Healthier Lifestyle Tips

Sure, you’re doing your best to live a lifestyle that’s both healthy and thrifty. You’re trying to ensure that your body is well looked after, exercised and nourished without it costing a fortune and disrupting your carefully planned family budget but are you really putting your back into it?

Most of us consider our lifestyle healthy (and for the most part, we’re right) but many of us are neglecting one seriously important part of our health, and that’s the health of our spine. Like any other body part, most of us take it for granted and only pay it any attention when it’s not working quite so well as it should.

Of course, like any part of our body, we can only expect it to continue to function properly as we get older by taking good care of it. The trouble is that our increasingly sedentary lifestyle makes us put our spine under pressure that it hasn’t evolved to cope with. Neglecting your back can lead not only to limited flexibility but to a range of serious health conditions.

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Serious health conditions? Spine-health can’t be that important, can it?

You bet it can! Let’s start with the obvious. Your spine is responsible for most of the mobility that we take for granted. We use it every time we do something that involves bending or twisting your body. Without a healthy spine, we can’t function. It’s really that simple.

We can’t run, lift weights at the gym or even reach over to the coffee table to pick up our phone when it rings. Neglecting your spine could lead to serious mobility problems even with the simple activities like sitting and walking that we rely on every day.

The spine is also the core of your central nervous system. It’s responsible for sending electrical impulses all over your body from your brain. Living a modern lifestyle can cause us to impede these impulses which could lead to a lack of sensation or even paralysis.

Your spine also runs parallel to your esophagus. Damage to your spinal column can press against your esophagus, or even puncture it, impeding your ability to swallow food and water.   

Even if you exercise regularly and eat relatively well (the standard by which we measure a healthy lifestyle today), the truth is that years and years of little things like incorrect lifting technique at the gym or using heavy tools incorrectly at work can slowly but surely lead to deterioration of the spinal column, wearing away at the spinal discs and joints, leading over time to degenerative diseases.

Every day our lifestyle leads us to bad habits that cause us to do our spines more and more harm. Fortunately, fixing these matters needn’t cost a fortune or involve a complete lifestyle change.

The power of posture

There’s a reason when we’re growing up our parents and teachers keep telling us to stand up straight. It’s not just because it makes us look slovenly, it’s because bad posture can lead to a huge range of health problems. It can lead to headaches, neck pain, back and shoulder pain, and even impeded lung and digestive function.

Correcting your posture takes constant diligence but the health benefits don’t take long to present themselves. Check out this guide for some everyday hints that can help you to correct your posture.

At work

Whatever your job and career aspirations, you likely spend a lot of your day sitting. You sit in your car or on the bus or train to work. You spend 8-10 hours a day sitting at your desk while at work, you sit again on the way back home and when you get home, it’s time for another sit.

The trouble is that sitting is not a configuration that our bodies have evolved to spend long periods of time in. Given that we spend around 8-12 hours a day at work (predominantly sitting) before sitting for a little longer at home. At work we’re not only sitting, we’re leaning forward to peer at the screen.

This puts a lot of pressure on our spine not to mention our vital organs. It’s no hyperbole to say that too much sitting can kill you, even if you exercise regularly. If your job requires a lot of sitting, build opportunities into your day to get up and move.

Every 30 minutes go over to grab a glass of water or check something with a colleague. It will take just a few minutes but could do a world of good for your health.

At home

Aside from yet more sitting there are other ways in which we don’t do our spines any favors at home. When we shop for a sofa we tend to go for the most comfortable option, little knowing that comfy sofas can cause back pain.

As important as our sofa is our bed is even more important. Even in a thrifty household, your mattress is not an area in which you should be a penny pincher. The wrong mattress can be disastrous to your health in all sorts of ways. It can prevent you from getting enough sleep and lead to back and neck pain that leads to more serious issues.

Your mattress should be replaced every 10 years. If you’re in the market for a new mattress don’t waste money on an uncomfortable cage sprung mattress. A hybrid mattress is great for spine health and a restful night’s sleep. What are hybrid mattresses? It’s a pocket sprung base interspersed and topped with memory foam. This gives you the perfect balance between comfort and support.

