Beat Anxieties with These Herbal Remedies.

{Collaborative Content} Is anxiety holding you back? There are lots of ways in which you can overcome anxiety. One option could be to try herbal remedies. Below are just a few forms of herbal medicine that are proven to be effective anxiety-relievers. 

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Ashwagandha 

Ashwagandha is an ancient medicinal herb. It has been shown to have many health benefits including boosting fertility and helping to fight depression. It is also a popular remedy for anxiety (it is said to be as potent as some medically prescribed anxiety drugs).

How should you take ashwagandha? In most cases, it is consumed as a powder. This can be mixed with ghee, sugar and honey and eaten using a tablespoon. Alternatively, it can be drunk in a glass of warm milk. You may be able to find ashwagandha online or at your local herbal pharmacy.

 

St John’s Wort

St John’s Wort is a medicinal herb that is sometimes used to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. It is also an effective mood booster - many people with both depression and anxiety find that it is able to relieve negative feelings.

St. John’s Wort is most commonly taken in the form of a liquid or capsules. By placing dry herbs into hot water, it’s also possible to turn it into a tea. You can buy St John’s Wort from your local herbal pharmacy.

 

CBD oil

CBD oil comes from the cannabis plant. It is known to have various health benefits from relieving pain to treating acne. It is also a great stress-buster and an effective remedy for anxiety.

CBD oil is sometimes referred to as hemp oil, although is different to hemp seed oil. Some people administer it directly into the mouth using a tincture, while others mix it in with smoothies or add it to food. CBD is also available in other forms such as tablets and edibles. You can shop for CBD oil online or buy it from your local herbal pharmacy. 

Valerian root

Valerian root has long been used for its sedative effects. It is a popular remedy for those dealing with insomnia. It’s calming effects also make it a great remedy for anxiety.

What is the best way to take valerian root? Valerian root extract can be consumed orally by directly placing it under the tongue. Alternatively, it is possible to put dried valerian root in hot water and create herbal tea. You can find this ingredient at your local herbal pharmacy. 

Lavender

Lavender is also known for its calming effects. Many people use the scent of lavender to help them get to sleep. It can also reduce stress - and therefore reduce feelings of anxiety.

While you can eat lavender, the scent alone is often enough to have its intended effect. There are many ways to produce the scent of lavender including growing lavender flowers, lighting scented candles, using lavender sprays, burning lavender oil in a diffuser or using lavender bath products. Consider exploring different options to find the right one for you. 

Why Should you Start Now to Plan for Summer.

{Collaborative Content} The summer is a great time to get outdoors, try something new, visit someone new, and generally have fun with family and friends. Living in lockdown in the UK it can feel like the summer is a way off, and that dreams of summer trips and sunny BBQs feel quite a long way off at the moment. However, last summer allowed for some fun, with small gatherings allowed, as well as trips abroad and the UK, so it makes sense that something similar will happen this year, especially with the vaccine being rolled out at an amazing pace. 

If you don’t want to let the summertime run away with you, and before you know it you’re thinking about autumn, then it can be a good idea to plan now for the summer. Although you may not be able to book things right now, if you have an idea of what you want to do, it will make it easier to just go and do it, when restrictions allow. Making plans will help it to be a summer to remember.

Planning for a trip

If you’ve grown a little sick of the same four walls, then making plans for a trip could be a good idea. Although there are more risks to going abroad, it could be easier to plan for a holiday in the UK this year. With self-catered accommodation it can be easy to stay in your bubbles and get away to visit somewhere new. You could even think about using short term student accommodation in the summer, as there are very few students using them in the summer. They can often be pretty good rates as the accommodation is simple, but in some cool towns and cities in the UK. Make a list of the kind of places that you would like to visit and then you can go from there and see what will be available.

