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Effective Ways To Make Everyday Meals Look Exciting

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According to research, about 42.6% of people in the UK cook daily for their families. If you are responsible for cooking meals for your family, it may start to feel monotonous and boring at some point. However, you can try various creative ways to revive your mealtimes and make your everyday meals look fabulous and worth the time spent in the kitchen. Below are a few helpful tips to make your daily meals look exciting and bring some life back to your dishes.

1. Add a touch of garnish

If you’ve ever experienced fine dining, you will realise that any dish you are served comes with a sprinkle or garnish that enhances flavour, creates appealing contrast and is visually pleasing. Usually, these garnishes include herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables, cheese or a combination of any of these. The type of garnish will depend on the food being served. While you may not be an experienced chef, you can recreate that to help make your food look fabulous. Whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner at home, checking your food stores to see what items would make excellent garnishes is a great idea. For instance, a breakfast bowl of cooked oats can be garnished with colourful fruit slices instead of the usually bland appearance everyone may be used to at home. For your lunch and supper, a sprinkle of paprika or fresh herbs can transform the appearance of regular meals. More importantly, they can enhance the taste.

2. Present the same foods differently

Your everyday meals will look fabulous if you put a little thought into the presentation. How the food is prepared and presented can greatly impact your family meals, as your loved ones may be equally unenthused about eating the same thing frequently. All it takes is a little knowledge of how to switch up colourful ingredients and arrange them in a way that appeals to the rest of the family. For instance, if dinner is a plain salad with grilled chicken and potatoes, your family can easily get unexcited seeing that every Wednesday night. However, you can turn things around with a creamy and delicious spinach stuffed chicken breast with baked potatoes. Better yet, garnishing the top with cherry tomatoes and sliced avocados would add an extra touch. Now that will be a meal your family will be enthusiastic about, as you’ve used the same ingredients but switched around to make it appetising. The truth is that people are naturally drawn to a visually pleasing presentation of meals. If it helps, change your plates to more colourful and interesting options to add to the presentation.

3. Experiment with different spices and flavours

Incorporating different spices into your meals can make all the difference by transforming the flavour. For example, a pinch of cinnamon to oatmeal can perk up your family’s appetite at the table. This result happens due to humans’ psychological pull to anything that smells pleasantly different. The variance in flavour can draw out their curiosity to try it. This step is an excellent way to transform a dish and get your family to enjoy it with you. When you get it right, you can try other spices. The trick is to start small to ensure you get the taste and flavours right.

8 Common Discomforts Pregnant Women Face

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Being pregnant is a beautiful experience. The thought of life flourishing and growing inside you is nothing short of a miracle. However, it is no easy journey. You undergo several changes, both physically and mentally. Although these changes are no longer an issue after your baby is delivered, they can make the nine-month experience challenging. Fortunately, you’re not the only mother to experience these discomforts! Knowing what to expect and the effective ways to deal with them helps you better navigate through the journey ahead. With that said, here are common discomforts you may encounter during your pregnancy and effective ways of dealing with them.

  1. Nausea and vomiting

A common discomfort experienced by most expecting mothers is nausea and vomiting. According to the NHS, eight out of ten women experience nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Although experts are still researching the cause of these symptoms, several have attributed it to the body’s response to the hormonal changes accompanying pregnancy. Unfortunately, constantly feeling sick (nausea) or being sick (vomiting) is uncomfortable and inappropriate in certain social situations. If you experience this discomfort during your pregnancy, you can reduce its effects in several ways. For instance, instead of going hungry, you can eat your meals and snacks in smaller portions throughout the day. Eating foods high in carbohydrates and avoiding greasy foods (no matter how tempting) is also a great idea. You should also consider taking peppermint, chamomile, and spearmint teas.

