Americans like to break records. Unfortunately, we’ve been breaking stress-related records lately. In 2017, the American Psychological Association found that people’s reported stress levels had gone up significantly from the prior year. Something must be going on. People are working hard and trying to make enough money to get by, but the cost of living makes it hard to keep up. You don’t have time to get stressed out by things that should be easy. Those things include figuring out the best ways to decorate your home. Here are some tips on finding home decor without increasing your blood pressure.

Don’t feel pressured to meet a ridiculous standard

If you’ve ever read a celebrity magazine, you’ve probably seen a future about a celebrity showing off a palatial estate on the beaches of California. That’s nice to look at, but it doesn’t mean you have to try to imitate that celebrity. In general, you shouldn’t try to model either your diet or your home after a celebrity. Both of those standards are unrealistic and, in some cases, unhealthy.

Celebrities are famous for a living. Sure, they work hard at jobs such as acting and singing, but a big part of their personal brand involves looking a certain way. They can pay interior designers six figures to tell them that they should buy throw pillows that cost $1,000 each. You wouldn’t do that. Even if you could, you likely wouldn’t want to.

Focus on simple home decor that brightens up your house and gives off a welcoming vibe. Photos of you and your loved ones are a great way to do that. If framed photos are a bit too ordinary for you, head to a site like Simple Canvas Prints and get that photo printed on an elegant canvas. It will look a lot more expensive than it actually is, and that’s always a plus.

Look for home decor online

Some people love shopping. For others, though, it can be a real act of emotional labor. You may have heard of emotional labor as something that tends to disproportionately affect the female partner in heterosexual relationships. But it can be exhausting regardless of whether you’re married, single, or somewhere in between.

Shopping for clothes and groceries is one thing, but shopping for decor that fits with your home can feel even more intense. If you see a lamp or other appliance that you like, you have to wonder whether it will fit into your car. Then you have to make sure that it matches your home, and that can be hard to do unless you have a photographic memory.

When you shop online, you can look around your home and be sure the colors will complement each other instead of clashing. Even better, you don’t have to worry about stuffing it in your trunk and hauling it all the way from the car to your front door (or farther, depending on where the item is going in your house).

Make it personal

Sure, photos of flowers and landscapes are traditional home decor, but you should feel free to mix it up and make things more personal. You want your home to feel like it belongs to you. It shouldn’t resemble a random hotel room in the Midwest.

Your career or interests can guide you to decor that feels more like a statement than just something random you found on sale. For instance, maybe you’ve long been interested in the legal field, and now you’re finally going back to school and getting an online criminal justice degree. Why not find artwork that represents Lady Justice? If that’s too far out, fill your bookshelf with true crime books. Thinking of what you’re passionate about will make decorating your home feel much more natural.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

People of any age can enjoy bicycling as a hobby. There is something thrilling about purchasing the best e bike and taking it for a spin around town. However, there are plenty of bicycles for seniors to help people over the age of 60 stay active in their golden years. Not only is a lot of fun for seniors to get out in nature, but it provides a host of health benefits that will let you enjoy life to the fullest for years to come.

Boost in Brain Power

Exercise of any kind has been linked to brain health. People who exercise regularly typically see a reduction in negative cognitive changes that can lead to dementia later on. Cyclists get in a lot of physical activity during a ride with blood flow toward the brain increasing by as much as 28%. It can even increase. Up to 70% to certain areas of the brain. Riding for 45 minutes four days a week can do a lot of good in helping seniors stay sharp and focused.

Gain Spatial Awareness

Even with comfort bikes, you can enjoy the health benefits of bicycles. There are numerous technical elements associated with cycling, such as cornering, descending and climbing. To master each one, you have to gain excellent spatial awareness. You know exactly what is going on around you, and you can expertly dodge anything out of the ordinary that comes up in your path. Seniors can bring these new skills into their everyday lives and react accordingly to stay better prepared at all times.

Strengthen Immune System

Any kind of exercise will help boost your immune system. Even mild exercise can boost your body’s production of necessary proteins, and it strengthens white blood cells. If you decide to bike to work, then you will also avoid germs you may find on trains and buses. Your immune system will lower when you are exercising at the moment. With adequate sleep and rest, your immune system will go back to normal, and it will be even better than it was before.

