Healthy Living, Natural Foods

The benefits of consuming Manuka Honey

The benefits of consuming Manuka Honey

Maybe you have heard of manuka honey. If not, Manuka honey has gained attention for its abundance of therapeutic effects from certain bacteria ailments to skin and immunity improvements. The Manuka plant of New Zealand is climate-sensitive and only flowers two to six weeks per year, making the honey a scarce resource.

Manuka honey can be great for your gut. According to a report published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, manuka honey had been found to be potent against 7 different Helicobacter pylori (h pylori) strains, but a similar effect was not observed with other types of honey. Using a Manuka honey with a UMF 10+ or higher seems best. UMF™ 15+ sits in the middle, between everyday wellness and more therapeutic uses. For this reason, it’s our all-time best selling Manuka honey.

This honey is also great for your immune system. Lab tests have shown that manuka honey contains certain substances that can stimulate cytokine production. Cytokines are signaling proteins involved in immune reactions by the body. They kickstart the defense mechanisms of the body and gets it to fight off pathogens and diseases.

These are just a few of the many benefits of manuka honeys. Shop the New Zealand Honey Co. to begin adding these benefits to your health!

Parenting

The Importance of Scheduling ‘Mom & Dad Time’ — And How to Ensure the Routine Sticks

Parents have just 32 minutes to themselves each day, with many having to actually hide from their children in order to get some time alone, according to one survey conducted by the meal delivery service Munchery. While scheduling a relaxation break as a couple can seem nearly impossible, however, there are a multitude of benefits involved in doing so aside from simply recharging. From the value of taking a break together from time to time to how to actually make doing so a habit that sticks around, here’s what you should consider if a busy household has left you in need of a break for some Mom and Dad time.

The benefits of alone time — together 

Spending quality alone time can feel like an impossible feat with a busy household to run, though there are a multitude of benefits that come along with carving out some well-deserved alone time. “Many of us internalize [the message] that parenting trumps all [and] everything is pushed aside,” says Minneapolis clinical social worker Marit Appeldoorn. “But this [time] is not a luxury, not dispensable. We really have to give ourselves permission to do our thing, even if it’s just 10 minutes with a cup of coffee. It’s good for physical health, mental health and really, really good for our parenting.” 

However, while alone time is important for each parent individually, spending time with your partner alone is just as important — especially if one or both parents are away at work or a busy family schedule has made regular date nights a thing of the past. Not only is making time for each other a great way to reconnect and spend time doing something that you both enjoy doing together, but it can help in maintaining a healthy relationship and/or marriage, too. Through uninterrupted time spent together, parents can communicate, laugh and have fun together.

How scheduling can help

When looking to make designated couple time a priority, actually writing it down and carving out the space in your planner or calendar can help greatly. Not only will this give you something to look forward to, but will ensure you don’t forget about it, either, and will allow you to organize childcare arrangements well in advance. Whether you choose to have a date night once a week or a weekend getaway every few months, planning ahead will allow you to effectively make ‘Mom and Dad’ time a priority, even with the busiest of schedules. While making time to have an uninterrupted dinner together can be a great way to spend time as a couple, mixing up your options can make for an exciting date — even if it’s a short hike, an afternoon movie, or the occasional weekend away. Making time to relax together can also be done in the most literal ways — such as by taking the time to get a couples massage. With a range of packages and options for couples that allow for focus on the areas that need it the most, like the feet, face, head, neck and shoulders, there’s no question that a couples massage can make for the ultimate way to relax and unwind together. And, with options that take as little as thirty minutes, scheduling a couples massage can be one of the most flexible ways to spend time together during a busy week.

Getting a moment to yourself as a parent can be a major challenge, nevermind coordinating alone time with your partner, though doing so can be very beneficial to yourself and the relationship as a whole. By making it a priority to plan out and schedule time alone — whether it’s a dinner or a weekend getaway, you can take a well-deserved break to recharge and have fun together.

Home

What Are the First Steps in Creating a Lawn Care Business?

Many people spend a lot of money to maintain their lawns so others can see how well-manicured the lawns are. If you’re considering starting a lawn care business, you’re on the right track. You can expect this business to grow with the rising demand. But, if you don’t know where to start, here are the steps to creating this business. 

Determine what services to offer

Decide which aspect of lawn care you want to focus on. For example, you can sell fertilizers and insecticides. You can also help with gardening work, including mulching and weeding. You may even plant native lawns and other pollinators. Once you determine which business to pursue, you can deal with the other details of your business. 

Check the legal aspect

You might also want to check lawn care insurance costs. After all, you can’t expect everything to end favorably in this industry. Anything can happen, especially since you’re handling massive equipment. You need insurance to prevent liability. Apart from the person providing the services, you should also consider the possibility of a third-party injury. You can also look at the possible legal requirements in starting a business. Even if it’s only a seasonal job, you should still know the regulations. Otherwise, you could be in trouble, leading to your business shutting down. 

Purchase the necessary equipment

Of course, you can’t start this business without the right equipment. You need to invest in a mower, edger, string trimmer, leaf blower, goggles, gloves, ear muffs, and lawn bags. It’s not only to do the job right but to protect the person providing the services.

Identify your target audiences 

You should know who your target audiences are. You must advertise the services too. You want everyone to know that a local lawn care business is available. Still, don’t start anything unless you’re confident you will have potential clients. Use social media to inform people about these services. 

Determine the price

You should have standard prices and be consistent with the pricing strategy even if you’re only running a small business. You want people to feel that you’re not taking advantage of them; hence, the amount must be consistent with the services offered. You can also compare with other nearby lawn care services to see if you’re close enough. 

Start small

You can’t expect many people to avail of your services immediately, but remember that there’s nothing wrong with starting small. Eventually, the number will increase, and you will have more clients asking for your services. At that point, you should start growing your team. Hire people who will take the job seriously. Pay them well to ensure you have the right employees to meet the demands. You may also expand the services offered based on what your clients need. 

Once you’re ready to roll, set up social media accounts across platforms for advertising. You may also use them to receive reviews and comments. Always be willing to expand your business.

Earth Friendly, Home, Natural Products

Natural and Non-Toxic Cleaners for the Home from Lemi Shine

Natural and Non-Toxic Cleaners for the Home from Lemi Shine

I love nothing more than to relax in a clean, fresh and organized room. With all of the wiping and cleaning I do, it is important I am not leaving harsh chemicals behind. If you have felt even a little bit worried about the ingredients that are in your cleaning supplies, especially bathroom and other surface cleaners, let me introduce you to Lemi Shine natural and non-toxic cleaners.

Lemi Shine has bleach-free, non-toxic and very effective cleaning products, which utilize the natural power of citric acid. I was browsing their products and noticed that many have The Safer Choice label. This means that EPA scientists have evaluated every ingredient in their products to ensure they meet Safer Choice’s stringent criteria for safe products. The natural ingredients such as citric acid and essential oils work to make sure you leave no toxins behind as you clean and disinfect.

Lemi Shine has bundles that are perfect for home and the classroom. Browse single products or these bundles to save and keep your home clean for back to school and also read for the Holidays. Visit Lemi Shine to see more!