Why Travel is Such a Great Teacher for Kids

Vacations can be whatever you want them to be. They are not, by definition, where you go to lounge on a beach and work on your tan. They can be adventurous and daring, relaxing and rejuvenating, or a mixture of anything and everything. A vacation is an escape from your daily life in any way you deem fit. What a vacation isn’t often seen as, however, is a learning opportunity. Sure, you go on a trip to enjoy new experiences, but with a little tweaking, you can take the natural learning benefits of travel and do so much more for your kids.

There are many reasons why travel is such a great teacher, and with a few extra steps, there are many ways that it can be even better.

Why Travel is Such a Great Teacher

Exploring and seeing the world is a must, whether you hop on a plane, invest in a great used RV for sale and enjoy road trip after road trip, or just go somewhere on your bicycle. Wherever you go, there is something new to learn and explore. When you are on the go, everyone, young and old, learns and grows in a few crucial ways.

Travel can:

• Help You Develop Cultural Empathy

Travel to different areas, and you will meet people with different cultural values. This can be very dramatic if you travel to another country, or it can surprise you in little ways if you travel just a few states over. Regardless of how far you go, getting out there and meeting people who are different from you is a huge eye-opener and a great way to learn empathy, both for others and their cultures.

• Help Kids Learn What Truly Matters in Life

When you take them out of their normal habitat, kids will gain an important perspective on the world and learn what actually matters.

• Help Kids to Cultivate a Respect for the Natural World

If you live in a city, then it is a must that you take your kids out to explore the wildlife. Go on hikes, go camping, spend time on a lake or a river or head up to a ski hill. Seeing the pristine, natural landscapes is crucial, especially as climate change threatens to change these landscapes forever.

• Connect Lessons with Reality

Kids learn a lot about the world theoretically, but as with everything learned in theory, it isn’t until they experience it first-hand that the lesson really sinks in. This applies to everything from camping survival skills to how to use a map or even how to navigate a city safely.

How to Do More with Every Trip

If you really want to turn a vacation into a learning experience, then you need to push just a bit further with the following tips:

Have Your Child Research the Area

When you choose a destination to go to, first have your child research the area. You can do this with them when they are younger. Look up places to see and do, read a bit about the history of the area, and create a basic itinerary. Your child will feel more in control of their trip and gain some pretty incredible leadership skills along the way.

Leadership skills are not the only skills they can gain. They can also benefit from learning research skills, organizational skills and an increased love of history. When you let them help you plan their trip and learn more about the history and culture of their destinations, these are just a few of the different advantages of doing so.

Never Skip Museums

You want your kids to learn; therefore, this is a good enough reason as ever why you should never skip a museum. Even small town museums that don’t have much in terms of artifacts beyond their own history are worthwhile. It gives your kids a unique insight into the town they are exploring, helps them learn more, and above all helps them appreciate how each area you visit has evolved over the years.

As a bonus, you’ll be helping support the local museum in the town you visit, which is key to preserving their cultural heritage.

Encourage Them to Try New Things

Your kids don’t have to like everything they try, but they should be willing to try new things. By trying these new things together, you can help teach your children several valuable skills and help them learn more about themselves and their tastes.

This means letting them try different activities, foods, and buying tickets to unique experiences. Place equal emphasis on trying sports activities, foods, and cultural experiences when abroad or even just in the state next to you. This way, your children can develop their interests in several areas, stay fit, and exercise their minds.

Learn With Them

You are never too old to learn something new, and showing your kids that you are still learning as well is as valuable a lesson as learning their addition. Take lead and be a role model and learn with them. Whether you’re learning something new in history at a museum, or you are trying a new food for the first time, do it with their kids and experience these new things together.

It’s great for bonding and learning. Not to mention, it will help your kids become curious adults who strive to learn something new every day.

Put Together Memory Books

Memory can be fickle, which is why memory books can be a great way to put your trip into a simple narrative. For younger kids, make this into a scrapbook so that you can then go over what they have learned and revisit the new knowledge that they have. It’s a fun activity to do together and the end result is a vibrant photo album full of memories you and your children will look back on fondly.

Create lessons to accompany your trip, and you have the opportunity to do so much more than just show them the world; you can give them insight into the world, and in turn, become one of the most important teachers in your child’s life.

Healthy Easy-to-Make Snacks for the Evening

When feeling low and sleepy in office, we grab some of our favorite snacks and get instant energy and ready for work again. It doesn't matter if you're in the office, or back home in the evening, tasty treats that are good for you too are the way to go. Snacks are not only incredibly powerful, but give you energy at the exact time it is needed, when mealtime isn't yet here.

There are millions of snacks in the world, and all countries have their own variety of snacks. Some are healthy, some are unhealthy. In this article, I am going to provide a list of healthy snacks which you could try as your evening snack. Also, I will add some cool quick snack-healthy recipes.

Ultimate Quick Snacks That Are Nutritious and Mouth-Watering

If you're a health-conscious person, you've got a craving for healthy foods, whether it is snack or meal. Choose any snack from the list below. These all are quick and ready to serve.

