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If you have several steps in your skincare routine, you’ve probably invested some money in the whole system. Even if each item costs average, in total, they all cost a fortune. It could have been taken away from your food allowance, savings or other spending on yourself. It’s not a waste of money if you use it wisely, though.

Here’s how you can do just that. 

Stick to a Product Until You Finish It

One of the reasons a product feels like a waste of money is because you don’t see the results. If you’ve only been using it for a week and you’ve already decided to replace it, that’s a waste of money. Instead of doing this, stick to a product until you’ve used up all of it. The exemption, of course, is if your skin is reacting negatively to it. If that’s the case, see if you can return the item or give it to your friend for them to use. Even better, discuss a trade; they’ll have your barely used product if they replace it with a product you want to try as an alternative. If you give them a good deal, you’re essentially getting a new product at a discounted price–without throwing away any unused product.

Try Sample Sizes

A product may be the most friendly for all skin types, but you still can’t guarantee that you will not have negative reactions. This is why it’s recommended that you try sample sizes when buying a particular product for the first time. After you’ve proven that that face toner works well on your skin, you can buy it online at bigger quantities. This lessens the possibility of waste, and helps you transition to a different product in case something doesn’t work out for you.

Have a Manageable Routine 

You’re tempted by all the seemingly wonderful products you see online, and you want to buy them all. The problem is that you may not have the time or the knowledge to use them all in one go. If you barely have the time to do a basic skincare routine, buying complicated serums will not suddenly make you an expert. Each product you buy should come with the commitment that you will use them–and that you have time to do so; otherwise, they will definitely be a waste of money.

Watch Before You Purchase

There is no fee for watching beauty vloggers try different products and show you how to use them. With every watch, you get to see how easy or difficult they are to apply, and how effective they are on others. It’s like asking your friend to review their makeup for you. You get the insights without paying for the product until you’re completely sure. Just make sure the reviews you’re watching are unbiased so that the knowledge you’re accumulating will be honest and truthful.

Each purchase should be put to good use, whether you’re buying food or makeup. For your skincare purchase, be smart and be knowledgeable.

Living life as a woman brings about many challenges. Women face a much stronger pressure from those around them to look young and fit. Maintaining your body should never be something you do for others.

Rather, you should work to maintain a young, fit appearance to uphold a strong stance against the shallow expectations of society. Take some time to read through a few tips that will help you feel and look your best, and start paving your own path today.

Eat a balanced diet

Everyone knows that their diet directly affects their physical health, but few people truly understand how to create a healthy diet. If you’re one of the many who don’t really know what it means to eat a balanced diet, it’s time to do some research.

You’ll want to start by adding plenty of greens to your meals. Fruits, veggies, and other natural foods are always a good dietary decision. Avoid refined sugars, saturated fats, and excess sodium. As a general rule, anything in a box or can probably isn’t the best dietary choice.

Refrain from smoking and drinking

Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol is bad for every part of your body. In terms of aesthetics, the two are notorious for prematurely aging a person’s skin.

You’ll look like your 80 before you know it if you live a fast lifestyle for an extended amount of time. Of course, there are some who escape this fate due to their genetics, but the majority of people express the same diminishing outcome.

Consider cosmetic surgery

If it is of your own choosing, there’s no shame in investing in cosmetic surgery. People all around the world go under the knife every day.

If you have good health and a good mind to choose cosmetic surgery, you could greatly extend the length of your youthful glow. Just be careful not to go overboard, so you don’t end up looking like a piece of plastic.

Take good care of your skin

Avoid overexposure to the sun. Your skin will become damaged over time when you insist on “tanning” often.

Burning your skin does far more damage than you realize, and the full effects of the damage may take years to arise. Wear sunscreen, and don’t spend every day baking in the sun. Your skin will look more youthful for longer.

Avoid yo-yo dieting

Dramatically shifting your weight from large to small and back again will cause your skin to lose its elasticity. Eventually, you’ll be left with unsightly, saggy skin.

If you want to lose weight, commit yourself to a lifestyle change. Dieting is a temporary solution. Changing the way you live will produce lasting results.

