Rebecca Alston, Author at Mamas Like Me

CBD Oil For Athletes: Is It Helpful & Their Benefits

There are always a lot of speculations about the effects of CBD oil on health. However, research suggests that CBD oil can offer a plethora of health benefits, especially for athletes. Being an athlete is not easy. It takes years of practice, dedication to master any sport, and an athlete faces many physical and psychological hurdles in the journey. While handling such hiccups may be easy for some and not for others. That’s where CBD may help by alleviating any physical and psychological health conditions. If you’re an athlete and are asking the question of whether CBD oil is helpful for athletes? Yes, it may be. Let’s look at the benefits of using CBD oil for athletes.

Inflammation and Pain Relief

Physical pain becomes part and parcel of an athlete’s life from an early age. Whether it’s a joint ache or muscle spasms from prolonged physical activity, CBD may aid in alleviating the pain. CBD is not a highly psychoactive substance and interacts with the ECS (endocannabinoid system), a cell signaling system present in the human body. After entering the ECS, CBD binds with the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors that send and receive signals from various body parts.

The anti-inflammatory properties of CBD may reduce any inflammation messenger activity happening in the body parts and reduce inflammation. CBD may also block pain signals from various body parts and numb the pain. The wide range of CBD products other than conventional oils makes it easy for athletes to use CBD anytime. Sunday Scaries CBD gummies are an exceptional CBD product any athlete can get their hands on because they pain-relief CBD gummies.

Promoting Better Sleep

Sleep is another crucial factor in productivity for both athletes and people who don’t play sports. Insomnia is becoming prevalent, and CBD may help in promoting a good night’s sleep. It is still unclear how CBD may help in reducing the effects of insomnia.
However, research suggests that it is the calming and relaxing properties of the compound that does it. Insomnia can occur because of many health conditions like acute pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, stress. CBD’s calming properties may reduce all such problems and help you sleep better.

Natural Alternative to NSAIDs

Athletes and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are like a match made in heaven. They have been using over-the-counter NSAIDs to alleviate pain and inflammation for a while now. NSAIDs may show promising results, but the latest scientific evidence suggests that they may not be safe. Frequent and long-term use of NSAIDs may increase the risk of heart stroke and attack. Especially, athletes that train for long hours must avoid NSAIDs since it may lead to renal damage. Many athletes have found the inflammation and pain-relieving effects from CBD, which may reduce their dependence on synthetic medication like NSAIDs. Since CBD is a natural compound and is not highly psychoactive, consuming it in small quantities may not cause any adverse effects.

Medicines — A bunch of different color pills on a pile

Gut Health

Post-training gut issues are also one of the leading causes for many athletes dropping out of races. Stomach troubles usually occur due to two reasons – dehydration and overheating. CBD may not treat the two conditions mentioned above but may reduce gut issues related to inflammations. GI tract inflammation may cause severe discomfort, and CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties may help alleviate it. The colon also has CB1 and CB2 receptors, so CBD may bind with these cannabinoid receptors, as discussed earlier, and lessen any internal inflammation. So, if you experience gut inflammation during or after exercise, CBD may help you feel better.

Stress and Anxiety Relief

Physical hurdles are not the only ones athletes face. Psychological health conditions like anxiety disorders and mental stress about training and competition are also prevalent among athletes. Studies state that CBD may offer promising results in reducing anxiety effects when consumed in small doses. The anti-anxiety or anxiolytic properties of CBD are responsible for doing so. CBD may increase the serotonin levels in the body, the neurotransmitter associated with mood and sense of well-being. Serotonin levels drop when you feel nervous or anxious about things. Similarly, CBD may also relieve stress by reducing cortisol (stress hormone) levels.

The teenager is feeling a burden of mental difficulties

Final Thoughts

CBD is a naturally occurring compound in cannabis plants and may help treat several health conditions. There are a ton of CBD brands and products available lately. However, as a novice user, you must only buy and use high-quality CBD products. If you have any existing medical condition and seek treatment or medication, it’s better to consult your doctor before using CBD. Remember, CBD is not a magic potion but may assist in reducing the severity of any health conditions, so treat it that way.

Top Wedding Anniversary Gifts for Wife

Is this your anniversary month? And you are looking for the best wedding anniversary gifts to surprise your loving wife. Get the best gift ideas for your lady’s love and shower your affection on her to make her realize how much you love her. Anniversaries are the best way to celebrate and commemorate your union with your wife.

However, it is quite tough to decide the best anniversary gift for your life partner, and you have to use creative ideas and techniques to surprise your wife with your love. So, here is a small list of gifts you can select for your beautiful wife.

Best Wedding Anniversary Gift to Surprise, Your Wife

On this day, she holds your hand forever and commits to sharing her entire life with you. To celebrate this beautiful wedding anniversary, you must surprise her with exciting gifts. Here is a list of the best 10 gift ideas that can mesmerize her.

Jewellery Set

There are no women who do not have a love for jewellery. Select a piece of beautiful jewellery set to surprise your wife on this wedding anniversary. A set of jewellery will not only make her happy but also add a charm to your loving wife’s personality. Select any of her jewellery sets and gift her to appreciate the happiness and a big smile on her face. Women consider jewellery as one of the most memorable and preserving gifts.