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At the gym

Whether we’re aware of it or not we put our spinal health at risk when at the gym, particularly when lifting weights, many of us neglect the all-important warm up and cool down to protect our joints and the muscle tissue surrounding them.

Never sacrifice technique for weight as lifting heavier weights with incorrect technique not only compromises your goals in the long term but can lead to inadvertent back injury.

Vigilance and the fixing of a few bad habits are a small price to pay for a healthy and supple back!

Body image is a term given to the way we interpret the way we look. Body confidence is about feeling secure and happy in your own skin. Sadly, it’s something many of us lack. Whether you’re 100, 200 or 400 pounds, you’re 5’0 or 6’0, nobody is immune to body confidence issues. If you could do with a boost, look no further. Here are some simple steps you can take to make you feel more confident about your body.

Eliminate comparisons

This is one of the most important changes you can make, but it’s also one of the hardest. If you have friends that are skinnier, taller or more athletic than you, it’s human nature to think about how you measure up. We’re aware of the differences between us and those around us from an early age, and we never really grow out of the habit of making comparisons.

The fact that image is so important in modern society can also make it incredibly difficult to eliminate comparisons. With social media and fashion campaigns featuring ‘perfect’ bodies, it can be hard not to dwell on how you look in comparison to others.

If you find yourself feeling low because your Instagram feed is full of size zero models or fitness fanatics, take a break. Take time out, don’t look at others, and focus on how you feel in your own skin. We’re all different, we come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and what makes one person happy won’t necessarily make another content.

If you’re happy with your body as it is, don’t feel like you need to go on a crash diet to drop 10 kilos or spend all your time at the gym trying to sculpt abs and triceps. Try and ignore external pressures.

It’s also worth remembering that many of the images you see on social media are filtered and enhanced. The original image may look completely different to the pictures you see on your phone or tablet.

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Tackle your troubles

If you’re unhappy with the way you look, there are often solutions out there. While it’s essential to act for yourself and to resist pressure applied by other people or societal norms, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to better yourself.

If you’ve gained weight and you want to lose it again, you’ve skipped a few too many workouts and you’ve lost definition, or you’ve not been paying enough attention to your diet, and you’re worried that you look gaunt, don’t be afraid to make changes.

If you want to lose weight, focus on your diet and try and increase the amount of exercise you do. If you’ve hit a wall and you feel like you can’t physically get the body you want, you could investigate non-surgical treatments like those available at Cosmetic Laser Dermatology, or you could strive to be the best possible version of yourself.

It’s so important to have realistic expectations. If you’re 5’2 and you’ve got hips and a bottom, you’re not going to become a Victoria Secret model no matter how much exercise you do. Embrace the body you’ve got and understand that even people who seem to have everything probably have insecurities too.

Be proactive about making changes that you know will bring you happiness and boost your confidence, but don’t lose sight of the fact that everybody is different, and that’s what makes the world such an interesting place.

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Make an effort to look good

We all have days when we don’t feel great about the way we look. If you lack confidence, simple steps like putting on a bit of makeup, doing your hair and putting an outfit together that makes you feel great can make all the difference. You don’t need to sit around the house in a ballgown, but making that little bit of effort can go a long way.

If it’s been a while since you went to a salon or changed your hairstyle, why not treat yourself to a bit of pampering?

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Ditch the haters

If you’re a fan of social media, you may have noticed that even models and celebrities receive hateful comments about the way they look. Even the most beautiful people in the world can be affected by negative feedback.

If you’ve got people around you who put you down or make you feel anxious, uncomfortable or inadequate, sever the ties. Friends are not real friends if they use you to make themselves feel better.

Friends and partners should support each other, champion each other and encourage each other to be as happy, confident and strong as possible. Don’t waste any more time trying to please people who will always try and bring you down. Focus on the relationships that make you feel good.

Relationships can have such a powerful impact on our feelings and self-esteem, and it’s much better to have a tight circle than to have loads of followers and friends that don’t have your back.

