07 November 2021

Must Try Tips to Help Reduce Stress This Holiday Season

The holidays are often touted as being “the most wonderful time of the year,” but some people are left feeling stressed out, burned-out, and counting the days until the holidays are over and life goes back to normal. The number one way we stress ourselves out is by overthinking. There are a lot of decisions to make during the holidays, whether it’s planning meals, accommodating family members from out of town, or shopping for gifts. What are some things you can do to simplify your to-do list?

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With shopping lists to check off, food to prepare, budgets to keep, and people to please, we often get so caught up in the details of trying to make everything perfect that we forget to take care of ourselves and our pets. Be sure to prepare your pets for the bustle with Uncle Bud’s Hemp Dog Deodorizer and your guests will also be pleased with the pleasant scent of your pups. The holidays can and should be enjoyable to you too! There are plenty of ways to increase the zen and decrease the anxiety during this year’s holiday season. Here are some big areas where you can infuse some simplicity and reduce stress this holiday season:

1. Events: Overscheduling is one of the main things that can quickly lead to burnout during the holiday season. You don’t need to schedule a bunch of complicated, holiday-themed outings to have fun. Plan simple activities for your family that are close to home. Cuddling up on the couch for a Christmas movie, or blasting holiday music and taking a drive around town to look at the lights can be just as fun.

2. Gifts: When it comes to buying gifts for neighbors, acquaintances, teachers, and distant family, buy the same thing, and buy it in bulk. A small candle, a simple ornament, a festive hand-soap are great options to stock up on for simple, yet thoughtful gifts.

Must Try Tips to Help Reduce Stress This Holiday Season


3. Gift Wrapping: If you don’t want to spend time on gift-wrapping…don’t! Whether you buy gifts on the internet or in a store, most places will gladly wrap your gifts for a small fee. You can also buy nice-looking but affordable gift bags and tissue paper, which makes the process foolproof, quick, and still looking festive.

4. Food: If you are in charge of preparing a lot of food, ask for help. If that's not a possibility, consider buying food from a bakery or restaurant. If you must cook, find easy, beginner-level recipes that won't take up your entire day to prepare. You don't need to slave away over complicated, fancy recipes to make great-tasting food.

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5. Free Time: We are so quick to schedule time for others, but rarely do we clear a block of time for ourselves. At the beginning of each week during this holiday season, sit down with your planner or calendar and see where you can fit in some time to relax at home and enjoy yourself. Whether it's sitting by the tree, reading a book, taking a bath and enjoying a Uncle Bud's Hemp Facial Scrub, or having some one-on-one time with a family member, scheduling downtime on your calendar is a great way to make sure you have time to slow down and enjoy the holidays.

The holidays go by in a flash, but a little mindfulness can help you live in the moment and enjoy this special time of year. Take time this season to slow down. You deserve to enjoy the holidays and make happy, stress-free memories with your loved ones. It’s nice to give to others during the holiday season, but we shouldn’t forget to give ourselves the gift of time and relaxation. If you take good care of yourself, your holidays will be less stressful and more fun. After all, you deserve to enjoy some silent nights!


17 September 2021

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Morning

Mornings are often the most important part of the day – they can make or break your mood and set the tone for all of your to-dos. To help combat the hecticness that can arrive when the sun comes up, consider these five tips for a stress-free start to the day.

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Morning


Fine-tune your fashion at night. Whether you are focused on getting yourself out the door or have kids who need to get to school, planning what to wear the night before can help save time. When the clock is ticking and you have somewhere to be, the fear of a missing shoe or misplaced accessory can throw everything off. 

Express gratitude. Take a few moments after rising to jot down or be mindful of a few things you are grateful for, no matter how big or small. Starting the day in a positive state of mind can lift your mood and provide residual benefits throughout the day.

Organize what leaves with you. Designate a place where everyone can stash the things they need to take when they leave the house – whether it’s a backpack, purse, briefcase or gym bag. When you return home at night, empty used or unneeded items and replace them so you can grab and go in the morning.