• Raw Nuts 
• Dried Fruits 
• Avocado 
• Nut Butter 
• Healthy crackers 
• Pasta 
• Granola bars 
• Dark Chocolate 
• Roasted Chickpeas 
• Dried Cereal 
• Healthy Chips 
• Energy balls 
• Tart cherries 
• Kiwis 
• Pistachios 
• Pita chips 
• Apple slices 
• Veggie chips 
• Berries 
• Greek yogurt 
• Cottage cheese 
• Celery sticks 
• Kale chips 
• Cucumber slices 
• Chia pudding 
• Boiled eggs 
• Piece of cheese 
• Whey protein smoothie 
• Canned salmon 
• Edamame 
• Turkey roll

If you want to skip the raw bites, below are some blissful recipes to try out instead:


Avocado deep-fries

Calories: 330
Cooking time: 15 min
Servings: 6

Ingredients:
1/3 cup oil
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs
2 eggs beaten
2 tsp salt
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 large avocados, sliced

Cooking directions:
1. Peel and sliced the avocado into 1/2 inch slice.
2. Take a bowl, add flour, chili powder, and salt. Mix properly.
3. Take another bowl for the egg mixture.
4. Dip each avocado slice in the flour mixture then into egg mixture and roll in bread crumbs.
5. Heat up the oil in a saucepan at very high temperature.
6. Deep frying the avocados for 2-3 min till it becomes golden brown.

Note: You can use some appliances for kitchen use to achieve restaurant-style and taste like Hamilton deep fryer or presto multi-function saucepan.


Pasta with delicious cherry tomatoes 

Pasta is the most common snack people love to eat all over the world. As a child, my mom served some sort of pasta to us 4 out of 7 days a week, as a snack for breakfast, or in the evening.

Cooking time:
10 min Servings: 4 to 6

Ingredients:
1 lbs dry pasta
1 1/2 lbs cherry tomatoes
Black pepper
Kosher salt
4 cloves garlic, minced.
6 tsp oil
Parmesan cheese
1 oz chopped basil leaves.

Directions:

1. Take a skillet or saucepan and start boiling pasta.
2. Take 2nd skillet to add oil and garlic and fry a bit on a medium flame for 3 minutes.
3. Add tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes
4. Continue cooking until the sauce is creamy.
5. Add and stir basil, salt, and pepper.
6. Pour boiled pasta into the sauce and cook at a medium flame.
7. When done, take out from the burner and Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.

Note: If you prep pasta often, I would suggest that you to buy a pasta machine which is really handy and saves money in the process. Note: You can get Imperia pasta machine in just $47 on Amazon. It's a one-time expense for life long unlimited serving pasta.


Peanut Butter Balls 

Cooking time: 5+35 min (Freeze)
Yields: 24

Ingredients:
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup honey
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp flax seeds
2 tbsp chia seeds
1/2 cup of shredded unsweetened coconut
1 1/4 cup of oats

Cooking directions
1. Take a big glass bowl mix all the ingredients.
2. Roll balls of the mixture from hands and place on a baking sheet.
3. Refrigerate for about 30-35 minutes.


Black Pepper Chickpeas 

Cooking time: 5+30 min
Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients:
15 oz canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup olive oil
2 tbsp black pepper
1 cup cilantro chutney

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
2. Dry chickpeas very well with paper towels.
3. Spread chickpeas on a baking sheet.
4. Bake for 30 minutes for crispy chickpeas.
5. Take out from the oven and pour out in the bowl.
6. Pour black pepper and chutney over it.
7. Stir well and serve.

Note: You can also make this recipe in other appliances for kitchen use like an Air Fryer. Tip: I also recommend this snack to eat when you're drinking wine or beer. It tastes amazing!


Honey Toast Topped with Berries

Cooking time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients:
2 slices multigrain bread
1/3 cup ricotta
1/2 tsp honey, plus more for sprinkling
1/4 cup of berries
Salt

Cooking directions:

1. Toast bread (oven/toaster oven/toaster)
2. Meanwhile, take a bowl mix of ricotta and honey together.
3. Spread the ricotta mixture on bread and topped with berries.
4. Sprinkle some salt and honey (optional)


Conclusion 

Experiment with all healthy snacks and make cool recipes with them. You can found millions of snacky recipes on the internet. But there is one thing you need to know or aware of unhealthiest snacks which you may be consuming for years. But now it's time to stop and move forward to healthy snacks.

Stay away from these snacks:

• Lays potato chips 
• Ruffles 
• Pringles 
• Cheetos 
• Cousin Willie's Buttery explosion 
• Pop secret homestyle 
• Act II 
• Keebler Club crackers 
• Ritz roasted crackers 
• Keebler town flatbread 
• Balance bar chocolate peanut butter 
• Clif bar chocolate brownie

Getting Peace of Mind as a New Mother

As all new mothers will know, getting peace of mind can be difficult, with there being many worries and issues that can play on your mind and prevent you from getting the relaxing time that you need to bond and spend time with your baby. However, there are many steps that you can take to getting the peace of mind that you desire, and here are some of the top ways that you can get help and support with caring for your baby.

Where to Find Parenting Information 

Choosing the right products and equipment to use with your child can be difficult, with worries about safety and practicality haunting most mothers. However, rather than let yourself worry about whether you have got the right products, such as car seats and high chairs, to keep your child safe, you should consider finding the variety of reviews available at ParentingPod.com, whose website details a wide range of products from the perspective of a new mother like yourself.

If you are concerned that you are not making the right decisions for your child, especially centered around sensitive and controversial issues such as circumcision, there are many online resources and parenting journals available to help you to find the most up-to-date research as well as expert opinions.

Where to Find Help as a New Mother 

You can also find help and support as a new mother by attending local mother and baby groups, or by looking for mother support groups that help to deal with specific issues, such as illness in your baby. These groups can help you to gain and give advice from other mothers and build lasting connections, which can help you to feel less alone.

You can also visit your local child health clinic or medical center, which often run mother and baby classes and post-natal lessons which can help you to improve your skills and calm your worries about certain aspects of your baby’s life. You may also be able to find religion-based support groups in your area to help you to cope in a more personal way.

If you need financial aid, you can also find help as a new mother from the government, which offers different schemes for those that are out of work and that need extra financial support.

