For Him
Layer on the Love
There are a lot of factors that go into living a happy life, and one of the most important is having meaningful and healthy relationships. Read on for some small ways to show those you love that you care.
- Compliment them. Whether it’s about their looks, their brains, or something else entirely, never underestimate the ability a compliment has to brighten someone’s day.
- Disconnect. Put down your phone during meals, while you’re in the car, and especially during date night. This signals to the other person that they are important.
- Give hugs. Stay connected with a regular embrace. Hugging releases oxytocin in the brain and will help you feel more attached.
- Make their favorite meal. Who doesn’t love to be surprised with a home-cooked meal? While it may not be your favorite cuisine, your significant other will appreciate the effort.
- Say thank you. Expressing gratitude, even for small tasks such as taking out the trash, helps others feel noticed and appreciated.
- Write notes. Especially for couples with busy schedules, handwritten notes can work wonders. Write down a joke or a compliment, and leave it somewhere where they will see it.
Gym Etiquette 101
You’ve got your headphones in, and you’re crushing a workout at your local gym. But when you’re in the zone, it can be easy to forget that you are part of a larger community. Abide by these unspoken rules to make sure you are being respectful of your fellow gym-goers.
- Wipe down equipment after using it.
- Don’t stare at people.
- Avoid excessive grunting.
- Put weights back in their place.
- Don’t hog your favorite machine.
- Play your music at a reasonable volume.
- Don’t laugh at or make fun of others.
- Don’t take phone calls.
- Clean up after yourself in the locker room.
- Show up in clean workout clothes.
- Be mindful of how loud you’re talking when exercising with a friend.
- Take pictures with discretion.
For Her
Embracing Eyelash Extensions
From mascara to serums, there are countless ways to get longer and fuller lashes. While you might not think twice about getting hair extensions, eyelash extensions can seem more daunting. Here’s what you need to know.
- Lash extensions are semi-permanent and are hand-glued on top of your natural lashes by a technician. A full set will include roughly 80 individual lashes.
- Lashes come in a few materials (most notably mink or synthetic silk) and a variety of lengths and curls.
- The majority of lash extensions will last six to eight weeks, but you can get fill-ins as needed.
- Work with your technician to decide on the right lashes for you. How long and thick your extensions are will depend on the health of your natural lashes.
- Don’t be afraid to ask your salon what ingredients are in the adhesive they use. Avoid places that use formaldehyde, which can cause irritation and redness.
- Make sure your technician uses sanitary equipment, washes their hands prior to your treatment, and sterilizes their tweezers.
- For the best results, don’t get your lashes wet for the first 24 hours after your treatment, and avoid products that contain oils as they can break down the adhesive.
Say Goodbye to Grogginess
Do you ever feel exhausted when you wake up in the morning, no matter how much sleep you have had? Some research shows that it may be caused by always pressing the snooze button when your alarm goes off. This behavior of dipping in and out of sleep in the morning is actually called drockling, which is when you start a new sleep cycle that you never finish.
If you are among those who press the snooze button nearly every morning, try kicking the habit with these helpful tips.
- Place your alarm in a hard-to-reach place or across the room so that you have to get out of bed.
- Give yourself something to look forward to in the morning, and only allow yourself to do that activity if you wake up on time.
- Get a dose of adrenaline by busting out some jumping jacks or dancing to your favorite song.
- Change up your alarm sound often so that you don’t become immune to the noise.
- Follow a sleep schedule, and go to bed earlier if needed.
- Download a sleep tracking app that can wake you while you are in your lightest stage of sleep.
- Only use your bedroom for sleep, which will train your mind to use it as a place of rest.
- Create a bedtime routine that allows you to relax and fall asleep more easily.
For Moms
Testing the Waters
For most babies, bath time is a haven for creativity and imagination. As they grow older, it may be time to consider switching over to showers, but how do you make this transition a smooth one your child will enjoy?
Start by making showers fun. Even though your child may be taking a shower, that doesn’t mean you have to leave the toys behind.
You can also purchase fun shower gels and tear-free products to make showering a more pleasurable experience. Treat showers as a special time instead of a quick wash down to help your child look forward to the process.
While you are still in the supervision stage with your child’s showers, this is a great time to teach them how to properly wash their body, including any private parts, and shampoo their hair as to not get soap in their eyes.
Teach your child where to set the temperature dial, and let them know they should have a bath mat laid out before ever getting into the shower. Placing laminated cards with step-by-step instructions in the bathroom can be a helpful way to remind your little one of their routine.
Potty Training 101
No two children are alike, so when it comes to potty training your child, it may be hard to know what will work. Below are several tips and tricks that parents have found some success in. Mix and match methods until you find the best approach for your toddler.
- Make sure your child is ready and capable of achieving success.
- Let your child help pick out their potty.
- Motivate and reward successes with fun big kid underwear.
- Make sure the potty is easily accessible and in a convenient spot.
- Get on a schedule, and visit the potty before and after bed.
- Use a sticker chart so your little one can see their progress.
- Praise your child when they have success in being accident-free.
- Read your baby a book or sing a song while they are trying to use the bathroom to help them relax.
- Train by example, and let your child go to the bathroom with same-sex members of the family.
- Use your child’s favorite toys to act out a ‘going to the bathroom’ scene.
- Don’t expect miracles or punish mistakes.
For the Whole Family
What Is Tick Paralysis?
While participating in summer outdoor activities, there are a variety of creepy crawlies you need to be on the lookout for. Among them are ticks, which can cause a number of issues including tick paralysis – a disease that, while not common, can be fatal if left untreated.
When a tick bites you and hangs on for an extended period of time, it begins to release a neurotoxin through its saliva that can affect your nervous system. A common sign of tick paralysis is numbness or tingling in the legs, and some people also experience muscle pain and fatigue along with being irritable.
As the disease progresses, numbness begins to travel up the body and is followed by paralysis. The real danger with tick paralysis is if it spreads to the lungs and makes it harder to breathe.
The only way to avoid tick paralysis is to make sure you are tick-free after every outdoor adventure. Conduct a thorough full-body check after being in wooded or grassy areas. If you do find a tick, remove it immediately, making sure to get the head and body off your skin. Any tick paralysis symptoms will subside after the tick is removed.
The Scoop on Sugar: Is One Kind Better for You?
When it comes to consuming sugar, we all know that less is better. But when we do elect to add a touch of sweetness to our favorite foods, are some choices better than others? Research on the subject says not really.
Both natural and added sugars metabolize in the same way. The main difference is that natural sugars, like those found in fruit, also come with fiber, which helps you feel full – thus you consume less. Added sugars, whether in honey or high fructose corn syrup, are made mostly from glucose and fructose, just in varying ratios.
The varying levels of glucose versus fructose alone have little impact on health, with one exception being people with diabetes, who need to control their blood glucose level. In this case, sugars with higher fructose and lower glucose ratios may be preferred.
Regardless of what type of sugar you choose, the World Health Organization recommends that added sugar comprise no more that 5% of your daily calorie intake, which amounts to about six teaspoons of sugar per day for most adults – that’s less than a can of soda!
