Rebecca Alston, Author at Mamas Like Me

6 Tips for Strengthening Your Heart

If you’ve been an adult for any length of time, you already know that the better you treat your body, the healthier you’re going to be. Exercising, eating right, and avoiding things that will damage your body is the best way to live to a ripe old age.

While most people know about the healthy habits needed to increase their overall health, not everyone realizes how important it is to increase your heart health as well. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the world, so strengthening the muscle will help you avoid medical problem and help you live a longer life. Looking for tips on the best way to strengthen your heart?

Take Your Supplements

While the proof is inconclusive, there have been studies that show that taking fish oil supplements will help to lower your risk of developing heart disease. Fish oil supports heart health because the pills contain EPA and DHA Omega 3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart.

Taking supplements on top of the other things you’re doing to make your heart healthy is a great idea.

Lose Weight

Heart disease has been linked to obesity in many people. While you may be exercising and eating right, losing weight is a personal journey and not every diet works for every person. It’s best to consult your primary care provider if you’re obese and let them determine the best course of action for you.

Losing weight will reduce your chance of developing heart problems quite a bit.

Know Your Good Fats from Your Bad Fats

If you want to take care of your heart, you need to learn to separate the good fats from the bad fats. Good fats are mono and polyunsaturated and bad fats are saturated and trans fats. For example, use canola or olive oil instead of butter in your cooking and choose lean meats such as fish and chicken, rather than the fattier cuts of meat.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking can be tough, but if you want to be heart-healthy, it’s something you really need to work on. The same is true of drinking. Even though a glass of wine a day can be good for your heart, you don’t want to take it to the extreme, and you definitely should stay away from hard liquor and beer.

Don’t Forget to Buy the Chocolate

One of the best tips on this list is to eat more chocolate to be heart-healthy. Research shows that dark chocolate contributes to heart health. However, chocolate is only a benefit in moderation.

That means that you can eat dark chocolate but not to excess and still be heart healthy. Cocoa, which is a key ingredient in chocolate, has been known to improve your blood clotting function and increase good cholesterol while lowering bad cholesterol.

So, don’t forget to pick up some chocolate while you’re at the grocery store. Just don’t go overboard and eat all of it at once.

Get Moving

The best way to be heart-healthy is to get out there and keep moving. Whether it’s a day at the gym twice a week or taking a walk around the neighborhood before lunch and after dinner, keeping moving will go a long way towards keeping your heart in good condition and you healthy overall.

These are just a few of the best tips out there for helping you become heart-healthy. From walking to eating chocolate in moderation and from taking your supplements to dropping bad habits, following these tips will have you in good shape in no time at all.

Turning Your Home Into a Stress-Free Zone

The world can be a stressful place, so your home should act as a personal sanctuary. Yet many people find that their houses are chaotic and full of clutter — the opposite of a relaxing space. Everyone craves a customized stress-free zone, but how do you achieve it?

You can start by implementing these three tips.

1. Give Everything a Home

Clutter sometimes seems like it’s never-ending, which can cause anxiety and can trigger guilty feelings. The solution is to clean, declutter and organize, using these two steps.

Creating Zones

Structure offer clarity and direction, which can reduce uncertainty and confusion. If you create zones in your house, it will be easier to decide where objects should go. For example, you might decide that your office is the place to address anything important. From there, you would place important bills, files and documents into that single room. Likewise, you would put all related items in that space.

To implement this step in your life, walk into each room of your house and determine its purpose. You could give the room a dedicated name or divide it into categories like work, play and relaxation.

Prioritizing Storage Solutions

Once you’ve created zones throughout your home, it’s time to organize items and prioritize storage solutions. You can use folders, bags, boxes or baskets — whatever suits your needs — to begin separating items. You’ll then need to assign them a dedicated place in the house.

2. Choose a Cohesive Design

With your home clean and organized, it’s time to take a closer look at your design. Does each room have a similar style? If every room is painted a different color and has mismatched furniture and decor, your house might feel chaotic even when clean.