Try something new

With lockdown and being at home more, you might have already been trying something new, such as learning a new instrument or starting up a new hobby. But with some good weather to enjoy, hopefully, you will be able to try something else new in the summertime. What would it be for you? You might like to try gardening, hiking somewhere different, painting, boating, open-water swimming, and so on. If you want to be indoors, then there are likely to be many online classes available still, from cooking to learning French.

Relaxing time

Even if you plan to stay at home, getting some time off work to relax a little can be so worth it. One thing that you could start to do is to create a bucket list for being at home. How about making a list of books or movies that you want to read or watch before the summer is out? How about creating a list of jobs or projects that you want to get done but just haven’t got around to? You could simply put together a list of the things that you want to do at home, like sunbathe, have a BBQ in the garden and a picnic in the park. 

Conservation Crisis The Game - Review

{Gifted} My 8 year old is very much interested in wildlife, animals and everything related to conservation. When you ask him what he would like to do when he is older he will either answer a Zoologist or a Zoo keeper so he can work on conserving the population of rare and endagered animals. His passion in this we extremely proud of and when we were offered the chance to review the game Conservation Crisis (RRP £29.99) from Tunza Games I knew he would love it. 

Conservation Crisis puts you in the centre of the action. You are in control of a wildlife reserve that is in crisis and needs you to work on saving endangered species, you choose a species and race around the board trying to save it from extinction. I loved the concept of this game, it is almost a bit of strategy mixed with a fun element of being in charge of your own wildlife reserve.

You are given $100,000 of funding per round and you can put this towards a variety of things during each round such as projects to build, staff to hire to help rebuild the reserve and save the endangered species.

- Aimed at age 7 years + and for 2-4 players, with an average playing times of 60 minutes. 

Included in the beautifully illustrated box are: 

- 1 x main board 

- 4 x wildlife reserve playing boards

- 120 x tokens

- 25 event cards

- 4 x wooden playing pieces 

- 15 x community staff meeting cards 

- 10 x bribe cards 

- A selection of dollars 

- As mentioned above the aim of the game is to make your way around the board to the orange locations to buy and rebuild the nature reserve and to increase the wildlife population, the winner at the end of the game is the person who has the most wildlife at the end of the game. 

The set up of the game is fairly self explanatory and each player chooses an animal to save (elephant, tiger, rhino or gorilla) and uses the wooden playing piece of the same board colour. The player then places a token on 0 and 100 wildlife which marks starting with 100 wildlife. 

The wooden pieces are placed at HQ where the game starts. The bribe and community cards are placed on the marked areas and the 'crisis averted' card is placed near the bottom of the event cards. 

A player is in charge of the donor funding and each player receives $100,000 of donor funding ans also a starting crisis fund which may be played during the game but only in an emergency and up to a maximum of $100,000. 

There are no dice in the game which is helpful so they don't get lost! Dice always go missing don't they! You can choose whichever path around the board following the arrows but have to stop on the orange and black locations on the board when they arrived at. When a player stops on an orange location items can be purchased for the reserve. On the black locations the instructions must be followed. Only one player can be on an orange location but multiple players can be on black locations. Once the player has completed the instructions or purchased an item the go is then over. 

The little black tokens are placed on the players wildlife card to indicate what has been purchased, the staff, wages, buildings and wildlife population. The little tokens are what stumped us a little during the game! We weren't full sure what we were meant to be doing with the little black tokens, whether we removed them each go or just kept adding them - the instructions weren't overly helpful either which was a shame.

Once the player has made their way around the board and reached HQ again the player will receive further funding (assuming they have spent all of the previous money, if not they receive no furrther funding until this has been spent). The player must then follow the instruction on HQ which include turning over the bribe card if they have one, take an event card, apply for funding, receive tourist income, pay staff if they have any and receive wildlife. The game then continues. 