You can also find medical aid by attending your local doctor, or calling out your local maternity nurse, which will be able to help you to cope with any symptoms that your child is showing and smooth over any worries you may have.

How to Find Inner Peace 

When you have a child, you also need to find inner peace with yourself. You can do this through taking up self-care exercises such as meditation and yoga, where you can reflect on your parenting and your concerns, and seeking counseling or professional and religious aid if parenting is effecting your mental health.

You should also ensure that you are able to keep yourself healthy by asking relatives to help with the child, and ensuring that you are able to get enough sleep, exercise, and healthy food to enable you to nurse your baby to the best of your ability.

Those with inner peace will also have a daily routine, part of which will consist of focusing on themselves and their own needs, allowing new mothers to find the time to perform activities that make them happy, whether that be watching the television or even gardening.

Peaceful Parenting Community

Healthy Bread Recipes for Breakfast

When we hear the term 'breakfast' the first thoughts popping into many heads are eggs and toast. As a working parent, I am always in a rush in the morning. Most commonly I served bread and jam, or bread and butter, or toasted bread with eggs to kids. The following are recipes you can prepare in less than 2 minutes.

One day my 10-year-old girl shouted to me saying, "Mom, I am fed up with these pieces of bread you give us daily..." Yeah, I felt bad, but she was not wrong. I mean, it's annoying to eat the same dishes again and again. So I decided to find some cool recipes made with bread that are delicious and make everyone happier. I consulted with friends, read magazines, and found some recipes we all enjoy.

In this article, I am going to share with you some blissful bread recipes that you love to eat and serves to your kids as well.

Here we go.


Quinoa Apple Bread

Nutrition intake: 153 calories
Cooking time: 50 minutes (25 prep+25 cook)
Method: Toaster oven

Ingredients:
1 tsp sage, minced.
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 egg (large)
1-1/2 cups of milk
2/3 cup water
1/3 cup quinoa, rinsed
1-1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp celery seed
1 small peeled and diced parsnip
1 small onion chopped
1 small apple diced
1 tsp oil

Cooking directions:
1. Preheat your toaster oven to 375 F.
2. Meanwhile, take a saucepan to bring some water and add quinoa.
3. Boil at medium flame for 12-15 minutes.
4. Take another skillet to pour some oil and add apple, onion, celery seed, and 1/2 tbsp salt. Saute for 4-5 min. Then remove from heat
5. Take a big large bowl, add cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, and remaining salt and whisk them properly.
6. In another bowl, whisk egg and 1 cup milk. Mix to cornmeal mixture, stirring around.
7. Pour out the quinoa and apple mixture into the main bowl. Mix well.
8. Transfer to baking pan and then to the toaster oven.
9. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
10. Let stand for 2-3 minutes just before serving.


Cauliflower cheesy bread tubes

Calories intakes: 66 per bread tube
Cooking time: 20 minutes (20 prep + 20 bake)
Method: Toaster oven

Ingredients:
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup parsley chopped
1 large egg
1/2 cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup skim mozzarella cheese
6 cups cauliflower
Marinara sauce (optional)

Cooking Instructions:
1. Preheat the toaster oven to 425 F
2. Chopped cauliflower using a food processor and boil in microwave for 8 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, take another bowl to add cheese along with all remaining ingredients. Stir well.
4. Transfer the mixer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake for 20-25 minutes the toaster oven for baking.
6. Bake until the mixture becomes bubbly.
7. Cut into 12 bread tubes.
8. Served with marinara sauce (optional)


Yogurt Bread

Calories intake: 163 per piece.
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Method: Toaster oven

Ingredients:
1 large egg
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 oil
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp honey
1/4 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup cornmeal (yellow)

Cooking Directions
1. Preheat toaster oven to 425 F.
2. Take a bowl and add cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt, 1/4 tsp baking soda.
3. In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients.
4. Pour 2nd bowl into 1st bowl and stir well.
5. Transfer all material into baking pan and bake for 15-20 minutes.


Cornmeal Bread

If you want to make your own healthy bread rather than buy from the market then this recipe for you

Calories: 150
Cooking time: 2 hrs 10 min (10 + 2 hours)
Method: Bread maker

Ingredients:
2 1/2 tsp yeast
2 3/4 cups flour (bread)
3/4 cups of wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp salt.
2 tsp butter
1 large beaten egg
2 tsp brown or dark sugar
1 1/3 normal room temperature water

Cooking Method (Bread maker) Add all ingredients to the bread maker according to the manual of the bread machine. Bake on basic cycle and medium crust.

Conventional Oven Method
1. In a large bowl combine the brown sugar and yeast with water. Boil for 10 minutes about 105 F
2. Add egg, butter, salt, wheat flour, bread flour, cornmeal in the same bowl. Whisk by hand or an immersion blender.
3. Turn the dough onto the floured surface and knead for about 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Add butter or oil in another bowl place the dough down and shape into a loaf.
5. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel and leave for about 45 minutes.
6. Heat the oven to 350 F
7. Bake the bread for about 30 to 40 minutes.


Flaxseed bread (Loaf) 

This is another recipe to bake your own nutritious bread.

Calories intake:
169 per slice (Total 16 slices)
Cooking time: 75 minutes (40 prep + 35 baking)
Method: Toaster oven

Ingredients:
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp honey
1-1/2 cups of wheat flour
1-2 to cups of all purpose flour.
1/4 oz dry yeast.
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 cups milk
3 tsp butter
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 whole flaxseed

Cooking directions
In an enormous bowl, join the entire wheat flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour, yeast, and salt.
 In a huge pan, heat the milk, dark colored sugar, nectar and 2 butter margarine to 120°-130°.
Add to dry ingredients; beat until smooth.
Mix in the ground and entire flaxseed until mixed.
Mix in enough staying generally useful flour to shape a firm mixture.
Turn onto a softly floured surface; massage until smooth and flexible, around 6-8 minutes.
Spot in an enormous bowl covered with cooking splash, going once to coat top.
Spread and let ascend in a warm place until multiplied, around 60 minutes.
Punch batter down.
Turn onto a daintily floured surface.
Shape into a portion; place in a 9x5-in. portion skillet covered with cooking spray.
Spread and let ascend until multiplied, around 30 minutes.
Bake at 375° for 35-40 minutes or until brilliant dark-colored.

