Resurrecting Reading as a Mom: Hands-Free Life (9 Habits for Overcoming Distraction, Living Better & Loving More)

I used to be a voracious reader. I remember those first few years of marriage when Aron would be cooking (he loves to do it and does it well) and I'd be snuggled up by a fire (our first apartment had a fireplace!) reading a book. I remember Memoirs of a Geisha, Little Altars Everywhere, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood and a ton more, many of them from Oprah's book club list. (by the way, friend me on Goodreads so we can share book recommendations!)

Then I had my first baby and ... I KEPT READING! I structured my life so that I had plenty of time to read. I nursed my baby to sleep and instead of putting him down somewhere else in the house, I kept him in my arms and picked up a book. Okay, sometimes I watched soap operas and daytime talk shows, but a read a lot. I read mostly nonfiction then ... books on attachment parenting and parenting in general and self-help books so I could try to be the best mom for my kid. After my second baby came along I was able to keep it up ... focus moved to homeschooling books and "how to parent boys" books, since I now had two of those.

How Can You Celebrate Your Anniversary Stuck Inside?

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As we slide into day infinity of lockdown, couples who had big plans for their anniversary are probably wondering how they can make this year, this most unique of all years, in fact, extraordinary. Sure, they still buy gifts for one another, they can make breakfast in bed, but within the confines of your four walls, it can be a little difficult to work out what to do, especially when it feels as if you’ve exhausted everything in the house. 

It may be challenging, but it’s not impossible. All you need is a little imagination to make your anniversary as unique as these bizarre and frustrating circumstances allow. 

Your Own Spa

Everyone deserves to be pampered, and now it feels like you deserve to be pampered more than ever before, so exploring home beauty treatments for you and your partner is a great way to start your anniversary. 

If you’ve got a bath, you can squeeze yourselves in together with a face mask, light some candles, or make them do all the hard work with a massage. Put on some light harp-based music, dim the lights, and treat yourself with some bubbles and body lotion. 

Summer Picnic 

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you should make the most of it by having a couple’s picnic under the blue sky and the sun. You can go all out, with all the bread, meats, cheese, olives, strawberries and cream you like, while a bottle of champers wouldn’t go amiss. 

If the weather’s pleasant enough, there’s always the chance for sunbathing and even lawn games, if you’ve got any on hand. 

Bar Crawl 

Ah, the bar crawl. Jumping from watering hole to watering hole, dealing with sticky floors and terrible tunes, and then moving onto the next. You may not be able to visit your favorite haunt, but you can still bring the atmosphere to you. 

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I’m stilling dreaming of the passionfruit vodka from @seacretsusa when I went to #OceanCity, #Maryland with @ritsychan. The tour was excellent with antiques decorating the whole #distillery. They have #infusedvodka, #rum, #whiskey and more. I love the #speakeasy feel and of course, the tasting. Definitely #seacrets is the place to go. #distillery #vodka #alcohol #blogger #alcoholblogger #travelblogger

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You can create a home bar crawl by setting up drink stations in different rooms. Start with a quick lager in the kitchen before graduating to cocktails and then make your way upstairs for beer pong and karaoke to finish off the night.  

Hotel Casa

You couldn’t treat each other to a fancy hotel where you spent the entire time ordering copious amounts of room service, but that shouldn’t mean you can’t still get a sort-of-the-same-ish experience!

If you’ve got a spare room, one that is typically reserved for guests or when one of you snores, you can switch up your sleeping arrangements by spending a night there. It’s not the same as a hotel. In fact, it’s nowhere close to the same, but with a few mini bottles of booze and some clean sheets, it’s the best you’ve got. 

Happy Anniversary!

While it’s definitely one of the most unusual anniversaries you’ll ever have, it also has the potential to be the most memorable. You don’t need to take each other on a globetrotting adventure or spend hundreds on a fancy meal, as long as you have one another, you’re able to celebrate your anniversary stuck inside your way. 

Moving On After An Accident: Tips To Help You Get Back On Your Feet

Being involved in an accident can have a tremendous effect on your life. In some instances, an accident can turn your world upside down. It can be hard to know what to do and how to move your life forward after an accident. Many people spend the days, weeks, or even longer following an incident coming to terms with the reality of what happened. 

It is entirely understandable that being involved in an accident can have such a major effect on a person. It is a startling experience to discover that what started as just another typical day unexpectedly shifts profoundly in a split second. It may make it much more difficult to figure out how to deal with what has happened if you are hurt in an accident.

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Don't be afraid to talk about what happened

If you are left feeling anxious or distressed about the accident, it's a good idea to open up and talk to someone about how you feel. Talking to a therapist or doctor about how you feel will help you make sense of what has happened and find the right treatment to help you recover. 

It is also helpful to speak to someone close to you that you trust so that they can assist you through this tough period and help you process what has happened.  Trusted friends and family can provide an invaluable support network to help you get back to your old self. 

Get some legal advice

If the actions of another person caused the accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Being involved in an accident will leave you with medical bills to contend with, as well as with the loss of earnings. Speaking to reputable personal injury lawyer services will help you decide whether you can make a personal injury claim. 

If you are eligible to seek compensation, it will help you take the financial pressure off your hands and give you the ability to concentrate on healing from your injuries.

