Parenting Healthy

Keeping yourself healthy is as much a matter of consistency as is the specific diet or exercise program you choose. You’ll notice increased energy, resistance to illness, and a more positive attitude overall. Your gains will be cumulative; you’ll set up a strong foundation for healthy habits for the rest of your life. Here are a few main areas to focus on.

1. Keep Your Medical Appointments

Don’t forget to make regular appointments for well-woman care, vision care, and dental care. Doing so will ensure that you have a strong ongoing relationship with a clinician, head off any potential problems, and keep those key parts of your body system functioning well. Sometimes, the unexpected can happen. Not sure where to turn? Search using terms such as free pregnancy tests in Illinois to find assistance and support.

2. Stay Well-Connected

Identify your most supportive family and friends, and stay in touch with them regularly. Though texts and video chat are great, don’t underestimate the power of IRL contact. Get active in your community, too — it might involve volunteering or joining an interest group. Pick things that suit your personality. Whether you’re extroverted or introverted, research shows that the health-giving power of social bonds is an antidote to stress and overwhelm.

3. Minimize Your Stress

Speaking of stress, do your best to minimize it. While it’s impossible to eliminate all stress (and some stress is healthy!), you undoubtedly have activities, relationships, and routines that drain you. Either change them so they’re less stressful or eliminate them.

4. Prioritize Your Spirituality

Your spirituality is connected to the deepest part of you. Cultivate and nurture it. If you’re inclined, regular church attendance and prayer groups might be a good fit. Or, you might prefer groups that meet and discuss a spiritual theme. Remember to prioritize your solo spirituality, too. Meditation and prayer are constructive practices to help you stay grounded and calm.

5. Exercise Regularly

Get moving! In this screen-saturated culture, it’s easy to stay on the couch all day. Don’t give in to this temptation. Even if your job requires a lot of computer work, take regular breaks to move; dance breaks are a fun way to do it. Put together a simple exercise plan that addresses cardiovascular, strength, flexibility, and agility training.

6. Eat Wisely

Especially when you’re young, it’s easy to reach for packaged foods and not feel any consequences. Over time though, you’ll notice the effects: decreased energy, increased cravings, changes in body composition, decreased muscle mass, and mood instability. Counteract that by including as many whole foods in your diet as possible. Go out to a weekend farmer’s market and pick up some fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat (if you’re not a vegetarian). Including a few nutritious items in your diet will make you feel stronger and more vital. Don’t forget to hydrate; carry a water bottle with you at all times.

Developing healthy routines early in life will help you in the long run. Keep these tips in mind to feel and look your best.

Shop FossilEra for high quality fossils, collectable minerals and crystals

July 16, 2021July 15, 2021 Erin Sluka

Maybe I can just show you all of the photos I took of my order from FossilEra because they are so much fun. I was blown away at the quality that arrived in my order. I was browsing their website looking at stones, crystals and even shark teeth. I saw that there were some fossil plates and I love to entertain so I was intrigued. I ordered the 11.1″ Tropical Hardwood Petrified Wood Dish from Indonesia. Wow! It is gorgeous and heavy.

I decided I want to find a place in the bar area and have visions of placing a few wrapped candies or mints to make it useful if entertaining. I love all the imperfections I would expect from a real piece of petrified wood. FossilEra really impressed on the way it was packaged. It was wrapped very securely.

They even included a free gift. I found this cut and polished Agatized Ammonite Fossil. My teen claimed it right away for his nightstand. Every item comes with an identifier card so you have all of the descriptions on your piece.

I also ordered a few Worry Stones. I chose Black Obsidian from Mexico and the Red Jasper is from an unknown region, but my son loves fidgeting with these and wanted a ‘red’ stone. I ordered a few extra because they are fun to add to gifts.

FossilEra is located in Monroe, Wa near my town. They are a trusted source of all your fossils and collectable minerals and crystals. Shop FossilEra today!

Parenting

The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Live-In Nanny — Is It Worth It?

July 15, 2021July 15, 2021 Erin Sluka

An astounding 69% of parents say that good babysitters are hard to find. However, for some families, hiring a live-in nanny can present a constant and worthy option without having to continually search for a babysitter — though the notion doesn’t come without a few drawbacks. From the convenience and flexibility that a live-in nanny can offer to the negatives worth considering and the importance of keeping your childcare goals in mind along the way, here’s what you need to know.

The undeniable benefits involved

For families looking to hire a live-in nanny, there are a myriad of benefits to be aware of. For starters, a live-in nanny can present a convenient and trusted caretaker for parents who have varying and/or busy schedules. Not only that, but a live-in nanny will also allow for your child to have a familiar face looking after them, which will allow for them to bond with and become a part of the family since a live-in nanny will be committed to working for your family. With a singular nanny looking after your child as opposed to a rotating schedule of babysitters, you can rest assured that your child will get individualized attention while under their care. In turn, this will allow you to have more parental control over things like activities, diet, and overall schedules.

Potential downfalls to consider

While live-in nannies can be a fantastic option for many families, there are some potential downfalls to take into consideration before actually hiring someone. In addition to the cost, another thing to consider is the fact that you’ll be sharing a home with the nanny, which will likely require setting boundaries early on in terms of when the nanny can have time off, what rooms are off limits, etc. in order to prevent any conflict later on. However, there are additional things to consider should you go another route.

If you’ve been looking for the perfect live-in nanny and can’t seem to find one to meet your needs, looking outside the United States is a great solution in broadening your choices. However, while a nanny from another country can be great for introducing your child to a new culture and even in learning a new language, obtaining a work visa for nanny may be required, with one way being to sponsor them for an H-2B nonimmigrant visa, which will allow the nanny to work in your home for a specific period of time. However, while this can be seen as a downfall due to the paperwork involved (such as applying for temporary labor certification, etc.), the end result will allow you to have a nanny that fits your childcare needs perfectly.

Considering your childcare needs and goals

When deciding whether or not hiring a live-in nanny is right for your family, keeping your childcare needs and goals at the forefront of your mind is imperative in making the right choice. For example, if your child needs more individualized attention, or your schedule requires great flexibility in terms of childcare due to a busy work schedule, a live-in nanny could certainly be the right fit, and can allow you to cater to additional goals such as helping your child learn a new language should you sponsor someone from another country. However, if you’re reluctant to share your home with your nanny or don’t need childcare as frequently, perhaps a babysitter would present a better, more cost-effective option.

Should you not mind sharing your home, a live-in nanny can present a wonderful childcare solution for your family, especially if you have a hectic schedule and would like your child to receive more individualized attention. However, this might not be for everyone, as visa considerations and sharing your home can be potential downfalls.

Natural Foods

Walden Farms Announces Salad Dressings with Improved Natural Ingredients

July 15, 2021July 14, 2021 Erin Sluka

I love that brands are finally putting our health over their convenience and profits. Many brands still have some work to do to put consumers health at the top, but Walden Farms® has made the turn. They just announced their new re-branding of salad dressings now made with natural ingredients and no dyes or artificial flavors. They will soon follow up with better ingredients in their other products, but the dressings are available now.

Just tonight I made salads so I can use up some veggies and chicken I had and we used Walden Farms Ranch Dressing. The dressings are a blend of herbs and spices and natural sweeteners. They are labeled as keto-friendly with 0g net carbs, sugar free and calorie free. Also, the Walden Farms dressings are gluten-free, kosher, and have no high fructose corn syrup, and most are vegan, dairy-free, and cholesterol-free.

Walden Farms did not just change to better ingredients in their dressings, but changed their website to a cleaner and recipe-filled site you can go for videos and delicious meal ideas. Visit Walden Farms to learn more.