Makeup Kit

You can just admire the face of your wife when you gift her a complete makeup kit. If your wife is a makeup lover, this can be her best wedding anniversary gift. A box full of colourful blushes, lipsticks, nail colours, mascara, eyeshadow palette, and many more things can make your wife scream in joy. You can select the best makeup kit and impress her with your knowledge of makeup products. Adding this to your list is something you are never going to regret.

Novel Subscription

Some women possess more interest in novels and books rather than makeup and jewellery. If your wife is one of them and cannot resist reading, then go for a monthly or yearly book subscription for her. Choose any of the book subscription sites and offer her a monthly or yearly subscription to make her feel how much you admire her. She is going to encourage the efforts you put into selecting the best wedding gifts for her.

Customize Wine Bottles

If your wife is a wine enthusiast, then you should gift her a customized bottle of wine or champagne to make her feel special. Order a bottle of wine with custom wedding labels and stickers of her choice and appreciate the glow on her face after seeing this exciting gift. She will encourage your efforts in selecting one of the best anniversary gifts.

Spa Getaway

If you want to make your wife happy with any other exciting gifts, then offering her a spa getaway is the best idea. Several spas offer getaway schemes that you can consider as one of your wedding anniversaries’ gifts. You can avail of this scheme and offer a complete day with relaxation and pampering through the spa. Just schedule an appointment for her and make her day memorable.

Preserved Roses

Another best thing to add up to the list of best wedding anniversary gifts is a gorgeous bouquet of preserved roses. This bouquet will last for many years and make your wife remember the kind of love you shower on to her. Order a beautiful and colourful rose bouquet for her and make her smile on the auspicious occasion.

Wrist Watch

A wristwatch is another best wedding anniversary gift to add to your list. Select a stunning wristwatch from any of her favourite brands and colours and gift her. This will make her remember the wonderful times you both are spending together in your married life. A wristwatch on your wife’s hand will make her look more charming and attractive. The watch adds a card with a romantic message to add a big smile on her lovely face.

An Enticing Perfume

Perfume is also a fascinating gift that you can gift your loving and gorgeous wife. Look for an enticing perfume with an irresistible fragrance that can light up her mood with happiness. Gifting a perfume with a wonderful aroma can show her the level of effort you made searching for the gift. This gift can be the best idea to offer your affection to her.

Photo Frames

Select the best pictures of you and your wife, add them to a beautiful photo frame, and gift her on this anniversary. She cannot resist smiling and appreciating your efforts and affection. Gifting photo frames can be the best and thoughtful idea for a wedding anniversary. Also, adding a couple of photos of both of you will undoubtedly make her remember the best times you spent together.

Promise Rings

Last but not least, the promise rings. This can also be the best anniversary gift for your beautiful wife. A promise ring is an incredible sign that shows your affection and devotion towards your wife. Add this to your list and gift her on this wedding anniversary to make her remember the vows you took on your wedding day.

Conclusion

A wedding anniversary is the best time to revisit the exceptional feeling when you both hold hands for the rest of your lives. These best 10 gift ideas can help you to show your love and care towards your wife. You can select any of them to surprise your wife on this anniversary.

6 Best Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

“Bottles fill his stomach, but breastfeeding fills his soul.”

– Diane Wiessinger

The feeling of becoming parents is unexplainable, and especially for a mother, it is a lot more than just contentment and fulfillment alone. A new mother has tons of responsibilities that come with the baby. Mothers are accountable for the finest upbringing of their children. As she enters into motherhood, breastfeeding becomes part of the identity of women.

A new mother feeds her baby the very first meal, which is full of nutrition. This means breastfeeding for the majority of women. Even though breastfeeding might seem easy, you can still fret over supplying your infant with the right nutrients. And you presumably may have a dozen questions about how everything functions.

Our greatest suggestion is to loosen up; you and your child will ultimately be used to it. To encourage you, we have made a list of breastfeeding tips that will provide you with the best nursing advice.

1. Munch well, Mama

You’re what you consume, and it’s crucial for you so your little one can get a nutritious supply of milk to eat. Although you don’t need to strain yourself, a balanced postpartum diet is essential for your achievement in nursing. Firstly, drink a lot of water. Your body works hard to generate the milk for the baby, which is why you may always be thirsty for water. Aim to drink eight glasses of water each day to build up the milk supply and keep you hydrated. Second, eat an evenly balanced diet. Devour those portions of protein, calcium, whole grain, and fruits and vegetables to ensure that you are stuffed properly. Add healthy fats to your diet. Much healthy fats are needed for brain functioning, particularly omega-3 fatty acids found in fish with low mercury and DHA-enriched eggs.

Third, don’t skip your vitamins. Continue to take it until breastfeeding has been fully completed. You can also continue to take your DHA pregnancy top-up essential for the health and wellbeing of a new mother.

2. Lactation should be comfortable, not painful

Breasts are your number one asset when it comes to breastfeeding. For new moms, it helps prevent many infectious diseases in the baby and provides it full nutrition. However, please note that you shouldn’t be breastfeeding more than needed. What happens due to over breastfeeding is Mastitis. It is when certain germs reach the milk canals via nipples and make them sore. This occurs more often to the moms who find it difficult to breastfeed their babies. The soreness around the breasts can be painful. To avoid Mastitis, you can pump the milk to feed the baby. The doctor will also prescribe you some antibiotics that will help in reducing the pain and soreness. It just doesn’t mean they should be uncomfortable because your breasts are functioning super hard. After every nursing practice, lanolin cream used may aid. But above all, modify your lactation practices and ensure a proper latch for the baby.

