3 Common Myths About Aging

Growing older may seem like a scary thought, as you might worry about signs of aging, health issues, or cognitive decline. While all the above can happen as you grow older, they don’t need to play a dominant role in your future. 

If you care for your mind and body throughout the decades and implement healthy aging strategies, your body can reward you with good health, a youthful complexion, and a sharp mind. Don’t allow a small thing like age to stop you from living your life to the full. Put your worries into perspective and learn about the three common myths about aging.

Myth #1: Physical Aging is Inevitable

Contrary to popular belief, growing older doesn’t mean your mobility will decline, your face will fill with wrinkles, or you’ll struggle with various aches and pains. You might not move as fast as you did in your teens or twenties, but that doesn’t mean you’ll physically deteriorate.

Most issues associated with aging can be prevented or slowed down with diet and exercise. For instance, physical activity will improve your strength, speed, and heart throughout the years. Also, a good diet can prevent weight gain, which will take pressure off your joints and help avoid various age-related conditions, such as arthritis.

If you’re worried about fine lines and wrinkles, a good skincare routine, sun protection, and various cosmetic treatments can keep them at bay. For instance, you can organize an appointment for juvederm in Henderson NV. It is a cosmetic injectable that will boost your natural supply of hyaluronic acid and collagen to smooth various wrinkles on the face, such as lip lines.

Myth #2: Cognitive Decline is a Natural Part of Growing Older

Many people worry about experiencing cognitive decline as they enter their golden years, but this doesn’t need to be your reality. Seniors can experience cognitive impairment and even dementia as they grow older, but there are ways to keep your mind sharp as you grow older.

According to a report by the Alzheimer’s Association that was presented to the World Dementia Council, regular physical activity and decreasing cardiovascular risk factors is thought to protect cognitive function. To do so, you must incorporate exercise into your daily routine and care for your heart, such as:

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Quitting smoking

• Lowering your stress levels

• Successfully manage diabetes

  
  

Myth #3: Seniors are Less Adventurous

There is a misconception that seniors are less adventurous as they grow older, but many continue to pursue their goals and make a positive difference in society. For instance, Sir Captain Tom Moore raised more than £38 million for the UK’s NHS in the run-up to his 100th birthday during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, the iconic photographer Annie Liebovitz continues to be a force in her field in her seventies and has recently launched an online photography class.

Age is just a number. If you care for your health, mind, and appearance throughout the years, you could thwart health issues, keep your brain sharp, and look and feel much younger than your age.

The Perfect Custom Cake From Dairy Queen

Did you know that you can create custom cakes from Dairy Queen? Everyone in my house absolutely loves ice cream cake from Dairy Queen. We get each family member their own special dinner and special cake of their choosing for their birthday and nearly everyone chooses Dairy Queen every time. Honestly I thought you could only select whatever cakes they had made or add images to them, but you can do so much more.

I prefer vanilla cake from a local bakery but my family is in love with ice cream treats. 

This time around my husband decided to request an all chocolate ice cream, double fudge cookie centre, topped with peanut butter and chocolate frosting cake. As long as you call your local Dairy Queen a week in advance you can have them create whatever kind of cake you desire (for the most part) 

We love to celebrate birthdays and make them as special as possible. If you are anything like me you have a terrible time remembering everyone’s birthdays unless you see a Facebook reminder. This birthday calendar will help you organize your friends and families birthdays for the future. 

With all the amazing toppings available to you there is no limit to how creative you can be. I know there are some restrictions for sure as some toppings are harder to work with but just ask and they will let you know. Can you imagine making a banana split cake? Or a s’more cake? Or a chocolate lovers dream cake with all chocolate topped with all different types of chocolate toppings and candy pieces? 

Think about what cake you want to create and give your local Dairy Queen a call. I’m excited to see what custom cakes my kids request this year.

For more amazing tips and tricks follow us on Instagram & Pinterest. 