Increase Your Circle of Friends 

Cycling is one of the most sociable sports out there. You can find groups to join where you all ride a few days a week. You can search for cycling groups in your city to find one that specifically focuses on senior citizens. You do not have to go on intense bike rides either. You can spend a few hours of your Sunday morning going for a leisurely ride at a slow enough speed to talk to your fellow riders. As you get older, it is still critical to maintain friendships. Having a large support circle will keep you feeling youthful and vibrant for quite a long time.

Bicycling is not just for young people anymore. No matter how old you are, you can enjoy the benefits of riding your bike along trails in your city. It all starts with finding the right bicycle to own, and fortunately, you can find a wide array of products online. With the right store’s help, you can find the perfect bike for your needs.

 

Back to school can be both exciting and stressful for college students. While you get used to your new course load, you’ll spend time with friends and set up a new routine. And as your calendar fills up, be sure to make time for health and wellness. It can be tricky to stay healthy while your schedule is packed, so feeling your best can take some extra attention.

Here are some basic tips for prioritizing your physical, emotional, and mental health during college. Whether you’re a new freshman or expert senior, focusing on your health can help you thrive during these formative years.

DO create a routine.

Your college schedule is packed with classes, study sessions, activities, and social time. When you’re this busy, making time to exercise, plan meals, and care for your mental health can be tricky. This is especially true if your days aren’t organized. By creating a daily routine, you can make wellness a regular part of your schedule. For example, you might go to the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the same time each week, or spend Sunday afternoons preparing healthy snacks. Eventually, your routine will feel like second nature, and you won’t have to give wellness much thought.

DON’T overlook the importance of sleep.

It may seem like college is all about all-nighters and late-night study groups. But this doesn’t need to be true. Sleep is an essential part of your health. When you’re well-rested, you can focus in class and even perform better on exams. If your friends or roommates are night owls, try to avoid synching to their habits. Establish your own nighttime routine and set boundaries when necessary.

DO make better choices in the dining hall.

The dining hall offers basically any food that you can dream of. And while it may feel like a victory to finally be able to eat pizza every night for dinner, this habit won’t benefit your health. You can support your wellness and feel your best by making healthier choices in the dining hall. Try to fill your plate with vegetables and protein, while avoiding processed items. Get creative at your school’s salad bar and try out some fun soups. If you’re concerned about your nutritional intake during college, talk to your doctor about taking vitamins from trusted supplement manufacturers as well.

DON’T go to class sick.

When you’re feeling the pressure from your professors, staying home sick might feel impossible. However, pushing yourself through a cold or the flu can prolong your sickness. If you’re ill, try to stay home and rest. You should also visit the on-campus clinic to get a diagnosis from a doctor if you think you have an illness worse than a common cold. Most professors have a policy for sick days, so be sure to ask or check your syllabus. You can catch up on material once you feel better, and your classmates will thank you for not spreading germs.

DO make time for self-care.

As you focus on your classes, activities, and social life, it’s easy to feel burnt out. You need to take time to recharge on your own and take care of yourself during college. This could mean reading outdoors between classes or getting coffee with a friend. It could also mean staying home to watch TV while your classmates head to the liquor store or a party. Setting boundaries will help you recharge, so you can handle your busy schedule with ease.

College are some of the most vibrant and busy years of your life, so it can be easy to get caught up in the day to day. However, by slowing down and caring for your health, you can thrive during this time rather than drag. As with most aspects of college, your wellness routine is unique to you. So, forget what others are doing and try out routines that work for you.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Being in a long-distance relationship has its ups and downs, and when it comes to your partner’s birthday, trying to give them a meaningful gift when you can’t be with them can be hard. You don’t want to lose that personal touch that shows you care, but don’t worry! It’s easy to make your loved one feel special even if you can’t be there in person. Here are our favorite 3 birthday gift ideas for long-distance relationships.

