It’s traditional to mark the beginning of the year with commitments to change, and goals to be accomplished in the next twelve months.
However, it doesn’t take long to discover at the end of the year that we came no closer to achieving those resolutions than when we made them.
Here are four useful suggestions to increase the probability that your New Year’s resolutions will stick this year.
1. Be specific. A resolution such as, “I want to lose weight this year” will probably fail. It is too vague. Be specific: your ideal weight, minus what you weigh now, is your weight-loss goal. Your resolution would then be, “I want to lose 30 pounds.”
2. Make them time specific. Don’t make resolutions that fit the “someday/maybe” category. “As soon as possible” generally means never. A deadline is a commitment. It’s easy to put off getting started, without a deadline as a self-imposed pressure point. Deadlines are also useful for breaking the resolution down into smaller steps. If your goal is to lose 30 pounds by the end of June, that works out to 5 pounds per month, or 1.25 pound per week. Setting a deadline and breaking it down to its smaller requirements makes the resolution more attainable.
3. Take small steps. Change is uncomfortable to start with. The more behaviors we try to change, the more likely we will fail. Pick a couple of things that are most important to you and focus on them. When you reach one or both goals, start a new one. Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much change all at once.
4. Be realistic. We get motivated to change at the start of the year and we think we are ready for anything and everything. Be realistic: there is only so much you can accomplish within a period of time. If the doctor tells you to lose 100 pounds, don’t expect to accomplish that in six months. If you set the bar too high, you are most likely to fail and find it discouraging to get started again. source
A lot of couples these days can only start their families via medical intervention. Many women of advanced ages, with medical conditions that inhibits their ability to produce eggs to be fertilized, rely on egg donation to enable them to start the process of having a child.
If you’ve completed your family, have not yet and have ever considered donating one of your healthy eggs to a family in need, here is a primer of things to consider.
Egg donation isn’t a topic you hear about very often. It isn’t widely talked about in public and, unless you already know someone who’s donated or received eggs, you probably don’t know much about it. In this article, you’ll learn more about what’s involved and find there are many reasons and many things for you to consider before deciding if donating is right for you.
Why Donate?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. There are
financial and noble reasons to donate. Some women donate to earn money to pay
for schooling or other interests. Some women feel the call to help otherwise
infertile women conceive, carry, and deliver a baby. Others may want to help
LGBTQ couples start a family. Many women donate for a combination of these reasons.
Requirements
Healthy eggs are a very important component to successful
egg retrieval and implantation. For this reason, egg donors must meet certain
requirements to ensure egg viability. At a minimum, women are required to be:
Between 21 and 33 years of age
Free of tobacco products and drugs
Free of STDs
In good mental, emotional, and physical health
Available for 3 months
Able to self-inject required medications
Legal Rights
You’ll be expected to sign contracts to absolve yourself of
legal rights to your donated eggs and confirm you understand the risks involved
in donating. Additionally, recipients sign contracts to prevent them from
holding you responsible for any children born from your eggs.
Other conditions, like your anonymity preference, will be
included in the contract. You can choose to remain anonymous or choose to be identified
after a child turns 18 years old. It’s important to do what feels right to you.
If you desire to have a future relationship with any potential child, it’s best
to be upfront about it so you can be paired with a recipient who’s open to it.
Process
Screening
You’ll be screened and evaluated through a series of tests
to ensure you meet the physical and legal requirements previously mentioned. The
testing includes blood panels, genetic testing, psychological evaluations, and
medical history examinations. You’ll also complete questionnaires to disclose your
professional and education background, and your interests.
The results of your screening become part of your donor
profile and help potential egg recipients decide whether or not you’re the
right donor for them.
Egg Stimulation and Collection
Once you pass screening, you’ll be ready to have your ovaries
stimulated by medicines designed to help produce several mature eggs. You’ll be
asked to self-inject the medication your doctor prescribes or find someone to
help you do it. Frequent, sometimes daily, trips to the doctor will be
necessary to check your body’s response to the medication. At these visits, you’ll
likely have blood drawn and have a transvaginal ultrasound to carefully monitor
your health and to accurately time the release of your eggs.
Medication will then be used again to trigger your ovaries
to release the mature eggs you produced. While under light anesthesia, your
eggs will be retrieved using a thin needle and – if it isn’t a fresh egg
donation – cryogenically stored until your eggs are matched with potential
parents.