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Think about how you treat yourself

Are you your harshest critic? If so, you’re not alone. We tend to be much kinder and more forgiving with other people than we are with ourselves. If you’ve got a friend who is anxious about wearing an outfit on a date or your sister is complaining about her weight, what do you say to them?

You probably go out of your way to tell them they look stunning and make them feel confident. If this is a scenario that sounds familiar to you, it’s time to apply the same rules to how you treat yourself. Be kind, be gentle and don’t put too much pressure on yourself.

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If you lack body confidence, you’re not alone. Very few people are completely happy with everything they see in the mirror. The key to gaining confidence is finding out what makes you happy and making changes in line with realistic, achievable targets. Focus on your own happiness and wellbeing instead of obsessing about the way others look, be kind to yourself and surround yourself with people who genuinely want the best for you.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Campbell’s®, Lipton, Premium Crackers, Theraflu and TYLENOL®. All opinions are mine alone. #SickDaySolutions #CollectiveBias

It’s hard to believe, but winter-germ season is here. Along with the colder temperatures comes the potential for sneezes, sniffles, and sickness.

Yet, there are ways you can equip your home and family to stay healthy during this time of year. Let’s take a closer look at 5 simple ways you can prepare your family today for the winter-germ season at home. 

Tip 1: Create a Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit.

A month before the start of each germ season, I create for my family a Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit. In this kit contains:

• An easy-to-clean Metal 4-Compartment Caddy
• Thermometer
• TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon
• Severe Cold & Cough Daytime Powders
• Lipton Bedtime Bliss Herbal Supplement

Making this kit was super simple as I was able to pick-up everything I needed, minus my caddy (which I already had on-hand at home), was available for quick pick-up at my local Kroger. With everything, I needed locating right in the pain relief aisle.

I like to pick up a box of Theraflu Severe Cold & Cough Daytime Powders. This makes sure that no matter what symptoms crop up at home during germ season, my family is well taken care of. Theraflu provides my family with powerful relief without a prescription.

I also make sure to stock my caddy with Lipton Caffeine-Free Bedtime Bliss Herbal Supplement. Full of carefully selected botanicals and blended with essential oils, it’s a delicious way to help my family get the much-needed rest required to fight off germ season at home. This herbal infusion is like a lullaby in a cup.* Featuring chamomile, mint and orange peel. Perfect for promoting my family’s wellness at home during the winter-germ season. 

For myself, I always pick up the TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon. It provides me with all day relief, of cold and flu symptoms at home and is the #1 doctor recommended pain relief brand to help stop your painful coughing, congestion & sore throat each germ season! It also does not have a harsh taste and the warming honey in the TYLENOL® Cold + Flu products provide relief to sore, irritated throats as well!

Even better, TYLENOL® comes with a Feel better or your money back, guarantees on adult products, that lets me feel assured in TYLENOL®’s commitment to my overall well-being at home this germ season!

Once I’ve gotten home from my local Kroger, I start filling my caddy with all of the essential germ season essentials mentioned above I place the kit in a central location so everyone in my family knows that this kit is the place to come when they need germ season supplies at home. Just add everything to your caddy and store in a convenient place. Super simple! 

Tip 2: I stock my pantry with nourishing foods.

I keep a well-stocked pantry full of easy-to-prepare comfort foods that help nourish and warm my family at home during germ season at home. Specifically, I like to keep Campbell’s® Tomato Soup 4-Count 4-Packs on hand. Because for generations moms have turned to Campbell’s® Condensed Soup to soothe and comfort sick little ones and sick, grumpy, grouchy husband’s too! 

I love that Campbell’s® Condensed Soup has no artificial colors or flavors. They are Made for Real, Real Life.® 

I also keep a stash of the Original Premium Saltine Crackers on hand. This is always my go-to cracker during the winter-germ season because Nabisco PREMIUM is the #1 saltine cracker and makes the perfect accompaniment to soup, such as Campbell’s® Tomato Soup. Premium is also the perfect cracker for quick weeknight meals, weekend entertaining, and are amazing with hummus and other dips! Not to mention how awesome the Original Premium Saltine Crackers are for helping to settle upset stomachs and morning sickness. 