Note: This bread can also bake in the bread maker.


Conclusion 

By having a machine like a bread maker you are allowed the freedom to bake your own nutritious bread which is much better than bread available in the market. Try these above recipes and convert your normal bread into something delicious!

Life After Trial: What's Next?

If you’ve been involved in a legal case, it can take over your life. Whether it was a wrongful incarceration, an injury that wasn’t your fault, or a class action lawsuit, you may feel as though all communication with friends and family has been dominated by the legal system. Once the trial is over, it can be difficult to return to life as normal.

However, no matter the outcome of your case, it’s important to focus on the future and try to regain some normality. So, what are some things to consider after a trial?

Accepting the outcome

The biggest hurdle to overcome after a court case can be accepting the outcome. If the outcome wasn’t what you wanted, it can be extremely disappointing and difficult to come to terms with. Your mental health might suffer because of this, and therefore you may find you benefit from therapy. Alternatively, if you are happy with the outcome you may still feel overwhelmed by the trial and drained by everything that has occurred. Or, you might find that the results don’t bring you as much relief as you had anticipated. It’s important to take the time to accept the outcome and talk about the way you’re feeling with friends or relatives.

Social media

During the trial, you will have been encouraged and advised to stay off social media, or at least have an awareness of what you post. This is because social media can be used against you in court. However, this may have been difficult if you were involved in a class action lawsuit or a case that got media attention. It may have been upsetting to see things posted about your life that you didn’t have control over. If this was the case, you may wish to consider how you continue to use social media now that your trial is over. Do you want to acknowledge the trial? Or is it easier to simply move on? In our digital age, your use of social media will be something that you balance from day to day. So, you may wish to ask friends or relatives for advice.

Work and family life

Depending on the nature of your case, you may not have been working during the trail – especially if you had an accident or injury that meant that you weren’t able to. Or perhaps your trial involved your workplace because you experienced discrimination or a workplace accident. So, if you haven’t been working during the trial, you will now need to consider your next career move. Alternatively, if you were working during the trial, you may have found it difficult to concentrate, which is understandable. Balancing a working life and a court case can be extremely stressful so make sure you take enough time to accept the outcome. You may wish to consider taking a vacation with your family before getting back to the reality of life properly. This will allow you to bond with your family and focus on the future.

How to Be a Parent When Your Teen Doesn't Want You

Being a parent of a teen can be a challenge, especially when he or she starts to push you away. If you're struggling to be there for your teenager, here's how you can stay involved and keep him or her safe. 

Get to Know His or Her Friends

Who your teenager hangs out with is extremely important. Friends can help your child feel accepted and confident. They all spend time together and have the chance to try new things. They'll learn from each other. This means your teen's friend group is his or her biggest influence, both good and bad. Make sure you're aware of who your child spends time with. Learn their names and get to know them if you can. 

Call their parents regularly. You can work together to establish ground rules for your children and to stay informed about where they are at all times. If you talk frequently, your kids can never claim they're at the other person's house when it's not true. Plus, more adult friends gives you a support system. You can discuss parenting strategies or just compare rates for property investment. You need support as much as your kids do, whether you're chatting about real estate or adolescents. 

Respect Your Child's Privacy

If you want your teen to trust you, work hard to respect his or her privacy. You might be wondering what she's writing in her journal or what he's texting to his friends, but the second you open your child's notebook or phone, you've lost his or her trust. However, this doesn't mean that your teenager has a right to keep important information from you. 

Make it clear that you should be kept informed on important things, like his or her grades and mental health. Tell your child that you've been communicating with his teacher and the parents of his friends. Be firm but not angry. Don't waver on what you need to know and what your son or daughter can keep private. Adolescents need clear rules and the second you bend them, they will lose respect for you and your rules. 

Support Healthy Activities

Encourage your teenager to become involved in healthy activities. Drive her to soccer practice or support his decision to try out for cheerleading. Whatever your child is excited to be involved in, support that decision. Do what you can to get your son or daughter involved in a sport or after-school activity. 

Go to his or her games or competitions and make it obvious to your child that you're thrilled about the activity. A little support from you can make a huge difference and will encourage your kid to continue to make good choices. 

Get Him or Her Help When It's Needed

Everything doesn't always go right for teenagers. Sometimes they suffer from anorexia, bulimia, OCD, or other mental health disorders. Be on the lookout for warning signs that your son or daughter has a problem. You might notice a sense of hopelessness or an increase in self-destructive behaviors. Maybe your child has been diagnosed with major depressive disorder or gender dysphoria. Whatever it might be, get him or her professional help. 

A facility like Polaris Teen Residential Treatment can give your child the care he or she needs to recover from addiction or mental health problems. An experienced service provider or clinical social worker can help your son or daughter build skills and become healthier. When your teen needs assistance, be extremely supportive. Tell him that you are there to help and will always love him. Let her know that recovery is possible and you'll be there every step of the way. Getting your son or daughter help could make a huge difference.

It's difficult when your teen starts to push you away. Do what you can to be there for him or her and make it clear that your love will never go away. Your teenager will thank you for it in the end.

