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Tips for Keeping Elderly Relatives Healthy and Independent

September 2, 2021 By Anne Leave a Comment

When you have elderly relatives, such as parents, who are getting older and need some extra support, it can be tough to find the right balance between helping them to stay fit and healthy, and also allowing them to be independent. We’re going to talk about some of the tips you can make the most of in order to keep them healthy and as independent as they can be as well. So read on and find out more.

Adapt Their Surroundings

First of all, you should think about how you might be able to adapt their surroundings in a way that will not only help them to take care of their health but also maintain a greater degree of independence. That could be as simple as adding some hand rails to the home or something like that. It will depend on what their particular needs are.

Encourage Social and Physical Activity

It’s important to encourage them to be both socially and physically active if possible. It’s good for people who are elderly to be able to engage with other people and have that social stimulation. It’s good for the brain and for mental health. And we all know how important it is to remain physically active. These are things that should not be overlooked.

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Ensure They’re Having Regular Sight and Hearing Tests

Keeping them on top of their regular checkups is something that’ll certainly be very important. If they’re skipping their sight or hearing tests, their senses will decline without intervention, and that can make staying healthy and independent even more challenging moving forward. We know that hearing health affects longevity, so it’s important not to ignore it.

Try to Put Yourself in Their Shoes

It’s important to consider their thoughts and feelings whenever you’re making any kind of intervention. You really need to try and put yourself in their shoes so you can understand what they’re thinking and experiencing. It’s rarely a good idea to make decisions on their behalf and to not think about their independence and integrity because you can be sure that those things will be very important to them. Put yourself in your place and imagine what you would want.

Listen to Them and Their Needs

Listening to them and the specific needs that they have is something that matters a lot. You want to be sure that they’re being listened to and that their wishes are being respected at every turn. Failing to do that will make it impossible for them to feel in any way independent. So be aware of what they want and try your best to balance it with what they need and what’s best for their health.

As you can see, there are lots of things you can do to keep your elderly relatives healthy and supported, while also giving them the level of independence that they crave. It’s a tough balance, but it’s possible to get it right. Just be sure to make the most of the ideas we’ve discussed here today.

Anne

I'm a mother of 2 who likes to get involved in too much! Besides writing here I started a non-profit, I'm on the PTO board, very active in my community and volunteer in the school. I enjoy music, reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with my family. We just adopted our 3rd cat and love them all!

How To Save Money On Your Monthly Home Entertainment Bill

August 6, 2021 By Anne Leave a Comment

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Each month, you will have various bills that come in under the home entertainment heading. This includes things like your cable TV bill, streaming subscriptions, internet bill, and so on. Before you know it, these bills can add up to something astronomical, meaning you’re spending far too much money on home entertainment. Obviously, you should look to lower all of your bills, but some are more essential than others. For example, your energy bills are definitely more important than your home entertainment. So, if you’re looking to save money on your monthly expenses, slashing the cost of home entertainment is a great place to start.

Thankfully, it is very possible to make this more affordable – here are three tips to help you out:

Quit paying for cable TV

Your cable bill will always be pretty hard to stomach. In most cases, families will have a pretty basic cable TV plan that can be around $60 per month. If you want to go for some of the bigger plans, you’re looking at $100 per month or more. Imagine your current cable plan is that much; you’re spending $1200 per year on TV entertainment.

A simple way to save money is by canceling your cable TV contract and looking for alternatives like Sling TV. Some of you may have heard of this, and you’re probably asking yourself is Sling TV worth it? Well, it can cost as little as $35 per month, and the idea is that you get a smaller selection of channels, but mainly the ones you will watch. The problem with cable is you pay loads of money but only ever watch a fraction of the channels available. So, opting for a different service that lets you pick a smaller number of channels will help you save loads of money every month and year.

Switch broadband providers

To save money on your internet bill, look to switch broadband providers. Most of us stay with the same company year after year, but this means missing out on many potential deals. Lots of providers have new customer offers that can slash your bill for a year. If you keep switching, you can ensure you always have the cheapest contract at the time.

Also, your current provider might slash your contract if they hear you want to leave, in a desperate bid to make you stay. Either way, you save money on your monthly internet bill.

Choose one subscription service

Is it worth having Netflix, Disney Plus, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and any other streaming service all in one household? Yes, you get a broad choice of options, but the prices add up. Instead, you need to be vigilant and decide on one streaming service to use, saving loads of money in the process.