Keeping a well-stocked pantry of these comfort foods helps me to worry less about what I’ll be preparing for dinner and instead focus on my family’s wellness. It’s a no-brainer for me! 

Tip 3: Create a heat and cold pack.

With winter-germ season come the aches and pains of not feeling well during the coldest parts of the year. To remedy this, each family member is given their own DIY Crochet Heat and Cold Rice Pack. This allows my family the ability to stay extra warm and toasty when they might not be feeling their best. They can heat these packs in the microwave for 1 minute for added warmth and comfort and throw them in the freezer for 1 hour for icing achy joints. 

On an average winter night, I heat my pack up and lay it on my shoulders to ease writers tension. They are amazing! If you’re looking for a similar situation for your own family at home, here’s a 1-hour crochet pattern to get you started:

Materials needed:

• 5.0 mm crochet hook
• 1 skein worsted weight organic yarn (100 yards)
• 3 cups rice
• Funnel
• Scissors

Stitch Terms:

• ch= Chain Stitch
• sc= Single Crochet Stitch
• dc= Double Crochet
• sl st: Slip Stitch

Pattern:

Round 1: Ch 40. Sl st into the first ch to create a loop. Making sure to not to twist the chain while working and to keep your stitches tight and even.

Round 2: Ch 1, dc in first ch, sc in next ch. Repeat all the way around the loop. Sl st to join with 40 stitches total.

Round 3: Ch 1, sc in dc then dc into a sc. Repeat all the way around the loop. Sl st to join together with 40 stitches total.

Rounds 4 – 34: Continue alternating rounds 2 and 3 until you reach round 34. then ch 1.

Row 34: Finish your bottom side of your pack with a row of sl st’s. Fasten off. Weave in your ends. 

Next, fill your bag with rice. I use 3 cups which fills the bag 3/4 full. Adjust your rice portions depending on how full or stiff you want your finished product to be. 

To finish your bag, sl st your top closed. Fasten off. Weave in your ends. Compost your yarn scraps. 

To heat your bag, place in the microwave for 30-second intervals until it’s warm enough to the touch for you and place in the freezer for an hour for cold relief. To keep your bag clean, leave it in full sunlight outdoors for 6-8 hours for a full sun-bleaching treatment. Easy peasy! 

Tip 4: Make your own cough drops.

It’s inevitable. during the winter-germ season, you’ll need cough drops. Which is why I love making natural homemade cough drops when my family is fighting a cold. Made with honey, coconut oil, and cinnamon, they not only help suppress coughing but take only minutes to make! Here’s how to get started:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup room temperature organic coconut oil
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon of organic ground cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Scoop coconut oil into a mixer bowl or good processor. Beat until blended.
2. Add the honey and continue to whip until the honey and oil are incorporated.
3. Add your cinnamon powder.
4. Pour mixture into small ice cube trays.
5. Freeze until they’re hard.
6. Pop your cough drops out of the ice cube tray and store in a jar in the freezer.

When you need a cough drop, slowly savor one in your mouth every 2-3 hours until symptoms improve. And in terms of making cough drops, it doesn’t get any easier than this. Try your hand at making your own drops this season! 

Tip 5: Give your home a deep clean.

Throughout the year, but especially during germ season, I find it essential to perform monthly deep cleaning sessions of the areas in my home that germs gravitate to the most, bathrooms, my kitchen, and communal living spaces. Paying particular attention to cleanse shared objects in those rooms such as toilets, bath stalls sinks, bed sheets by their specific cleaning requirements, and to sanitize frequently touched objects such as phones, remotes, televisions, silverware, countertops, lamps, ceiling fan toggles, shared toys, and small appliances with a fine mist of rubbing alcohol.

During germ season I also like to keep a working shopping list on my phone that allows me to know just what I need to pick up while in-store at my local Kroger. I keep all of my go-to home wellness products including Theraflu Severe Cold & Cough Daytime Powders, TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon, and Lipton Bedtime Bliss Herbal Supplements as well as any last-minute food items I might need as well to keep my family happy and healthy each winter season, including Campbell’s® Condensed Soup and Original Premium Saltine Crackers!