Switch Up Your Card

Of course, every gift needs a card, but what can you find that is a little bit different to the everyday, mundane, store-bought card? Well, there are plenty of options – birthday certificates are a little bit unique and are a lot easier to personalize than birthday cards, as you can add different pictures, patterns, text and messages to suit you best. They come in all sorts of styles and can be anything from lovey-dovey to hilarious – whatever you think is best for your partner! You could even go one further and personalize it by adding photos of the two of you, giving you something adorable, heartfelt and cute, too.

Custom Music Box

This is a great, personal gift for anyone of any taste, and if you’re looking for something really special, a custom music box is perfect. Sites like Etsy offer a service in which you can choose an engraving for the lid of the box (your partner’s name, a cute quote or an anniversary date) as well as the tune that plays when open. If you have a song that’s “your song” or just want to remind your partner how much you love them, it’s a really unique and thoughtful gift that is bound to put a smile on their face. You can even fill the box with gifts or little objects – maybe little things that remind them of you, photos, messages, small comforts. It’s very versatile and can be personalized down to the last detail.

Long-Distance Lamps

Something a bit different is to get you and your partner a long-distance lamp each. These are genius – you keep one and send the other to your partner. Not only is it a lovely addition to their room and perfect for reminding them of you, but you can also communicate with it. If you touch your lamp, theirs will light up and vice versa. There are many that come in lots of different colors, so you can personalize it to their favorite. Some even have an inbuilt speaker that allows you to send songs to your partner, whether that’s a love song to show that you’re thinking about them, a happy song to cheer them up or a song you can both dance to together. It’s great for connecting the two of you in a unique way, making it easier to be apart until the next time you meet.

These are just 3 of our favorites, but there are plenty more out there! Remember that whatever you decide to get, what makes it special is you and the thought you put into it, and your partner is sure to love it because of that alone!

 

Your dog seemed to be making excellent progress in their training – so why aren’t they responding to commands now? The following article discusses the reasons why your dog has stopped obeying your directions.

It’s always exciting when your pup starts responding positively to their training. A once unruly puppy is now sitting, staying, heeling, and returning to their bed with a single, firm command! However, after a few months, you’re noticing that they are not exactly as enthusiastic about following your directions. Are they just forgetting? What’s going on? Why didn’t the training stick?

You’re expecting your dog to work for free.

It’s actually fairly simple – you stopped providing behavior incentives. You praise your dog all the time! What you stopped doing is giving them the treats they really, really love in exchange for their service. So – why should your dog sit if you’re not paying them? How often would you go into work if all you got in return was a pat on the back?

You’ve devalued their reward.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, if you give your dog treats every day just for being cute, they’ll stop working for them. If you haven’t been giving your dog treats strategically, they’ll stop thinking of them as “treats,” and start thinking of them as “tasty things I get no matter what.” To use the work analogy again – if you got a salary from an organization regardless of whether you did any work or not, you probably wouldn’t feel particularly compelled to put in the hours.

Naturally, you want your dog to feel loved – it’s perfectly understandable that you want them to be happy. Nevertheless, if you demonstrate your affection by giving them daily treats without having to do anything in return, they’ll feel entitled to them without any effort on your dog’s part, and you’ve effectively derailed their training.

If you want your dog to yield to your direction, they need something they value in exchange. Only give them the most loved treats when they respond to your commands positively. Once you get back on the reward – or “payment” – track, you’ll be surprised by how quickly they remember their training!

Did you know…

A wide variety of canine medical conditions can be addressed and controlled through nutritional intervention. A few highly nutritious dog food brands that have specific formulas for different breeds, ages, and health needs include Castor & Pollux, Nutrish, and Zignature dog food. DCM, obesity, pancreatitis, and diabetes can all be managed with the proper diet and exercise programs.

Join the discussion on this topic with Family Ever After by visiting our contact page.

Your sister is not only your friend but your best secret keeper too. Every little happening of your life is known to her. From your first proposal to your first love, she knows everything about you and it doesn’t end here. She is the genie of your life who has a solution to all your problems. From finding a hair band matching your outfit to dealing with break-up, she has been there for you all along.

You sister’s birthday is just around the corner and she definitely deserves something special. You can always gift her something and made her day but what else you can do to make this day memorable for her. Here are a few ideas that you could follow to make her realize that even she has the best sister in the world.