The great thing about lowering your monthly entertainment bill is that it opens your eyes to how much money you’ve been wasting every single month. As such, you can now see massive savings by making a few savvy adjustments and lowering the monthly cost of home entertainment.

Anne

Pursuing a New and Exciting Career

August 3, 2021 By Anne Leave a Comment

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Since the advent of the coronavirus and Covid-19 pandemic, many of our lives have changed significantly. Governments around the world have implemented all sorts of phases of different rules and regulations, at times telling us we can’t leave our houses other than for absolute essentials, at others simply implementing social distancing guidelines. This has impacted our personal lives, social lives and, for many of us, our professional lives. For now, let’s focus on the latter. In terms of work, many businesses have been unable to operate in current conditions and have collapsed, causing mass unemployment. Others have been able to continue operations, but have had to make many staff redundant to do so. Then there are the companies who have had to offer shorter working days or lower salaries (both options resulting in negatively impacted income for workers). If you’ve been struggling with work as a result of the pandemic, you may be considering a new role now that vaccines are being rolled out and life is slowly returning to normal. Here are some steps to take that could land you an exciting new role!!

Decide What You Want to Do

First and foremost, you need to consider what you want to do. There are countless roles out there and the world is now your oyster. Many of us are starting with a fresh slate and you don’t have to return to the industry you previously worked in unless you genuinely want to. Consider what kind of roles you’d find enjoyable. What roles incorporate your personal interests? Consider salary. How much would you like to earn? Consider working hours. What will work best around your family and other commitments? Eventually, you will whittle down the options and find something that ticks all, or most, of your boxes.

Training, Qualifications and Experience

Next, ask yourself, what will it take to get this job? Do some research. Find out if there are certain courses or qualifications you need to undertake to be considered for the role. If you’re considering becoming a doctor, you may have a long education ahead of you. If you want to become a pilot, you’re going to need to go to flight school. If you want to be a teacher, you may need a degree followed by teacher training. Then there are roles that require apprenticeships or placements to train you up on the job. A waiting job may require a food hygiene and safety certificate. The list goes on.

The Application Process

Once you have the qualifications or skills required to be seriously considered for the position you’re pursuing, it’s time to get involved in the application process. Start searching for jobs on job boards. Some of the best and most frequently updated options are online, such as Indeed or LinkedIn. Check in every day. You never know when a position will be posted and it’s best to get your application in early.

These are just the starter steps to getting a new job that you have in mind. Bear each step in mind and you’ll be well on your way to landing a new position that suits you and your lifestyle.

Anne

Best Mother of the Bride Dresses to Choose

June 9, 2021 By Anne

It’s not every day that one of your children gets married, so on that special day for your daughter, you want to look elegant and express your style regardless of the season.

Thankfully, the mother of the bride’s dress etiquette has evolved over the years, so the days when the bride’s mother was expected to wear traditional and “modest” outfits are long gone.

There are many ‘mother of the bride’ dress options available, so it may be hard for one to make a pick. Wanting to stand out on your daughter’s big day is not wrong. However, there are different factors that affect the outfit choice and in this article, we will explore a few and also guide you to pick the best available option.

What Should The Mother Of The Bride Wear

Elegance and grace embody the outfit for the bride’s mother, but there are so many styles out there, and it is difficult to decide whether to wear a short or long dress, what sleeve will be most appropriate, the type of neckline, etc. You will need a guide to lead the way to the most fitting outfit for your daughter’s wedding.

Take Tips From The Wedding theme.

You can take a cue from the bride and the groom since they set the wedding tone. Your outfit should be in sync with the theme of the wedding. For example, you can choose to wear a floral dress with equally matching accessories for an outdoor beach wedding. You can ask the couple early for the theme of the wedding and them look the part.

Borrow Colours From The Wedding Party

As the bride’s mother, your dress should not be contrasting with the wedding colors; rather, it should complement the colors of the wedding. You can take a cue from the venue colors and also the bridal train. So it is best to wait for the bride to decide on her bridesmaid’s dresses and colors and pick a color that compliments and does not necessarily match their colors.

Remember to stay away from any color that the bride is wearing. She is the star of the event and should be allowed to stand out from the crowd.

What Should The Mother Of The Bride Wear

Whether you choose a tea-length dress, a long dress, a lace material, or silk, you can find the best mother of the bride dresses for every season here.

Length of the Dress

The length of the dress a bride’s mother wears is a personal choice and does not have to be the same for both mothers of the couple. Although, most mothers prefer to wear similar lengths to create uniformity, especially in pictures.