Tips for Making a Mattress Last Longer

The following are tips for making a mattress last longer. A mattress is a significant investment for many people, and they will want it to last as long as possible. The average lifetime of a mattress is around 5 - 10 years. By using our advice on making a mattress last longer you can extend this.

If your mattress is delivered in compressed form, unwrap it and leave it in a ventilated room to expand to its correct size. Do not leave it in a garage or shed where it may get damp and make sure you have removed all plastic packaging that can lead to mildew if left attached to your mattress. Here are some ways of extending the life of a mattress once you have it on the bed.

1. Protect the Mattress with a Mattress Protector

Mattress protectors generally come with elasticated sides that can stretch over the mattress. A waterproof or water-resistant protector will help keep your mattress dry in the event of spillages or 'accidents.' Such waterproof covers tend to be made of plastic or vinyl, and ordinary covers/protectors can be made from such fibers as bamboo, polyester and cotton to keep the mattress clean.

2. Use a Mattress Pad

One of the best tips for making a mattress last longer is to use a mattress pad. This is a thin pad that lies on top of the mattress providing a better barrier to perspiration and other bodily fluids than a cover. The pad can also be used to modify your sleeping surface. They are available in a range of thicknesses from less than inch upwards.

The thinner pads are used for protection and can be machine washed. Try to buy a mattress pad with a high thread count in its cover. The higher the thread count, the more resistant it will be to liquids, dust and dust mites. The same is true of a mattress protector: you can use that with the pad! A protector and mattress pad can be very important in making a mattress last longer.

3. Clean Your Bedding Regularly

Your body produces perspiration and body oils 24/7. These are soaked up by your bedding which can then transfer the contamination to your mattress. Try to clean your bedding regularly – once a week is good! Most mattress protectors and pads are machine washable.

4. Don't Forget to Clean Your Mattress

Many people clean their bedding regularly but do not clean their mattress. You should clean your mattress on a regular basis and clean crib mattresses at least once a month.

Human adults shed over half a million skin cells every hour. If you spend about a third of each day in bed, you shed around 4 million skin cells every night. That's a lot of dust! Not only that, but dust mites feed on these skin cells. Some estimates reckon that there could be well over 5 million dust mites in an old mattress – even up to 10 million.

Dust mites don't bite you, but many people are allergic to them, particularly those suffering from hay fever. But what has this to do with the life of your mattress? Dust can cut into the fibers of your mattress – even dried up skin cells have sharp edges! So apart from the health issues, dust can reduce the effective life of a mattress.

Vacuum your mattress at least monthly. A regular vacuum can prevent all these skin cells penetrating deep into your mattress. Use the upholstery attachments for this in order to avoid damaging the mattress cover. Also wash any mattress protectors or mattress pads at least monthly.

5. Rotate and Flip Every 3 – 4 Months

Rotate your mattress around 4 times a year. Rotating means turning it so the foot of the mattress becomes the head. Irrespective of manufacturers' claims, rotation can definitely extend the life of a mattress. Some mattresses can also be flipped, where you turn it over so that the side in contact with the foundation becomes the sleeping surface.

You cannot flip all mattresses because some are designed and constructed to be used on one side only. For example, a memory foam top with an innerspring base cannot be flipped. However, a 100% foam mattress often can be. Turning, and flipping where this is possible, changes the distribution of your weight on the mattress, so it is less likely to sag or form indentations due to the pressure of your body.

6. Your Bed is For Sleeping In!

Your bed is for sleeping in, not for eating in. If you must eat in bed then clear away any dropped food, crumbs or debris immediately. These are magnets for tiny insects, molds and other microorganisms. Once these get into your mattress, they are difficult to remove.

The same goes for pets. Human skin is bad enough, but do you really want cat or dog skin cells to contaminate your mattress – along with what else might be on their paws? Give your pets their own bed, and keep them off your mattress. Their claws can damage the mattress surface, particularly any mattress protector you use.

Tips for Making a Mattress Last Longer: Summary

Making a mattress last longer is a simple matter of keeping it clean, rotating and flipping to spread the wear more evenly and remembering that a bed is for sleeping in – not for eating or for pets. Protection from fluid spillages, regular cleaning and proper care can add years to the life of any mattress.

New Year's Resolution Reality for Moms

Momstrocity on Facebook writes:


Here we are again, friends. The brink of a New Year. My newsfeed is full of positive manifestations for the next trip around the sun. Resolutions to run that half-marathon. Cook dinner more often. Hit the gym with regularity. Read.

Most years, I’m right there with them. In my mind, I’ve conjured a list 5 miles long — of all the things I hope to accomplish in the next year. Versions of my best self. Habits to make me a better mother, a better wife, a better friend, and a better fit for these snug jeans. But this year, I’m laying it all down.

I can’t.

The truth is, I’m in the weeds. I’m in the when-will-my-kids-sleep-again weeds. I’m in the lots-of-little-kids-with-lots-of-big-needs weeds.

I am knee-deep in picky eaters, dirty diapers, temper tantrums, health issues, and repetitive dinners. 

This is not my year to run a marathon. This is not my year to drink two gallons of water a day, or to make healthy, home-cooked meal every night, or serve on all of those committees.

It is my year to survive.

This is my year to sleep when I can. To give myself grace, always. To embrace the mess.

I think, as mothers, we put a great deal of pressure on ourselves, whether we realize it or not. Small imperfections during the day equate to our shortcomings in our own mind. Messy house? I should clean more. No clean socks? I’m way behind on laundry. Kid acts out in school? I let him watch Frozen too often.

We need to stop. I need to stop.

The reality is this: my kids don’t need a mom who looks great in leggings right now. Or a mom who makes individualized quiches for all the kids in class. They need a mom who does her best to love them well — imperfections and all.