Think about your personality and lifestyle — what furniture pieces do you appreciate the most? If you don’t have a strong design opinion, you can also look to your home’s character for motivation. When you choose a cohesive design theme, you create a natural flow and balance inside that wasn’t present before.

Popular design styles include:

Traditional
Rustic
Coastal
Industrial
Modern
Eclectic

3. Bring the Outdoors Inside

Some houses truly need a breath of fresh air to begin feeling like a stress-free zone. Here are two ways to bring the outdoors inside.

Natural Light

Natural light makes you feel energized and alive. Sunlight helps to reset your body’s circadian rhythm provides you with a healthy boost of vitamin D. In return, you sleep better and have more energy. To gain more natural light, try using sheer curtains instead of heavy materials. If you’re looking for a massive boost of sunlight, you can install additional windows or skylights throughout your property.

Indoor Plants

Houseplants make people happy and can naturally remove toxins from the air. They look beautiful and may spark a love for gardening you didn’t know existed. Begin with plants that are resilient to boost your confidence and add to your collection over time.

Take It Slow

Using these three tips, you can transform your home into a stress-free environment where you’re happy to spend time. Remember, it’s essential to take it at your own pace. By taking your time with each step, you can enjoy the process rather than adding to your anxiety. Even the most beautiful properties can seem stressful if the individual feels overwhelmed or unhappy. Use your redesigned clutter-free house as a safe space to decompress and prioritize self-care — you’ll have a new appreciation for your home and yourself.

Wedding Registry Etiquette For Couples

Most couples agree that creating a wedding registry is one of the more enjoyable parts of planning a wedding. You have the chance to select a few items that you want for your home, lifestyle, hobbies, or personal interests. For example, if you are setting up a new home as a couple, there are plenty of items your home would need, try first to check for crucial tips to take into consideration such as those mentioned in this newlywed’s guide to setting up the perfect home. It’s an opportunity to acquire things you may not have been able to afford. While you might feel like a kid in a candy store, there are some rules to consider when creating a registry. Continue reading to learn more.

Create Your Registry Early

It’s essential to give your guests as much time as possible to select and purchase a gift from your wedding registry. The longer you wait to provide the details, the more inconvenient it becomes for your friends and family. Some with tighter budgets may not be able to afford to get you a gift at all. Therefore, you want to start working on wedding registry ideas once you’ve gotten engaged or narrowed down a wedding date.

Don’t Add To Invitations

While wedding invitations serve as information cards for your guests, your registry is one detail you don’t want to add. Although your guests want to get you something to commemorate your special day, it’s considered impolite to add it to the invite. It’s like asking for a gift when instead gifts are gestures. Ideally, you should share your wedding registry details via phone calls, text messages, or emails. You can also inform guests at your engagement party.

Select More Than One Store

You may have your heart set on getting things from Macy’s, Bloomingdales, or Tiffany’s, but it’s imperative to select more than one store. As it is essential to consider your guests, you want to make things convenient. Selecting a high-end store puts a lot of pressure on family and friends that may be on a tight budget. However, some stores may just be located in an inconvenient destination. You want to ensure that your guests have options when it comes to price and accessibility. So, while there’s nothing wrong with a high-end retail shop, you should also add a nationwide department store or two, making it easier for guests to visit.

Be Mindful of Budgets

Couples need to be mindful of varying budgets when selecting various products to add to their wedding registry. Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a present. If you choose too many expensive things, you may find that you get a lot of gifts that aren’t on your registry. Ultimately, your friends and family will have to resort to buying something they think you want that they know they can afford. Therefore, ensure that you’ve chosen items that are reasonably priced.

Work As A Team

If there are any parts of the wedding planning process that both the bride and groom should do together, it’s the wedding registry. Whether you’re purchasing gifts for your new home, creating a wish list for your honeymoon, or buying things to participate in your favorite pastimes, you want to ensure you both have an opinion. While you may have to compromise at times, it’s all good practice for once you get married.