Tea Length Mother Of The Bride Dresses

A knee-length midi dress is a perfect fit for summer weddings. It can be both elegant and very practical. You have ease of movement while maintaining elegance. You can shop for polished and elegant tea-length dresses for all sizes at AW Bridal.

Long Mother Of The Bride Dresses

Style and color are what make a long dress suitable for formal weddings. You have options of a maxi dress, a long-fitting dress, or a free-flowing ankle-length dress. The style may also include slits and beautiful embroidery.

V-Neck Dresses For The Mother Of The Bride

This age-old neckline carries an air of sophistication and can be styled in different manners that still portray the highest level of grace worthy of the mother of a bride.

Things To Remember

Apart from the tips mentioned above, there are three major things to remember when you embark on a dress search as the bride’s mother.

Speak with the mother of the groom before embarking on a dress search. It is quite normal for the bride and groom to wear matching colors and outfits.
Start your search for your dress early enough. Most people will advise that the mother of the bride begins to search for a dress at least three months before the wedding date. This is to give ample time for eventualities that may arise concerning your dress without having to face disappointment.
Searching stores for your dress shouldn’t be limited to just department stores. You can also search bridal stores because, in recent times, bridal outlets cater to the bride and her dress needs and cater to other important people involved in the wedding, including the bride’s mother and bridesmaids.

Conclusion

Societal norms often pressure mothers to conform to certain styles and standards of dressing. Still, with modern-day dressing modes and etiquettes, mothers of the bride can now embrace their style while maintaining gracefulness, elegance, and poise.

While mothers assist their daughters with various aspects of the wedding preparation, they often forget that they are a vital part of the ceremony and forget to prepare accordingly.

You can search online bridal stores such as this to quickly find a style that suits you. Bridal stores like Cocomelody have a variety of dress choices for the mother of the bride.

Anne

Healthy Eating: 4 Ways to Keep Your Family Healthy During COVID-19

May 12, 2021 By Anne

The COVID-19 pandemic is yet to end, and although countries continue to take measures to curb the spread, there’s a lot more you need to do as an individual to remain healthy. Among the practices, you need to adopt healthy eating for you and your family. As you continue to stay indoors and observe COVID-19 protocols, seek information on ways to keep you and your family safe. Do the following to enhance maximum health with good nutrition during COVID-19.

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Plan your meals

Planning meals seems like a hectic and boring chore, but it is essential for maintaining good health. Most times, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a tendency to over-purchase goods due to panic. Many of the food products end up being unhealthy choices or spoil when they overstay. Planning your meals helps you be more careful with your daily food choices. Use your plan to purchase what you need by checking what you already have in your pantry and foods that can go bad fast.

Prepare homemade meals

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, when you’d experience the daily hassle of commuting to work, school, and back home, there was less time to prepare meals. The go-to option was mainly takeout, which in many cases ended up being unhealthy food choices. Now, when you’re spending more time with family indoors, prepare healthy meals. One of the challenges of being home is the lack of activity, hence a more sedentary lifestyle. Take advantage of information from the internet to experiment with different healthy recipes such as spicy miso ramen for better health.

Handle food with caution

Food safety is a vital prerequisite for healthy eating and food security. As you strive to provide a nutritious diet for your family, ensure you practice safe handling and food hygiene to avoid contamination and disease. Diseases that result from food lower the immune system, putting your family at a greater risk of acquiring the coronavirus. Some of the food hygiene practices you can embrace include:

Maintain a clean kitchen and utensils.
Clean your hands thoroughly with running water and soap before handling food.
Clean the raw food products with safe water.
Cook food thoroughly.
Keep raw and cooked meals separate from each other.

Use delivery services

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more advisable to stay indoors. As such, some people may not be able to go grocery shopping, and most local stores no longer allow walk-ins. Although it is best to prioritize homemade meals, you can still use delivery services for particular meals and ingredients. Delivery services may offer a safer option where there are contactless payment methods and practice safe handling of food. However, ensure that you make healthy food choices with less sugar and salt intake and cut down on alcohol and cigarettes.

Bottom line

Healthy eating is a choice you should make daily, especially during moments like this when your immune system is at risk. Make use of the time with your family to prepare healthy, homemade meals together and encourage your kids to eat. Plan meals prior, use delivery services, handle food with caution, and most importantly, enjoy quality family time during meals.