Boost your breakfast routine. While cereal or toast are easy standbys, certain days call for a more savory breakfast. Skip dirtying dishes at home and snag Wendy’s on-the-go. Breakfast becomes a breeze with craveable breakfast sandwiches like the Sausage, Egg & Swiss Croissant or Bacon, Egg & Swiss Croissant, both made with fresh-cracked eggs and housed on warm, flaky croissants. For caffeine lovers, grab a hot coffee made with 100% Arabica beans, cold brew coffee steeped for 12 hours or a one-of-a-kind Frosty-ccino – cold brew coffee topped with Frosty creamer – for that extra kick to jump start your day. See the complete breakfast lineup at Wendys.com or on its mobile app.

Avoid distractions. If you’re like many people, reaching for your phone is the first thing you do after opening your eyes. However, this trap can get you sucked into emails, scrolling through your newsfeed or falling into a social media rabbit hole, which devours precious time. Force yourself to leave your phone and other similar distractions out of your morning routine to get out the door more efficiently.

No one wants to start the day in chaos. Simple time management and planning can help make hectic mornings more enjoyable and productive.

15 June 2021

What's the Difference Between Normal and Heavy Duty Screen Frame?

 When it comes time to build your dream home or even replace old and damaged screen frames, you might come across several that claim to be a heavy-duty screen frame. Many of these heavy-duty screen frame offerings may not explain as to why it is heavy-duty. What makes the distinction between a regular screen frame and a heavy-duty one? Is there any difference? If so—what's the advantage? 

If you've asked yourself any of these questions, the answers below will help clarify so you can make the right decision best for you. 


Average Screen Frame

When you walk down the aisles at your local hardware store or scroll through their screen frames online, almost all of the offerings you'll see will be aluminum. Nearly all of these aluminum screen frames that are available are one of two types of roll-form frame. The two types of roll farm frame are known as Box frame and Lip frame. 

A roll-form screen frame is lightweight and economical, and most often affordable. It's made by taking a thin, flat piece of aluminum stock and rolling it into a boxed shape, then crimping the edge so that it keeps the shape. 

However, because the aluminum is so thin—roughly the same thinness as the aluminum found in a soda can, it is extremely easy to damage. Rolled aluminum screen frames can be dented, punctured, and scratched by blowing debris and even by accidental mishandling during installation. They also tend only to be the best choice for tiny windows that don't need to hold many window screens. 


Heavy Duty Screen Frame

Heavy duty screen frame is made from extruded aluminum. Extrusion is when aluminum billets are preheated and then are forced through a die. The die applies tons of pressure as the billet is pushed through, resulting in a fixed cross-section. The extrusion process creates a heavy-duty frame with much more tensile strength than rolled aluminum, and it is also thicker yet still capable of fitting into the average home's screen frames. 

However, since a heavy-duty screen frame is so much more formidable, you enjoy additional benefits such as: 

  • Commercial industry strength screen frames.

  • Long-lasting, years longer than average screen frames. 

  • Still lightweight and easy to install.

  • Able to be used in areas with large screens such as large windows, screened porches, screen doors to hold up window screen taut and adequately without extra crossbars. 

  • Heavy-duty screen frame can withstand the added harshness of coastal and cold weather climates. 

  • Extruded aluminum is more difficult to dent, scratch or damage. 

The difference between standard and heavy-duty screen frame is that you will be enjoying a screen frame that is damage, weather, corrosion-resistant, and that is stronger as well as more long-lasting. When it comes to your hard-earned money, a heavy duty screen frame will pay for itself as it will need less replacing, maintenance, and can withstand use longer than your average screen frame.


24 May 2021

How to Advocate for Climate Change

Empower yourself to help save the planet

Empower yourself to help save the planet

(Family Features) Climate change is an issue that impacts everyone, especially children. The impacts can be seen first-hand, as the planet warms, and human fingerprints are all over the consequences: bigger, stronger hurricanes; deadly heat waves; more intense downpours; and devastating wildfires.