Schedule a time when you’re not distracted by other responsibilities and browse stores to find things you really want. Fortunately, most stores allow you to create wedding registries online, which means you can shop wherever and whenever convenient for you both. Grab some snacks, turn on some music, cuddle up in bed, and have fun browsing hundreds of stores.

Creating a wedding registry is a lot of fun, but it’s not all about you. As these are kind gestures from people who love you, it’s essential to keep their needs in mind. If your registry is too expensive, limited in options, or is inconvenient to travel to, your guests will have to go out of their way to get you something. Ultimately, the idea is to make things easy for everyone. As long as you follow the advice above, you’ll have your wedding registry marked off the checklist in no time.

The Effects of Sour Diesel CBD Hemp Flower

If you are a marijuana lover or are new and trying to find a suitable strain, then you should check out Sour Diesel. Its strong aroma and taste make it unique. It has buds that smell like sour gas and fill the air when touched.

It might not be perfect for everyone except you enjoy the smell from gas stations and prefer the smell of stale diesel rather than the fresh one. In this article, we will discuss some facts about Sour Diesel as well as its effects on users.

What is Sour Diesel CBD Hemp Flower?

Sour Diesel came to the limelight around early 1990 and it is a crossbreed of two strains – Super Skunk and Chemdawg. It is classified as a sativa marijuana strain. Like most similar strains, this crossbreed is used medically for relieving issues like stress, depression, and pain. The terpenes in the strain helps to promote these health benefits. You may want to check out Cheef Botanicals to see the terpene profile.

History of CBD Sour Diesel

We can’t for sure point out the exact origin of this hemp flower, but some persons say it was first grown in New York by a farmer named AJ in the early 90s. Others opine that it was found by a grower named Chem Dog who produced it from a combination of ChemDawg, Skunk, and Northern Lights.

Also, a few people are of the opinion that it is a combination of the above mixture (Skunk x Chemdawg x Northern Light) together with an unfamiliar strain. To date, this crossbreed has gained great recognition among the top cannabis in the world, East Coast particularly, as prices have soared higher over high demand.

Appearance and Aroma

This hybrid has a medium-sized bud with its colors ranging from dull green to yellow. Its petals glow in bright orange color and can’t be compared with any strain in its class. Although this hybrid may not be beautifully endowed like other CBD strains, you may find its true beauty in its aroma.

Sour Diesel possesses a very strong smell like that of gasoline blended with lemon. Breaking the buds introduces its pale pines thereby filling the air with its flavor. And when lit, it could be harsh and cause a cough.

Growth Process

Sour Diesel plant grows over 4.5 feet in height. Growing this plant is not really difficult and can be easily done within your house or outside. It requires a mid-humid climate and temperature which could vary from twenty to thirty degrees Celsius.

With its height, growers need to invest more effort in topping, training, as well as pruning the plant during the flowering period which is around 70 and 84 days. When planting indoors, it is advisable to keep a clean and dust-free environment. This helps in preventing dust from clinging to its flowers.

Effects of Sour Diesel Strain

There are several benefits of Sour Diesel strain. Its magical feel that would energize you in the daytime and its renowned cerebral effects is one to remember. It is also important to note that while we consider some health benefits of this beautiful strain, you need to consume it gradually. This is because forceful intake and overuse could result in paranoia as well as anxiety.

Medical Effects

Doctors usually recommend the strain to patients suffering from a mood disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and stress. This is as a result of its fast mood-boosting effects as well as its cerebral effects. Those also suffering from chronic fatigue can use it.

Sour Diesel provides soothing relief from minor pains and can produce a feeling of relaxation. When smoked, it serves as a useful distraction while producing a peaceful sensation. This strain might not provide such physical beauties as in typical indica strains but has its own unique health benefits.

You may want to visit https://www.healtheuropa.eu/health-benefits-of-cannabis/92499/ to read about the health benefits of cannabis.

Energizing Effects

Possessing great energy-giving effects, it is often recommended to poof a wrap of this special strain on those dull mornings. It could be the perfect thing you need to get you excited and ready for the day’s tasks.