This is a great game and even more an important idea and concept, it was really enjoyable to play if not a little confusing at times. My 5 year old lost interest after a couple of rounds but my 8 year old loved it and was getting quite good at purchasing items and became quite competitive! We did feel the instructions were quite lenghty and at times a little confusing but we played it as well as we could. I would defintely  say the age recommendation is spot on, any younger and it is a bit more of a challenge. I think it is a game the more you play the better and more simple it becomes. What I LOVE about the game is it designed to be used as almost an educational tool to bring to the forefront of people's minds the challenge conservationits face around the globe. Even more so for every purchase of the game is donated to the conservation partners and if you download the associated app it will help fund more conservation projects which is fantastic. 

Conservation Crisis is available to order from Amazon and would make a lovely gift for anyone who is interested in animals or conservation or just loves a good board game! 

* Please note I was kindly sent the item free of charge in exchange for an honest and open review, all thoughts are my own. 

Working from Home - 5 Tips to Keep Productive.

{Collaborative Content} It is often difficult to remain attentive and productive in a usual workday. But what happens when you start working from home? It can be challenging to concentrate and be productive amidst all the distractions that come with working from home. From kids watching TV to the temptations to grab something from your fridge, how do you make sure that you don’t get distracted and get the job done each day?

 

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How to Remain Focused When Working From Home

1. Create a morning self-care routine

When working from an office outside your home, you can easily follow a morning routine that includes waking up and leaving your home for work. This is a simple structure that is easy to follow and can keep you energized and focused. This is why you need to also have a morning routine when working from home. Consider spending the first two hours on self-care. This means that you can use the time you would use to commute to work to write your journal, exercise, listen to music or meditate. Remember to consume nutritional formulas from https://ancientandbrave.earth/ to give you the energy you need when exercising.

2. Set rewards

If you have kids, you know the best way to get them to do something is by promising a reward like a candy bar or watching TV. Just like kids, adults also react better when they know there is a real and tangible reward. Therefore, set a reward and don’t skimp on it after it motivates you to get the job done.

3. Avoid multitasking

Your home has millions of distractions – piles of dishes, TV, and your mobile phone. However, not all these distractions deserve your attention.  Sometimes, your brain may assign significance to activities and tasks that are less important. You can avoid multitasking by pinpointing essential projects and addressing them before the end of the day.

4. Strategize your time

The 40-hour week is now becoming a thing of the past. In the 21st century, examples such as the Japanese 4-day workweek have proven to be more productive, which means that the clock isn’t the best indication of getting things done. Therefore, if your home office allows some level of flexibility, consider planning your day based on the projects and not timepiece. You can do this by identifying the projects that have to be completed in a day and set goals to accomplish them.

5. Create a schedule for your children

If you want to remain productive during the day, you have to create a schedule for your kids. For school-age kids, create a morning schedule for them. This will help you to get most of the work done without any interruptions. After the lunch hour, you can schedule safe screen time so that your kids remain occupied as you focus on finishing the remaining work for the day.

However, if you have younger kids, you can plan some home activities for them. Remember to also include lunchtime and nap time in their schedule. You may want to plan these activities before so that you organize your schedule and focus on your work.

Bottom Line

Nearly everything about how we work is evolving, especially after the pandemic. This makes it harder for people to work from home without getting distracted. However, if you make your home workspace comfortable and follow the above tips, you will be able to stay productive and complete your work without wasting time.

A Moonpig Valentine's Day.

{AD} With Valentine's day fast approaching it will be, no doubt a different kind of day - very much the like to the last 10 months, a little different! No meal out, no cinema trip or hotel stay but a day possibly similar to every other day! However, Moonpig have you covered to prepare for a big night in. I actually love a night in, there is nothing better than being in some comfy loungewear, getting a bottle of wine chilled, making the sure the children are in bed on time and curling up on the sofa with the husband and watching a decent film. Meals out and hotel breaks alone are a luxury at the best of times, let along in the middle of a pandemic! So these quiet nights in are fine by me. However, with Valentine's approaching how about mixing those quiet nights up a little and injecting some romance into it aswell. Let Moonpig be your one stop shop for the romantic essentials and plan your very own Valentine's night in <3

Moonpig has everything you need to arrange that perfect, romantic and cosy night in as a couple to celebrate Valentine's together. There are a whole variety of beautiful products to choose from for couples, for him or for her, it really is the place to go for all your valentine needs. 