So this year, if you need it (spoiler alert: you almost definitely do)— give yourself grace. Some years aren’t meant to be record-breaking. Some years are meant to survive.

*******

Read more from Stephanie and Eliza at Momstrosity.co

Peaceful Parenting Community (group)

7 Ways to Customize Your Home Décor

Make your home décor more meaningful by having it customized. From canvas prints to statement rugs, there are plenty of ways to incorporate personalization into your house. Keep on reading and we’ll share some of the best ways to do this.

1. Display Family Photos

Make your décor inspiring by incorporating family photos. One of the best ways to do this is to display canvas art in the foyer or living room. This will be a great statement piece and conversation starter. If you want to transform your family photos into wall art, the pros at Shutterfly can extend a helping hand.

2. Show Off Your Love for Travel

Do you love to travel? Then show it off in your home décor! Consider creative ways to display your travel souvenirs and keepsakes. Go beyond ref magnets! You can have a glass cabinet where you will display items from your travels. You can also print photos from your memorable trips and have them grouped in a gallery wall. To display these photos creatively, consider wood wall art from Shutterfly.

3. Build a Wall with Chalkboard

Find an area at home where you can have a chalkboard wall. This is a great place for kids to show off their doodling skills. You can also use this space for displaying inspirational quotes and chalk art. The good thing is that you can easily change it depending on your mood.

4. Make a Coffee Table Book

Tables don’t have to be bare. If you want to give it more glam, then adding a coffee table book will help. To make it more special, make your coffee table book. Showcase pictures of your family from recent vacations or highlights from your wedding. This can also be a good way to entertain your guests.

5. Let the Walls Speak

Don’t get stuck with boring walls. You can personalize it with your choice of paint. You can even incorporate geometric patterns. If you are feeling a little creative, try making a DIY wallpaper. Using washi tapes is also a good way to spice up your walls and make them captivate the attention of your guests.

6. Create a Creative Nook

Find a small space at home and transform this into a creative nook. Here, you can be as experimental as you can. Do not hesitate to unleash your artistic side to decorate this space. You can also add a table and chair to make it a place where you can think or de-stress.

7. Make Your Own Cabinets

Whether it is in the kitchen or bathroom, among other places, you can also have customized décor by designing your cabinets. Choose the color and type of wood that you prefer, as well as the finish. Pick the handles that will look best and make sure that they match with everything else in the room.

Do not make your home ordinary. Stay away from generic décor that you can find in almost any other house. Take it to the next level by incorporating personalization. From displaying family photos to adding life to boring walls, consider our suggestions above for customizing your home décor.

Hearing Loss in Children: Can It Be Cured?

Healthy hearing is crucial for your child's language skills to develop properly. Although not all babies and young children suffer from hearing problems, 1.7 per 1,000 babies screened for hearing loss have shown poor hearing. 

That's why before a newborn baby is discharged from the hospital, he or she must get a hearing screening. This practice, named Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI), helps detect hearing issues as early as possible so they can be treated accordingly. 

The more you learn about your child's hearing, the easier it will be for you to detect uncommon symptoms and seek medical help as soon as possible. Keep reading to learn more. 

What are the causes of hearing loss in children? 

Interestingly, newborns can have hearing problems even if their parents or family member's auditory range is fine. Older children can also develop hearing problems. A few common signs of hearing loss include:

Otitis media: this middle ear infection can develop from colds and respiratory infections. 

Eardrum injuries: when ruptured due to trauma, pressure, or infections, the eardrum (also called the tympanic membrane) may cause pain and hearing loss. A perforated eardrum can heal on its own or require surgery.

Certain medications: ototoxic medications can cause hearing-related side effects. 

Illness: it's not uncommon for children to lose their hearing after being infected with meningitis or encephalitis, for example.

Earwax: even though earwax is inoffensive, a buildup could lead to temporary hearing loss.

What are the symptoms? 

Especially in babies and younger children, it can be hard to detect when something's wrong since they can't verbalize their feelings well. But there are ways you can tell if a child's hearing level is suboptimal or if there's an infection going on. Be on the lookout for the following signs:

• Your child doesn't respond to noises, even if they're loud.
• Your child doesn't seem to listen to your voice.
• Your child has a fever.
• Your child complains from ear pain (not necessarily by speaking, but by pulling, rubbing, or pointing to an ear).

If your child has any of the above symptoms, you should take them to a pediatrician, an ENT doctor (otolaryngologist) or an audiologist right away.

Types of hearing loss

Among the types of hearing loss are conductive hearing loss, sensorineural hearing loss, and a mix between the two. 

Sensorineural hearing loss happens when there's damage to the inner ear hair cells or the auditory nerve, and it's the most common type of permanent hearing loss. 

Conductive hearing loss, on the other hand, isn't necessarily permanent. It happens when there's a fluid formation, earwax buildup, or eardrum rupture, for instance, all of which can be resolved with medicine, surgery, or an otolaryngologist's intervention. 

In the case of mixed hearing loss, a great example would be a person who was born with a hearing problem but developed an infection at some point in life. In this case, the hearing becomes compromised both ways. 

All patients should perform medical tests to define which type is causing them hearing problems. 

Can hearing loss in children be cured? 

If the case is an infection, an earwax obstruction, or a ruptured eardrum, the condition can be cured. When it comes to permanent hearing loss, some treatments will help your child hear. These include cochlear implants and hearing aids, depending on the specific case. 

The best you can do is to take your child to their pediatrician. The doctor will most likely refer you to a good audiologist or otolaryngologist, who will perform hearing tests to check for any signs of hearing problems. If there are any issues in your child's speech development due to poor hearing, the pediatrician might also recommend speech therapy. 