3. Assist yourself with the best consultation

You aren’t the first one having trouble breastfeeding. Enlist the help you need for your breastfeeding experience to resolve problems. There are several consultants at the hospital or birth child care centers available. Some even make house calls. Join a mummy’s group in your area or take a breastfeeding lesson to enhance learning.

For additional support, please get in touch with the breastfeeding home visit services provided by some authentic consultants.

4. Drippy breasts aren’t a problem

If it sometimes leaves you feeling like you’re at a wet T-shirt competition when breastfeeding, don’t be ashamed you’re not alone. In fact, leaking breasts are lovely because they reveal a mom’s natural need to feed a baby, but they are no less chaotic. If it sometimes leaves you feeling like you’re at a wet T-shirt competition when breastfeeding, don’t be ashamed you’re not alone. In fact, leaking breasts are lovely because they reveal a mom’s natural need to feed a baby, but they are no less chaotic.

You may begin to leak before feeding your baby, listening to the baby’s soothing voice, or even drooling over a picture of your baby boo. Careful planning can help with your leaky breasts, and it includes:

Keep a bunch of nursing pads to avoid.

Place napkins below when you sleep so that you do not need to change your bedsheets in the morning if there’s a leakage problem at night.

Wear dark colors, so the leaks don’t peek out if they appear.

Don’t just pump too hard. Excess pumping will not help leaky breasts to stop. Nonetheless, it actually only boosts your production and aggravates the problem.

Mother and newborn — The newborn is sleeping on the mothers chest

5. Quality Pump matters

Pumping breast milk is something every Mama should do to make sure she is not breastfeeding her baby all the time. Pumping milk has its own perks, and you get some time to relax if the milk has already been extracted before. There are two types of manual and automatic pumps with a single or double pumping ability.

The efficiency of each pump can distinguish between an incredibly simple and annoying experience. A double breast pump cut down the time needed to express milk from both breasts. A double breast pump is generally thought to be a great way to promote the growth of your prolactin hormone, too, while making it an easy and timely experience for mothers. A quality pump really matters if you want to pump more milk at a time.

6. Posture at ease

Deciding on a lactation position, which works best for you, makes lactation much easier. Select your favorite fit with a few experiments until you adjust yourself properly. Firstly, you can lay back and breastfeed. Lie down with supporting head, neck, and shoulders. Put the entire front of the baby on your entire front and let the work begin. On your bare breast, put the baby’s cheek.

Second, Breastfeed the baby as you lean it in your lap, with the head of your baby in the elbow. You can use pillows to raise the head to the level of the nipple to breastfeed the baby properly.

The third is the crossover hold position. Keep your baby’s head from the presently nursing breast with the opposite hand. Lastly, the side Lying position is the most convenient in the middle of the night—mom and child, both on their sides, facing each other.

Endnotes

We know that breastfeeding can sometimes be immense, but the tips mentioned above in practice will help you to enjoy your child with breastfeeding. So, take into account the needs of your child, be content and satisfied. Assess the signs of good breastfeeding and try to remain hydrated.

Nothing’s wrong with asking for assistance.

In the beginning, breastfeeding can be a sentimental rush, but you and your baby are likely to hang on with a bit of time and dedication. So get faith! Since this is a good way to feed and bind your child, it’s worth the hassle.

Remember. When you follow these guidelines, your baby will continue to flourish right before your eyes!

Financial Tips for Parents to Consider

Whether you have just one child or a whole crew of little ones at home, you may sometimes find yourself financially overwhelmed as a parent. It can be hard to figure out how to manage expenses related to housing, utilities, meals, diapers, clothing, childcare, and other necessities. Following the right financial tips can help families to manage their money better. These five tips can help your family budget for all of your needs while still saving up for long-term goals and potential emergencies.

Attend Money Management Seminars and Classes

If you’re trying to understand how to stay out of debt while raising a family, then you need to learn a little bit more about money. Money management classes and seminars are a great way to learn more about budgeting, saving, and spending wisely. Look for free seminars that you can attend in your area or online. If you attend college, you may also want to consider enrolling in one or two finance classes. Even if you do not pursue a career in finance, you can learn valuable information that you can apply to your career and home life.

Remember That Brand Names Have No Significance

When shopping for children’s clothing, shoes, food, and toys, remember that brand names have no real significance. Many name-brand items are the same as their store brand counterparts, just with different labels. Children grow out of clothing items and shoes quickly. There is no reason to overspend on items that will turn into hand-me-downs within just a few months.

Cooking is Cheaper Than Eating Out

Fast food and take-out meals can seem inexpensive, but those purchases add up in the long run. If you have a large family, buy groceries in bulk to stay stocked up. Bulk groceries can also help you save money. When grocery shopping, look for inexpensive but filling and nutritious foods like potatoes, whole grain bread, apples, carrots, and brown rice. You can also use paper and digital coupons while shopping at the grocery store. In general, it is a good rule of thumb to avoid eating out with your family more than once per week. When you do spend money on restaurant meals, make it a more special occasion. Take the time to sit down somewhere with family members and appreciate the food and the company.

