A New Fitness Regimen We Should All Have

September 22, 2016 by

Sometimes, there are things we know we should do but put off again and again.  We always have excuses. We have more urgent things to do. There are more important things that require our attention. I am so guilty of this! (Although I really have my hands full right now! Promise!)

One thing that I have been putting off was starting my journey to financial freedom. Last June (my goodness! That was months ago!), I received a financial journal from Avida Land.  I did browse through it when I first got it but never took time to really delve into it. I realize now I should have made time for it sooner!

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The journal includes very specific actions we can take on our path to financial freedom.  It starts with a guide on how to determine whether you are financially fit.  Once you have figured out where you are financially, you are then guided on how to make your own roadmap.  It also lists several investment options and advice on how to choose which one is most suitable for you.  As you go through the journal, you are encouraged to make a commitment to achieve your long-term financial plans.

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Taking the First Step

As with everything we do in life, it all begins with the first step we take.  In this road, our first step is to determine where our finances lie by creating a Cash Flow Statement and a Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Sounds daunting, right?! Good thing the Avida financial journal has made this easy by providing step-by-step instructions on how to make them.  What wasn’t so easy was finding out that we’re not in such a good state.

Thus, I now feel compelled to start a new fitness regimen – a financial fitness regimen!

 

What I Should Do!

The same way we discipline ourselves in the way we eat or exercise, we must also learn how to discipline ourselves financially.  This is my focus now.  We really don’t spend much on unnecessary material things and don’t splurge on expensive branded clothes and accessories, but we do spend a lot on food and leisure activities. Before I move forward to finding investment options, we must make sure we have enough to invest in them.  So, this is my  mantra now:  SPEND LESS THAN WHAT YOU EARN

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By cutting down on some unnecessary expenses and going back to our habit of setting aside a portion of our income, I think we could get back on track soon.

My Fitness Regimen

So far, here’s what I’m committing to do:

  1. Allot a portion of our income to savings. Set them aside right away!
  2. Eat out less often.
  3. Make a budget and stick to it!
  4. Do a weekly review of expenses.
  5. Find other sources of income. (business ideas anyone?)

With my new financial fitness regimen, who knows, maybe we could have more than enough for that dream house we’ve been pining for.

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Filed Under: Business Savvy Moms, Handy Tips, House Matters, Mom's Corner

The Evolution of Safe Trampoline Design

August 2, 2016 by

Trampolines are a great outdoor activity. They promote a fun and active lifestyle. However, if you pay attention to the news you can probably recall several incidents involving trampoline injury. Thousands of people are injured yearly. Sadly, there are no improvements to or advances in trampoline safety standards in the US. Trampoline designers have made a few sundry attempts to address this problem — traditionally by installing weak foam padding around the springs and frame that lost most of its absorbency after initial contact.

While they are fun to jump on, trampolines come with a list of possible injuries and even the risk of death. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, accidental deaths on trampolines can occur by:

  • Bouncing into another person
  • Not properly landing while jumping or doing stunts
  • Falling or jumping off of the trampoline
  • Falling on the springs or frame of the trampoline

Indeed, from 2000-2009, there were 22 deaths in the US resulting from these types of occurrences.  There have been so few trampoline safety improvements over the years that when one finally came along, people took notice. Based on the designs of a mechanical engineer and proactive parent from New Zealand, Springfree Trampoline introduced a series of design improvements that have completely changed the game.

One interesting and unique improvement is the SoftEdge mat. This innovative mat absorbs 30 times the amount of shock than traditional trampoline pads. Combine this with the removal of the springs from the trampoline equation and the concealment of the frame beneath the surface, and suddenly you’ve removed 90% of product-related injury. This is why the hidden frame approach works the best — and only Springfree uses this approach. This method eliminates the need for springs.  It also reduces the potential threat of jumpers coming into contact with the frame. This means that when you buy a 10ft trampoline at Springfree Trampoline you are interacting with composite rods beneath the mat, rather than dangerous springs on a horizontal plane with the mat. This makes the experience safer than ever before.