Recovery and Side Effects
You’ll have a recovery period during which you and your
doctor will monitor your progress and identify potential side effects. Common physical
side effects may include light bleeding, abdominal pain and cramping, or
constipation. Your experience may vary, but most egg donors resume their normal
activities within a few days.
One riskier side effect, which can occur before or after retrieval,
is Ovarian
Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). With OHSS, high levels of HCG dilate your
ovarian blood vessels, causing swelling and fluid leakage. The sooner your
doctor can diagnose OHSS, the easier it can be treated and managed, leading to a
faster recovery. Severe abdominal pain, cramping, bloating, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhea, and sudden weight gain are all symptoms indicative of OHSS.
Emotions
While egg donation requires obvious physical and time
sacrifices, the emotional impact is less obvious. You’ll be prone to experiencing
a range of emotions – nervousness, sadness, excitement, joy – that can change
over time. This is normal and you should give yourself the time you need to prepare
for and recover emotionally. It may help to know your egg recipients are
receiving a gift that will have an enduring positive emotional impact on their
lives.
Is Egg Donation an Option for You?
Egg donation is an excellent option for many women and might
be right for you, too. Only you can decide.
For the New Year, a lot of people plan to clean house, literally and figuratively. Clutter does more than create dust and crowd spaces.
According to a recent survey by UK Blinds retailer Blinds Hut, 82% of people’s mood is affected by clutter in some way.
In fact, recent studies have shown that the average person has 3,370 cubic feet of their home packed with items that they rarely or never use. The researchers explained how clutter impacts on our senses and make it difficult to focus on important or difficult tasks.
Clutter can invade both our physical and mental space, stopping us from thinking creatively and productively. More findings about clutter include:
66.5% of people have argued over clutter with a cohabitant
10% of the public wait months before dealing with clutter
Nearly a quarter of respondents admitted to having worn less than 25% of the clothes in their wardrobe in the past year.
We keep Over $10 Billion worth of unused clothes in our wardrobes.
It’s time to use those gift cards you got for Christmas! Since 2005, some $45.7 billion has been floating around in unused gift card balances, according to Finder!
We can guess why. Life is Busy. We are Forgetful. Don’t join the statistic! Avoid hesitating on spending your gift card!
I recommend you get on Amazon and quickly order something you would ordinarily NOT get for yourself!
It is an excellent excuse to gift yourself something novel, fun, quirky or just different.
Here are 7 items I’ve seen, purchased, used and looked up to see if they sell them on Amazon and they do! Sweet!
1. Game on!– Get nostalgic and play some of your fave Atari 6400 games you played as a kid with your own kids! We love Blast’s vintage “Plug and Play” video game that comes with a wireless controller and features 8-20 classic video game titles like Centipede, Millipede, Yar’s Revenge, Asteroids, Missile Command, Pitfall, River Raid, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Galaga and Dig Dug. We picked one up at Target for like $25.00 on sale. Online it’s at Amazon.com for just $18! My husband and I played for hours with our kids on Christmas Eve! So fun!!! Thanks AtGames for gifting us a controller as well!
2. Coffee Lovers – I have been eyeing KRUPS’ Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder for a while now and it’s down to $15! Perfect price point for this best selling press machine for coffee aficionados like myself! It makes 3 ounces worth of yummy goodness in about 10 seconds! Love mine! I got one for Christmas and I’m hoping it saves me money on Starbucks! Oy vey! LOL!!
3. Wine On – Ever since I won a wine tumbler in an Instagram contest, I’ve not stopped using mine. Not sure if to laugh or cry about that! ha! If you have an Amazon gift card, you can pick one up for under $20! It’s my go to at the end of a trying week!
4. Future seekers – Going in 2019, a lot of people have big dreams and hopes of making the next year better than the last. I’m a fan of astrology and birth order and the zodiac and I can say emphatically that I got my kickstart going thoroughly through the pages of Mecca Woods‘ book “Astrology for Happiness and Success!” ($10.39) I not only perused Woods’ very practical tips, delivered in a casual conversational tone for my sign, Virgo, I did for my children’s and husband’s as well. I found the career and wellness guidance extremely relevant and they appear so personalized to me! The book is wonderfully sectioned and organized making it a super easy read! You can pass it on to your mom, sister, bestie when done! Get it!
5. Ski down – It’s the season for hitting the slopes and a new pair of over the glasses ski goggles would be a great gift to give yourself this winter! These are just $18 on Amazon! It gets good reviews, fits with your helmet and fog resistant! Looks like a winner! I think I’ll get the purple ones!