  1. Constant fatigue and difficulty sleeping

Let’s face it— carrying a new life in your belly is exhausting! Constant fatigue is a common issue expecting mothers may undergo, especially in the first trimester of their pregnancy. This may be due to high blood pressure, the building of the placenta, hormonal changes, and high blood sugar levels. Despite this fatigue, trying to sleep can be a challenge. Other issues, such as trips to the bathroom, kicks from the baby, or the weight of your pregnant stomach, can make sleeping difficult. You can consider doing activities such as a warm bath, massage, or listening to music to help you relax to induce sleep. If the weight of your belly causes discomfort during sleep, you may want to know how to use a pregnancy pillow to get better sleep. Frequent naps throughout the day are another effective way of dealing with the fatigue and troubling sleeping. By taking frequent naps, you can catch up on lost sleep, ensuring you get sufficient rest. The truth is, while you struggle to sleep during such times, you may consider taking sleeping pills or medications that induce sleep. However, it is advisable to consult your healthcare professional to ensure this is safe or explore other options.  

  1. Heartburn

Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning sensation in the upper or mid-chest area, neck, and throat. The hormones your body produces during pregnancy can prevent the valve at the stomach entrance from closing as it should. Additionally, the growing baby can cause your uterus to press against your stomach. This causes acidic content in the stomach to move up the oesophagus causing acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Eating slowly and avoiding spicy food is a great way to control this issue. Also, drinking fluids and often exercising also keep you from the discomforts of heartburn during your pregnancy. It is also advisable to avoid laying down immediately after meals. When you sleep, the digestion process is slowed down. Therefore, going to bed right after eating will prevent your stomach from properly digesting your food. This, in turn, leads to indigestion, which causes heartburn, acid reflux, or GERD. 

You should also be careful of the medications you take to ease heartburn. Although antacids are usually a great medication to help with heartburn, you should consult your doctor to ensure it is safe for you and your baby. 

  1. Backache

Another common discomfort associated with pregnancy is backache. During your pregnancy, your body gets ready to deliver your baby. In this regard, your ligaments become softer and stretch. This can cause a strain on your pelvis and lower back, causing backache. One effective and simple way to deal with back pain is by staying off your feet for long hours. You should also choose comfortable flat shoes— you can do without your heels for this short period. You should also consider incorporating anti-inflammatory foods such as kale, nuts, and proteins into your diet to ease the pain. Exercises are also a great way to ease backache. During a workout session, you increase the blood flow to the softer tissues and muscles in your back, reducing stiffness. Fortunately, your pregnancy doesn’t take you away from enjoying a good workout session. Several exercise routines are safe for you, no matter how far along your pregnancy.

5. Constipation

You may be taking frequent visits to the bathroom when you’re pregnant, but that would be for entirely different reasons. During pregnancy, your body produces the hormone progesterone, which thickens the uterus lining. However, this hormone can affect the efficiency of your gut, making you irregular. Additionally, the combination of medications and supplements you take during this period can affect your bowel movements. Fortunately, instead of taking your laxative, which could be harmful, there are more natural ways to ease constipation, making you more regular. For instance, you can add high-fibre foods like fruits, vegetables, cereals, and nuts. Drinking water is another natural way of easing your bowels, so keep this in mind. Water plays the role of washing out toxins from the body. It helps clean the gastrointestinal tract, easing constipation. 

6. Haemorrhoids

Closely linked to constipation is haemorrhoids, as it is usually an effect of the former. Haemorrhoids, or piles, are swollen and inflamed veins around the rectum that can cause itching, aching, or sores. As mentioned earlier, one of the causes of piles is constipation, making it a common discomfort most pregnant women experience. The pressure from your growing baby against the veins in your uterus and the strain from carrying the extra pregnancy weight can also cause piles. Sitting for long periods, often when you’re pregnant, can also lead to haemorrhoids. Simply preventing or managing constipation (using the tips above) is an effective way of preventing haemorrhoids. Taking a warm bath, applying an ice pack, or a cloth with witch hazel on the affected area can also help you treat piles. Kegel exercises have also proven to be an effective way to relieve the discomfort of piles because they strengthen pelvic floor muscles. 