It is ideal for us as a couple, as although we never make a huge thing of Valentine's we do tend to enjoy a nice meal, buy some token gifts and enjoy some time together (minus kids!). Here a few ideas to get you in the mood and provide some inspiration if you are struggling with what to purchase for the day of love!

- Flowers! They are a classic to gift to your loved one. Moonpig have a gorgeous variety of floral bouquets to choose from, such as a dozen red roses to the prettiest mixed bouquets. These vary in price and come in secure flower boxes with water provided. A really nice gift for your loved one to receive.

- How about a candle? I absoutely love candles and making my home smell nice - even more so since we have a Labrador puppy! I love Yankee candles and these huge ones last forever and smell incredible. They can really make a romantic atmosphere too. The scent here is 'The Last Paradise' and smells beautifully fresh and floral. This size candle retails for £20.00.

- Smellies! There are some gorgeous scented items on Moonpig, these Miss.Patisserie bath slabs and shower steamers are utterly divine, a perfect beginning to your Valentine's day or a lovely way to end the day. I just adore the packaging, oh so pretty (RRP £25.00).

- Booze. Who wouldn't love to receive a nice bottle of gin or similar as a gift. This beautiful Edinburgh gin (RRP £35.00) is a special Valentine's edition with notes of chamomile, lemon balm, lemon grass and kaffir lime leaf alongside the rose and hibiscus flavours to create its signature pink hue. A delightful and delicious Valentine's drink. Yum!

- Finally, how about a gift experience?  This couples 'at home date night' is a virtual date night that you activate when received using the provided pin. Desgined specifically for couples to connect, this experience can be used to connect with quizzes, musical challenges, riddles and more! A great idea and such fun. 

Moonpig really is a fantastic website for not only Valentine's day but for all other special occasions, head over to the website for a browse! Have a wonderful Valentine's day.

* Please note we were kindly sent the items free of charge in exchange for a blog post, all thoughts are my own.

3 Things that Would Make the Perfect Car for Grandparents.

{Collaborative Content} If you have been wondering what kind of car to suggest to your aging grandparents who don’t want to be driven around but instead, prefer their freedom, then you’ve come to the right place. A car for older people has to have a number of different aspects to it, that a family car might not have. There are three key areas to focus on. Accessibility, such as being able to get in and out of the car in the first place. Comfort, such as great heating, seating, and the ability to sit for long hours without feeling annoyance. And thirdly, the car must have lots of driver aids to keep them safe. However, this final one is more complex than it might seem so we’ll touch on that in just a moment.

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Getting in and out

This all comes down to picking one of the best mobility cars on the market. Peugeot 5008 is a crossover and is known to have great fundamentals inaccessibility like most crossover types. It has large doors, lots of space inside, plenty of things to grab hold of, and optional extras that make getting in and out easier for older people. These types of cars also come with options such as a retractable staircase that can be used to step into the car instead of climb or sit in. the large doors are perfect as they allow for a great big gap in between the steering wheel and the seat, so older people don’t feel they need to squeeze into the car.

 

Comfort level 

One of the main things about cars for older people is the level of comfort they provide. They must have a few things. Heated seats are a great option that you can have. These keep you warm, even in very cold temperatures. For elderly people who can’t get as warm as they once could just from their own body heat, this is a godsend. The in-car heating has to be panoramic so that the heat transfers around the car and not just in one area. Vents in the back module are important for this reason. Climate control has developed rapidly so that the rear seating is just as warm as the front.