Comparing indica strains to sativa Sour Diesel strain, the latter ranks higher on the energy chart. Its energy effect is so strong that you can consume it before carrying out a very strenuous task. This CBD strain creates a sharp sensation that stimulates your mental state thereby increasing creativity. It can also be helpful in generating ideas due to the higher level of mental alertness induced.

Negative Effects

Sour Diesel contains a high level of THC which could result in anxiety and paranoia when overused. You can start taking it in low doses and gradually find the ideal dose for that feeling you desire. Other minor effects include dry eyes/mouth, cough, and pale red eyes. You can click here to get more information about the side effects of hemp flowers.

Conclusion

Sour Diesel, a strain that became known in the early 90s, has found its way to the top among other cannabis. Its high energy generation makes it unique and a single puff can take you through the day. The benefits of this strain rule out much of its negativity. But taking too much of it can result in paranoia. Therefore, new users need to start consumption slowly until they can find a more suitable dose.

5 New Skills to Consider Learning in 2021

You might be wondering what you should learn to stay relevant in 2021 and the years to come. Although most things change or evolve, including technology, learning something new has its benefits.

The skills we’ll discuss below will benefit you. They’re skills that are both beneficial at work and generally will make your life better. The following are some of the skills you should ensure you acquire in 2021.

Digital Literacy

While learning computer coding and programming is vital for the future, other skills are already in high demand today. People who can create business ideas, manage companies, market products, among other obligations, are needed. However, everyone can benefit from some level of computer literacy. The following computer skills are beneficial to everyone in the modern era no matter what field they work in: learn keyboard shortcuts to speed up routine tasks, knowing how to use basic task management software, how to touch type, being aware of how to use video conferencing software, and managing your mailbox. These might seem like elementary skills, but they’ll make you more effective at work.

How to Play a Musical Instrument

People would think that this isn’t an essential skill, but it is. Even if you may never play it professionally, it might still have a lot of advantages. It’s not only challenging, but it’s also fun and relaxing. It will teach you a lot about how to learn and put new skills to practice. If you spend the whole day on your computer, learning an instrument makes you feel refreshingly disconnected. You remember that you’re a physical being who’s not only an abstract mind, but you also exist in space. Explore instruments you’d like to learn, be it electric guitars, woodwinds, piano, or anything else that makes you happy. YouTube is a great place to start for free before you can start paying for lessons.

File Your Own Taxes

Most people don’t know how to do their own taxes. You probably don’t know too unless you went to a specialized school. However, this is something fundamental that you must learn how to do. It’s critical to learn about what happens in the background of your tax preparation. Even if you hire an accountant, it will still be beneficial to know how to do your taxes. You’ll be able to choose a skilled accountant better. Taxes can be relatively complicated, especially if you own property or you’re self-employed. Learn about all the basic things you need to know about taxes; you can easily do it online.

How to Speak a New Language

You’re never too old to learn a new language. It doesn’t matter if you only did it in high school and college, you can learn a new language any time. Learn how to speak different languages fluently. It’s neither expensive nor will it take you a lot of time. Pick a useful language and one that you also feel a connection with. It can be a language spoken by your family, friends, or a language spoken in a country you like. You’ll stick to it more if you feel like you care about it.

Logic and Reasoning

When you have logical thinking, you’ll be able to make informed decisions and solve problems better. Most people lack logical thinking; it’s not something that’s entirely taught in school. Take your time and learn how you can start thinking more reasonably. You’ll be able to avoid a lot of discernment biases. You don’t need to become a robot, but rational thinking is instrumental.

How To Check If A Window Needs A Replacement Or Deep Cleaning?

Windows are essential parts of the home. Apart from being an integral part of the home’s ventilation, windows help to maintain the home’s internal temperature, keep the house cozy and comfortable. More importantly, they make the home energy-efficient.

All these benefits and more not only help to make your home better and grant you greater comfort, but also help to make your society better. For example, energy-efficiency reduces the amount of energy used in the home. This helps to create a better community while also helping you save some money off your energy bills.

