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Category: General

Its Time…Gift Guides Are Starting….

Happy November!!! I cannot believe that this is the first gift guide for the upcoming holiday season. This guide is a little bit of everything…There is a lot for her, but something here for teachers, hostess, sister, mother, aunt. We are getting a lot out of the way first. But do not worry there is so much more to come in the following weeks!!!

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  1. I really love this white acrylic purse…
  2. I think the green is perfect for the holidays…I love this color…
  3. How cute is this makeup bag….giving me Iris vibes!!!
  4. These hair ties make an amazing stocking stuffer.
  5. How cute is this coat? I love the look and its a great price point…
  6. These fur headbands make the most wonderful gifts.
  7. Do you have any card players in your family? These toile cards are perfection!
  8. How cute are these little clutches. Great for the holidays and come in other cute colors.
  9. These nap dresses are fabulous. Def on the most wanted lists…
  10. How about a monogram bag for everyone on your list..these are the cutest!!!
  11. One of the best of the best gifts I found so far, the Very Merry Cocktail book!!
  12. I am absolutely in love with the fancy bag. Another perfect gift for the fashionista in your life!!
  13. This planter is so adorable and would be so cute filled with fun festive plants!!!
  14. This is hands down the absolute hair styling tool. If you have not already done so buy this for every family member and friend. It looks like you literally walked out of the salon.
  15. The best glam Gucci glasses at the best price…wish list item for sure..

Eating Healthy: 3 Tips For Developing Healthier Eating Habits

Healthy eating habits are fundamental. The food that you consume can impact your overall health and your risk of developing certain diseases.

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If you want to improve your eating habits to incorporate healthier foods, you might alter your daily regime. To create healthier eating habits, you do not have to undergo drastic changes. And you do not have to change all of your habits at once. Setting small goals for yourself, then altering your habits a little bit at a time will prove more effective than undergoing a drastic change. Here are a few tips to develop healthier eating habits.

Control Your Portions And Count Calories 

Many of those who have been successful in losing weight have had control over their food intake. Monitoring food portions and counting calories, has helped them to manage their weight. Reading the labels on food, eating from a smaller plate, or measuring the servings for each meal are all tactics that can help you get started.

Create A Plan

When creating healthy eating habits, the hurdle in which many people fail is during their food shop. We often grab whatever we think looks good and are likely to eat, then throw it into the basket. The issue is that this can often lead us to select unhealthy foods and add to our current eating habits.

Try creating a list of foods you want to buy, as well as prep for the healthy meals you plan to make before you leave to do your shopping. Doing this will discourage you from adding any unnecessary items to your basket and help to stick to your shopping list.

You can also try food shopping following a workout. It might make you more motivated to continue to make healthy food choices, as you walk around your local supermarket.

Consider What You Snack On

While working from home or in an office, it is easy to crave a mid-morning or afternoon snack. It can be easy to reach for unhealthy snack options, such as chips or chocolate. Instead, look into healthier snack options.

Instead of a chocolate bar, switch for a healthy snack bar made from fruits, oats, and nuts. Rather than reaching for a bag of chips, choose to go with a pre-made fruit bowl.

Switch your go-to sugary, highly caffeinated drink, and opt for either water, flavored seltzer or low-calorie diet shakes, like these from Shake That Weight. They can help you to tackle those moments where you want something sweet to eat.

The Bottom Line

Many of these strategies are easier said than done. It will take time and discipline before these become natural in your daily routine. Be patient in the process and go at your own pace. Over time, these changes you have made to your eating habits can make a big difference in your health.

Worried About The Effects of Climate Change? Four Changes to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Staying in touch with the news cycles is something that plenty of people do on a daily basis. Understanding current affairs and forming opinions around them enables you to engage in thrilling and often thought-provoking discourse with others. Expanding your knowledge in this way is important, no matter how bleak our news cycles can often appear.

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A variety of topics tend to appear more than others, as of late. Coronavirus, for example, has understandably dominated the news cycles throughout the world, and this trend continues to be the case. While that is how things look at the moment, there are also other topics out there that are being discussed throughout the various forms of media and which are reaching the broader depths of society. 

Climate change is one such topic and is something that has been on a lot of people’s minds in recent times. With the United States Government currently debating its biggest ever climate change bill, and the United Kingdom about to play host to a climate change summit for world leaders, this is no doubt something that is sticking in a lot of folks’ minds. 

Suppose you are highlighting your own carbon footprint and how this could be contributing to the effects of climate change. Rest assured, you aren’t alone, and there will be thousands of more people wondering the same. That being said, you are in the right place, for here, you will find some effective changes you can make to contribute towards lowering your personal carbon footprint. Read on for more. 

What is a Carbon Footprint?

For those who are somewhat unsure, this one is for you. A Carbon Footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gasses that are released and generated by an individual’s actions. Greenhouses gasses that tend to be generated include the likes of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. 

Knowing how much of these gasses you are generating can be challenging at the best of times. However, organizations like The Nature Conservancy have created helpful tools that enable individuals and companies alike to measure their carbon footprint. 