This keeps my home well stocked and ready for whatever the winter-germ season may bring our way! Be sure to right-click on my shopping list pdf below to make sure you’re prepared and stocked up for germ season at home too!

Friends, be sure to stop by your local Kroger to stock up on everything you need to help you prepare for this year’s germ season at home. Click here to find out about the savings you can currently score on the above-mentioned products at your local to help ensure your family has their healthiest holiday season yet from your local Kroger!

You can also click here to find even more health-related tips for surviving germ season at home this year! Now I have to ask, what is your favorite way to tackle germ season at home? I’d love to hear about it below!

Campbell’s® – © 2018 CSC LP Lipton – © 2018 Unilever Theraflu – Read and follow label directions. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older. Use products only as directed. TYLENOL® – ® Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2017. Use products only as directed. The makers of TYLENOL® remind you to use only one medicine with acetaminophen at a time.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Abreva, Clorox, Theraflu and TYLENOL®. All opinions are mine alone. #AHealthyHolidays #CollectiveBias

November. That brief moment in time when the weather cools down, the air gets crisp, and when the falling leaves are replaced with holiday greenery. The time of year when the holiday season is just around the corner! But with all that sparkles this time of year, there’s also a few not so lovely parts of the season as well. Namely, the start to the germ season!

If your family is anything like mine, then you know what a damper the germ season can put on fun family festivities at home! Afterall, how can you be the hostess with the mostest this holiday season with a family in the throws of the germ season?

In my home, we’ve officially been in germ season for the past month and it’s been circling our family for the past several weeks. Starting with my husband’s students, then the kiddos and myself, and finally my husband. 

Luckily, we’re all on the mend at home thanks in no small part to my family having been prepared to tackle the germ season. And thankfully, it’s super simple for you to get your family prepared at home for the germ season to do the same! With that in mind, here are my 5 tips to getting your family prepared for germ season at home.

1) Create a Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit. A month before the start of each germ season, I create for my family a Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit. In this kit contains:

• An easy-to-clean Metal 4-Compartment Caddy
• OTC Germ Season Medicines
• Cold Sore Medicine
• Reusable Tissues
• Thermometer

Making this kit was super simple as I was able to pick-up everything I needed, minus my caddy (which I already had on-hand at home), was available for quick pick-up at my local Kroger. With everything, I needed locating right on the pain relief and lip care aisles.

Here’s what I picked up for my germ season caddy at home:

Abreva: My family has never gone through a germ season without someone getting a cold sore, so I always make sure to keep an Abreva Pump in my Home Germ Survival Kit. Because when used at the first sign of cold sores (you know, the tingle on your lip that lets you know a present is on the way) delivers healing relief. 

I love that Abreva is easy to apply, can heal your cold sore in as little as 2 1/2 days, and is the only FDA approved OTC medicine to shorten healing time. For us, nothing heals our cold sores faster than Abreva. Making it a staple in our germ season survival kit!

Theraflu: I like to pick up a box of both the Theraflu Multi-symptom Cold and Flu Relief and the Day Night Pack of Theraflu. This makes sure that no matter what symptoms crop up at home during germ season, my family is well taken care of.

Theraflu provides my family with powerful relief without a prescription and the Multi-symptom severe packets are the #1 cold & flu hot liquid brand for powerful symptom relief.*

TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid: For myself, I always pick up the TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid. It provides me with all day relief, of cold and flu symptoms at home and is the #1 doctor recommended pain relief brand to help stop your painful coughing, congestion & sore throat each germ season! It also does not have a harsh taste and the warming honey in the TYLENOL® Cold + Flu products provide relief to sore, irritated throats as well!

Even better, TYLENOL® comes with a Feel better or your money back, guarantees on adult products, that lets me feel assured in TYLENOL®’s commitment to my overall-wellbeing at home this germ season!

Once I’ve gotten home from my local Kroger, I start filling my caddy with all of the essential germ season essentials mentioned above I place the kit in a central location so everyone in my family knows that this kit is the place to come when they need germ season supplies at home! 

2) I keep a stocked cleaning kit nearby: I keep a well-stocked cleaning caddy by our Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit to help me tackle the necessary cleaning that comes with germ season at home.