7.Swollen ankles and feet

It is fair to say that every pregnant woman would probably undergo the discomfort of swollen ankles, feet, and fingers. While some of the discomforts you may experience last during short times in the stages of your pregnancy, this discomfort can last from the beginning to the due date! The swelling occurs due to the body’s retention of extra fluid in the body which is produced to protect the growing child. This can distort blood flow through your body, causing the blood to accumulate in your lower extremities and causing swelling. Compression socks can help relieve the ache in your swollen legs by increasing the pressure in your legs to move the excess fluid onto your blood vessels and improve circulation. Elevating your feet when you rest and spending less time on your feet is another effective way of easing pain. You should wear shoes that fit well, as tight shoes may worsen the case. The shoes should also give good support or include shoe inserts suitable for pregnant women. 

8.Cravings

It is no secret that you may crave some interesting things during pregnancy. In some cases, these are food cravings which could be regular foods such as pickles, biscuits, snacks, etc. You could also be craving an interesting combination of foods— which you may not eat on any other given day. Besides food cravings, you are also likely to experience pica. You may have cravings that are not food-related, such as dirt or clay.

Your cravings can be an effect of the hormonal changes your body undergoes during pregnancy. Experts also believe that cravings result from nutritional deficiency and a heightened sense of smell and tension. 

However, giving in to your cravings can harm you and your unborn child. For instance, you are likely to gain unhealthy weight, causing health complications such as high blood pressure and increasing the risk of congenital disabilities to the unborn child. There are several ways to deal with cravings to avoid their negative effects. Eating meals and snacks regularly ensures you don’t get too hungry, allowing you to binge on unhealthy options. You should also prepare these meals in advance to ensure they are readily available when needed. Sleep also plays a significant role in curbing or managing your cravings, as the lack can produce hormones that may trigger you to eat more. Sometimes you may feel hungry, but all you need is more water. Therefore, it is advisable to consume more water to ensure you are well-hydrated and satisfied.

How To Cope When The Whole Family Is Unwell

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While there’s nothing worse than when your children are sick, having the entire family fall unwell at the same time is a total nightmare and a serious challenge – especially if you’re also feeling under the weather too. 

Knowing how to cope when the entire family has caught the same thing can be a struggle, as not only are you trying to care for yourself but you’re also trying to look after everyone else as well. When you’re sick your energy levels naturally decrease, so it makes sense that looking after everyone else would be a struggle. 

So, when you’re feeling unwell along with everyone else, how on earth are you meant to make coping easier for yourself? 

Photo source: Pixabay 

To give you a helping hand, below are a few tips and ideas that should help to ensure that you’re able to manage when caring for the rest of the family along with yourself, should you all fall unwell at the same time. 

Log temperatures

When everyone is sick, it’s hard to keep track of different things, including temperatures and who is running a fever that needs to be monitored. So, with that in mind, and to make things

easier for yourself, it’s a good idea to make sure that you’re logging everyone’s temperatures as you’re checking them, so that you don’t get confused. 

It’s also a good idea to make sure that you’re aware of what the signs of fever in newborn, toddler, child, and teen are, as well as in adults. So that you’re able to monitor how everyone in the household – including yourself – are managing the illness that you’ve contracted.

Make sure that everyone’s drinking plenty

It’s also important to make sure that everyone – including yourself – is drinking plenty of fluids. Otherwise, you may end up dehydrated. So, it’s really important to ensure that everyone is getting enough to drink. 

A great hack for this is to get fluid into everyone in any way possible, whether that means allowing the kids to suck on ice lollies all day long or it means adding water to milk for younger kids (always check that it’s safe to do so with your doctor), it doesn’t matter just as long as everyone is getting enough to drink. 

Another option is to give everyone their own water bottle and monitor how much each person is drinking. Reminding everyone to drink throughout the day and making sure that you’re refilling each water bottle at least once per day. If your little ones don’t like water, add a few drops of fruit juice or squash to their bottles to encourage them to drink. 