From the above, we can deduce that windows are essential. It is imperative to keep windows in the best condition.

Hence, we will be taking a look at the things to look out for in windows to determine whether they need to be replaced or deep cleaned.

CONDITION OF THE GLASS

The window pane replacement is essential and play a crucial part in determining whether to replace a window or deep clean.

If the window panes show visible scratches, chips, cracks, or a full-blown hole, it would need to be replaced with a replacement window as soon as possible. These could be from objects thrown at the windows, stray baseballs, amongst others. It could also be as a result of harsh weather storms.

Irrespective of the cause, if the glass panes have an open hole in them, they need to be replaced as soon as possible to prevent sudden breakage.

Scratches could be as a result of using harsh cleaners and abrasive materials when cleaning windows. Too many scratches on the surfaces of glass windows can compromise the strength and durability of the panes. As a result, they also need to be replaced.

Suppose the condition of the glass is that it shows visible stains or has experienced color change. The first step would be to deep clean. Follow the steps below to deep clean your window.

Wash the glass panels, both the interior and exterior. You can make use of high-quality glass cleaners (I highly recommend the Glass and Mirror Cleaner Foam from Fab Glass and Mirror).
In the absence of one, you can make a DIY cleaning solution by mixing equal amounts of white vinegar and water. Pour the solution in a spray bottle.
Scrub the glass after spraying your glass cleaner or DIY solution on the glass surface with a soft cloth.
Clean afterward with a squeegee or non-abrasive cloth to dry the glass pane and keep it free from lint and water streaks.
Clean the window tracks using a vacuum and detail brush.
Clean your window blinds by dusting on them, wash any covering that you have on the windows.
Clean the window frame and sill with a cloth.

After a deep clean, if your window is restored to its newness and shine, then it appears all it needs is to be deeply cleaned.

If, after cleaning, the glass panes still show visible color stains and remain yellowish, then the window needs a replacement.

WINDOW FRAME CONDITION

Depending on your windows, the window frame could be made with wood, steel, or aluminum. Although these are all used, the most commonly used are wood and aluminum.

A common problem with wooden window frames is wood rot. Once you see visible signs of rotting around your glass panes and window frames, the entire window needs to be replaced. Rot is a result of exposure to moisture and water. As the window wears with age and the paint wears off, moisture gets in the wood, mold begins to form, and the rot starts.

Watch out for rot on the outer part of the frame that’s exposed to the weather. If the decay is still in the early stage, the rot spots could be repainted and patched. Repairing a rotting window frame can become more expensive. As a result, replacing might be the best option.

CHANGE OF THE WINDOW DESIGN

One of the valid reasons for a window replacement is the need to update your windows to align with current interior décor and style trends. For older homes, the materials and window design do not meet up with current trends.

New windows mean new designs and durable materials. The material used in window sash and frame over the years has evolved to become durable and sturdy. In the past, old homes made use of wood frames mostly whereas, in current trends, frames are made with fiberglass and vinyl.

These not only present you with prevailing window trends and styles, but they also provide you with durable and long-lasting windows that are energy efficient.

New window design is also an essential reason why a window needs to be replaced.

REPLACEMENT GLASS FOR A DIFFERENT FUNCTIONALITY

Glass windows serve different functions in the home. The three primary functions of installing windows in the house are:

To provide the home with natural light.
To make the home energy efficient.
To keep the home ventilated.

For one reason or the other, you may discover that the current windows in the home may not serve some specific functions that you would like them to. It may be that you want your windows to become more energy-efficient; this would require you to install insulated glass units.

The quest to make your home safe may prompt you to replace your standard window glass with tempered glass panels that are durable and shatter-resistant in the home.

As much as you would wish it, your current windows may not be able to serve such purposes in the capacity that you want them to. In such situations, the solution is to get window replacements to reflect the new functionalities that you want your windows to fulfill.

At some point, you may be concerned about adding beauty to the home with windows, over time, the interests can change to your windows, providing you with more privacy.