• Take Her Shopping In C.P

Yes, it might be one of the most famous food venture spots but you cannot deny that it has some of the best things for a fashionista out there. If your sister loves a good outfit of the day, take her shopping at Connaught Place and make her day a special one.

• Midnight Cake Delivery

Yes, why not to start the celebrations a little early? Order a scrumptious cake in her favorite flavour or opt for a designer cake. Go for midnight cake delivery in Delhi by Bakingo. They have a wide assortment of flavours from classic chocolate to exotic orange. Choose any one and thank us later. She will be delighted with such a sweet gesture.

• Dance The Night Away

Head to Kitty Su at Connaught Place and start the day while tapping your feet to the sound of renowned international electronic music artists. Open till 3 A.M, this dance venue will make the night memorable for her and her friends. It has been named Delhi’s best night club since 2011 and it’s the best way to start your sister’s birthday who loves dancing.

• Take Her Out Of City

Start early and head to Lansdowne, a pretty hill station which is just 190 kilometers away from the noisy city. Make it a family trip and enjoy pristine Himalayan beauty with poetic silence and oak and pine forest and trust us, she will never forget this birthday in her lifetime.

• Dinner At Murthal

Comprising of some high end Dhabas with delicious food at affordable rates, this one will not let you down for sure. You may have been there before but all dressed up on her birthday will make her feel different this time. You can also enjoy the fold music and dance on the beats and clicks loads of pictures to make it a night to remember.

• The PaintBall Co

If she loves adventures then this one will make her high without any alcohol. The paintball war at The Paintball Co will make her thrilled at the rush and she will enjoy her heart out. This will be different from usual movies and mall and she will remember this birthday forever.

 

The Costa Blanca is famous for its beautiful beaches and scenery. However, one town really has everything you could want. Moraira combines access to some of the cleanest beaches and best scenery with an excellent array of leisure activities. It is one of the best places to retire to in Spain and attracts a lot of Spanish tourists. As a town that is popular with the natives, it is one of the best places to go to for the entertainment of a bigger tourist draw that still keeps its authentic feel.

Moraira is a relatively small town. However, its facilities are second to none. No matter what type of life you’re looking for in Spain you can find it here. The nightlife might be secondary, but with Benidorm just down the road that won’t be much of a problem.

The Village Life in Moraira

Many people are looking for an authentic lifestyle in the Costa Blanca. Moraira manages to give you this without having to sacrifice any of the luxuries that come with a bigger locale. The town has grown out of a small fishing community. This has given it a vibrant scene of great authentic food. There are eight Michelin recommended restaurants in the area, no small feat for such a small place.

While it caters to foreign visitors, the Spanish charm of the town is definitely still intact. It is easy to blend into the idyllic life. The centre is made up of traditionally Spanish looking architecture. This is home to a weekly Friday market, where you can purchase local produce and some of the freshest ingredients available. With this on offer, you don’t want to have to go out to eat great food.

Activities in Moraira

Moraira is home to a Yacht Club that facilitates anyone with an interest in seafaring to take up the hobby. This is the remnants of its fishery past. However, taking some time to head out into the clear seas is a great way to spend your time in Moraira.

There are clubs in the area for you to play tennis, football, squash, water sports and even horse riding. This is along with go-kart racing for children and adults, and even a fairground! If all of that sounds a little too flashy for you, you might enjoy the three golf courses that are just outside of Moraira.

Scenery

While days out and activities are a lot of fun, sometimes you just want to relax in nature. Moraira is home to Blue Flag beaches, which promise you the cleanest beaches. The wildlife and countryside just outside of the town are equally enjoyable. It is situated in a mountainous region, so anyone who feels up to a hike will be in luck.

These amazing properties for sale in Moraira can give you access to all of the leisure activities in the town. With the area being such a popular spot for Spanish tourists and retirees, it can be hard to actually find property for sale in Moraira. Whether you’re after days out, great beaches or beautiful scenery, property for sale in Moraira can give you all of it.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Unfortunately, loss is a very sad part of life. It affects everyone, however, you can never quite prepare yourself for losing a loved one even if it is expected. There is no quick fix to bereavement, and learning to accept what you’ve lost is a long, painful, and arduous journey but it does become easier with time, and with the more coping strategies you feel ready to adopt. Accept help where you feel you need it, but also reject it if where you don’t. This is your grieving process, and you will grieve in such a way that is most appropriate and helpful for you.