Teenagers Can Work Too

If you are worried about the math adding up on 18 years of expenses, remember that your child will probably start making some of their own money before moving out of the home. Teenagers 14 or older can work at restaurants, swimming pools, retail stores, and other entry-level businesses. They can also mow lawns, tutor younger students, and babysit. Teach your child good spending habits. Encourage them to save some of their income and avoid spending money on frivolous purchases. You can also teach your working teenager how to invest in the stock market and manage their credit appropriately.

Money Doesn’t Buy Character

One of the most crucial tips to keep in mind when raising a child is that money doesn’t buy happiness nor does it buy character. Children require love, attention, enrichment, and education, not expensive gifts. Instead of giving your child cash or expensive gifts as a reward, you might want to try rewarding them with exceptional experiences. For example, you may want to bake a cake or take your child to the beach as a birthday treat instead of buying them expensive gifts. Often, these experiences will be more memorable than gifts ever could have been. Cleaning up after yourself is a fundamental human responsibility and a sign of self-respect. You do not have to reward children with cash for taking out the trash, putting away their laundry, or washing dirty dishes.

Mompreneur Essentials: 6 Straightforward Ways to Improve Your Small Business

One of the harsh realities of the contemporary business world is that in order to stay afloat, businesses of all sizes and industries constantly need to improve and move ahead. The world around is changing at such a rapid pace and so many new players enter the arena with each passing day that staying idle means nothing more than lagging behind.

Even so, numerous business owners, especially the ones working in the SMB sector are afraid to engage in thorough reforms fearing they will overstretch the companies budget and their gambles eventually won’t pay off.

We are here to break some good news. Effective improvements of your small business can be successfully pulled off in a very straightforward and budget-friendly manner with little to no risk involved. Let us take a look at some of the most intuitive mentions.

Establish relevant KPI for marketing

The success of some effort can only be assessed if we set up some parameters we will measure the overall results against. This knowledge is for measuring how far we have gone down the road, but also to make necessary course corrections. Marketing is, unfortunately, one of the business sectors that suffer the most from this lack of accurate and relevant metrics. So, do your best to remedy this problem by setting up Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for the following tangible results:

Number of conversions
Conversion rates
Cost per conversion
Number of leads
Cost per lead
Cost of customer acquisition
Sales growth
Search rankings

Set clear and tangible goals

Of course, relying on the KPIs to lead you through the business maze will amount to very little if you don’t have a seat of clear, measurable, and tangible goals you are going to work towards. Aside from the requirements we have listed above, your goals should also be productive and lead to effective progress. So, growing your customer base indefinitely is good, but knowing how many new clients you need to, for instance, launch a new product. This way of mechanical thinking combined with incremental short-term objectives will expose you to clear and concrete measures you need to make to get the ball moving.

Move your infrastructure to the cloud

Cloud computing offers a plethora of tangible benefits. It’s more affordable than maintaining on-site infrastructure, offers a great level of scalability and versatility (“pay-as-you-go” pricing model), and creates endless possibilities for collaboration, outsourcing, and remote working. What’s even better, you don’t even have to develop new departments within your company to use this novel technology. For instance, if you plan to start using Amazon Web Services, you can hire a remote team to perform the migration, maintenance, and managed AWS professional services.

Upgrade the sales funnel

If you are not familiar with the term, the sales funnel represents the set of steps people need to take to become your customers. No matter whether it exists in the form of a retail store, online store, sales team or personal consultations, a good and streamlined sales funnel usually consists of these four basic steps:

Awareness
Interest
Desire
Action

What can you do to refine and streamline these four steps? For a start, you can segment your customers into different, distinct groups and create the most suitable approach for each of them. Second, you can adjust your portfolio to suit these customer groups and make your sales items more approachable. Last but not least, you can reduce friction on checkouts and forms to make the purchasing process convenient, easy, and versatile (you should include as many payment options as possible).

Put some effort into team building

This advice may sound beaten to death at this point but it’s good advice nevertheless. The recent survey says that 86% of employees cite a lack of collaboration for workplace failures. On the other hand, efficient workplace collaboration can increase innovation by 15%. These numbers are something you should by all means keep in mind if you want to keep your company competitive long-term. Fortunately, the opportunities for efficient team building are as abundant as they are affordable and the constant evolution of digital tech only makes this plethora of activity options more expensive.

Entrepreneur and board — A woman is standing in front of a board

Boost your online and social media presence

We are not even talking about some convoluted online strategies. For instance, small upgrades like presenting the contact info on every page of your website can go a long way in making your business more streamlined and approachable. Furthermore, hiring a team to develop a content strategy for your social media channels and keep them open 24/7 can do wonders for your customer relationship as well as lure in new people who were not necessarily interested in your products and services. Finally, you can never go wrong by investing more money into your SEO efforts since 70% of marketers today consider this form of marketing far more effective than PPC.

We hope these couple of tips gave you some idea about the general direction on which you should take your company in the following months and years. In this day and age, constantly pushing your business forward is the only way to stay profitable. Still, spearheading your way through the business arena doesn’t have to be all too hard, or for that matter expansive. Now that you know the basics, all you need to do is to take some action.

The Ultimate Guide to Plan Your Kid’s Birthday Party

“A birth date is a reminder to celebrate life as well as to update life.”

Coming up with ideas for your kid’s birthday party can be a stressful, challenging, and overwhelming experience, especially if it’s the first time you’re doing it. Do you want your kid’s birthday party to be just perfect and a memorable experience for them as the years pass by?