To avoid paying high prices for hearing tests and doctor visits in general, it's a smart idea to consider family health insurance plans that will cover your little one's medical expenses, as well as yours.

Pay off Debt or Save for Retirement: Which Comes First?

Pay off debt or save? This is the conundrum most Americans find themselves in.

Here’s what the numbers say:

The average American has about $38,000 in personal debt and this figure seems to be climbing year after year. 15 percent of Americans have no retirement savings at all and about 30 percent have saved up less than $20,000.

How did we get here? We can blame the economy but the hard truth is most people aren’t good financial planners.

Either way, if you’re already in debt and you need to save for retirement, what should you prioritize? Continue reading for deeper insight.

The Consequences of Not Saving for Retirement

When you hit about 62 years old, you’ll hang up your spurs. At this time, you’ll rely on your retirement savings to sustain your quality of life.

Without adequate savings for retirement, you will likely need to work well beyond the average retirement age. As you approach your sunset years, the last thing you want is to burden your health.

In some instances, especially if you work for the government, you may have no choice to keep working. You’ll have to retire once you reach the set retirement age. How will you survive if you don’t have a healthy retirement fund? Considering that health deteriorates as you age, you might struggle to afford the best healthcare. With these in mind, you can see why you need to prioritize saving for your retirement days.

The Consequences of Not Paying Off Debt

For most people, debt is a part of life – and there’s no shame in that. You need a loan to build credit. You need a loan to buy a big-ticket item like a car or a house. Even most business owners take out a personal loan to raise startup capital.

However, racking up debt can be dangerous to your financial wellness. And the longer you stay in debt, the longer you’ll take to achieve financial freedom. It’s usually possible to do something like refinance your mortgage with a company like Credible when rates are low as this can help you pay off other debts if you need to.

If you fail to pay off debt and let your loans go into default, your credit score will take a fall. You could even be forced to take drastic measures such as filing for bankruptcy. If some of your loans were secured, the items you had put down as collateral could be repossessed and sold off.

Clearly, it’s in the best interest of your finances to pay off debt early.

So, Pay Off Debt or Save?

Both paying off debt and saving for retirement are equally important decisions.

Ideally, you can and should do both at the same time. With a bit of financial planning and the will to go the extra mile, you can pull it off. Start by creating a debt repayment strategy. For instance, you could consolidate your loans at a lower rate. Check out these debt consolidation reviews to learn more about how this method works.

After getting on a plan to pay off your debt, strategize on how to boost your income. You could take on a part-time job or start a small business. Use the extra income to save for retirement.

You Can Pay Off Debt and Save for Retirement

Pay off debt or save? You don’t have to make a pick. You can do both!

We’ve fleshed out tips you can use to pay off debt while saving for retirement. Put them to use.

Good luck and stay tuned to our blog for more personal finance advice.

Double Mastectomy Recovery: How to Get Back to Feeling Like Yourself

If you've had a double mastectomy, the road to recovery can be a long one. If you receive a breast reconstruction, that may also add to your recovery time. Physical recovery generally takes between four to six weeks depending on the person, but the pathway to emotional recovery can take a much longer amount of time. If you're really interested in getting back to feeling like your old self, here are a few strategies to try.

Dress Up and Go Out

One of the biggest emotional hurdles you'll face after a double mastectomy is the loss of your sexual identity or negative feelings about your new body. One way to try and rekindle those old feelings is to dress up and go out with friends or your partner for a night on the town.

Buying a new dress, or shopping for the best magnetic eyelashes money can buy are just two of the many ways that you can find a way to feel feminine and glamorous. Especially of regular mascara doesn't seem to be cutting it, going with a magnetic eyelash can easily create a dramatic look. Make sure to wear your special perfume, and look for other accessories from Glamnetic like their black liquid magnetic liner if you really want to feel good about yourself. Once you're looking your best, you'll start feeling your best, too.

Speak With a Therapist

If you're still feeling some of the emotional and mental side effects of your double mastectomy, such as grief or anxiety, it may be a good idea to talk through your feelings with a therapist. A licensed therapist can give you expert guidance and help you understand that the feelings you're facing following your surgery are totally natural.

They can offer words of wisdom and different strategies to implement to work on yourself as you forge a new normal. From breathing exercises to new perspectives to adopt when your negative feelings begin to surface, having a trusted confidant to talk through all of your problems can go a long way in speeding up the mental and emotional side of your recovery post-surgery. It may also make sense to start seeing a therapist leading up to your surgery, so that they can offer guidance as you prepare for the procedure, too.

Consider Reconstruction

If you still feel like something's missing following your mastectomy, it may be worthwhile to consider either prosthesis or breast reconstruction. While plastic surgery is another form of surgery that requires healing in order to reconstruct your breasts, it may be worthwhile in the long run if your other attempts to return to a normal life aren't working out the way you'd hoped they would.

If you aren't interested in undergoing surgery again, prosthetic breasts can also be used. By wearing them under your bra you can restore your body to the way it used to look before your operation, which may lead to a greater amount of comfort for you as you go through your day to day activities.

Receiving a double mastectomy can take its toll on you, but with the right strategies, you'll be back to feeling like yourself in no time at all. One of the best ways to ensure that you can face the emotionally taxing aspects of your recovery is to have your finances in order.

That includes having a plan to pay for your mastectomy. If you want to get the best deal on your treatment, it's a good idea to double-check that your Medicare Advantage coverage fits your budget. The best way to compare health insurance costs is to use an online quote provider like HealthInsurance.com.

First Baby Born From Uterus Transplanted from Deceased Donor

By Maria Cheng for the Associated Press
Read more from Cheng

Baby born from transplanted uterus, from deceased donor

Brazilian doctors are reporting the world’s first baby born to a woman with a uterus transplanted from a deceased donor.