Using a resource like this lets you establish how much carbon you are generating, leading you to create a plan of action. Making changes in your life to reduce your carbon footprint is always recommended, but you might be wondering what this entails? 

Swap The Car for Public Transport

While this might not be all that appealing for some people, it is an effective means of reducing your personal carbon footprint. Particularly if you are a single-occupant vehicle, you will be contributing more so than others. But you can do things to reduce how much carbon you are generating, even if you have to commute to work or elsewhere.

Carpooling is always recommended, but swapping your individual journey for public transport is also recommended. Taking a bus or train to work will go a long way in reducing your personal carbon footprint and also gives you some time to kick back and enjoy a podcast or book before the busy working day. 

Adapt Your Diet

Another common suggestion, this is something that we can do on a personal level. When making changes to your diet to reduce your carbon footprint, you can take solace in the fact that these changes could also be contributing significantly to your overall health too. 

Many experts recommend swapping to a vegetarian or vegan diet to reduce your carbon footprint. The production of red meat, in particular, uses a lot of resources that produce greenhouse gasses. At the same time, cows also produce a great deal of methane, and these gasses are generated when they are prepared for consumption. 

Opting for vegetarian and vegan alternatives can go a long way in contributing to your carbon reduction, both in the short and long term. You needn’t worry about eating bland meals either, for the availability of these options has increased drastically in recent years. 

Change Home Heating Systems

This is one of the bigger changes you could make in your life, but one that will have a significant impact on your carbon footprint over time. Energy consumption tends to be the biggest contributor to carbon emissions. While nothing stops you from reducing the amount of energy you are using, this might not be all that suitable as we head into the winter months; the last thing you want is a freezing cold house! 

Swapping to energy-efficient methods of heating your home is an ideal means of doing so. However, while that is the case, many people find making this swap challenging, for they are unsure what would work best in their property while decreasing energy consumption without compromising on comfort. 

This report from Carbon Switch and others sum up what you should consider when changing the heating systems in your property. Go forth and make these changes, and rest assured your home will be as warm as possible in these colder months. 

Continue To Recycle 

Recycling our waste is something that has been commonplace for some time. Across the world, there have been incentives implemented to encourage individuals and organizations alike to recycle their waste, separating glass and other reusable items from those less biodegradable. 

By doing this, you are minimizing how much waste ends up in a landfill site. Furthermore, recycling and reusing items such as glass jars and plastic bottles goes a long way and could also save you money. Extending the life cycle of an item like this is sure to reduce your carbon footprint and is something that can easily be done. 

While this is not the biggest change that can be made in your life – purely because we feel confident most people would already be doing this – it can make a difference. After all, every effort counts in tackling the effects of climate change.

Overall, we hope this piece has left you feeling inspired and knowing what you need to change moving forward to make a difference in your carbon footprint. Whether you implement the suggestions above or wish to use them alongside others, the choice is entirely yours. Go forth

5 Ways To Get Your Book Club Ready for Reading Tequila Mockingbird

When you first hear Tequila Mockingbird, your mind probably goes to a drink. However, this is also a book. Yes, some people choose to enjoy them together. This book has become very popular as a fun way to examine well-known works of literature with a good drink in your hand. As it takes the literary world by storm, book clubs have even started having their members read it. That said, there are a few things you should do to prepare your book club for this spirited work. 

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1. Make the Signature Drinks

Strive to discuss one chapter each week with your club members. Then, make the signature drink from that chapter for all of your participants. 

2. Provide Snacks for Those Who Don’t Drink

It seems that author Tim Federle didn’t forget that some people don’t partake in alcoholic beverages. That means that you don’t have to worry about this being a problem in your book club. Federle provides options for snacks in most of his chapters, so you’ll be able to keep those who abstain engaged at your meeting. Plus, you can also make virgin versions of these beverages. 

3. Go Virtual or Have Members Arrange for Rides

While this is a fantastic novel to read for your book club, it does involve alcohol, a part of the charm you probably don’t want to lose. Therefore, you should take the necessary precautions to make sure your members stay safe. The best options are to go to virtual meetings while reading this book or have members arrange for a safe way to get home before the meetings start. 

4. Have Everyone Dress in Character

Each chapter in this book examines a different popular literary work. Whether you deal with diverse families or individuals, everyone can have fun at the meeting by dressing as a character. This is a great way to get people engaged with the reading and having fun. That means they will be more likely to stay with this book. Plus, it can help you create a theme for that week’s meeting. 

5. Provide Copies of the Original Literary Works So Readers Can Compare

As mentioned, this book offers a witty examination of popular literary works. To get an excellent discussion going at your meeting, try providing people with copies of the works they are looking at. If they are overly long, such as Romeo and Juliet, try providing a brief but thorough summary. These will help people get ideas flowing and start conversations. 

Tequila Mockingbird is one of the newer works on the block. But that doesn’t mean it should be discounted. In fact, it is a favorite among a diverse group. Everyone from barflies to families is reading it. Therefore, you should consider adding it to your list of upcoming reads for your book club. Remember, if you do make this an option, you should remember that it does involve alcohol. That means you are going to need to do some planning ahead. Otherwise, you could have some problems. However, by following these tips, you will be on your way to having a safe and fun club meeting. 