Keep in mind that a birthday party can only be a success if you plan and are organized about the steps you need to take. To help reduce your burden, we have shared the ultimate birthday planning guide with you so that your kid’s birthday party can be the talk of the town.

Without any further delay, let’s get right into the birthday party planning details.

1. Select a theme

Do you and your kids love going to theme parties? Do you feel theme birthday parties are more fun, exciting, and easy to set up? If yes, then your very first step should be thinking of a unique and creative theme that your kid with love.

Think of your child’s interest or something that they are crazy about. It could be a cartoon character, a TV show, or maybe their favorite activity such as gaming or painting. Once you finalize an idea, check if the accessories are easily available for the theme. Even if you cannot find the accessories at a party shop, there’s no need to be disappointed as you can always make them at home. If non of the options works for you, why not order customizable decorations that can serve both as decoration and entertainment? Whether you’re looking for a fun focal point for a child’s birthday party or you want to create a more sophisticated atmosphere inflatable bounce houses and customized pools are great options. These unique custom inflatables can be designed to meet the needs of the theme and will not only astonish guests with specially printed pictures but will also give them the chance to enjoy themselves to the full. With a little imagination, you can easily create a unique look that will complement your event’s theme. So if you’re looking for ways to take your decorating game to the next level, consider investing in some custom products. You won’t be disappointed!

However, if you are having trouble deciding a theme for the birthday party, some popular ones include unicorns, superheroes, mermaids, pirates, Disney, and Barbie. If your budget allows it, it’s also a great idea to take the kids to a theme park. A Disney-themed birthday party in a Disney theme park would definitely be an unforgettable experience! If you choose this option, make sure to check Disney Orlando deals for group discounts.

2. Create a budget

As birthdays come only once a year, you need to budget a few weeks ahead of the birthday party so that you can throw the best party ever. Create a list of the finances that will occur, such as the décor, food, cake, theme, and the kid’s clothes.

As your child will be the guest of honour, you should ensure that their outfit and shoes match the theme. Once you have completed the budget, you’ll automatically know where you stand. If you start planning a few weeks earlier, you can also pick some extra shifts to collect money for the party.

Having a budget will ensure that you don’t end up overspending and regretting later on. Make sure you stick to the budget you have finalized because some unexpected last-minute expenses might pop up out of nowhere.

3. Choose the location

It is important that you choose the most suitable location if you are looking forward to planning the perfect birthday party. You wouldn’t like to end up with a location that is too crowded or stuffy, right? While there are many birthday party places in Brampton, you should pick a comfortable spot for everyone.

If you have a limited budget, do you think your house will be a suitable venue for the birthday party? Or, if you want to go with an outdoor venue, keep in mind the costs that the planners will charge you for the theme, decorations, and food.

Another very important point which people forget is that they don’t take the weather into consideration. You won’t want your outdoor party to blow up because of a sudden storm. If it’s winters or the rainy season, consider getting an indoor venue to be at ease.

4. Shortlist the guests

Once your final budget is calculated and you have finalized the location, then comes another main step. Obviously, you and your kid won’t be able to enjoy the birthday party without having people over.

Sit with your family and write down the names of people you would like to invite, starting from your family. Ask your kid about the number of friends they are expecting to come over and calculate the estimated number of people for the party.

Make sure you don’t go overboard with the number of people you invite because you will have a limited budget and venue to host. It will be a very embarrassing situation if people don’t have a place to sit or plates to eat from.

5. Send out the invitations

Would you like to add more creativity to the birthday party you are throwing for your kid? How about customized birthday party invitations that match the theme of the party? That would look cool, wouldn’t it?

To involve your kid in the planning process, you can develop unique and creative DIY birthday card ideas. If you haven’t made birthday cards before, you can follow a YouTube tutorial on arts and crafts.

Also, request your guests to confirm their presence at the birthday party so you can make arrangements accordingly. Don’t forget to mention the party’s timing on the invitation as many venues have a strict timing policy.

Mention the birthday party theme on the invitation card so the kids dress up accordingly and do not feel out of place once they arrive.

6. Choose the perfect birthday cake

As a birthday party can never be complete without a delicious cake, make sure you hire the best cake maker for the party. It will be great if you match the birthday cake with the party theme and give the baker some ideas from Google or Pinterest on how you would like the cake to be.

If the people attending your party have some allergies or food restrictions, request them to inform you in advance so that everyone is able to enjoy the food. You can opt for a two or three-story cake depending on how many people you have invited. The more the cake, the merrier it is.

7. Confirm the food order

Other than the cake itself, don’t forget to place an order to the caterers for party snacks and drinks. Some common birthday party foods include chips, biscuits, pizza, cookies, pasta, and cold beverages.

Before you confirm your order with the caterer, don’t forget to add the foods your kid likes. Please provide them with the number of people you have invited to prepare the food order accordingly.

8. Plan some games and activities

For the entertainment of the kids and guests, plan some fun games and activities beforehand, so no one gets bored.

How about some old-school games like musical chairs, passing the pillow, and dancing statues? If your budget and the venue allow, you could also set up a jumping castle or trampoline, as they are a favorite among the kids.

Make sure that you supervise the games at all times so that no kids get hurt or end up fighting amongst themselves. You could also request an older sibling or cousin to keep an eye on the kids and keep them away from the restricted areas at the venue.