Celebrate Their Life

Losing someone is the worst feeling and it’s very easy to focus on who you’ve lost and what you’ll never get back. However, it’s also crucial to remind yourself of all the happy memories you and your loved one shared, how happy they made you and how they lived their life. Understand that they were adored by their family and how they’re now at peace.

Getting funeral preparations underway might be something far from your mind right now, but they do need to get sorted. Invite your family to assist you in getting things prepared, so decide upon the venue, their place of rest, the range of headstone prices, the wake, and the speeches for example. Push on with these plans as pragmatically as you can so that you can then relax and think about when you can visit them peacefully in the future.

Don’t Be Afraid To Say No

If you’re not yet ready to begin meeting up with friends, and falling back into your day-by-day week-by-week routine then don’t be afraid to politely excuse yourself from plans and explain that you’re not yet up to it. You will be grateful for plans and distraction when the time comes, but if that’s not yet now, then don’t feel guilty about not attending events.

Don’t Put Pressure On Yourself

Quickly accept that grief can have a very different effect on different people. There is no one way to grieve, and no right or wrong way. Grief is personal, and you will find your own ways to try and cope with losing a loved one. There is no one size fits all, and grieving will be a journey to acceptance, understanding, and learning. You may not ever fully “recover” after losing someone, however coping mechanisms allow you to get on with the rest of your life in such a way that makes day-to-day life easier and manageable.

Don’t put pressure on yourself to get back to work too quickly, to agree to see people, or even to be “over” the death of someone. Accept that you’ll feel better when you feel better, so resist the urge to stay constantly busy.

Keep Some Routine

Bereavement can make you feel terribly alone and isolated, and although it’s crucial to know that you have a large network of people around you who love and care for you, you might not feel up to getting back into your usual routine, and that’s fine.

If you’re at home or not quite able to venture far from home, then remember to stick to some sort of healthy routine to ensure that you’re eating well, drinking enough fresh water, getting an adequate night’s sleep and interacting with others (you can start in small doses if you’re not feeling ready to socialize).

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Whether you agree or not, often in savoring the fun of wedding ceremonies, we forget to include our little tots in the celebration. Like adults, kids to eagerly want to be part of all wedding ceremonies and especially the Mehndi ceremony.

Mehndi ceremony is one such ceremony which is not only loved by women but the people of all age groups. The intriguing Mehndi designs fascinate the kids like nothing else and evoke the curiosity in them to have same Mehndi designs on their cute little hands.

One of the key reasons why parents allow the kids to have Mehndi on their hands is because Henna Mehndi is harmless and it also keeps the kids engaged throughout the ceremony. Not every Mehndi design will resonate with the little hands of kids. There are some simple and adorable Mehndi patterns that are quite apt for kids to have. Ask your Mehndi artist in faridabad to put their creativity to test and produce some beautiful Mehndi patterns on your kid’s hands.

Here, we have compiled the cutest and simplest Mehandi designs for kids that your little wonder would love to have. We bet these Mehndi designs can bring a huge smile on their face.

1. Glitter Mehndi Designs for Kids

Nothing captivates the attention of kids more than colorful objects. And what would be more intriguing for them than the perfect combination of intricate Mehndi patterns with glitters in between?

Tell your Mehndi artist to create numerous Mehndi patterns on top of the hand and on fingers and fill varied color glitters inside those patterns.

2. Cartoon Characters Mehndi Designs for Kids

Remember your childhood days when you used to stop doing everything whenever your favorite cartoon show run on the T.V? Kids are die-hard fans of cartoon characters. They not only imitate the cartoon characters but also idealize them. A beautifully produced cartoon Mehndi design of your kid favorite cartoon character will surely make him excited and fill him with immense delight.

Ask your Mehndi artist to add some quirk factor when producing the cartoon Mehndi design.