 

My dear friend Stacey Tokunaga moved down to Mexico City just over 8 years ago, and I couldn’t wait to get down and visit her. As things worked out, after 3 or 4 trips down to the Mexican capital I also fell in love with the place and followed in Stacey’s footsteps in moving down here. This is a city which really combines modern and traditional culture, and you can enjoy both city life and authentic Mexican experiences during your time here. If you are looking for the authentic Mexican experience then here is what you need to do when you are in Mexico City.

Eat Tacos

To say that tacos are life would be a massive understatement and you will see in just a few days here just how essential tacos really are to the Mexican culture. On almost every street corner of the city you’ll find vendors who sell an array of different types of tacos, not to mention that almost every restaurant will have a taco option. When finding good tacos in the street, aim for a cart with many people around it, this is a great indicator of the quality of their tacos.

Go To Teotihuacan

Mexico has rich history of ancient civilizations who once lived on these lands, principally the Aztecs and the Mayans. The result is that throughout the country there are many archaeological sites which have been well preserved and give an insight into the past of the country. One of the most impressive of these ruins is the ancient city of Teotihuacan which is juts over an hour outside Mexico City. This sprawling city was home to both the Aztecs and the Mayans before them, and it features two key pyramids and many plazas and living quarters which have been perfectly preserved.

Listen to Mariachis

If you go to Plaza Garibaldi in the Zocalo area of Mexico City you will see many Mariachi groups waiting to play to those who want to hear a song. There is nothing more Mexican than Mariachi music and for the authentic Mexican experience you should head to Garibaldi and pay for a group to play you a couple of songs. Great music played by great musicians.

Visit a Cantina

Cantinas were traditionally working class watering holes where the locals could hear great music and enjoy some food and drink. These days these bars are accessible to everyone and they provide you with the real Mexican experience. Generally what happens is that you pay for your drinks and the food is free, naturally this will mean you pay a slightly higher price for your drinks. The best thing to do here is to go in a small group, but a bottle of rum or whisky for the table and then enjoy as many snacks as you can handle. Traditional music is played in these places and they are a real hotbed of activity where you can experience some real Mexican culture.

About two years ago my buddy James Haidak and I decided that we would combine our love for surfing with our love for travel and we embarked on a month long trip around Costa Rica to hit some of their best surf spots. This is something which James had been doing for many years but I on the other hand used to just travel to explore, without really making the most of my favorite hobbies when I was away. This trip with James changed all of that and I have since then 2 more trips which have combined my passion for travel with me other passions in life. This is such a rewarding experience and here is why I’d recommend it.

Learning

Whether surfing in Costa Rica, going on a vineyard tour in France or going fishing in Alaska, when you travel and enjoy your hobby in other locations around the world, you learn so much about your passion. This is much about what travel can bring you as well, getting out there and meeting different people, learning new skills, new methods and new approaches to things, and this is also what you’ll get when you combine your trips with something that you love.

New Places

When you pick your travel destination based on where the best place to practice your hobby is, you’ll find that you visit places which you may not have previously considered. For example I’m not sure I’d ever have gone to Costa Rica were it not for the surfing community that they have down there. Although I may not have seen the appeal in the past, I can honestly say that I really fell in love with this country and I would certainly go back again. The same goes for those who love wine, fishing, kayaking, climbing or art, you will visit places that you may never have considered before.

Like Minded

Meeting people on the road is great, you can get to know people from other nations and cultures and through travel you can often make some great friends. When you travel to do something you love however you’ll greatly increase the number of like-minded people who you will meet, and I personally made many great friends during that Costa Rica trip with James, and others that I have been on since. Your passion gives you something to talk about and a great way to connect with people, this is why it is much easier to make good friends when you travel.

Fun

Ultimately traveling in this way is just so much more fun than any other type of travel and I have completely fallen in love with the idea of traveling to places where I can enjoy my hobbies and passions. Traveling is fun on its own, combine that with something you love and you are guaranteed to have the best time!

Why not give it a try for your next vacation!