Parenting Stress Making You Haggard? Top Ways to Refresh Your Skin

Parenting can be an incredibly stressful job, and like any stress, it can start to wear down your skin. Between sleepless nights, endless errands, and juggling the responsibilities of motherhood, it's no wonder skin can start looking dull, tired, and worn. But don't worry, fellow moms! There are ways to refresh your skin and make it glow again. You don't have to say goodbye to good skin, and you don't need to make do with those signs of premature aging. Instead, use these top tips: 

Cosmetic Treatments

At-home treatments and a consistent skincare routine can do wonders, but sometimes, your skin needs that little extra boost - especially at the beginning of your journey. That's where cosmetic treatments come into play. 

• Wrinkle Relaxers

Wrinkle relaxers are a family of treatments that work to smooth out the fine lines and wrinkles that start to show up on the forehead and around the eyes. The most popular of all the wrinkle relaxers is Botox. Getting Botox near Chicago will mean having a quick injection to the areas you want to be smoothed out. Once injected, Botox essentially blocks the nerves in those muscles so that they contract and, in turn, the wrinkles smooth out. 

• Dermal Fillers

Botox can't help with things like a deep mouth crease. It can't help if you have deep undereye bags. That's why dermal fillers are a top alternative or, better yet, paired treatment to Botox. These are also injections, but dermal fillers work by plumping up the area underneath the skin rather than smoothing out wrinkles. Typically they involve injecting hyaluronic acid or, more recently, collagen directly into your skin so that you can enjoy a more youthful appearance.

• Laser Skin Resurfacing

This cosmetic treatment can do wonders at rescuing your skin. It works by taking off the top layer of skin to encourage skin turnover so that the new, fresh skin underneath can make an appearance. This can tackle issues like wrinkles and age spots, but most find it gives them fresher, happier-looking skin that can take years off their appearance in just a few sessions. 

• Chemical Peels

Chemical peels are another cosmetic treatment that can vastly improve the texture and even the tone of your skin. Chemical peels are heavy-duty facials that involve applying a solution to your skin to exfoliate the outer layers. This type of treatment can, once again, help encourage cell turnover to reveal fresher skin that's smoother, more even, and seems to glow from within. 

Daily Skincare Tips

Good habits do wonders, and it's hard to maintain something like a beauty routine when you have to put your little kids to bed first. A good tip is that you don't actually need to do your beauty routine just before you go to sleep. When you have a second after the sun goes down, give your skin some love. Aim to first repair your skin's barrier by gently removing impurities and then using serums, toners, and moisturizers to keep your skin hydrated. As for the day, invest in some quality sunscreen that feels good on your skin, and dispense it into little bottles you can keep in your coat, your purse, by the door, by your bedside, and so on. This way, it's easy to reapply sunscreen to your whole family.

National Geographic Book Review & Giveaway!

As an animal lover and nature enthusiast it is easy to sit and read a national geographic book for hours. 

This Book Stinks!: Gross Garbage, Rotten Rubbish and the Science of Trash (ages 8-12, Paperback, 192 pgs, $19.99)

"An enthusiastic invitation to become a waste warrior." -- Kirkus

Winner of the AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books

From e-waste, to waste in space, to innovative trash technology, This Book Stinks! cleverly reveals the smelly — and fascinating — scoop behind what happens to the 4 MILLION TONS OF TRASH the world generates each day and what we can do to un-stink our planet. 

Readers can go "beyond the bin" and learn the cool science behind landfills, why it’s so much better to toss a banana peel than a glass bottle and why being a trash collector can be a risky business.  Rather than being all “doom and gloom” about the subject, This Book Stinks! inspires young eco-warriors kids to take action by including tips and ideas about what they can do to make a difference at home, in their neighborhood and in their community. 

From the ins and outs of recycling, to the nitty-gritty of landfills and dumps, to how creative people find new ideas to reuse rubbish, This Book Stinks! covers everything kids need to know about trash on land, in our oceans and even in outer space and how, by rethinking what we toss and how we toss it, we can save and protect our planet. 

100 Ways to Make the World Better  (ages 8-12, Paperback, 256 pages $9.99)

Who says kids can't change the world? If they've got the will, Nat Geo Kids can guide the way, with doable activities, hands-on projects, advice from National Geographic explorers, interviews with experts, weird-but-true facts, and more inspiration.  In keeping with the Nat Geo Kids mission, the book is full of practical, positive, and powerful ideas that every kid can consider, from simple acts of kindness to creative adventures to good-for-the-planet projects. 