Driver aids

Having cameras in the rear and in blindspots can greatly improve the safety of the driver and passengers. Older people might have trouble turning around to see someone like a motorbike, so this kind of visual aid is helpful. The console screen will show them what is behind or to the side of them. Parking sensors are a must. Even though these usually come as standard now, the amount of sensors is still optional. Having 360-degree sensors is a little more expensive but very helpful. Vibrating chairs are the answer to lane drifting. Alerting the driver when they have veered into another lane without necessarily steering into it, the chair vibrates to let them know to take the proper action. 

Cars for older people need to have great access. They must also be comfortable so it's a joy to drive and be in, for long hours if need be. The third but very important factor is, driver aids need to be practical and plentiful.

 

Helping Your Child Follow your Dreams.

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{Collaborative Content} Every child has dreams of being something when they grow up. In the past, kids wanted to be famous footballers or singers. Now, they might want to be a YouTube star with millions of subscribers eagerly logging on to watch every new video. Most of the time, these dreams don’t come to fruition. Your child grows out of it, or they try something new and realize their original dreams are not what they want. But, regardless of what they want, you must help them follow their dreams, and here’s how.

Get To Know Them 

It sounds strange to suggest that you get to know your kids. You see them every day. You’ve known them all their lives. But, do you know your kids? Chances are they have interests that you don’t know about. If you want to encourage them to follow their dreams, you must get to know them. You can spend time with them as they practice and ask them about what they are doing or how they are doing it. Not only will you learn more about their hobby, but your child will also be pleased that you're showing an interest in their life.

Help Them Gain Self-Confidence 

Generally, there are two types of kids. There are the boisterous, loud children who love being the centre of attention, and there are the shy kids who prefer to stick to the sidelines and won’t put themselves out there. There is nothing wrong with either personality, but if your child shows signs of shyness, you can help them boost their confidence to give them the driver to show off their skills. If they have dreams of performing or being in front of an audience, this confidence is vital for helping them feel comfortable in all situations.

Look For the Best Clubs and Schools

If your child gets to the point where they grow out of local clubs and schools, you can help them achieve their potential by identifying the best institutions in the country. Football academies or the Royal Academy of Dance are renowned places that will give your child the skills to make it and achieve their dreams. There’s only so much you can teach them, so working with professionals will ensure they have all the support they need, potentially leading to success in the future.

Don’t Live Vicariously Through Them 

Parents who live vicariously through their kids are the worst. They are usually parents who had their own dreams of success but never made it, maybe because of an injury. While it’s reasonable to be happy for your child following their dreams, you mustn’t make it about yourself. You shouldn’t push your child if they don’t want to be pushed. This can make them fall out of love with their dreams and damage your relationship with them. 

Dreams 

If you’re a parent, you already know how fickle kids can be. They might show an interest in one hobby today, only to forget about it entirely tomorrow. But, if your kids show a genuine, lasting interest in something, you must do everything you can to help them achieve their dreams. 

Things That Change when You Grow Older.

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{Collaborative Content} Everyone grows old, and everyone eventually starts to struggle with the little things in life. It is a natural part of life for us to grow old and start a whole new chapter, and today we want to discuss this and consider some of the things you might expect at this time of your life. 

There is nothing to be scared of about growing older and it is important for you to be prepared for what may come in the latter years of your life. Here are just a few of the things you will notice happen to you when you start to grow older

You’ll know the doctor on a first name basis 

As we grow past the age of 26, our bodies start to lose cells at a faster rate than we create them; and as we grow older this gap increases and this is why we suffer from more health issues when we grow older. You’ll notice that as you grow older you will end up visiting the doctors much more often and you will likely eventually know your doctor by their first name. 

You’re less mobile

When you grow a little older, you’ll notice that your joints are much more stuff than they used to be. It is important as you grow older to not be discouraged by the changes in your body and ensure that you do everything you can to adapt to these changes and make life a little easier for yourself. You can consider things such as physiotherapy, Elderly care, or different medications to help you live your life during these changes. 