Eleven previous births have used a transplanted uterus, but from a living donor, usually a relative or friend. Experts said using a uterus from women who have died could make more transplants possible.

Ten previous attempts using deceased donors in the Czech Republic, Turkey, and the United States have failed.

This baby girl was delivered last December by a woman born without a uterus because of a rare syndrome. The woman — a 32-year-old psychologist — was initially apprehensive about the transplant, said Dr. Dani Ejzenberg, the transplant team’s lead doctor at the University of Sao Paulo School of Medicine. "This was the most important thing in her life," he said. "Now she comes in to show us the baby and she is so happy!"

The woman became pregnant through in vitro fertilization seven months after the transplant. The donor was a 45-year-old woman who had three children and died of a stroke.

The recipient, who was not identified, gave birth by cesarean section. Doctors also removed the uterus, partly so the woman would no longer need to take anti-rejection medications. Nearly a year later, mother and baby are both healthy.

Two more transplants are planned as part of the Brazilian study. Details of the first case were published Tuesday in the medical journal Lancet.

Uterus transplantation was pioneered by Swedish doctor, Mats Brannstrom, who has delivered eight children from women who each received a donor uterus from family members or friends. Two babies have been born at Baylor University Medical Center in Texas, and one in Serbia, also from transplants from living donors.

In 2016, doctors at the Cleveland Clinic transplanted a uterus from a deceased donor, but it failed after an infection developed.

"The Brazilian group has proven that using deceased donors is a viable option," said the clinic’s Dr. Tommaso Falcone, who was involved in the Ohio case. "It may give us a bigger supply of organs than we thought were possible."

The Cleveland program is continuing to use deceased donors. Falcone said the fact that the transplant was successful after the uterus was preserved in ice for nearly eight hours demonstrated how resilient the uterus is. Doctors try to keep the time an organ is without blood flow to a minimum.

Other experts said the knowledge gained from such procedures might also solve some lingering mysteries about pregnancies. "There are still lots of things we don’t understand about pregnancies, like how embryos implant," said Dr. Cesar Diaz, who co-authored an accompanying commentary in the journal. "These transplants will help us understand implantation and every stage of pregnancy."

Transplant team with baby

Related Reading:

The Lancet: Uterus transplantation from a deceased donor. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(18)32106-8/fulltext#articleInformation

Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/12/181204183703.htm

CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/04/health/uterus-transplant-deceased-donor-study/index.html

Hire an Expert for the Type of Birth YOU Want

If there is one thing you can do RIGHT NOW to ensure your best birth experience, it is this: choose a care provider who is an EXPERT in the type of birth you are planning.

If you are planning a safe, skilled cesarean birth, you should hire someone who is an expert at cesarean sections. You wouldn’t hire a doctor to perform that procedure who said, "Well, actually, I’m not really comfortable with that type of birth, but I’ll let you do it if you want, I suppose..."

If you’re planning a safe, natural, unmedicated birth, you should hire someone who is an EXPERT at supporting natural birth. A doctor with a 30% c-section rate is not a natural birth expert. Neither is a doctor who does routine episiotomies, or doesn’t understand how to catch a baby unless mom is [lying] on her back. A doctor who says, "Well, most of my patients do end up getting an epidural, but if you want to go natural you can do that, I suppose..." is NOT an expert in unmedicated birth.

When you find the right care provider, they will understand your birth plan before you even show it to them -- because it is what they already do every day!

—Lauralyn Curtis

Read related content at Midwifery Today: The Heart and Science of Birth

Birthing Group: FB.com/groups/Birthing (holistic)
Pregnancy Moms Due [this year]: FB.com/groups/DueDateGroup (mainstream)
Peaceful Parenting Community: FB.com/groups/ExplorePeacefulParenting (gentle parenting group)

How to tell if a toy is for girls or boys...

When shopping this season, use this handy chart to determine if a toy is for girls or boys...

Hint: toys made for children are for all children, regardless of sex!

The Lasting Impact of Trauma and How We Can Help Survivors

By Ryan B.

The impact of severe trauma is possible to last a lifetime, and it can come and go.

The symptoms vary in each person. Sometimes trauma symptoms are not as apparent -- they can present though a down mood, or even physical symptoms. A person can often find themselves in a bad mood, or feeling physically sick, without a conscious understanding that there was a trigger or associated experience (time of year, smell, or anything that is associated with the trauma).

People can end up blaming themselves for the way they feel or call themselves 'selfish' and many other negative things, when in reality they are only experiencing the results of trauma. This can become a form of self abuse, or even a means to control the abuse that is coming. Again, the coping with past trauma is not always a conscious process.

What helps? What can a person who has been through trauma do? What can their loved ones do?

When a person who has been through trauma can talk about how they feel it helps. When the person is in a safe environment that doesn't tell them to 'get over it' directly or indirectly with statements like 'Why are you in such a bad mood?' it helps. When your loved ones understand this it helps.

Friends and family can even help an individual see what is happening before this person makes the connection that it is that time of year, or the physical symptoms, are trauma related. Loved ones can be attentive and aware.

Be Patient.

Telling someone who has survived trauma (even when that trauma was in infancy) that it is okay to speak and share as they feel like doing; that it is safe to talk any time, or share the negative emotion they are feeling, tends to allow the processing of trauma to go more quickly.

It is when someone holds things in, or tries to fight through the memories, associations, or emotions, that the impact of trauma is prolonged and continues to present itself time and time again through various means: anxiety, mood fluctuations, physical symptoms.

We are sending our love and support to trauma survivors. Reach out when you need to.

*******

Also by Ryan B.

A Father's Regret: http://www.SavingSons.org/2018/01/a-fathers-regret.html