Ideas are presented as simple concepts with engaging graphics and photographs, and many are followed by detailed supporting information. Kids get a sense of their own power to make a difference and an understanding of what actions contribute to positive outcomes. Sometimes all it takes is starting with something simple, and before you know it, together we've reshaped our planet for the better.

Destiny Finds Her Way  (ages 4-8, Hardcover, $16.99) 

Newbery Honor winner Margarita Engle and photographer and Sloth Institute Executive Director Sam Trull team up to bring the inspiring and true story to life of how Destiny, a motherless baby sloth, sightless in one eye and rescued by Sam in the Costa Rican rain forest, defies the odds, overcomes her obstacles of limited sight and learns the skills she will need to return to her wild, forest home.   

In addition to learning about Destiny and her journey, readers are immersed in the world of sloths, how sloths are extremely vulnerable to deforestation and sloth rescue in this uplifting story about overcoming obstacles and believing in yourself.

Water! Why Every Drop Counts and How You Can Start Making Waves to Protect it (ages 8-12, Paperback, 128 pgs, $14.99)

Did you know the water in your glass could be the same water the dinosaurs drank? Discover more incredible facts about Earth’s water, the challenges facing it, and how your actions can help defend this precious resource. Dive in!

No doubt about it, water is fascinating! It’s also essential. But our planet is facing some serious water problems: Drinkable water isn’t easily accessible to everyone, the demands for water around the globe are increasing while the supply is limited, and some human actions are causing disastrous ripple effects downstream for ecosystems and the animals that live in them.

Fortunately, there is hope! And that’s where this book comes in. By learning the ins and outs of important water issues and making small but powerful changes in our daily life, we can help protect the water that connects us all on our beautiful blue planet.

Features include:
· What kids can do right now to combat climate change
· How to make a water filter at home and other fun activities
· How small changes in your daily routine can equal big water savings
· Stats, infographics, and surprising facts (Did you know that it takes about 300 gallons of water to produce one cheese pizza?)
· And much more!

A fascinating look at Earth’s water and a call to action to young readers to help safeguard it. 

Hey, Baby!: A Collections of Pictures, Poems and Stories from Nature's Nursery (all ages, Hardcover, 192 pages, $24.99) 

Join National Geographic Kids on a trip around the globe to celebrate nature's nursery. This collection of stunning photography of wee ones of the wild world will inspire, awe and awww. With dynamic profiles, clever poems, time-tested folktales, amazing rescue stories, and unlikely animal friendships, this book will be a favorite with sleepy little ones, new parents and moms-to-be. Featuring everything from wobbly baby bison to teeny turtles, mini-monkeys to fluffy foxes, this is the perfect keepsake book for the baby animal lover in us all.

Go Wild! Lions (ages 4-8, Hardcover, 48 pages, $9.99) 

Play, pounce, hunt, and roar with lions in this lively introduction to these powerful big cats! Learn all about lions, including their awesome body parts, how they hunt, and what life is like in a pride. Little kids will go wild over photos of adorable lion cubs and more as they explore:

• Where lions live
• What their families are like
• How lion babies grow up
• Other amazing wild cats
• How lions communicate

Young readers will also find out why lions need our help and what people around the world are doing to protect them. Filled with fun facts, awesome photos, games, and activities that will inspire kids to care about these amazing animals.

National Geographic Reader: Plants Level 1 Co-Reader (PreK/Kindergarten, Paperback, 48 pgs, $5.99) 

Perfect for parents and kids to read together. Find out how plants grow as well as the different parts of plants, seeds, and flowers.

These books are worth over $200 retail! You can win your own set by entering our contest. Use the form below, comment, follow on socials and we will be drawing for this great prize package on May 15, 2023. Open to US & Canada

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5 Tips for Serving the Perfect Ham [+ Cooking Time Guide]

Whether you’re celebrating a cherished holiday or just want to jazz up your mid-week dinner, ham is a delicious choice the whole family enjoys. But if you’re cooking it yourself, you might find tackling a larger piece of meat daunting. 