 

Recently I was asked by my daughter to go into her school and discuss working in pubic relations and what it means to me. I have to be honest that it wasn’t until I sat down to give it some thought that I realized just how much I really do love this industry. I work for the brilliant Interdependence PR and they are a firm which have allowed me to achieve everything that I wanted to in this industry. I wanted to talk to you a little today about why I love this industry and why I would certainly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in this field.

Creative Juices

No matter what project or client I am working on there is always an opportunity to flex my creative juices and think up some out of the box way of deliver a message or strategizing. What I love in particular about this industry is that you are working as part of a team with other amazing people who are creative and innovative and this really brings out the best in you.

Teamwork

I am not a born leader and I have no ambition to be a leader, which is why I am so content in my position as part of a well oiled team. Public relations isn’t a position which you do alone and if you want to work in a team of great minds then this is a position which can certainly give you that.

People

Ever since I was young I have loved working with a wide range of people, I enjoy communicating with people from different industries and backgrounds and thankfully, that is what I do in my daily job. Whether it is setting up events and communicating with event staff, working with clients or speaking with press officers, if you are a people person like I am then you are going to love this job. Within public relations it is absolutely essential that you are able to build strong relationships with those that you work with which is why being a people person will help you so much in this industry.

Seeing Results

I love the cycle from the moment that we speak to the client and understand what their needs and their goals are, planing a strategy and then watching as the results are delivered. This is an incredibly rewarding part of the job and it is something which I love to see.

Variety

There is no monotony at all in this industry and everyday you will be doing something different than the day before. I love this variety and I know that there are many out there who are also looking for a career which promises them variety like this. One day you are planning an event, the next you are fire fighting and the next you are looking to build on your client list.

This is a great industry to work in and one which I really love.

 

Ever since turning 30 I have really started to view life in a very different way than before, especially with regards to ego. What I am referring to here in particular is that for many years I wouldn’t look upon my friends as inspirations, but rather competition, this is healthy at times but not always and if you have friends who are doing incredible things then you should look to them as inspiration and not with any envy or overwhelming ego. My buddy Marc Leder is a perfect example of this, for me he is just one of life’s winners, one of those guys that you know no matter what happens they will come up smelling of roses.

To be fair to Marc, he is a very smart individual and someone who knows exactly what he wants and is prepared to work hard enough to get it. For many years I envied Marc but in recent years I have come to understand just how important it is to be inspired by friends like this, and here is why.

Healthy

Harboring negative thoughts is just not healthy for you, much less when these negative thoughts come about because of something that a friend is doing. Whether you hold negative thoughts against them or against yourself based on what a friend is doing is irrelevant. Thinking like this can easily do damage to a friendship and for your own personal mental health it is something which you should try to avoid doing.

Opportunity

If you ask most people who inspire them they may talk about political figures, music artists, family or perhaps social crusaders. The is all well and good but in reality we can only ever be slightly influenced by these people because we don’t really know anything about them, other than what they have been able to achieve. This is why if you have a friend who is doing great things then this provides you with an amazing opportunity to be inspired by someone who you see each day, or at least with frequency. Being inspired doesn’t mean that someone is better than you or that you want to be them, it just means that through your respect and love, you can be motivated to think or act in a certain way, and that can only be beneficial.

Better Friendship

Friends should make each other better people and that is something that was lost on me for far too long. Having a friendship is a mutually beneficial relationship based on the things you like, the people you are and each other’s ability to inspire and motivate the other. Friends see the truth in you, they know what you are capable of and because of this they are able to advise and help you whenever you need it. Being inspired by a friend is not something negative at all, it is in fact the epitome of friendship and we all need to learn just how important this can be for all parties.

For experts like Dr. Richard Soper the issues of sleep and high quality sleep is an important one, and the importance of this cannot be understated. Richard has lead many research studies into the consequences of sleep on the body and the brain, and he has also helped to lead campaigns to promote better quality sleep. There is a certain romanticism which people make when they talk about how little they sleep and can still function, but the truth is that not getting enough high quality each night can do your body and your brain a great amount of damage. If you don’t sleep well, these are just some of the problems which you are going to encounter.