Make food easy

If you’re struggling to get everyone to eat, try to find ways to make food and eating as easy as possible. If you’re not feeling well yourself, you’re not going to want to slave away making all kinds of different meals. Instead, you’re going to want to try and make something quick and easy. For this, soup is a great option, as is any slow cooker recipe where you can just bung everything in together, turn the slow cooker on, and let it bubble away.

There you have it, a guide to how you can cope more easily when the whole family is unwell.

Sure You Can Have Fun Without Booze – But How Can You Flip Your Perspective?

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You don’t need alcohol to have fun. This is absolutely true, of course, and a statement we always hear. However, this statement can also dismiss just how baked-in alcohol is in many societies worldwide – especially in the UK. Go to a football game, meet a friend at the pub, or simply head to a special event, and booze will be around you.

This can be a tough ask, then, especially for someone hoping to limit their intake. When all your friends are indulging, it can be tough to say “no.” A better way, then, is to focus on healthier alternatives and to curate a life where your exposure is limited.

If you’re hoping to make the lifestyle adjustment necessary to limit your booze-y intake, then you might find some success in the following tips:

Opt For Non-Alcoholic Treats

Just because you wish to reduce or cut out your alcohol intake, it doesn’t mean you only ever have to drink water again. Alcohol free drinks with beautiful flavor profiles (but those that scratch the same itch), tasty soothing teas such as matches, and even making your own fruit squashes or smoothies can be a nice alternative. This way, socializing with your friends in your garden during the summer, or enjoying some time in a beer garden doesn’t have to be punctuated by drinking – you can still feel refreshed and energized with a healthier choice.

Get Involved In A Craft

Getting involved in crafts can flip your perspective on how you can enjoy fun. Hobbies, like joining a photography or hiking club, learning to salsa dance with your partner, or even joining something nerdy like a D&D club (you’d be surprised how mainstream this has become), helps you enjoy new surroundings without feeling attached or limited to the bar. Sometimes, that kind of carefree fun and productivity can completely erode your desire to drink.

Get Your Endorphins Elsewhere

Most people are aware of the heightened sense of energy and enjoyment we get when first drinking, but this can quickly devolve into tiredness, feelings of carelessness, and lowered inhibitions. In other words, you’re just borrowing happiness from tomorrow. But what if you could feel that without paying a price? By exercising, flexing your creative efforts (such as by painting or textile crafts), and working on your personal projects, you feel all of that positive emotion and then live healthily and focused afterwards. Pushing yourself in a direction like this can feel tremendously exciting, so don’t discount the forward progress.

Maximize Your Free Time

Even those who don’t mind drinking at all would agree that it can make the following day tiresome and tired. This in itself can be demotivating, and rob you of your weekends outside of work. It can be worth making sure you have something going on each weekend so a lost day really does feel like a loss, and not just a relaxed recovery process in bed. When you start using your free time, you feel refreshed from work when you go back on a Monday, instead of constantly trying to regain your health. Trying it for a few weekends can help you see the difference.

So, how best do you use your free time? Do fun things that relax you and get your body enough rest. You can take the family out to the park or enjoy some fun time with the little ones at a public playground. Better still, consider renovating your home to make it a haven for relaxation and fun. For example, if you have enough backyard space, consider installing fun equipment like a playground flying fox where you and your little ones can enjoy quality outdoor time. Your body will feel refreshed and revived before the next working day.


With this advice, we’re sure you can choose to flip your perspective about your alcohol intake, but of course, only if you really wish to and feel like it could be a good addition to your life. Those who don’t have a problem with drinking, or only do so socially, have no pressing need to change and shouldn’t feel bad about having fun!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: A Guide to Creating a Sustainable Household

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Photo by Anna Tarazevich: 

As society grows more conscious of its environmental imprint and how our lives affect it, the maxim “reduce, reuse, recycle” has gained popularity. So what does this expression actually mean? This book will show you how to make a sustainable home and lifestyle in three easy stages, lowering our carbon footprint while keeping your money happy. 