The windows need replacement to reflect the different functionalities,

Let’s Wrap Up

Windows are essential parts of the home, and attention should be paid to them as a result. All you may need to do is to deep-clean to clear the issues depending on the severity of the damage to your windows or to get window replacements.

Getting Married with Children? Here’s What You Need to Know

Getting married is a tricky business requiring the soberest of considerations and the most delicate of care. It is a lifetime commitment that ends up being so for only about half of the people who attempt it. There is no real data on how happy the other half really is in that commitment. We all know people who have kept their marriage together because of external pressures when they likely would have been much happier splitting up. Staying together through gritted teeth is not exactly the portrait of a happy marriage.

Add pre-existing children to the mix, and you have made a complicated arrangement fraught with dangers even more fraught. The whole idea of dating becomes twice as challenging. Exactly when is the right time to introduce the children to the person you are dating? When do you trust that person to be alone with your children unsupervised? If the kids are a little older, how much should their opinion be weighed into your overall decision? Getting married with children is a daunting task, especially if you want your marriage to survive happily ever after. Here are a few more things to consider before tying that multifaceted knot:

Engagement Is a Promise to the Whole Family

When you are engaged to be married, you are making a commitment to a person. When that person has children, you are making an even bigger commitment. The engagement rings selected for a commitment with children should reflect that bigger commitment you are making.

An expensive ring is an announcement to the community that you have the resources to make good on your promise. When children are involved, you are making an even bigger financial promise. Children are expensive with or without a partner. You have to be prepared for that financial responsibility out of the gate.

Loving your partner is not enough. You also have to love the kids as if they are your own. If you cannot do that, you are not ready for the commitment you are making when marrying a person with children. If you are unsure about your partner’s commitment to your children, you should not accept the engagement until you’re sure.

Your Family Values Have to Be Aligned

It is possible for you to marry someone with whom you disagree on a variety of secondary issues. But this is not just about you anymore. It is also about your kids. Compromise on your values all you like. But you are responsible for the values taught to your kids.

If you believe in living a sustainable lifestyle, you can’t exactly marry someone who holds green initiatives in disdain. That person will be teaching your kids. That is an entirely different level of disagreement. You might be able to tolerate religious differences. But do you really want your kids brought up in a way you find religiously offensive?

Even if that wasn’t an issue, your kids would see mommy and daddy at odds all the time. That is confusing and frightening. It is even worse when you tell them one thing while your partner tells them the opposite. You need to make sure your values are aligned before taking the leap.

Both the Kids and the Marriage Come First

It is a false dichotomy to pit the kids against the marriage to see which comes first. The instinct is to sacrifice all else for the kids. But if that is your frame of mind, you probably shouldn’t get married at all. You are doing your kids no favors by subordinating your marriage for their affection. You are sending the message that one can be married or have kids and be happy, but not both. You will ultimately be setting your kids up for bad marriages.

Instead, model to the kids what a healthy and loving relationship between two people should look like. Don’t turn the kids into entitled little monsters who don’t know how to be emotionally available to someone else. Model a good marriage, and you will be doing more for your kids than if you focused exclusively on the kids.

Getting married with children already on board is a difficult road to travel. And while it will seldom be easy, it will be possible if you understand the commitment is bigger. The values have to be aligned. And you have to be as committed to the marriage as you are to the kids.

This Is the Protective Clothing You Should Probably Take More Seriously

For many, clothing is a lifestyle statement. It is about fashion, culture, and personal expression. It is less about fit and more about fitting in. Many considerations go into buying a new article of clothing. One of the least of those considerations is whether or not the item of clothing is actually needed. A closet full of clothing that you only have worn once, if at all, has become a right of passage in some circles.

It is probably a reactionary response to a time when a person was lucky to have one dress or one suit that was worn and patched and altered to within an inch of its life. A new piece of clothing was truly a big deal. It became a symbol of poverty that one had to wear the same clothes for long periods of time. The opposite of that is to wear them less often. It has gotten to the point where people don’t even bother removing the tags from new clothes that have been in their closet of shame for years.