6. Well Read – For the design and/or book lover, this exquisite reading lamp I peeped a teen using while sitting and reading books in Barnes and Noble over the holiday caught my eye. It is pretty, sleek and super portable. I asked her if she got it in the bookstore and she told me no, Amazon! For just $15!!! I just ordered one!
7. Wild Animal – Signal your love of your pet dog or cat with these adorable fridge magnets! I saw these on my girlfriend’s fridge a few months ago! I thought they were so cute and they’re only about $10 for a set on Amazon!
Have fun shopping for stuff you know you may not ordinarily get for yourself!
Christmas Day has come and gone and now comes time for cashing in gift cards and returns!
Not all store return policies are the same so here is your guide for exchanging and returning at the most popular stores:
Christmas Day has come and gone and now comes time for cashing in gift cards and returns! According to Offer.com, clothing is the number one item shoppers will be returning to stores for different sizes, styles and only 10 percent of those surveyed said they will exchange tech gifts.
For this time of the year, even retailers without generous policies adjust them to make the return process smoother, faster and easier! The best way to make it go well is to NOT open the packaging for video games, software, movies or music be once opened, the best possible option is for an exchange.
Not all store return policies are the same so here is your guide from Patch.com for exchanging and returning at the most popular stores:
Amazon: Most new, unopened items sold and fulfilled by Amazon can be returned within 30 days of delivery for a full refund. Items shipped by Amazon between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 can be returned until Jan. 31 for a full refund.
Banana Republic: The standard return policy allows45 days after an item is purchased. Jan. 15 for orders placed Nov. 1-Dec. 24 or within 45 days of purchase, whichever is later.
Barnes & Noble: The book, music and toy seller has a 14 day window for returns.
Bass Pro Shops: The outdoor store has a 60 day window for returns.
Belk: The department store chain allows 180 days for returns.
Costco: The warehouse chain has a 90 day return deadline for some electronics and appliances; there is no deadline for most merchandise.
Eddie Bauer: The outdoor-themed clothing chain has no deadline for returns.
Target: Most unopened items can be exchanged or returned for a refund within 90 days of purchase. Electronics and entertainment items — including laptops, eReaders, tablets, cameras, camcorders, digital audio players, GPS systems, video game hardware and personal DVD players — must be returned within 30 days for a refund or exchange. If these items were purchased between Nov. 1 and Christmas Day, the 30-day refund period will start on Dec. 26. Open music, movies, video games and software cannot be returned but may be exchanged for the same title.
Apple: Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between Nov. 14 and Dec. 25 may be returned through Jan. 8, 2019. All purchases made after Dec. 25 are subject to a 14-day return deadline. Items that may not be returned include: opened software, electronic software downloads, software upgrades and Apple Store gift cards.
Bed Bath and Beyond: Returns with an original receipt can be made at any stores nationwide for an exchange or merchandise refund for the amount paid for a year. If you don’t have a receipt, the store will exchange the gift for 20 percent less than the current selling price, give a merchandise credit for 20 percent less than the current selling price.
Kohl’s: There are no time restrictions on returns for most merchandise. Whether a gift was purchased in store or online, take the item and your gift receipt to the Customer Service Desk of any Kohl’s store near you. If you don’t have a receipt, you can return your item for a merchandise credit based on the lowest 13-week sale price toward anything in the store. The return deadline is Jan. 31 for premium electronics purchased from Nov. 1 to Dec. 25.
Walmart: For the holidays, Walmart has a limited return/exchange period for cameras, computers, DVD and music players. For electronics, the limited return period of 15 or 30 days will begin Dec. 26. For all others, returns are accepted within 90 days after purchase. CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray discs, audiotapes, videotapes and video games must be returned unopened.
Macy’s: Holiday returns must happen by Jan. 31 for orders placed Nov. 1 – Dec. 31, for items that have 60-day policy, or 60 days, whichever is later.
Victoria’s Secret: Within 90 days of purchase, customers receive credit back to the original payment method shown on a receipt. After 90 days, you will receive a merchandise credit.
Best Buy: Most items purchased between Oct. 28 and Dec. 28 can be returned through Jan. 12, although that doesn’t apply to cell phones and devices with a carrier contract. Opened computer software, movies, music or video games can only be exchanged for an identical item.
Nordstrom: There is no firm policy, the upscale department store says on its website, and no time frame for returns and exchanges. A receipt will help with returns, but the company says it can find the transaction without it most times.