Have no fear, we’re going to share some of our top tips for cooking a delicious ham and some new techniques you can try yourself to craft the perfect dinner.

Skip the Marinade

If you often cook other types of meat, you know that marinating or otherwise seasoning before cooking is a must. Luckily, most hams are pre-seasoned so you can skip this. If you try to season a ham at home, you might end up with a super salty cut of meat. Unless you’re getting butcher-fresh ham, leave the seasoning to the pros.

Keep It Moist

Tasty dinner is all about keeping your meat moist. To help retain juices in your ham, you can:

• Cook in foil

• Baste with brine

• Don’t overcook

You might be tempted to buy a ham with higher moisture content. It sounds counterintuitive, but this doesn’t create a more moist ham — it will just have less flavor. Look for a ham with lower water content and baste it yourself instead.

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Cut It Thin

When it comes to carving a ham, thinner is better. Ham is super flavorful compared to other meats — a mouthful will seem overseasoned. Eating ham is a great reminder to take things slow and enjoy your dinner bit-by-bit.

Properly Prep Before the Glaze

Have you ever gone to glaze your ham only for it to seemingly disappear? Suddenly, the bottom of your ham is a sticky mess with no glaze left on top? Give your glaze some texture to stick to and make shallow cuts to the top of your ham.

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Cook Your Ham Right

Getting the cooking time right is the important part of cooking any type of meat. You don’t want to risk food poisoning by undercooking but wait too long and you risk producing a dry, tough dinner.

You’ll need to cook your ham differently depending on the type:

• Smoked and uncooked: Cook to 145 degrees F and let rest for 3 minutes per pound.

• Smoked and cooked: Heat to 140 degrees F is packaged in a USDA-inspected plant. Otherwise, heat to 165 degrees F.

• Fresh and uncooked: Cook to 145 degrees F and allow to rest for at least 3 minutes.

• Country ham: Soak 4-12 hours in the refrigerator then boil for 20-25 minutes. Dry, glaze, and bake it at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes.

When in doubt, use this ham cooking time calculator from Instacart or check out their cooking guide below!

 

Top Tips for Meal Prepping for Your Family

Meal prepping is one of the best things that you can do as a parent. Not only will it save you time and money, but it will save you a lot of stress, which is something any parent can afford to drop.

While meal prepping is excellent for busy parents, it can often seem overwhelming and time-consuming if you don’t know what to do. To help you on your journey, here are some top tips to help you get started. 

Plan

All meal prepping starts with a good plan. You should first think about how many meals you want to prepare for. The average person's meal prep is a week. This means that you will have to plan meals for 7 days, for every individual in your household. An easy way to do this is to think of a couple of meals and eat them for a few days at a time. Make sure you consider what all family members enjoy, so you can cater to everyone's needs. Some people will just prepare dinners, as breakfasts and lunches are pretty quick and easy to make on the day, but this will come down to personal preference. 

Once you have planned the meals, you should write the shopping list and schedule a time to go shopping. In addition to putting aside time to shop, you will also need to schedule time to prepare all the meals in advance. As long as you have created a good and realistic plan, you will be able to get started with no problems. 

Equipment

The next most important item on the list is equipment. You will need to ensure that you have all the kitchen equipment and utensils you need to prepare your food. Meal prepping often encourages people to cook meals from scratch. If you intend to do this, then you should check that you have everything that you need. The last thing you want to do is get ready to cook and find you fall short on equipment. You will also need to ensure you have enough Tupperware and fridge space to house all the food you are going to cook. Some meals can be stored in the freezer, and some can be stored in zip-lock bags. Just make sure you consider the items you need to store your food, as well as prepare it. 

Ease 

Meal prepping is supposed to make your life easier, not harder. So make sure you don’t try to cook anything overly complicated. Some of the best meals you can make are those that you can make in bulk and that will last several days. It is also important to consider the flavor and texture of the food you intend to cook and ensure that it will last until you plan to eat it. Do some research on family-friendly recipes, and choose ones that are easy to make as well as delicious, for example, pork roast in crock pot.

Meal prepping is an excellent tool for busy parents, as long as you know how. Follow these top tips to help you get started.