Closing Note

Planning a birthday party can be a difficult job as a lot of details and attention go into the planning process. However, if you follow the detailed guidelines mentioned above, we assure you that you will have the time of your life. Just make sure you include your kid in the planning process and ask for their input as it is their birthday party, after all.

5 Holiday Traps That Endanger Your Mental Health

As the year draws to a close, many Americans are starting to look forward to the holidays and their promise of good cheer with one’s family and community. Historically, however, the holidays are among the times Americans are most likely to be confronted with serious mental health issues.

Existing problems related to substance use disorder (SUD; formerly known as addiction), post-traumatic stress, anxiety, and depression are highly likely to manifest during the holidays. Boston rehabilitation centers and emergency rooms tend to be especially busy during the holidays, a pattern that largely holds true for the rest of the United States.

Below are just some of the many mental health risks that are prevalent during the holiday season.

1.) Traumatic Memories

According to the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the holidays can be especially rough on people who have had traumatic experiences. The holiday season’s emphasis on family, materialism, and community can be triggering for those who’ve experienced violence at the hands of family members, individuals with financial insecurity, and people who are already feeling socially isolated for one reason or another.

These trauma triggers have been associated with a rise in drug and alcohol misuse during the holiday season, as well as associated instances of suicide and self-harm. Even just remembering and re-experiencing a certain date can be enough to cause traumas to rise to the surface.

2.) Binge Drinking and Drug Use

The holidays can provide some people the necessary excuse they need to misuse different substances, particularly alcohol. While the use of most drugs goes up during the holidays, alcohol is the substance with the biggest societal cost.

Emergency rooms are almost always busy during the holidays due to alcohol and drug-related mishaps. However, physical injuries are not the only ones that get inflicted during the season.

People in rehab programs tend to report at least a few bad experiences that have occurred to them because of drinking or drug use during the holidays. Family members of people who binge drink or use drugs during the holidays are also more likely to be victims of violence during this time, often suffering lifelong traumatic experiences tied to the holiday as a result.

3.) Depression

Depression tends to rise during the holidays not only because of the aforementioned reasons like trauma and reminders of financial insecurity but also partly due to the seasonal weather conditions. Oppressively hot or cold weather conditions can trigger seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a type of depression that is caused by weather changes.

SAD can have a very real compounding negative effect on a person’s mental state. In the US, SAD is often associated with the cold, gloomy weather that accompanies Halloween through the New Year. However, it can also accompany hot weather, which can be relevant during the summer and holidays like the Fourth of July.

With the world experiencing serious climate change, SAD can become an even more serious factor in more peoples’ mental health in the future.

4.) Stress and Anxiety

The holidays are often accompanied by stress and anxiety, which can often turn into full-blown panic attacks. Turning in work obligations before the holidays, potential money problems, meeting certain family members, and challenges of meeting holiday expectations can be enough to put many people over the edge.

Stress and anxiety, are extremely common causes of other more serious mental health issues. The rise in binge drinking and drug use during the holidays can partly be credited to people using substances to cope with the stresses of the season, and this can also lead to other mental health problems.

5.) Being Isolated

As you will have undoubtedly noticed during the pandemic, reduced social contact can lead to a serious toll on one’s mental health. Existing issues with isolation can be further intensified during the holidays.

People who are unable to meet family members or people they love can be at risk of developing depression or indulging in unhealthy coping strategies. Those who are already feeling “othered” and separated from their community, such as economically disadvantaged people, foreign students, migrants, and the differently-abled can feel this othering even more acutely as well.

Take Care of Your Mental Health Before It’s Too Late

While holiday mental health hazards are seasonal, it’s important to establish a baseline level of hygiene for your psychological well being all-year-round. Seeking professional help for one’s mental health should be done early on and mental health checkups should be at least as frequent as visits to the dentist.

Having a good daily mental health routine that involves learning how to identify and deal with emotions, physical and mental exercise, using gratitude and empathy, and other critical self-care activities can help you be more resilient to the worst challenges you might expect during the holiday season.

Things to Know Before Having a Vasectomy

Vasectomy, or what you call permanent contraception, is a route that quite a few people have taken. While it is still something that not everyone trusts, people have started researching it and think that it can solve quite a lot of problems.

Vasectomy also became something more people preferred due to its apparently lesser side effects than female contraception and abortion which is harmful to the female body and is seen as taking life in many parts of the world. Quite a few states have also made abortion illegal, and at the same time, the peril that female contraception brings did make room for another alternative for people who were not yet ready to have kids.

What does a vasectomy entail?

Vasectomy should not overall have any worst effects on your body. The male body can still ejaculate, but the semen does not contain any sperm; thus, it does not and cannot impregnate anyone. During the surgery, the two tubes, namely vas deferens, are cut and sealed. These tubes are actually responsible for carrying sperms from testicles to the male urethra; thus, this connection is terminated.

On a side note: there is also a thing known as reversible vasectomy, so even if you think that it would be a decision not worth it, you can always have that reversed. Do it whenever you think you are ready to become a parent, but you can be sure that you are safe until then. However, you always need to evaluate when you want to get this reversed because after a decade has passed, the success rate declines heavily.