Old Navy/ The Gap/ Banana Republic:You have up to 45 days to return items purchased at Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic. Items that are unwashed and unworn or defective are eligible for returns or exchanges. The stores will exchange gifts or return them for a gift card for the original price paid.
Zappos: You can return your item(s) for a full refund within 365 days of purchase. Returns must be unworn, in the state you received them, and in the original packaging. Some items ship with an attached security tag.
T.J. MAXX: Returns must be made by Jan. 23 for orders made between Oct. 14 and Dec. 24.
Know the Return Deadlines: The time period allowed for returns varies by store, and even by item, with typically only a couple of weeks allowed for electronics. Some shops offer store credit, while others do exchanges or refunds. The window for a return ranges from practically forever for Lands’ End to 15 days for electronics at Walmart.
Get the Receipt: As a gift-giver, you should ask for a gift receipt and enclose it with the gift. There are ways to ask for a receipt – either the original or a gift receipt. Perhaps the size is off, or you already have the movie or book. Some stores may offer store credit on items brought back without a receipt, and the value given is usually the store’s most recent price.
Don’t Remove Tags: Opening packages or removing tags makes it more difficult, and with some sellers impossible, to return gifts, and you can be charged a restocking fee. Don’t take off tags until you’re sure you want to keep the gift.
Keep Electronics/DVDs in Packaging: Don’t remove electronics or similar products from their boxes before wrapping. The original packaging may be required for a return. DVDs or music CDs must remain in their sealed package.
Beware Sale or Clearance Items: Some stores consider the sale of these items to be final, so ask before buying. If you are the gift recipient, do not assume you have the right to return or exchange an unwanted gift.
Bring A Photo ID: Many stores will scan your driver’s license or other government ID to ensure that shoppers aren’t taking advantage of the system if they want to make a return without a receipt.
Timing is Key: Expect long return lines the day after Christmas, so head to the store when it is less likely to be crowded. Keep in mind that the customer service clerks probably have holiday fatigue, so be polite when talking to them. If you are a regular customer or have a store credit account, mention that as you discuss return options. Merchants are usually willing to accommodate loyal customers.
It happened in the UK, Long Island, New YorkN,South Carolina and a lot of other places lately. A nanny camera set up in a child’s room roving and moving on its own thanks to hackers who managed to remotely access the cameras without the knowledge or approval of the owners.
In general, the Internet of Things means things like toys, music players like Alexa, refrigerators and more can be connected to the net. With this connection comes the risk of being exploited by hackers so use two level password protection and opt for the highest encryption possible.
Also, with adults spending an astonishing 11 hours per day glued to their screens – reading, watching, listening and interacting with media ‒ making a pledge to protect your online life is a digital must do. Intel, the National Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA) and Microsoft have an easy-to-implement solution for your New Year’s resolution: #UpdateMeow and keep your systems and software current. The message is simple: when you receive an update notification from your device manufacturer or operating system vendor, verify the source and apply the update. It’s one of the easiest ways to help keep devices secure.
Leveraging the popularity of cats on the internet, #UpdateMeow is a feline-friendly way to remind everyone to update their software and systems, which is often essential to fixing security bugs. It’s simple, has multiple benefits and will keep your interconnected world safer and more secure. What better way to kick off the New Year than by taking one simple step that will help protect you, your family and your entire online community.
Are you ready for those two weeks off for winter break? Many parents can tell cabin fever is upon us, given all the downtime.
That is why we’ve have mastered the art of the winter movie night, morphing into a pro at pulling together an evening that everyone can enjoy, despite cold temps, an out-of-whack daily routine, too much time with relatives, and general post-holiday blues. It’s really just a matter of survival.
Here’s what you need to do.
Tire everyone out. OK, OK… so what I’m about to say isn’t technically a part of your winter movie night, but it IS still key to making your evening successful.Anyone who’s going to participate has to get his or her energy out before hand so that they’re ready to max and relax once the sun’s down. Maybe that means sledding or snowman-building. Maybe that means going on a trek around the neighborhood or taking a short drive to someplace your kids can run around fora bit. If you have teenagers, make them do outdoor chores (hello, shoveling) or run errands for you. The key is to get some crisp air into everyone’s lungs to ensure they don’t go into movie night still bouncing off the walls with pent-up energy.
Set up a snowscape. While the rest of your family is engaged in outdoor activities,you can get your heart rate pumping by setting the scene for the evening’s main event. Search high and low for any and all white pillows, white sheets, white towels and white blankets. You’re going to want to cover your entire movie-watching area with these materials to create a “snowscape.” (Light blue will work as well.) Some families might also have white plastic table covers and white or silver balloons they can add into the mix. If you really want to get into it, check out dollar stores and deep-discount sites and stock up beforehand!