Perhaps the least of the reasons we buy clothes is protection. Here is a look at some of the garments that keep us safe, and why they should move up on the list of priorities:

Work Boots

Very few people buy work boots as fashion statements. If they are not dirty and a bit on the ugly side, you’re not doing it right. A work shoe is for protection. In particular, comfortable steel toe boots are designed to keep your feet from being damaged in the event of a heavy object falling on your toes. These boots also have to be comfortable for standing and doing heavy labor on your feet all day.

Protective shoes are not just for men and women on construction sites. If you do a lot of DIY type work around the house or office, or do a lot of work on your vehicle, or just find yourself helping people move, you should have a pair of protective shoes. If they also happen to look nice, consider it a bonus, not a must.

Hats

There is a lot to know about American hats. There was a time when a man was not considered dressed until he put on his hat. Being out and about without a hat would have appeared indecent. Women also had deep cultural reasons for wearing and owning many hats. But the best reason to wear a hat today is for protection.

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer and is the one most easily prevented. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and large sunglasses when the sun is particularly bright. You will also help protect your vision while protecting your face and upper-body. These types of hats and sunglasses are seldom the most fashionable. But they can save you from poor vision and skin cancer. As we head into Spring, it is time to reassess your hat collection.

Gloves

In many circles, gloves are still a fashion statement, Michael Jackson didn’t wear that single glove to keep his hand warm. Thin, decorative gloves are also a part of ladies’ formal wear. But those gloves are hardly meaningful protection against the rigors of hard work.

Try gardening without gloves. You can’t do it well. Many use driving gloves to improve grip and to protect their hands from a hot string wheel. If you work in a stock room or warehouse where lifting is required, you need gloves to protect yourself from tears and blisters.

Socks

One of the most overlooked pieces of protective clothing is the humble sock. It keeps your feet padded and safe from blisters. But the biggest sock innovation is moisture-wicking. Sweaty feet are not only malodorous, but become the breeding ground for fungus, blisters, and possible infection. If you have never thought much about the protective power of socks, empty your sock draw and fill it with socks that are worthy of respect.

Don’t just buy clothes because they’re in the sale. And give extra consideration to the ones that protect your feet, your skin, and your hands. Fashionable clothes are seldom worth the money. But protective clothes usually are.

5 Things to Look for in a New Apartment

Moving is hard. It is not fun. And it is always expensive. Despite these facts, people move, on average, a double-digit number of times throughout their life. Some occasions are understandable such as moving from home into a university campus dorm. If things don’t work out as expected, they will move back home. There is the first home of a couple. Later in life, one might sell the first home and move into something smaller after the kids leave for good. That is already a lot of moves. But it doesn’t even account for a third of what actually happens in real life.

Demand for apartments is soaring among millennials. That contributes to the amount of moving house we do. There was a time when home-ownership was inextricably linked to the American dream. Now, many Americans are giving that dream a hard pass in favor of lower rent and less commitment to a single location.

The onset of the coronavirus has caused a lot of us to consider relocating. If you are among that group looking for greener pastures, here are a few things to have on the list:

A Landlord with Whom You Can Reason

On-site management is almost always a plus. However, that is pretty rare in many parts of the country. You want a sense that there is a human you can work with as opposed to an answering service or email address.

Can you negotiate apartment rent in the place you are considering? If it is a human-centric company, you can. An apartment rental is a real estate deal like any other. The terms are not nearly as fixed as you have been led to believe. Better deals are often available with longer leases. You just have to be dealing with real people and not merely corporate drones.

If you can’t have a reasonable conversation about the apartment with management before you move in, how likely do you think it will be for you to have a conversation about issues after you move in? Be careful when renting an apartment entirely online. If you can’t reach someone in the rental process, forget about good service once you have paid the deposit.

Outdoor Spaces

One of the main features of an apartment is what is on the outside. An apartment near a park is more valuable than one without access to safe, outdoor spaces. We all have to find ways to get outdoors more often. Where you live can help. While evaluating the outside, check for sidewalks and nearby shopping in safe and easy walking distance.

