Tips and Thoughts

As the global health crisis drags on, more and more people are experiencing a variety of skin issues that are collectively referred to as lockdown skin. Healthline’s report on lockdown skin notes that it can be linked to numerous factors, like abrupt routine changes and high levels of stress and anxiety — something we moms know all too well. Thankfully, outside of the usual skincare tips, there are several ways you can avoid or treat lockdown skin to maintain a healthy-looking glow.

Using a reliable lotion infused with HA

To anyone who lives in a tropical country, like the Philippines, there is no other skincare product more important than a moisturizing lotion. After all, the extreme hot weather can cause the skin to dry up, acquire damage, and age prematurely.

To steer clear of these kinds of skin issues, one of the things you can lean on is a trusty lotion. Our review of SkinWhite Moisture White explains how the best lotions are those that have key ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and SPF. While HA is capable of delivering deep moisturization by attracting moisture and locking it in, SPF can protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun and block out their darkening effects.

Enjoying some quality ‘me’ time

As the world becomes more and more progressive, liberal, and open, topics that were once considered as taboo are now being discussed much more often. A great example of such a topic is self-pleasuring.

Multiple studies have shown how this deeply intimate and self-empowering activity provides women with a wide array of benefits, including psychological and physiological ones. PrettyMe’s guide to pleasure inducing toys for women emphasized how such an activity can increase blood flow and relieve stress by stimulating the release of feel-good hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin. Aside from helping stave off anxiety, depression and other mood disorders, Amazingy’s article on the skin benefits of orgasms also noted how the Big O can raise estrogen levels. This is crucial to maintaining great skin because estrogen can help lock in skin moisture and prevent the decrease of collagen — an important protein that keeps skin thick and resistant to wrinkles.

Having a regular workout routine

Did you know that compared to the skincare products you carefully choose and invest in, the lifestyle you subscribe to has an even more powerful effect on your skin’s health? This is because your skin’s health is reliant on a multitude of factors, including stress, exercise, sleep, vices, and genetics.

Given this, it only makes sense for people who are aiming for healthy, youthful-looking skin to take the time to have a regular workout routine. A cross-sectional study cited by Everyday Health reveals how exercising can help maintain and promote the thickness of the dermis, which in turn helps in preventing some of the most common signs of skin aging, like sagging and wrinkles. In addition to this, exercising can also slow skin aging by lowering stress, which causes the release of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that’s really bad for the skin in high doses, because it induces inflammation (which then aggravates existing skin issues) and damages the body’s collagen by encouraging a process called glycation. Some studies also note how the stress hormone can also increase the body’s oil production, thereby increasing the likelihood of acne breakouts.

Mommies, do you have more tips for glowing skin? Let us know in the comments below!

There’s nothing more normal than jumping into the car on a Saturday or Sunday for a family day out. Maybe it’s a short trip to the local sports field to walk the dog and get some air. Maybe it’s a slightly longer journey to an amusement park, or museum, or beach. Whatever is on the agenda, you most likely will not be thinking about personal injury spoiling the fun.

Motorists with years of experience under their belt will know all too well the potential dangers of the road. From people emerging early from traffic lights and people slamming their brakes on right in front of you when they reach the turning they wish to take, to tailgaters, lane wanderers, and people reversing without looking, it’s a jungle out there – contact a personal injury lawyer with offices in Augusta if you have been affected. Today, we’re going to look at car safety from the angle of child seats.

Little Houdini back there is going to wriggle free if you’re not vigilant 

Ever notice that asking your child to keep their arms inside their child seat straps is eerily similar to being rejected for a loan or credit card? Or at least, it would sound the same if the child could speak in bank language, which would look a little something like this: 

“Hey kid, sit nicely in your seat until we get to Grandma’s house, OK?”

“-Thanks for your recent contact regarding car seat safety. I’ve considered your request, and unfortunately on this occasion I’m going to have to go in a different direction, but thanks for your comments and I’ll be sure to keep in touch with any future updates that may interest you.”