Add merry music. Prepare a mix of your favorite holiday tunes and play them in the background while everyone’s coming in from the outside and starting to wind down.
Decorate as a group. You know your crew best, but if you think they’d enjoy doing something to help set the scene, you could have the kids make paper snowflakes to spread or hang around. (You could also use white throwaway doilies.)Depending on how much you do or do not mind cleaning up afterward, you could give them cotton balls to spread on the floor as “snow.” Another option is to let them build a “snow fort” out of blankets and pillows — somewhere cozy where they can snuggle down to watch the movie.
Build your own (ice cream) snowman. Let everyone settle in for the evening with a frozen treat. My recommendation would be to have small bowls of various toppings that can be used to make a face, hat and scarf on an ice-cream snowman’s head. Or you could whip up ice cream shakes for everyone and voila! You’ve got yummy “melted snowmen.”
Relax and enjoy a movie. Once your group is ready, it’s showtime. Whether you pick a family movie or a seasonal favorite, you’ve earned the right to sink into your chair and let yourself be transported into someone else’s story for a few hours.
And afterward? Egg nog for the adults and hot cocoa for the kiddies!
Giving birth isn’t an easy feat. And while some would say that your body will never be the same after giving birth, it is definitely possible to get back in shape immediately. It will take patience and dedication since it could be longer than what you see from celebrities and other personalities because not everyone has that lifestyle, but it’s not impossible.
Here’s
a list of tips on how you can get back to shape after giving birth:
1. Start
while you’re pregnant
You’re going to start gaining weight when you become
pregnant because you’ll need more calories and nutrients for a growing baby
inside you, and your hormones will be in limbo, too.
While you’re going to crave for lots of things, sugar and
refined carbohydrates included, make sure that you don’t give in to this
feeling the whole time. Opt for healthy snacks like those offered by Snack nation snack delivery instead of reaching out for
doughnuts, chocolates, or ice cream all the time.
In addition, being pregnant doesn’t mean that you can stay
in bed all day. It’s best to be watchful with your diet while you’re pregnant
and perform doctor-recommended exercises because this can influence how easy or
difficult it will be for you to lose some pounds after giving birth.
2.
Breastfeed
There are definitely lots of benefits to
breastfeeding, despite the controversies behind it. One of those is that
breastfeeding your baby actually burns an additional 600-800 calories a day.
This is why you shouldn’t suddenly drop your calorie intake when doing this so
that you provide quality milk, but continue to watch your food portions.
Even while you’re still unable to perform exercise routines
right after delivery, breastfeeding can help you shed the baby weight while
sitting comfortably.
3. Mind
your eating habits
A common mistake that mothers can do after giving birth is
to keep eating the same way when the baby is still there. There’s a concept
where pregnant women can eat anything they want and get away with it, which
could really affect your weight gain during and after pregnancy. Here are some
tips concerning eating:
Besides watching portion control,
avoid eating empty calories and fat like soda, chips, sweetened fruit drinks,
pastries, and others.
Eat small, frequent meals. This
helps avoid cravings that could lead you to eat more.
Consume proteins like lean meat and
fish to lessen hunger.
Don’t skip breakfast. It’s the most
important meal of the day and is vital to start your blood glucose levels
right.
Add soluble fiber into your diet
like flax seeds, chia seeds, beans, and legumes.
4. Get
well rested
You might think that being a mother to a newborn is
rewarding but stressful, and it’s just impossible to get some rest.
There are plenty of healthy ways to
destress like getting into meditation and doing simple breathing exercises. Whenever
your baby is asleep, don’t forget to get some rest yourself.
Your body needs to recover from giving birth, and having
adequate rest promotes faster healing so that you can go back to doing more
activities. Take naps, sleep for at least eight hours at any given chance,
spend 10-15 minutes a day to disconnect and just relax.
5. Start
walking
You’re most likely not ready for more vigorous exercise
until six weeks from giving birth, or more if you had a C-section, but that
doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t keep moving.
Start walking as soon as the doctor allows you, to promote
proper blood circulation and burn calories. You can start with 5-10 minutes a
day, observe if you’re not excessively exhausted or bleeding and progress as
you get stronger.
6. Have a
consistent exercise routine
It is very important that you consult your doctor before
getting yourself into more physical activity. After giving birth, your
abdominal muscles have a gap and it’s critical that this gap closes before you
do any strenuous exercise.