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In 2006, 80 percent of trampolines came with safety nets. While this helped to reduce the injuries resulting from falling to the ground, new dangers were created due to the risk of colliding with the support bars of the net. This is why Springfree has introduced the FlexiNet enclosure — which uses pliable composite rods in place of rigid steel poles which help to guide bouncers safely back to the mat. These poles are curved outwards and act as a guiding mechanism instead of a potential threat.

After safety concerns, your next question should concern quality manufacturing. If you are searching for safe trampoline alternative for you family, you don’t want to have to replace it every year. Every quality piece of athletic equipment needs to be made with highest quality materials where each component is thoroughly tested on-site for quality assurance. Quality trampoline parts will also be able to withstand the hot summers and wet winters, without losing any structural integrity. Make sure to find a company with a weather resistant guarantee to ensure that you aren’t buying another trampoline in a few short years. Follow these steps, and you’re sure to find the right trampoline for your backyard in no time.

Filed Under: Handy Tips, Home Improvement, House Matters, Products We Love

How to Clean Your Cowhide Rugs

May 30, 2016 by

Cowhide rugs and other animal skin rugs like sheep skin rugs, are one of the best purchases you can make for your home. These rugs make a statement about your taste in any room they are placed in. The beautiful look of these rugs is sure to be an eye-catching accessory that will give your home the hint of luxury you have been searching for. Cowhide rugs keep their coloring for a very long time as well, as they are not as likely to fade as rugs made from textiles. The vast array of colors and designs available mean that just about anyone can find a rug that suits the décor of their home or apartment, depending on the effect desired. From rugs with neutral tones like brown or red to the more striking zebra print rugs, people who want to bring life to a room can easily do so with cowhide rugs.

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There are a couple of things to note about keeping your cowhide rug clean. First, it is important to know that cowhide rugs are one of the easiest rugs to maintain that you can buy. Because they are made of truly natural materials, it is difficult for them to gather dust and debris, so you will not find that the rugs become dirty or in need of cleaning very often. If you discover that your cowhide rug has gathered a significant amount of dust, all you need to do is shake the rug out to remove the accumulation of debris. Because of this ease with which you can maintain the rug and keep it from becoming too dirty, these rugs are ideal for placing in areas of the home or apartment where there is a lot of foot traffic. If you happen to spill something on your cowhide rug, there is an easy way to take care of it. Just apply some warm water to the rug and gently rub away the spot with a soft cloth. Because of the way cowhide is treated before turning it into a floor covering, it does not have the same vulnerability that other kinds of rugs do, so these rugs are likely to last for a very long time. Cowhide rugs can also be placed on couches or chairs as decorative throws or hung on the wall to enhance the aesthetic in any room. No matter what you choose to use your cowhide rug for, you can rest assured maintenance of these items is simple and trouble-free.

Anyone who has problems with allergies will benefit from cowhide rugs in the home. The reason is that harmful bacteria are not attracted to the cowhide rug and the oils that are found in the hides are hypoallergenic. Unlike rugs made from textiles, it is quite difficult for cowhide rugs to become moldy because they tend to repel the absorption of liquids that could lead to the development of mildew.

The real cowhide rugs are preferable to any facsimiles you can buy. These facsimiles are usually inferior to the real cowhide rugs in terms of their durability. The cost is very often comparable when looking at real cowhide rugs versus imitations, so it makes sense to go for the real thing when looking to decorate your home.

If you’re decorating a new home or apartment, need to replace an old textile rug or simply want a way to jazz up a room with a new look, a cowhide rug can be the perfect item to purchase. The easy maintenance, affordability, beauty and style of these rugs make them an attractive décor item, as does their safety for people with allergies and their resilience. Cowhide rugs are increasing in popularity among homeowners because they truly are an ideal addition to any home. To view a wide selection of cowhide rugs click here.

Filed Under: Handy Tips, Home Improvement, House Matters Tagged With:

Wracked With Headaches? It Might Be Time To See A Neurologist

May 4, 2016 by

Sometimes, neurological problems may manifest in ways that seem unusual. A neurological problem may not be immediately apparent. While the symptoms below may be caused by less serious illnesses and should not necessarily alarm people, when seeing a doctor for these conditions, it may be worth asking whether a visit to a neurologist Cypress TX might be in order.