Vasectomy has its pros and cons

Vasectomy in Renton WA is a form of permanent contraception. After that, it is no longer necessary to use other forms of contraception. However, a vasectomy does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) – so if you are not in a monogamous relationship, make sure to get tested regularly, even if you don’t have any symptoms. Look up Gonorrhea test near me in the search bar to find the nearest clinic to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases. As with any surgical procedure, there is little chance of complications. Talk to your doctor about these risks. Most importantly, as it is permanent, take the time to make an informed decision.

Vasectomy does not reduce sexual pleasure

You will continue to ejaculate after the vasectomy, but the sperm will not contain any semen. In fact, sperm has only a very small part of the sperm volume – you will not notice any change. A vasectomy does not affect one’s libido, the capacity to get an erection, or the way you feel when you orgasm. You can also enjoy more sex knowing your partner can’t get pregnant. Unless you are in a monogamous relationship, be sure to practice safe sex with a barrier method, such as a condom, to prevent STDs.

Reversing a vasectomy is possible but complicated

Since the vasectomy is permanent, it is a crucial life decision. The urologist may be able to reverse the vasectomy by reattaching the ends of the tubes. However, a reverse vasectomy is much more complicated than a vasectomy and may not be successful. This is also expensive. When deciding whether to undergo a vasectomy, it is important to consider the likelihood that you or your partner will want to reverse this in the future.

Use other forms of contraception while a vasectomy is becoming effective

The effectiveness of a vasectomy can take 12 weeks or more. If you have sex during this time, you or your partner will need to use another form of contraception. After three months, the doctor will examine the semen sample for sperm. Once the doctor’s office confirms that you have no semen in your sperm, you can have sex without worrying about conceiving a baby.

Urologists perform most vasectomies

If you are interested in a vasectomy, ask your GP or local public health department to perform them on-site. Urologists regularly perform vasectomies, usually in an outpatient surgery center or doctor’s office. Some general surgeons and family doctors also perform vasectomies. The cost ranges from around $ 350 to $ 1,000, and your health insurance can cover it.

Expect some discomfort after the vasectomy

While it would not affect your health, it is bound to cause you discomfort. Local anesthesia will prevent you from experiencing pain during the procedure; you will probably feel only a slight pinch from the anesthesia injection. During a vasectomy, you may experience a slight pulling or pulling sensation. Your scrotum can be painful for several days. Wearing tight underwear, applying ice to the area, and taking over-the-counter pain medications can help relieve discomfort.

What are the common misconceptions about vasectomy?

Misconceptions about vasectomy can unnecessarily increase anxiety. A vasectomy is simply the disconnection of the vas deferens, the tubes that supply sperm from semen to semen or sperm during intercourse. Vasectomy does not involve removing the testicles. Concerns about erectile dysfunction are also unfounded. After a vasectomy, the testes will still produce sperm, but the sperm dies and is absorbed by the body. Sexual health does not change: Testosterone levels remain the same, and the ability to achieve an erection is not compromised.

How is the recovery period supposed to be?

Patients can be sent home with a prescription for pain medication, although Tylenol may be all that is needed to relieve the discomfort. The most important part of recovering after a vasectomy is easy. Physical activity during the first two days should be limited to relaxing on the sofa and watching television. On the first day of recovery, men will also need to hold an ice pack on their scrotum for 20 minutes every hour until they fall asleep. One can expect to return to work within 24-48 hours of progress. During the first week after the procedure, you should avoid routine exercises that include strenuous activity, weight lifting, or swimming.

Bottom line

While vasectomy may look like the best solution to you, it may not be the thing you should get done if you only temporarily feel that you do not want to have a child and would have a tendency to question this decision in the future or think that you would more partners in the future. While this decision may be sitting well with your current partner, it may not be something that your future partner might like.

Four Elements That Ensure An Ideal Patient-Practitioner Relationship

The primary reason most people choose medicine is because of the honest and sincere intention to help people. Undoubtedly, it is one of the most honorable and respectful professions. Whether healthcare practitioners work in hospitals or private practice, they restore health and bring a real difference in people’s lives.

The concept of a patient-practitioner relationship isn’t something new. It’s a critically important element for a successful and sustainable healthcare system. However, the evaluation of the factors that significantly influence this relationship is still in its initial stage.

Due to this, another crucial perspective gets overlooked, which is equally important, if not more, i.e., about patients. The distinctive characteristics and qualities of healthcare practitioners greatly influence the clinical experience of the patients. Unfortunately, this is something patients fail to realize.

Aren’t they the reason why healthcare workers practice in the first place? Why not value their viewpoints and listen to what they expect from the healthcare system?

There are countless benefits of a healthy patient-healthcare worker relationship. A few of them include increased patient satisfaction, improved diagnosis, more compliance to the treatment schedule, and positive results. However, it’s pretty challenging to overcome the barriers that impede the path of a constructive relationship.

The article reveals some of the crucial elements that strengthen the patient-practitioner relationship:

1. Deliverance of optimum care

The idea of continuity of care is paramount to establish a relationship of trust. Continuity of care is a process that involves both the patients and the healthcare workers to ensure the deliverance of the highest quality care.

Often, patients encounter several professionals in the healthcare facility for different purposes. And this raises concerns for fragmentation of care. Since nurses are an integral part of the healthcare system, they serve as mediators between patients and other health teams.

Although continuity of care nursing is complex, nurses should use their critical thinking skills and technical knowledge to provide holistic care and cater to patients’ needs. In addition, they must advocate for the patient’s concerns and communicate them to other healthcare members.