A study has shown that postpartum exercise improved quality
of life so it’s best to make time to burn some calories not just to get back in
shape but for overall health.
A few exercises that could help you are:
Kegel’s exercises and pelvic tilts
to strengthen your pelvic muscles.
Basic crunches as soon as the
abdominal gap closes, mostly after six weeks after giving birth, or more if you
had a C-section.
Mild cardio routines like squats and
lunges help burn fats and increase your metabolism.
Always be observant with your body
and the effects your exercise routines are giving you. If there is something
unusual like excessive heavy breathing or bleeding, consult your doctor
immediately.
If
you want to get back into shape after giving birth, it’s important to impose
self-discipline and be faithful to follow routines. Breastfeed, eat and rest
well, and exercise your way to get the pre-pregnancy shape you want back.
The holiday season calls for entertaining and being entertained, in other people’s homes at cocktail parties, open houses, family and friends’ gatherings.
It is common etiquette to take the host a hostess gift, a small token of gratitude for opening their home and planning a gathering.
Here is a list and guide for hostess gifts you can order today in time for Christmas!
1.Wine– Gift wine in any variety and presented in a festive gift bag but make sure your hostess is a wine or alcohol drinker. Don’t want to offend. You can still get wine delivered in time for Christmas from Wine.com. I like this gift set that sells for$39.99.
2. Chocolates – Everyone loves chocolates and the season is about decadent excessive eating after all. Godiva is a fave, as is Ghirardelli or anything Swiss. I like this Oh! 2018 Gourmet Handmade Marshmallow, Gift Box of 16 Artisan Sweet Chocolates you can get before Christmas if you order today from Amazon for $32.
3. Elegant Sea Glass Fine Art Note Cards – Nice note cards are the type of things people don’t buy for themselves ordinarily so that’s a great gift. These elegant note cards by Donald Verger Photography can actually be used year round by the recipient. They can be ordered and arrive before Christmas at Amazon for $14.95I love these Teacher notecards for just $6.50
4. Potted Plant or Succulents These can last he season of taken care of well. Great gift. A succulent plantis great because they can thrive in any weather or environment practically! These very popular plants are hard to kill but look great in an office, a small apartment window sill, and anywhere. Get these at Etsy for $17.85
5. Olive Oil Decanter –Many kitchen stores and gourmet gifts stores sell olive oil in nice decorative decanters. Get this Rachael Ray Serveware Stoneware EVOO Bottle for just $9.00 before Christmas if you order today for just $9
6. Personalized wine labels I love these festive wine labels you can use to customize a gift for a hostess, a co-worker, your child’s teacher and more! Get them at Stationary, Templates and Party and Paper Supply store Distincvs Party on sale now for $4.99
7. Scented Candles– You can never go wrong with scented candles. They are perfect hostess gift that could be used in any home. Get these Fireside Cozy Candles at Uncommon goods on sale for $12.99
8. Gift Basket. Whether it’s candy, scented soaps or lotions, anything tied in a nice bow would work. Evencookies! You can still get these Oh Nuts! Gift canister in time if you order today from Amazon for $29.99
9. A Swarovski limited edition ornament – It’s never too late to gift an ornament that can be cherished every year. You can order this one in time to arrive by Christmas from Amazon for $20.99
One of the problems that occur during pregnancy is heartburn. It can be described as a burning sensation pains the chest and throat region and is commonly a result of acid reflux in the stomach. The fiery sensation comes from the acid that leaks from the relaxed lower esophageal sphincter (LES) which is otherwise supposed to immure the acids in the stomach.
Majority of pregnant women tend to suffer from heartburn issues post bedtime and meals, especially during their second and third trimester.
Here are a few tips from RaiseVegan to help you deal with heartburn during pregnancy:
• Start with cutting down the amount of food per serving. Don’t stuff your stomach.
• Take time to chew whatever you eat. The idea is to put as much less pressure on your digestive system as possible.
• Avoid drinking liquids while eating. Chances of reflux are more if you have been gobbling up both liquids and solids in one go.
• Don’t take to bed as soon as you have eaten. Walk a bit.
• Eat as much fiber as you can. Include salads in your diet.
• Increase your intake of natural antacids, such as bananas and Aloe Vera juice.
• Trust your instinct. If you feel something is off, see your doctor. Peace of mind matters the most.
Did you have heartburn during pregnancy? How did you cope?