Understanding the Three R’s: Reducing, Reusing and Recycling:

The three R’s—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—are all important components of a sustainable lifestyle. Reducing involves eliminating unnecessary consumption or reducing the amount of resources you consume, such as using fewer paper towels. Reusing is utilizing items more than once or repurposing them to avoid waste, such as using jars for storing food or donating clothes instead of throwing them out. Recycling involves breaking down material into new products or raw materials that can be used again, such as glass bottles being melted down to create new containers.

Minimizing Your Consumption Through Reduction:

The “reduce” part of the three R’s helps to minimize our consumption and reduce waste. It might seem like one person cannot make a difference in reducing global waste, but it is possible if everyone does their part. An easy way to start is by making small changes in your everyday life, such as buying items with less packaging or switching to reusable shopping bags. You can also eliminate unnecessary purchases and think twice before buying something you don’t need. Additionally, try repairing items that are broken instead of throwing them out; this saves money while minimizing resources used for production of new goods. 

Making the Most Out of What You Have Through Reuse:

Reusing items is a great way to save money and reduce waste. You can easily repurpose products you already own for different purposes, such as using empty glass jars for storing food or old t-shirts for cleaning. Additionally, instead of buying new items, consider donating to second-hand stores like Goodwill and thrift shops so someone can reuse something that you no longer need. Donating your unwanted clothes, furniture and other household goods not only reduces waste in landfills but also helps others in need.

Reduce Animal Product Consumption:

Reducing your consumption of animal products is an easy way to reduce your environmental footprint. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution around the world, so reducing your consumption can have a big impact. Consider switching to plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables and Vegan chocolate for snacks and treats.

Tips for Creating a Sustainable Home and Lifestyle:

Creating a sustainable home and lifestyle helps minimize waste and conserve resources. Try composting food scraps to reduce the amount of waste going into landfills and switch to energy-efficient light bulbs. When shopping for products, look for eco-friendly alternatives and opt for items with minimal packaging. Consider switching to renewable energy sources such as solar or wind power to reduce your carbon footprint. Finally, avoid buying disposable items such as straws, plastic utensils and single-use cups; instead use reusable versions whenever possible.

Reducing, reusing and recycling are all important components of a sustainable lifestyle that help save money while minimizing our environmental footprint. With just a few simple steps we can make a huge difference in conserving resources, reducing waste and helping to create a more sustainable world.

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Easter Gift Guide 2023

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Easter has flown around this year, it honest feels like Christmas was just a a few weeks ago and yet somehow we are in April.

This year I have a few great gift ideas from the traditional chocolate egg to a few items which are a bit different.

First up Hampers.com have gorgeous Easter hampers which include a beautiful butterscotch egg, mini eggs, a chocolate slab and rhubarb and custard boiled sweets ( which I may have tried already and they are delicious).

Wickedly Welsh have some really cute gifts including this Baby Dragon egg which is just adorable and tastes pretty good too!

PLAYin Choc have these adorable collectable rabbit toy choc boxes that cost just £2.25. All products are ethically produced with high quality ingredients and completely recyclable packaging. They are also allergen free and vegan.

If you’d rather gift an experience then Buyagift have some great family friendly activities such as a family fun day out voucher or a day trip to Wembley. There are also lots of animal encounter experiences which look so much fun.

Cadbury have all of their usual traditional offerings this year as well as some extra treats like Salted Caramel Eggs:

And white chocolate creme eggs which I can’t wait to try.

If you fancy something a bit different and have a keen interest in cooking, why not help develop culinary skills by signing up for a cooking workshop or class. ClassBento offers a diverse range of engaging and fun filled workshops and classes.

What I’ve Watched,What I’m Watching

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Every day more or less you’ll see someone on social media asking for tv show recommendations, quite often it’s me! So I thought I’d pop a little list on here of what we’ve been watching and enjoying lately.

First up we have recently started a six month Apple TV subscription which was a gift as part of another service. These are my initial recommendations for Apple TV.