Benefits of ordering food online

Most people prefer the ease of ordering ready-made food online instead of cooking or baking it themselves. Although this may save time and provide convenience, there are several disadvantages to consider before it becomes a habit. Eating fresh food can be more advantageous to your health than processed foods, especially if you choose organic.

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By planning meals ahead of time or meal prepping, you can create a weekly menu using grocery lists, starting from groceries to spices. Meal prepping is when you make multiple servings at once in bulk to eat throughout the week. That ensures that your family will have access to healthier foods without having to prepare them daily. In addition, buying in reduces costs and avoids waste, since nothing goes to waste. Here are five benefits of ordering fresh food online.

Better prices than your local grocery store

Many online food service providers offer discounts and free delivery with minimum purchase requirements. In contrast, your neighborhood grocery store prices may not be as competitively priced (especially if you live in a food desert with limited options). It is always worth checking multiple stores for price comparisons before deciding where to buy groceries from. Plus, shopping online  gives you more time to compare prices and weigh the pros and cons of buying certain goods to save money.

Ordering from a variety of stores

Many physical grocery stores do not offer delivery services, and many of the stores whose services are available may have limited options. However, most online service providers offer delivery from a variety of stores. In addition to that, you can order your groceries online from any store that does deliveries. Some food items you might want to consider buying at specific specialty shops instead of your local grocery store if they are more easily accessible via an online shop. For instance, it is easier and cheaper to get fresh seafood online than in person at the store in some areas. Besides, ordering fresh food online  allows you to find a broader range of items by offering more options. There are numerous websites where shopping for groceries online becomes easy.

Fresher Food

People who live in big states or cities know that their supermarkets hardly stock full shelves with fresh produce. Instead, they stock barren shelves with just enough for each person to buy 1 or 2 items before. The same goes for people who work long hours or travel often. It is also hard to find time to shop for groceries and pick out fresh veggies. Fortunately, by ordering your products online from reputable sellers such as the no frills flyer store, you get the freshest food possible delivered right to your home without leaving any comforts behind that enable you to buy food online. Further, you can better spend that time at home or on other more meaningful activities than spending time in the supermarket. Rather than trekking out into the store, spending hours finding what you need, and standing in line waiting to check out, order your groceries online.

After knowing the benefits of ordering fresh food online, it’s easy to see how this service can offer several options and opportunities for busy people and those who do not want their schedules interrupted by something as simple as grocery shopping! There is no reason not to try ordering fruits and vegetables online.

First Time Home Buyers: How Military Personnel Can Create A Home Base

Creating a home base while serving in the military can be a great way to give your family stability and have a welcoming place to return from deployment. Whether you have a young family or are single, investing in your own property can be an ideal way to prepare for the future.  

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It is often best to buy a property near your base or where you have friends and family. This can ensure that you won’t be without a support system if and when you need it.  

Utilize Virtual Viewings 

If looking for a home while deployed, using virtual viewings can be invaluable. Some realtors offer 360 walkthrough tours as standard. Ask your realtor for a video walkthrough if this is not readily available.  

Get A Survey 

Have a property surveyed by professionals before putting in an offer. Choose surveyors with extensive experience and multiple good reviews. Find local surveyors who know the issues to look out for in the area.  

Have Trusted Loved Ones View In-Person 

Ask someone you trust to view the properties in person. Request that they take as many pictures and videos as possible. Choose someone with a knowledge of good quality housing. Get their honest opinions about the property.  

Choose An Experienced Realtor 

Use a realtor with experience finding properties for military personnel. Let them know your requirements and be firm in your expectations. Ensure they know what to look for if you hope to buy with a VA loan. Ask military friends for recommendations.  

Find Out About VA Loans 

Consider applying for a VA loan, which allows veterans and active service personnel to buy a home without a down payment. Ensure you qualify for the scheme and understand the requirements. Talk to Hero Loan to learn how to apply for a VA home loan today.  

Assess Your Financial Situation 

Ensure you have the financial stability to buy a property. Avoid taking out more mortgage than you can afford. Pay down your debts and keep your credit utilization below 30%. Ask for help from a financial advisor to work out how much you could afford to borrow.  

Prepare For The Commitment 

Understand the commitment of homeownership. Have an emergency fund of at least six months’ income. Invest in home security if the property will be empty for long periods. Learn to do basic fixes around the property. Research local tradespeople for work you are unqualified to do.  

Take Your Time 

Don’t rush into a house purchase; if you are unsure, delay buying. View a property in person where possible. Don’t compromise on your essential requirements for a home.  

Be Wary Of Scams 

Some scammers target service members who are looking for properties. Take steps to protect against scams. Ensure you choose a verifiable provider for housing and loans.  

Rent In The Area First 

Rent in an area before buying to ensure it is the right fit. Spend six months to a year in the area and ensure it has all the amenities you need.