Poor Focus and Concentration

When we sleep we caregiving our brain the chance to rest and the chance to process all of the information which it has absorbed during the course of the day. If however we don’t give our brains this chance then we can expect it to operate at a much lower level than it should. There are a number of consequences of this and one is losing the ability to focus and concentrate. When your brain is not rested it can misfire which is why people who don’t sleep well can find it hard to focus on anything for a long period of time.

High Stress Levels

There is stress in everyone’s lives and those who have issues with stressed aren’t usually exposed to more than the next person, but they have a lower ability to cope with the stress which they have in their lives. This is the same in people who haven’t slept well, because the brain function is low, they struggle to deal with situations and can get stressed out very easily. You’ll know yourself how little patience you have when you’ve had a poor night’s sleep, and this is why you will also feel highly stressed.

Appearance

If you have had poor quality sleep for many nights then your appearance is going to change a great deal. Much like the brain rests and recuperates during sleep, so too does your body, repairing damaged cells and allowing the body to perform a reset ahead of the next day. This is why those who don’t sleep well end up with dry skin, bags under their eyes and sometimes even the appearance of hair and nails can change.

Later Life Problems

Dr. Richard and his team also often warn about the dangers which a prolonged period of poor sleep can cause in terms of diseases in later life. Many studies have indicated that there is a higher risk fo neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia in those people who have constantly gone without the recommended amount of high quality sleep over a long period of time.

The odd night of bad sleep is fine, but if you consistently have issues then you need to address this to avoid problems like those listed here.

 

There are hundreds of local and national SEO companies that specialize in marketing for law firms. As anyone would expect, the cost and service quality also varies. Most of the time, all of these companies look good on paper. Unfortunately, a law firm that has little experience with SEO will have a hard time choosing. How do you determine which company is good? This article will outline the essential qualities you need to look for when comparing Law Firm SEO services.

Content quality and link-building strategies

At first glance, a law firm SEO may seem similar to SEO for any industry. But it is actually more complicated than you think. The legal industry has strict rules and ethical guidelines when it comes to advertising. As such, you need to look for an SEO firm that can offer high-quality law-related content. The SEO Company should produce new content regularly to succeed in promoting your site.

When it comes to link-building, the SEO Company also needs to guarantee that your site will get backlinks from reputable websites. There are authority sites specific for law firms, and the SEO Company needs to have access to these resources.

Comply with Google’s Guidelines

Google will sanction a site that engages in unethical SEO practices. Look for an SEO company that only uses white hat strategies. White hat techniques may take time but ultimately ensures that you build your site’s reputation and gain Google’s trust.

Is the SEO firm working with any of your competition?

If an SEO company you are considering is actively working with a direct competitor firm, there is a conflict of interest. It is possible to still work with a company handling other law firms, as long as none of these firms is your direct competition. Direct competition means that the law firm is also handling the same kinds of cases within the same locality.

Be wary of fixed contracts

Do not commit to a fixed long-term contract. SEO and digital marketing need not be a financial burden for your firm. As such, it is best to check if the provider offers short-term or monthly contracts. This way, you can have a better feel of your working relationship with the company and decide later to renew the service if you are satisfied.

Check feedback and client case studies

Feedback from previous clients is an essential gauge in an SEO company’s quality of service. If you can, find out who the company has worked with in the past. Do you know any of these law firms? Will you be able to contact them and ask for their feedback? Dig a little deeper on the company’s reputation before you entrust them with your marketing campaign.

Now that you have an idea of what to look for, the next step is to search for an SEO firm that is right for your needs. If you are checking online, do not go for the top ad on Google right away. Contact several companies you find online, but at the same time ask for referrals from other lawyers.

Image: https://pixabay.com/photos/hammer-books-law-court-lawyer-620011/

 

 

Being a full-time mother is also a full-time job. Going beyond the traditional role of women is now becoming a trend because of the economic considerations that affect the lives of most families. With the introduction of different home-based jobs, stay at home mothers can now earn and attend to the basic needs of their children at the same time. While this setup may seem hard to imagine at the start, some advantages are beneficial for the family but, more importantly, for the well-being of full-time mothers.