The Morning Show. I first watched season 1 back in 2020 and really enjoyed it, I am now up to date and am eagerly awaiting season 3. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston are at the top of their game in this show and both bounce off each other effortlessly. The Morning Show covers important topics such as the MeToo movement and in my opinion well worth a watch.

Onto our latest favourite show, Ted Lasso. Ted Lasso is one of the funniest and strangely heart warming shows I’ve watched in a long time. The episodes are easy watching but still often deal with heavier topics such as men’s mental health, parental death and relationship issues. We have nearly completed season 2 and I will be gutted when we are up to date and have to wait for the weekly episodes. If you only take one of my recommendations take this one. It is based on a football team but you don’t have to know anything about football or even particularly like it to enjoy the show. Jason Sudeikis is absolutely incredible in this.

Moving onto Disney+, we don’t actually use this service that much other than the occasional film with the girls and to watch Greys Anatomy. This is now on season 19 so if you’ve never watched it you have a LOT to catch up. For me it’s dwindling a bit now and the episodes don’t grip me quite as much but as we are up to date we just watch the weekly episode as it pops up as I do still feel the need to finish it. The earlier seasons are outstanding so I would say if you are looking for a binge worthy box set it’s worth it.

Onto the service we use the most, Netflix. We watch a lot of short tv shows on here with the girls such as Gogglesprogs and Come Dine With Me. Recently we’ve started Country Ever After which is a reality show based on a country music singer and his family, the wife is going through a battle with colon cancer and they have such positivity for life, we all really enjoy this.

I’ve also recently enjoyed Firefly Lane, Working Mums, Dead to me and Maid. Firefly Lane being my favourite and I love how it focuses on female friendship more than most shows.

I’m looking forward to watching the new Lewis Capaldi show as I find him fascinating and if you have never watched it I do also recommend Schitts Creek, one of my favourite programmes ever.

Any recommendations for me?

8 Common Body Faults That Can Lead Us To Feel Self-Conscious

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We all have them: those little aspects about ourselves that cause us to feel self-conscious. Whether it’s a larger nose, protruding ears or wide hips – whatever it may be – these features often lead us to believe we’re not good enough in comparison to others. In this blog post we’ll address eight common body flaws that cause us to feel inadequate and offer tips for dealing with these feelings while learning to appreciate ourselves for who we are!

It’s important to remember that a lot of the time what we think of as our flaws are often the things others love about us the most, our differences make us unique.

Photo by Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are the result of skin stretching rapidly, such as during pregnancy or rapid weight gain/loss. While there is no permanent solution to remove stretch marks, products containing glycolic acid and retinol may help reduce their appearance. Furthermore, laser treatments may be useful in decreasing stretch mark visibility but these are also a sign of what our body has gone through whether that be a new fitness regime or a new baby. Some people even refer to them as tiger stripes because they are proud to carry them. For the most part I’m pretty used to mine now and they don’t bother me much.

Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are elevated, swollen veins caused by weakened valves in the leg veins which allow blood to collect inside them. Though unsightly and embarrassing, varicose veins can be treated with lifestyle changes like exercise and compression stockings. In severe cases, laser treatments or sclerotherapy may be needed.

Baldness or Thinning Hair

Balding or thinning hair can make us feel less attractive and self-conscious. While there is no permanent solution to restoring lost locks, you can take steps to slow the process down by avoiding styling products with harsh chemicals and taking nutritional supplements designed for healthy hair growth. Furthermore, your doctor may prescribe certain medications if the cause of baldness is hormonal in origin.

Crooked Teeth

Crooked teeth can cause embarrassment or discomfort when smiling or speaking. But thanks to modern orthodontics, we no longer need to feel embarrassed or uncomfortable when smiling or speaking. With invisible braces and clear aligners which are much less noticeable than traditional metal braces, as well as tooth whitening treatments which make your smile brighter and more appealing, investing in teeth straightening could be a worthwhile investment that will boost your self-confidence levels significantly.