4. Flower Mehndi Designs for Kids

Flower Mehndi design is one of those rare Mehndi designs which is loved by all age group. The stunning and intricate flower patterns produced on the palm look gorgeous and stylish at the same time.

Ask your kid about his/her favorite flower and tell the Mehndi artist to produce the same on his/her hands. You can give various twists to the Mehndi design by adding motif patterns near the edges of the design. Yes, Your kids will love them for sure.

5. Heart Shape Mehndi Designs for Kids

This heart shape Mehndi design is perhaps the best Mehndi design for kids of age up to 7-8 years. Create a big heart on the center of the Palm and fill up that by creating numerous small hearts in between. If possible, ask your Mehndi artist to use different color glitters to fill up the hearts and render the design a full-fledged appearance.

6. Mehndi Cum Tattoo Design for Kids

We still remember the days when we used to buy chewing gum for the sake of getting a tattoo and put it on the hand. Kids are quite fond of colorful tattoos on hands. But those tattoos are quite harmful to their skin. Don’t worry, you still can fulfil your kid’s wish by asking the Mehndi artist to produce a tattoo style Mehndi design on his hands.

To make the design more fun for your kid, make sure to write the kid’s name in between the design and give him one more reason to become happy!

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

The curriculum may be one, but students are different and unique. Not all students learn the same way. Some prefer verbal education, while others prefer reading books on their own. Unfortunately, not all educators realize this, especially professors with traditionalist points of view. However, the academic assistants at Weeklyessay.com do all so well, and they have some advice to share.

1. Students Learn Differently

There are several learning styles: visual, auditory, logical, interpersonal, verbal, and kinaesthetic. Some students prefer one over the others. One student may not be capable of concentrating much on written words and prefer having a teacher dictate while another would prefer to be alone with a book on the subject matter.

Educators should understand that students learn differently and equip their classes with all the components needed to support each learning style.

1. Failure is Not Always Failure

The current grading system is overly generalized. Grades have become inflated, and this has intimidated many students. A student may excel in one aspect but fail in another. However, the current grading system cannot measure each student’s strengths and weaknesses across the whole spectrum.

To know whether indeed a student is a failure, the educator has to observe him/her closely. What’s more, failure in the grading system should not always be frowned upon – it should instead be used to come up with a more effective teaching strategy.

1. Background Matters

A student’s background shapes not only his/her life but also learning capabilities. For instance, a foreign student without a good grasp of the native language will have difficulty learning. A student from a broken home will also have difficulty concentrating or relating well with educators and peers.

This is why educators should take some time to learn about their students’ backgrounds. Students with disturbing backgrounds should get help to settle their minds and help them catch up with their peers.

1. Introverts are Misunderstood

A significant percentage of people in the world are introverts. They prefer to keep to themselves and mostly stay silent in a world that just can’t seem to shut up. Introvert students are misunderstood. They don’t like being involved in group work, they don’t raise their hands as often, and they don’t smile or contribute much. This, however, doesn’t mean that they are not learning.

Educators should understand this about introvert students and change their attitudes towards them. However, don’t confuse introversion for depression.

1. Space Matters

Most public schools are grappling with a shortage of resources such as space. This is bad for their creative and innovative capacities. The perception of free space allows students to unlock the right side of their brain, which is associated with creativity and understanding. In addition to being spacious, classrooms should also be vibrant and serene.

1. Teaching is Also a Learning Strategy

One of the reasons why teachers are so good at their subjects is because they teach. It is their responsibility to pass knowledge on to their students, and they try not to make mistakes that can corrupt the knowledge. Students feel the same way when tasked with teaching.

Teaching has been proven as one of the best ways to learn. This is why teachers should adopt more peer-teaching and presentation classes.

1. Technology is Changing Things

Technology is revolutionizing the education industry. It has opened the floodgates of education, and it has never been easier to access academic journals and learning materials. Developers have also been coming up with new applications and software that make it easier for students with learning difficulties to learn. As such, it may be prudent to integrate technology into your teaching strategy.

Students learn differently, but the current education system does not recognize this. It is time that educators began rethinking their teaching strategies so that each student learns optimally. These seven insights should be a good starting point.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.