So, how can you ensure their safety? Well, the obvious place to start is to explain the seriousness of car safety. Show them that you have to have your seat belt on, too. Also, avoid dressing your child in thick padded clothing, and make sure the straps are snug to their body – you should be able to fit two fingers under the strap. 

The seat isn’t meant to wobble

The thing about car seats is that not every seat is designed to fit every car. Or rather, the car seat will actually be designed to fit a standard space, meaning that where your car has odd shaped seats (such as a slightly raised or sunken seat), the child seat may wobble. You must be vigilant at the point of purchase in ensuring that the car seat you are buying represents a quality fit for your car. 

Check your booster seat for extendable back / neck / head support 

As your child grows, the likelihood is that their height will increase faster than their other dimensions. This means they will still fit into their booster seat, despite growing to the point at which their head is now raised above the rear support. Many booster seats have extendable supports to ensure that the seat is able to deliver optimum safety levels as your child grows. Be sure to check your booster seat and adjust the settings/height as needed. 

Cooking can be a great way to build family time. This hands-on activity not only brings your family together, but can also teach your children valuable skills. There are also some dietary benefits, too! Research has shown that kids are more likely to eat fresh veggies and fruits when they’re involved in the process.

When you encourage your children to participate in the delights of cooking, they’ll cultivate a better relationship and deeper appreciation for food, and this is a great way to get them in the habit of eating. Plus, it allows you to make the most of your space. If you’ve upgraded your kitchen with professional kitchen appliances or optimized your kitchen space for storage, now is a great time to make the most of it. With that in mind, here are seven fun and simple tips for cooking with children:

Give Yourself Time

You won’t be able to cook a meal as fast as you would when your kids are helping you in the process. Because of this, it’s important to plan ahead and give yourself the time to dedicate to them. You’ll need ample time and patience to make your cooking experience a healthy one. For instance, you need to factor in a little bit of extra time to educate them, slower mixing times, and a few extra minutes for cleaning up messes.

Get a Family-Friendly Cookbook

A family-friendly cookbook allows your family to have fun with your options and lets your children get involved in the recipe-picking process. These cookbooks will have colorful pictures that allow your kids to visualize what their final creation will look like. Take your time sifting through the recipes and weighing the pros and cons of each one.

Choose the Right Recipes

While it’s important for you to let your children have some input in the recipes you choose, it’s also important to choose recipes that are kid-friendly. For example, if your kids are young toddlers, you wouldn’t want to choose a recipe that was too chopping-intensive. Instead, you might go for recipes that involve more hand usage like working with dough or more mixing with batters.

Make Grocery Shopping Fun

Once you and your child(ren) have chosen a recipe, sit down with them to create the grocery list. Read the ingredients aloud to get them practicing their language, pronunciation, and spelling if they’re at a writing age. When they know what ingredients they’re looking for at the grocery store, and understand the end mission, it can make the entire process feel much more fun.

When possible, go to the farmer’s market and shop for the season for fresh produce. Your kids will be enamored by the lengthy rows of colorful stalls and the friendly community atmosphere. Help them bag items, choose their own veggies and produce, and carry your goods. Encourage them to speak to vendors and talk openly about the meal you’re shopping for.

Make It a Learning Experience

Throughout your cooking adventure, always be teaching. Each step you take creates another learning opportunity. For example, if you go to the farmer’s market, explain to your children why it’s important to shop locally. If you’re using a unique ingredient like saffron, explain where it comes from and what makes it special. If there’s a specific technique you need to use in

Make It Active

No matter what recipe you choose, you can find plenty of opportunities to make it active and hands-on. Small tasks give children a feeling of accomplishment. Whether it’s cracking open the eggs, sprinkling the spices, or pounding the chicken with a mallet, these miniature moments create big impressions on your children.

Give Them Some Control

Let your kids call the shots when it comes to cooking with them. One way to do this is by giving them some control. For example, what should you top the pizza or tacos with? What toppings should go on their frozen yogurt? On that token, let them have some freedom to deviate from the recipe when possible. The finished product doesn’t have to be pretty and perfect, but can be a unique creation made possible by the imaginative minds of your little ones.