Unwanted Body Hair

Unwanted body hair can be embarrassing for both men and women alike, but there are several solutions to address the problem. Laser hair removal is an ideal solution for larger areas since it destroys follicles permanently over time. Waxing and shaving work well on smaller areas such as faces or bikini lines to address unwanted body hair.

Wrinkles and Fine Lines

Wrinkles and fine lines can make us appear older than we actually are, leading to feelings of insecurity. To combat this, there are various treatments such as dermal fillers, laser resurfacing and chemical peels available. Furthermore, using retinoid cream or another anti-aging product on a daily basis will help keep the skin looking youthful. Even something as simple as giving yourself a face massage each day will help.

Large Nose or Ears

A prominent nose or ears can cause embarrassment and insecurity to some; however, they don’t have to be! If you’re feeling self-conscious about their size, plastic surgery is an option that can reshape them to appear more in proportion with the rest of your face but again these things should be seriously considered and take the time to get to know and love your face, we don’t all need to look exactly the same and life would be very boring if we did.

Dark Circles

Dark circles can make us appear tired and aged, but they don’t have to stay! Eye creams that contain ingredients like caffeine, vitamin C, hyaluronic acid or retinol will help reduce their appearance as these ingredients brighten skin tone. Furthermore, sleeping with an extra pillow at night helps reduce puffiness around the eyes as well as dark circles around them.

There are many treatments and products available to address our insecurities. From wrinkles, large ears or acne scars, knowing there are options out there can make us feel more confident. Ultimately, finding the best solution for you depends on your goals, budget and lifestyle – so don’t be afraid to explore all your options and find what works best for you!

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Kicking Negative Habits for a Healthier 2023

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It’s hard to find someone who doesn’t have a bad habit they want to stop. But kicking negative habits can be very hard. Especially if you have done it for a long time. These can range from mild issues, such as eating the wrong foods, to severe problems, like addictive behaviours.

Rewire Your Mind

It is all but proven that the way you think has a huge impact on how you live your life. This means that while you are thinking of your bad habits, you will ultimately keep doing them. Holistic therapies such as meditation, yoga, and even online hypnotherapy from experts like Fix My Mind are great places to start.With these, you can rewire your brain to ensure you minimise how much you think about inappropriate or even criminal acts that form your habits.

Kicking Negative Habits Means Knowing Yourself

Many studies have been done and are indeed ongoing. And they all conclude that a huge 95% of human behaviour is habitual. That means only 5% of our decisions on a daily basis we make with our own knowledge. Carl Jung once said, “until you make the unconscious mind conscious, it will guide your life, and you will call it fate”. Hypnotherapy can be a great way to begin understanding yourself. But you need to understand your goals, personality and strengths.

Swap a Bad Habit for a New One

Many researchers in the field of human behaviour will tell you that you don’t really break a bad habit. You replace it with a healthier one. Whether good or bad, your habits are with you for a reason. And some are actually beneficial. But a bad habit can have a huge negative impact on your life. For example, taking drugs to cope. Or staying in a toxic relationship to stop feeling lonely. But you can maybe meditate or go for a run instead of reaching for those things.

Seek Support from Friends and Family

Bad habits can have a severe impact on your physical, emotional and mental health. And it can be hard to get rid of them. Many ex-smokers or addicts will tell you that a support system is vital. Surround yourself with family and friends. Not people who also take have those habits. That can be one of the hardest things to do. But in almost all cases, you will be in contact with people who are bad for you.

Remind, Routine and Reward

It can be a long and winding road to break the bad habit of constantly checking emails when you need to work to overcome substance abuse. But none of them is impossible to stop. To help you get started, you need to understand the “three Rs” that make something a habit:

  • Reminder: a reminder is generally a trigger that causes you to reach for your bad habit. For example, a doing you always play when you are drinking. Or even a specific feeling you get, such as nervousness. Once identified, you can begin working on these.
  • Routine: similar to reminders, routines are things that you usually do when performing your bad habit. This is the actual behaviour associated with the trigger symptoms. Generally, this is something you do, such as shaking your hands when scared.
  • Reward: this refers to what you get out of making your habit that makes you feel better. For example, eating chocolate to overcome PTSD releases dopamine and serotonin. This essentially makes you feel like you are rewarded for engaging in the bad habit.