That way, patients can receive quality care at the right time, and healthcare workers can provide strong rapport.

2. Strong communication

Communication is a two-way road. Patients and healthcare professionals should practice excellent communication skills to get on the same page. Providers should convey complex medical information and instructions in simple terms that are understandable and sounds reasonable to the patients.

Moreover, good communication doesn’t restrict to speaking only; it also involves active listening. Healthcare professionals should listen intently, understand patients’ concerns and repeat what they say to show their immersion in the conversation.

Also, it’s imperative to use non-verbal cues such as nodding the head, constant eye contact, and leaning forward to show interest. Through these signs, patients feel a sense of acknowledgment, security, and comfort.

Likewise, patients should be honest about their condition when talking to their practitioners. Not sharing accurate information and only disclosing the brief details might affect the treatment process and care delivery. Instead of feeling self-conscious and uncomfortable, patients should be as candid as possible.

3. Mutual decision-making

The key to thriving in the healthcare career depends on the relationship with the patients. The more healthy a relationship is, the more likely patients are to cooperate with the healthcare workers. Thus, to strengthen the bond, it’s indispensable that healthcare professionals keep the patients in the loop and go for shared decision-making.

Shared or mutual decision-making refers to a multi-pronged approach in which the practitioners and patients work collaboratively to map out a treatment plan. Instead of making their own decisions, providers should indulge the patients in conversations.

After complete assessment and diagnosis of the patient, healthcare workers should first discuss various treatment choices available. Once the patient settles on a particular option, the provider must point out and explicitly explain the pros and cons of that treatment plan.

That way, patients will feel independent and in control and probably comply with the treatment plan, thereby enhancing outcomes.

4. Empathy

The institution of a constructive patient-practitioner relationship lies on the golden rule of empathy. When treated with empathetic clinicians, patients feel more at ease and feel contented. Therefore, healthcare professionals who wish to break the code of high patient satisfaction should also practice empathy during practice.

When healthcare professionals put themselves in patients’ shoes, only then it’s possible to understand their feelings and concerns. While the practitioner might not be in the exact situation as the patient, still, they must think of an incident when they were at the receiving end of diagnosis.

Healthcare workers who showcase compassion can relate with the patients differently and make them feel valued. Therefore, if they have some heart-shattering news to share, use positive words and consider the patient’s feelings. Or providers can share their own stories to strengthen the connection.

To sum it all, the positive patient-provider relationship is utterly impossible if there is no involvement of empathy from the beginning.

Final Words

To say that a lasting patient-practitioner relationship only requires mutual understanding would be a bit of an understatement. It takes a great deal of time and endeavor from both sides to forge a healthy relationship and encourage good health practices.

While it is beyond doubt that healthcare professionals have never ceased to provide quality care. Unfortunately, during this fast-paced and time-crunched work settings, it’s easy to push the thought of a valuable patient-practitioner at the back of the mind.

Why Your Children Should Have an ID

As a parent, you do everything you can to keep your family happy, healthy, and safe. You plan fun activities for the weekend, cook healthy meals, and prepare against any harm. One way you can prepare your family is by having an ID for your children. Life can throw unexpected twists our way, and it’s best to try and have a plan beforehand. An ID for your children may not be top of mind, but we’ll show you three reasons why you should get an ID for each of your children.

You Can Be Separated

Getting separated from your child is not uncommon, unfortunately. According to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, over 600,000 individuals go missing every year. It may happen because they wander off at the grocery store, or maybe they run to a friend without telling you. We sometimes become distracted with the task at hand or focus on the environment around us, leading to an accidental separation.

If you become separated from your child, it’s critical that you seek help immediately. You’ll likely need to provide details about your child, including their full name, height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other identifying information. You may experience a high amount of stress and anxiety during this time, making it difficult for you to recall such details. Having an ID for your child would make it easy for you to provide all the necessary information as quickly as possible.

Medical Emergencies

Children like to play, but sometimes they may play a little too hard. Or perhaps they’re accidentally exposed to an allergen. Accidents happen every day, and some are more serious than others and may require immediate medical attention. Having an ID for your child can provide helpful information like height, weight, emergency contact, and other important information, like allergies, medical considerations. Providing this valuable information makes it easier for doctors to assess the situation, provide treatment more efficiently, and contact you as necessary. Not having an ID on hand could mean the doctors would need to gather more background information, taking longer to treat the issue.

Immediate Action In Case of Abduction

Child abductions are a tragedy and are devastating to any family. Nonfamily and family abductions are serious emergencies that require immediate action. In these situations, every second counts. You may be familiar with AMBER alerts. These are messages sent out to a community with information about a missing from law enforcement. Being able to forward your child’s ID allows law enforcement to get the message out as soon as possible. The faster you respond with your child’s identifying information, the better the chances of survival and law enforcement reuniting your family.

As we mentioned earlier in this post, when you’re separated from your child, you’re likely to be highly anxious, stressed out, and can forget details at the moment. Your child’s ID will provide the information needed by law enforcement. Providing local law enforcement with identifying information and characteristics is recommended by both the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as some of the first steps you should take You can also share your child’s ID on social media with friends, family, and other outlets to create widespread community awareness.

Conclusion

The safety and wellbeing of our children are always on our minds as parents. We try our best to provide an excellent home for our families and keep our children safe. Having an ID for your child is just one way to help you be prepared for emergencies and keep your children safe.