In fact, 60% of Americans are concerned about climate change, according to a survey by the Potential Energy Coalition. For many moms, having a child is what made them start to care about climate change in the first place. Eighty-three percent of moms are concerned about climate change and want to do something about it.

“It’s hard to study climate change and aspects of climate change and be a mother because the data’s very real to you,” said Dr. Emily Fischer, atmospheric chemist and associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University. “We need a massive shift in the way we produce energy within 10 years, the same time period I need to save and plan to send my daughter to college. We’re hoping moms will realize climate change impacts their children and that we have solutions, but we need to act relatively quickly.”

If you’re not sure where to begin, however, know that whether big or small, steps, such as these ideas from the climate scientists at Science Moms, can add up to create meaningful solutions.

Learn about climate change. Education is a powerful tool, so learning all you can about climate change is one of the best ways to get involved.

“Sorting through myriad information online can be daunting,” said Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, scientist and professor at Texas Tech University. “That’s why Science Moms was created. This nonpartisan group of leading climate scientists, who are also mothers, aims to break down climate change through simple, engaging content.”

Raise your voice. Leaders have the ability to truly take action on the scale needed to make lasting progress on this challenge, but they need to know that it’s a top priority of individuals. You can add your name to petitions and invite others to do the same, attend local meetings to voice your support for reducing carbon pollution and clean energy projects and meet with elected leaders to ensure they know you stand behind them. Of all the actions you can take, one of the most powerful is telling your representatives this is an issue you care about.

“By investing in a clean energy future and common-sense solutions that keep families and communities safe, government leaders have the ability to enact policies that escalate on a scale we could never achieve alone,” Hayhoe said. “They all need to know we stand behind their decisions to tackle this issue.”

Talk about it. In order to avoid some of the worst impacts of climate change, fast action is needed. The more people who know the facts about this issue, the quicker an impact can be made. Share what you learn with your neighbors and other parents to help make everyone more aware of the issue. Also remember that environmental concerns aren’t just for adults. Oftentimes, concern for the climate comes from children. Talking with your kids about the importance of good stewardship and empowering them to make a difference can affect how the next generation approaches concerns like climate change and pollution.

Make climate-conscious choices. There are nearly countless examples of smaller actions you can take to adapt your own home and life. Options to consider include switching to electric cars, buying green electricity (now available in 24 states), putting solar panels on your roof, insulating your house or adding more plant-based foods to your diet.

For more information and to get involved, visit sciencemoms.com.

Talking and Listening to Your Kids About Climate Change

Talking and Listening to Your Kids About Climate Change

Climate change can be a scary subject no matter how old your kids are, and there are some big concepts that are hard to understand. For others, they know that their future is at risk and are taking matters into their own hands by becoming activists on social media and marching in youth climate strikes.

Focus on developing a love for nature and the environment. Encourage your kids to spend time outdoors and plan activities for the family that celebrate nature, like camping and hiking. You can also introduce and inspire healthy curiosity by reading books about different aspects of the environment, like oceans, land formations and the animals that inhabit different climates.

When talking with older kids, try to avoid scientific jargon and complicated explanations. Answer questions to the best of your ability and work together to find answers to the things you don’t know. Correct misinformation they may be hearing from others and be sure to include facts along with your own perspective as you discuss climate change.

 It’s common for kids of all ages to be anxious about the impact of climate change. You can help channel that energy into productive action by getting involved in local organizations that are focused on improving the environment.

Climate Change Myths and Facts

There are many misconceptions about climate change. It’s a complex issue and a better understanding comes when you can sort the myths from the facts.

Myth: Climate change isn’t confirmed science.

Fact: More than 99% of climate scientists agree on the basic facts about climate change: it’s real, it’s human-caused, it’s harming people now and it’s solvable.

Myth: Climate change is a natural phenomenon.