You don’t work 

When you reach a certain age it will be time for you to retire for good, and this is something that will be amazing. After working for 40-50 years of your life you will now be able to be free and spend the twilight years of your life enjoying everything the world has to offer. The culture shock of no longer working might hit you hard and the best way to tackle this is to find a new hobby to take up your time such as painting or gardening. 

You have more time

Now that you are older and you are no longer working you will have a lot more time to enjoy yourself and do the things you love. Take the chance to go travelling, to learn how to cook new foods, and try new things. Having more time to enjoy the little things in life can be amazing and it will make you so happy and feel amazing every day. 

You struggle to see 

One of the health issues you will likely suffer as you grow older is a loss of your sight. Losing our sense of sight is common and it is something that affects people of all ages so it is nothing to be worried about. If you do start to notice that you can’t see or things are blurry you can go to your optician and either get some glasses or contact lenses to help you see. 

You may lose hearing

Your sense of hearing is something you will also likely lose as you grow older and it is something that you will need to get used to. Consider a hearing aid if you struggle to hear what people are saying because often if you don’t address a hearing issue it can impact things such as your relationship with your family and even your confidence if you start to withdraw from conversations because you can’t hear what people are saying. 

Your taste will change

As we grow older our tastes will change and this is natural even from the time we are children. Foods you like now might not be foods you like later, and on the other hand you might suddenly decide that you love certain foods more than you ever did. Enjoy trying new foods as you grow older and even re-try things you used to hate to see if your taste has changed.

You might get lonely 

It is so important when you grow older and you retire from your work that you stay sociable and fill your days with activities that make you happy as well as bring you into places with others. Things such as dancing, art classes, dog walking and more can bring you closer to others and will ensure that you don’t become lonely during your latter years. Make time for family and make sure you don’t waste time on your own. 

Using a Dance Agency for the First Time.

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{Collaborative Content} If you are currently searching for a dance agency you will notice that you have a wealth of options at your disposal. All you need to do is a quick internet search to see that this is a case. Of course, choice is obviously an excellent thing. Nevertheless, it can make it a lot more difficult when it comes to finding the best agency for you. Yet, that is where this post can help you. If you read on you will discover some key questions you should ask dance agencies before agreeing to use any of their services. So, keep on reading to find out more.

Can I take a look at your portfolio? A lot of dance agencies will have their portfolio available on their website so that you can easily view it. If not, you should ask them for it, so they can send you some examples of their previous work. This is important, as you will be able to get a feel for the type of service they provide. You can see whether their dance shows were well received and if they provide the sort of work you are looking for. This will fill you with confidence that the agency in question is the right one for you. You will also want to find out if they can help with other areas of your production, for example, whether they have connections in the cosmetics industry to help you with the styling of the dance crew. 

What areas of dance do you specialize in? It is likely that you will already have a style of dance in mind. It is vital to ensure the agency can cater to your requirements. After all, you may require an agency to provide you with a tap-dancing routine. You may then come across a company that has an excellent reputation and has won a wealth of awards. Yet this does not necessarily mean that they have produced a lot of successful tap-dancing products, does it? So this is something you will need to enquire about.

Can you work to my budget and deadline? Never simply assume that the agency is going to be able to accommodate your deadline and your budget. Yes, if you have the event scheduled for a set day there is no way you are going to be able to alter your deadline. However, the agency in question may not be able to move heaven and earth in order to match your deadline. Therefore, before agreeing to any service it is imperative to make certain you are both on the same page when it comes to the deadline and indeed your budget as well.

What experience do you have in similar projects? Last but not least, you should ask the agency for examples they have of working on projects that are similar to yours. This does not only relate to the type of dance, as mentioned earlier. But you also need to consider the type of event. For instance, if your dance performance is required for a huge arena tour, make sure the company has catered to these before. You want the reassurance that they have the ability and experience to handle the task you are throwing at them.