Give yourself time to recover

It is vital that you give yourself the time you need to heal from the accident. Far too often, after an accident, people place immense pressure on themselves to get back to normal as quickly as possible. This doesn't allow them enough time to deal with the accident or to recover from it fully, which can cause long term mental and physical health issues. 

Remember, everybody is different, and just because someone else gets over something rapidly, you should not feel under pressure to push yourself to do the same thing. Similarly, if you feel a lot better, you are not expected to feel guilty for fast recovery. It's important to take life at your own pace when you're recovering from an accident. It might feel like you're never going to get back to feeling like yourself again, but giving yourself the time you need to heal and get the right advice and support will help you get on the path to recovery.

Why Soundproofing Your Property Can Change Your Life

Noise pollution is frustrating. However, what you may not realize is that exposure to excessive noise can also be deadly. Can decibels kill you? Science says yes. A report on the effect of noise on health by the WHO has found that noise pollution can create serious health complications. The most obvious health issue everybody can think of is insomnia. When the city is too loud at night, you find yourself lying down in bed and being unable to sleep. While you may be able to catch up with the lost sleep over a few nights, when it becomes a recurring occurrence, there is nothing you can do. Insomnia weakens your immune system and can, in the long-term, shorten your life expectancy. Even something as banal as feeling annoyed by loud sounds can impact your heart health, and lead to premature death. Noise can kill you. As such, if you’re going to boost your life, you need to understand how to best soundproof your property. 

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Protect your hearing

Hearing health deteriorates with age for most people. Protecting your hearing is an integral part of your social activities. You probably know that you should attend concerts with earplugs to limit the deafening effects of loud music. But what you may not know is that your neighbor’s lawnmower can be just as devastating on your hearing. Indeed, noisy neighbors can, in the long term, damage your hearing if they expose your household to high decibels. Home improvement works, engines, and prolonged exposure to party music can lead to hearing complaints. Soundproofing your property will act as the ultimate protection against decibels intrusion. 

More profitable as a landlord

If you own a rental, you can also add soundproofing and sound monitoring elements. How to manage sounds in your rental? You can find out more, here. But, in essence, you can use a sound monitor to track loud noises in and around the property. This can be useful not only to find out if your tenants are too loud but also to identify potential sources of noise pollution. Loud neighbors, for instance, can be an issue in rented properties. Most landlords refuse to soundproof the place. However, if you can record evidence of noise pollution, you can not only find a soundproofing expert but also refer your neighbors to the authorities. Making your rental more welcoming makes it easier to keep your tenants for longer. 

Create a peaceful environment

Your home is a sanctuary of peace. It is the place where you should feel safe and comfortable. Noise can create a stressful environment. Simple changes, such as replacing your windows with a modern or double-glazing option, can help reduce urban sounds. If you’re going to change your doors and windows with soundproofing in mind, do make sure to research the most efficient design for your interior, both in noise reduction and energy saving. After all, there’s no point in creating a quiet space if it’s freezing cold in winter! A relaxing and soothing home can help reduce stress levels and become a source of inner health. 

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Managing your exposure to sounds can transform your life. Sounds affect your mental and physical health, but also your financial health. A place that is exposed to constant loud noises is less profitable for landlords or other property investors. Noise, in short, is an enemy you need to tackle effectively in everyday life. 

5 Bedtime Routines to Help You Ease into Sleep

In such uncertain times, it can be hard to shut our minds off and relax — especially for a good night’s sleep. Whether it’s checking the news before bed or stressing about work the next day, the worries that run through our mind can often prohibit us from getting proper sleep. 

One way to relax before bed is by creating a soothing bedtime routine for adults. Creating a relaxing bedtime routine signals to our brain that it’s time to go to bed and can result in a deeper sleep. To help, we’ve outlined five of the best bedtime routines for adults below.  Set an Alarm  

Oftentimes we get wrapped up in a TV show or a good book and end up going to bed at a much later hour than we intended. Your bedtime routine should start and end at the same time each night. This consistency is great for sleep. To help, set an alarm an hour to 30 mins before you want to head to bed. Use this time to unplug and unwind before you hit the hay.  Take a Hot Shower or Bath  

Taking a hot shower or bath before bed lowers the body’s temperature and promotes healthy sleep. Even if you prefer to shower in the morning, taking a shower at night allows you to wash off the day you just had. Take your time in the shower and consider putting on a relaxing playlist.  Write a To-Do List  

Lying awake thinking about the laundry list of things you have to do the next day will only increase your anxiety and make it harder for you to fall asleep. To help, write down a to-do list of the top seven to ten things you need to get done the night before. This will ease your mind and help you drift off into sleep.  Practice Yoga  

Yoga has many positive benefits including the effects it has on sleep. Certain yoga poses can relax your muscles and mind, making it easier to fall and stay asleep. Consider practicing five minutes of yoga before bed. Try muscle-relaxing moves like the wide-legged forward bend, seated spinal twist, and knees to chest stretch.  Use Aromatherapy  

Aromatherapy is a common technique used for stress management. Various types of essential oils can be applied to the skin or a diffuser to help you relax. Scents like lavender are great for helping you doze off. 

While there is no one-size-fits-all bedtime routine, there are some great all-natural methods to signal to your body that it’s time for bed. Nightly yoga and aromatherapy are just two of the many all-natural bedtime routines that are extremely beneficial for your health. To learn more about bedtime routines for adults, take a look at the infographic courtesy of Casper below. 

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