Fact: The climate has changed naturally in the past, but right now, the world is warming up to 100 times faster than it has previously, according to research published in “Scientific American.” Billions of tons of burning coal, oil and natural gas have released carbon pollution into the air that traps the sun’s heat, making the planet hotter while simultaneously melting ice and raising sea levels.

Myth: Climate change is in the distant future.

Fact: It’s happening right now. In the West, hot, dry conditions are fueling massive fires with smoke that blocks out the sun and pollutes the air. In the Southwest, historic droughts threaten the food supply. In the South, warmer oceans are fueling stronger, deadlier hurricanes.

Myth: It might get bad, but America can handle it.

Fact: If left unchecked, the heat trapped by the thickening pollution blanket directly threatens human health and may make virtually every natural disaster more deadly and destructive. These disasters are increasingly happening at the same time, destroying more homes and businesses, and there is only so much emergency relief available.

Myth: There is nothing we can do about it.

Fact: It’s not too late to prevent the worst-case scenarios. That requires reducing pollution and moving from fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources, and relying on existing technology to build a clean economy. Governments across the world can work together to tackle climate change and invest in a safer future for children, but they need to know that this is a top priority for families.

For more information and to get involved, visit sciencemoms.com.


12 April 2021

Tips To Improve Your Digital Branding

When managing a business or company, branding is a skill that will build a better reputation and generate more income. Creating a solid branding strategy can be difficult, especially if it is your first company. Luckily, there are branding agencies that provide trustworthy services that you can utilized during the process. Apart from that, an agency can even provide simple tips to improve your digital branding. To get you started here are a few tips to help you along the way.

Tips To Improve Your Digital Branding



Be consistent in your branding strategies.


First and foremost: website owners must be consistent with their branding strategies. This is an important factor in ensuring that your brand increases its visibility. In addition, the owners also have the certainty of attracting visitors and converting them into potential customers.

Create your brand with an adapted and unique logo.


Think of your logo as "the symbol of your brand". It must succeed in the double -and ambitious- bet of being timeless (and therefore avoiding ephemeral fashion effects) while being original enough to stand out. Be sure your logo has a meaning! Take the famous apple of the Apple logo which represents knowledge, making perfect sense for a giant of technology and innovation. Whereas, Burger King more simply evokes a hamburger. 

The color of your logo and the typography are not to be taken lightly either. Coca-Cola relied on the color red and a cursive font to create its brand image, that is now emblematic. To be sure to make the right choices and build a strong brand image, do your research and choose a perfect font style for your logo using services such as freebies from Font Bundles. Then reach out to experts in the field with your design requests to complete the project.

Opt for web optimization services.


To improve your branding online, branding agencies also suggest website owners opt for web optimization services. Sure, some website owners may think that this service can be expensive, but it can also give you the functions and features to help your branding. This is because some providers can ensure that your website is visible in different search engines. More eyes on your brand leads to more attention from potential consumers.

Spend time creating and updating social media profiles.


The next thing that website owners can do to improve their branding strategies is by creating and updating their social media profiles on a regular basis. Nearly everyone spends time checking their social profiles for updates from their friends and even brands that they follow. Because of this, website owners have better opportunities to reach a larger number of people who can help them increase their branding strategy as well as their reputation.

Use the power of guest blogging.


When planning to improve your digital branding, website owners should also consider blogging power. By creating guest blogs, people can make their web pages more visible to search engines. Not to mention, guest blogging can also establish your company's credibility and authority in your niche by providing well-written and relevant content to your potential clients. This is another reason why entrepreneurs need to consider communicating with their audience on a level they can connect with. In  today's online community climate, quality matters more than quantity. 

Make use of a different content platform.


To ensure that your content can target your audience, it is also best to use different content platforms. When it comes to content platforms, people can choose from different options. For one, you can create videos. Video platforms like YouTube and Tiktok are content kings that reach thousands of potential consumers in less an one minute. You can also create infographics just like other types of online, shareable content. These work best when looking to gain the consumer eye on Pinterest and Facebook.

With these simple tips, entrepreneurs can ensure that their own digital branding can make their website better and more visible.