Knowing where your bad habits start, how they carry out and what you get out of them is a good first step to stopping them. You can actively work to prevent them because you can learn to recognise them before, during and after your habitual behaviour. Then you can replace them.

Know Your Triggers

As mentioned above, the “three Rs” are a great way to begin your journey to stop your bad habits. But further to the “reminder” phase, you really need to understand your triggers. This is vital because it’s where the habit begins. It can help to take note of where you are, the time and the feelings associated with your bad habit. Also, think about other people. Certain people such as toxic partners, can be triggers whose habits influence yours.

Buddy Up with Someone Else

Like anything that is hard to do, support is vital. You may have friends that are triggers, and their behaviour can influence yours. So it helps to work with friends or family with the same goals. Perhaps your best friend also wants to lose weight and kick unhealthy eating. This is great because you are both aligned, and you can work on a plan together. And the same system can work for almost anything. This is why the AA sponsor system works. You both know your goals.

Expect Relapses when Kicking Negative Habits

Addiction can be thought of as a habit. And it can be a very long road. It’s not easy to kick something you have done for a long time. Because of this, between 40% and 60% of people trying to stop something, like drugs, alcohol, or smoking, will relapse. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing and is considered a natural part of recovery. So don’t feel too bad if this happens. In most cases, a relapse only serves to remind you just how bad your habit is in the first place. 

Practise the Law of Attraction

You may have heard of “the law of attraction”. No, not magnets! Basically, this is the belief that good things happen when you think only of good things. That is, the way you think affects the outcome of your life. Whether you believe this or not, there is some evidence that a positive mental attitude is a great way to enhance your life. Begin by thinking about the positive changes kicking your habit will help, how you will feel and how you can help others do the same.

Summary

Kicking negative habits can be easy or extremely hard, depending on certain things. These can affect your personal circumstances, your will to do it and your attitude. However, thinking differently about it, knowing the “three Rs”, and even practising the law of attraction can help.

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The Constant Home Improvement Plan

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One of the worst things about owning your own home is that there is a never ending list of jobs and improvements which just seems to grow and grow. At present there are at least ten things which need to be done and fairly soon. Then there is also the dream list, the when you have a bit more spare money and time list. AKA the list which may never be ticked off but you love to sit and think about it all the same.

At the moment just off the top of my head I need carpets to be replaced, walls to be hacked off and replastered as well as general decorating work. Quite possibly a new washing machine any day and do not even get me started on the garden. But the dream is to have a bigger kitchen. You all know how much I love to cook and it may surprise you to know I have a fairly teeny galley style kitchen. It does the job but I have a million different kitchen ideas from completely ripping out the units and opening up the kitchen into my old battered conservatory and having a huge kitchen island and prep area. A walk in pantry would be a plus too and one of those walls with all the cool pans and utensils hung all over it. One area would be filled with herbs and greenery and maybe even a big comfy chair for me to relax and read my cookery books. A girl can dream hey.

I’d love a huge window or french doors looking into my (obviously revamped ) garden, loads of natural sunlight streaming in and a nice decked area outside with….an outdoor cooking space. I mean we don’t really get the weather for it but you know the kind of outdoor cooking spaces you see in American homes.

Photo by Jubéo Hernandez on Unsplash

I mean all I really need to get this done is a big money win. Until then I’ll get some paint on a few walls around the house, freshen up a few areas and save my pennies for the next big thing that goes wrong.

What kind of things do you do when you want to make little changes and freshen up your home without spending a fortune?

For me it’s a lick of paint, maybe hire a carpet cleaner and some new soft furnishings and a major declutter. On that note see you in about 6 months….

Filed Under: Life ·