Headaches

Most headaches are little reason for concern beyond any debilitating effects they have on a person’s daily activities. In fact, you can carry out a quick symptom check at TreatHeadaches, to find out which kind of headache you have and how to make it better. However, there are a few signs that may indicate further investigation is necessary. Headaches that occur multiple times each week and do not respond to over-the-counter medications, headaches that come on suddenly and include a stiff neck or a fever, and headaches that are getting worse over time may all indicate the need to see a neurologist. People may also want to seek a medical opinion if their headache is accompanied by dizziness, nausea, blurry vision or other symptoms. Alternatively, this article here explains how useful CBD can be in the fight against headaches.

Dizziness

Dizziness that causes vertigo or balance problems may be a reason to see a neurologist. A person’s regular physician will have a better idea as to whether referral is appropriate.

Seizures

Not all seizures are obvious. Some may involve staring or a brief loss of consciousness. Low blood sugar and other conditions may lead to seizures, but they might also happen due to a neurological condition. CBD oil has also proved particularly helpful in this area too, with studies showing it to reduce seizures in people with epilepsy. If you’d like to learn more about the applications of CBD then you could check candidmagazine.com for more information.

Weakness, Numbness or Tingling

It’s natural to feel some weakness after you have exerted yourself physically or numbness and tingling if you have allowed a limb to “go to sleep.” However, if these symptoms arise out of nowhere, it could be indicative of a more serious issue.

Problems With Movement

A person who is having trouble walking, is experiencing involuntary movements or is excessively clumsy may want to rule out causes such as anxiety and medication side effects first. However, if these problems are occurring for no apparent reason, a neurologist such as one at Cyfair Medical Partners might be able to diagnose the condition.

Neurologists deal with problems in the brain and nervous system, and for some people, the prospect of developing an illness associated with these parts of the body may be so frightening that there may be a temptation to ignore or downplay the symptoms. However, finding out what is wrong is the first step toward treatment, and a neurologist may be able to offer solutions that greatly improve a person’s quality of life.

Filed Under: Health

Taking Care of Your Marine Life with Proper Equipment

April 3, 2016 by

Fish and aquatic life thrive on a delicate balance of nutrients and chemicals in their water. It is important that you maintain this fragile balance if you want your fish, plants, and other marine life to survive and grow. Rather than use products and gear found in a big box retail store, you can instead choose equipment that is specially designed for this purpose. You can find items like a freshwater canister filter and other aquatic gear for sale online today.

“Fancy Carp Fish” by holohololand /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

“Fancy Carp Fish” by holohololand /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Choosing the Right Model and Size

When you look online, you may see a wide variety of filters and other equipment for sale. This extensive array helps you find gear that is made just for your particular brand of aquatic container. Many makes and models of containers require that you use brand-specific parts and equipment. You can shop on the Aquatic Warehouse website today to see if your brand is listed and in what sizes the equipment for it is available.

You can also find universal parts and equipment for your aquatic container. The inventory is available on the left side of the webpage. You can shop according to the parts that you need, including filters, pumps, and more.

Food, Medicines, and More

Your aquatic life also will survive and thrive if you take care of its medical and dietary needs. Fish and plants sometimes can be at risk for fungal and bacterial infections. These infections tend to flourish when the chemical balances in the water are not properly maintained.

If you notice your fish failing to thrive or plants in the water dying, you may take steps to nourish and treat them properly. You can find medicines, food supplements, and other products for sale on the website.

The food and medicines for sale are tailored to the specific kind of life that you have in your container. For example, if you have shrimp or algae eaters, you can use food and medicine made for invertebrates. If your plants are dying, you can also find plant supplements for sale on the website. The categories make it easier for you to shop for what you need.

Maintaining an aquatic container like a pond full of fish and plants requires that you pay constant attention and watch for signs of illness or infection. Fortunately, you can easily find products like filters, food, and medicine for these creatures online.  With useful websites, it is now very easy for anyone to take good care of their marine life.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, House Matters Tagged With: ,
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