Earning while taking care of the family

The most exciting and helpful advantage of working at home is the capacity to make money while taking care of the family. Working mothers, in the conventional place of work, are sometimes forced to choose work over family concerns for them not to lose their jobs. And since mothers always want to maintain the connection with their children, working at home is the most convenient way to earn a living without sacrificing the time dedicated to the family. This still leaves time for the working mom to relax, and what better way to do it than relaxing in a Catnapper recliner chair.

Learn new skills

Another advantage of home-based jobs is the chance to learn new skills. Although it is still best to acquire knowledge through proper training, getting additional skills in a kind of job without pressure is easy for full-time moms. Aside from opening-up to new ideas, it can also help in developing the flexible-nature of women in handling real-life challenges.

Enhance time management capabilities

Since full-time mothers revolve around home tasks, managing time will be no longer an issue if home-based jobs are entertained. It will further enhance their capabilities in allotting time for every priority that needs to be fulfilled. A level of commitment should be given when such home-based jobs have been accepted. Therefore, it is vital to manage time efficiently. Mothers can also decide when to do their work best, and choose when to finish household chores and even the time to take some rest. This arrangement is possible since most home-based jobs do not require a specific work schedule, and no one will monitor the manner of doing the job.

Empowering for moms and kids

A work from home setup is very advantageous for full-time mothers, especially in the aspect of empowering them economically. Deciding for themselves and empowering them to enjoy financial independence are among the essential factors in uplifting women’s confidence. Also, their ability to decide on matters about the welfare of the children will be strengthened, knowing that they can contribute to the expenses incurred for the needs of the family. Not only will mothers be empowered when they get a home-based job, but the children will also be motivated to function at home as they see their mother work to provide for their needs. The children will start to appreciate the sharing of household responsibilities, and that is a way for them to become independent.

Mothers are important as they maintain cohesiveness in the family. But they also need to get out of the box to discover the bigger world that will help to empower them.

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Stress is an issue for many people. Last year the Mental Health Foundation carried out the UK’s largest-ever stress survey.

The survey found that 74% of people have been so stressed that they have felt unable to cope. The effects of stress were also concerning. 46% of respondents stated that they made unhealthy eating choices and more than 50% of people surveyed said they felt depressed or anxious as a result of stress.

Managing Stress

Whilst some stress is normal, when people regularly feel overwhelmed by stress it’s important to develop some coping strategies. Fortunately, a range of stress relieving activities is out there to choose from. As everyone is different, it is worth trying a few to discover what is most enjoyable and effective.

At Work

People spend a lot of their lives at work, so it makes sense to have some stress-relieving activities that can be easily used at the office. Using stress-relieving strategies at work reduces the stress that employees take home and can improve sickness absence and productivity.

Breathing strategies can be invaluable, particularly when in the middle of a tough day at the office. Diaphragmatic, also called belly, breathing is proven to quickly reduce symptoms of stress and is recommended by the NHS. Learning a few breathing techniques is an investment – use whenever stress strikes.

MIND, the national mental health charity, recommend taking breaks during the working day, getting a lunch break and going outside for a short walk. It’s also crucial to plan workflow to manage stress. UK office supplies can provide what’s need to take the stress out of a heavy workload. Choose from beautiful leather-bound retro Filofaxes, desk and wall planners, or put a stress-relieving elastic rubber band ball on your desk to be used as a fidget toy!

At Home

Chilling out at home is sometimes easier said than done. This is where unhealthy choices like overeating or drinking alcohol can creep in. Consider introducing some healthier destressing techniques as alternatives.

Finding flow in creative pursuits is fantastic for stress relief. Painting and colouring are very popular leisure activities. Invest in a good set of pens, paints and brushes and a sketchpad to keep at home.

Camomile tea contains an antioxidant called apigenin, which is is known for its calming effects. A cup before bedtime can naturally aid a good night’s sleep which is also crucial for managing stress.

The Stress Management Society recommends switching off gadgets particularly before bedtime, taking regular exercise and staying properly hydrated. Exercise needn’t involve the gym, it can be something as simple as a 20-minute walk or perhaps a gentle yoga session.

The basics of stress management are pretty simple to remember, the trick is to make time in the day and evenings to incorporate them into a regular routine. This will prevent stress from building up and avoid any negative effects, which can cause potential health issues.

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