Check out the Weekend NightLife

Most apartments are nice and quiet during the day. People are at work and the poorly behaved are under the scrutiny of the on-site management. So before signing on the dotted line, drive through the community at night and on the weekends when more people are home. Often, that is when the loud music starts and the bickering neighbors start shouting, and the true character of the community is revealed. If it passes the weekend night test, it might be a keeper.

Bugs

When you tour the apartment, there should be no bugs in sight. Open the cabinets. Look for droppings. If the complex has a bug problem, they can’t really hide it very well. Sometimes, it is not really about how well you clean. It is about where you live. They might be in the walls and the pipes. If you see signs of insects when they are doing their best to hide the problem, you don’t want to live there.

Security

Where are the packages dropped off? There should be a protected space for all those Amazon deliveries. Is the parking lot well lit? Even if you don’t have kids, would you feel safe having a child playing outside or walking home from school in that neighborhood? If not, then it is not secure enough for you, either.

When it comes to your next address, don’t settle. Only rent an apartment with real people as managers, that have usable outdoor spaces, that are also peaceful at night and on the weekends, that is free of bugs, and is secure enough for children, even if you don’t have any.

Five Ways to Get Rid of Rodents

When you have a rodent infestation, it can’t be difficult to get rid of them. This is because they are small, crafty, and often invisible. If you have seen one rodent in your house, there are probably others. While there are a variety of methods to get rodents out of your home, you should use them all together to tackle the problem. If you don’t utilize everything at your disposal, you will have a difficult time getting rid of the mice and rats in your home. Read below to find five methods that will help you get rodents out of the house.

Buy Traps

It may sound cruel, but you have to buy traps if you want to get rid of the rodents in your home. It’s absolutely necessary to buy quite a few traps to put around the house. You should place them facing the walls so that when the rodents get trapped when they are climbing the walls. Unfortunately, you need to get rid of the rodents that are already in your house and the only way to do that is to trap and kill them.

Clean Your Home

Another very important thing to do when you are dealing with a rodent problem is to keep your home clean. While cleaning up your place won’t get rid of mice and rats, it won’t attract them. If you are getting rid of the rodents with traps, it is vital to keep your home clean. This means that you should wipe down your counters and don’t leave food out. Make sure to clean up crumbs and keep your garbage covered. When there is nothing for them to eat, rats and mice won’t be attracted to dwelling in your home.

Mind the Areas You Don’t Always Mind

In addition to paying attention to your kitchen, you should also remember to declutter and clean the places of your home that you don’t always pay attention to. For example, you should get rid of any leaves and branches outside. These can be used as a method for the rodents to make a home or burrow to hide. You should also look into rodent proofing. This method is when professionals go up into your attic and clean it up in a specific way. They can essentially make your attic rodent-proof by creating an environment that isn’t suited to rodents.

Get a Cat

It might sound silly, but buying a cat is a great way to keep rodents out of the house. Cats are natural rodent hunters. They have the killer instinct to hunt rats and mice. They do it more for sport than anything. Getting a house cat is a great way to get rid of a rodent problem and keep them out because you’ll have a natural mouse trap. When it comes to rodents, you can find a great way to kill the ones living in your home with a cat.

Use Bait Stations

Bait packages, otherwise known as bait stations should be used to get rats to come to your traps. These are sealed packets containing pellets or meals. While they come in plastic or cellophane, allowing the mice to gnaw through them. But these bait stations have chemicals that kill the rodent. These stations are best handled by professionals who can help keep you and your family safe because they are toxic.

While each of these methods to control your rodent infestation are important, if you are already struggling with the problem you will need to use them in tandem. When you have rats or mice in the house, you will need to work hard to get rid of them.

It’s not easy, but if you buy traps and bait stations while cleaning the inside and outside of your home you will be able to overcome this issue. You can also buy a cat, which will help kill rodents. However, you look at it, utilizing these tools to get rid of rodents will help you be done with this for good. If you have already seen a rat or mouse in your house, it is time to get started because you probably have more than one.