and it's going, going.......don't wait until it's all gone! The Cents of Style Overstock sale, where you can get shirts, pants, skirts, dresses, sweaters, basically a little bit of everything to put in your cart. Get 3 items for $33! That's 11 dollars each! Just use the Code: OVERSTOCK
I'm going to list a few right here and tell you, as of this posting, what sizes and colors are available. Let's get started:

Claudia Leopard Print Mock Neck

 Available in black only in small and medium. Available in Brown and black in Large

 Clarabella Animal Print Sweater 

Available in Small, Medium, Large in brown only

Gena Animal Print Cocoon Sweater

 Available in Small, Medium black & brown. Large, black only

Yesterday's Tomorrow + #MyPostMonday Linky The Week's Best Original Content

 My husband and I are having some difficulty keeping even a semblance of the good eating habits and body transformations we thought would be in store for us at the start of a new year.  I know, same old trite story, make the resolution--break the resolution. My husband has been saying each month for the past year that this will be the month he'll reach his goals. And each month has fallen flat. I don't know why January 1st would be any different than any of those other months, which is why January 1st really holds no significance for me. I've just been trying to maintain my 5-lb typical winter weight gain and not let it get out of control. It's been tough and I'm at a rough patch because I'm up 7 lbs. from my low this past summer. 

Every day, my husband says to himself, "today I'm going to have a great eating day. I'm going to eat everything correctly, balance my carbs, proteins and fats, and drink plenty of fluids, along with an amazing exercise session which consists of a 1.5 hour weight-lifting session, a 30 mile bike ride, or a 10 mile hike. 

Every single morning he starts out with a bowl of oatmeal, a yogurt bowl, eggs and tortillas, or some variation of a healthy breakfast. He takes his supplements, and downs a morning elixir designed to de-toxify the body. Then lunch comes around and he can't seem to cope with the extreme stress of the morning, which I'm not sure what it consists of because I'm at work, dealing with my own stress. So he caves and he buys take-out and also gets dessert. Then comes the evening, when he absolutely hates himself for what he did at lunch, so he says "I've already blown it, I'll just eat what I want and start again tomorrow." And so along with the dinner that he eats, it will be also be accompanied by a bag of Doritos, a large bag of M & M's, or a Haggen Dazs ice cream. If it's really bad, he'll eat all 3. But somehow, in the doing, he thinks of me. He invariably comes home with a "present" for me, which is, you guessed it, some kind of junk food. And he knows what my weaknesses are. He'll get the exact thing that I can't seem to resist after my own stressful day at work. And you'd think I'd be able to resist and say, no thanks. But I don't. I take the treat and I usually eat it, leaving nothing remaining.

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5 Ways That Natural Living Will Improve Your Life

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In 1992, I threw away all household products containing harmful chemicals in my home. I started using natural laundry soap, bath soaps, shampoos, cleaners, toothpaste, and most of my make-up. I feel like that small but intentional change made a huge difference in my life. Now, almost 30 years later, I’m so glad I made that small investment of changing out chemically laden products with safe, natural products. Back then, when I attempted to share my thoughts with people I met along the way, it was met with mild to strong resistance except for a few cases. Now, millions of people are on board with wanting to adopt a more natural way of living. Sadly, the vast majority never take control of the situation. While there are many contributing factors behind this, the key aspect in most cases stems from a lack of incentive.

The knowledge that it helps the environment and sets a good example to others can help drive you on. In truth, though, it’s the personal rewards that will truly motivate you. Focus on the five points below and you won’t go far wrong.