In my caddy, I like to keep Clorox products. Specifically the Clorox Scentiva Multi-Purpose Cleaner Spray and Wipes in the Tuscan Lavender & Jasmine scent. I’m also digging that these products carry Clorox’s Kill Claim, as the products help to kills 99.9% of germs that can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours, kills 99.9% of Viruses* and Bacteria, and kills Staph, E. Coli, Salmonella, Strep on surfaces as well. Making these Clorox products my go-to cleaning aids each germ season! 

Like with the products in my Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit, I was able to pick up these Clorox Scentiva products at my local Kroger in the cleaning product aisle.

Also in my caddy, I keep several reusable towels, disposable gloves, and a spray bottle of distilled water to wash down surfaces after disinfecting that come in contact with my kiddos at home. I also keep this cleaning caddy right next to Winter Survival Kit for easy access for everyone in my family this germ season!

3) Use a hot water bottle: One of my favorite ways to keep my family warm and cozy each germ season is by keeping each family member equipped with their own reusable water bottle. This allows my family the ability to stay extra warm and toasty when they might not be feeling their best! 

We love hot water bottles. Especially the wide-mouth varieties, since it’s easier to fill them without splashing hot water on yourself or others. But the traditional red rubber models are fine too. In fact, they are my family’s favorites! 

On an average winter night, I fill my bottle with hot tap water. But if it’s going to be one of those bone-chilling nights, I’ll heat up some water with my electric kettle and fill my bottle with a funnel. Making sure to be careful when pouring the water into the bottle and taking equal measure to make sure the bottle is extra tight to prevent leaks in bed! 

• 5.0 mm crochet hook
• 1 skein worsted weight yarn
• Darning needle
• 1 Hot Water Bottle (I used a 2-liter rubber one)

Pattern Terms Used:

• Chain: Chain Stitch
• DC= Double Crochet
• TR= Treble Stitch 

Pattern:

Begin by chaining 66 stitches. You’ll want a chain long enough to loop around your bottle. Your bottle may be larger or smaller, just make sure to keep your base count a multiple of 3.

Row 1: Into the 2nd chain from the hook, work 1dc, then 1dc into each stitch working your way back to the starting stitch. You should have 64 stitches in total, or 2 less than when you started.

Row 2: Turn work & chain 3. Then 1tr into the first stitch. Skip the next 2 stitches, then 1tr into the 3rd stitch, then a set of 3tr, skip the next 2 stitches, then again another 3tr into the 3rd & so on to the end of your row. Follow this exact pattern, except only do 2tr into the final stitch of the row. The row should now start and finish with a set of 2 trebles.

Row 3: Turn work & chain 3, then work 3 trebles into the first chain space then 3 trebles into every chain space till the end of the row then 1 treble into the chain space of the row.

Row 4: Chain 3. Work 3 trebles into the spaces just like in row 3. Do this all the way along till the last space on the row and then treble only 2 stitches into the last stitch.

Row 5: Chain 3 & turn. Work 3 trebles into the spaces just like in row 3. Do this all the way along till the last space on the row and then treble only 1 stitch into the last stitch.

Row 6: Follow the instructions for Row 4 for the rest of the body of your work and until you achieve your desired length. My bottle is 30 rows in total.

When at the desired length, sew up the bottom and the sides of your work with your darning needle with matching yarn as the thread.

Next, place the hot water bottle inside the cozy so make sure that the bottle cozy will be snug and keep the bottle in place until finished.

To create the cozy’s neck:

Row 1: Starting at the neck, insert your hook into 1 of the chain spaces on the top row of your last row and chain 3. Add 2 more trebles into the same space. Then working around the neck, add 3 trebles into each space till you reach your starting stitch.

Row 2: Chain 3 and work 2 more trebles into the chain space, then 3tr into every space, working your way around to your first stitch of the row and then inserting hook into the top of the ch3.

Row 3-5: ch3 plus 2tr into the next starting row space and continue to work groups of 3tr into the spaces as in the previous rounds.  I did 5 rows around the neck, but your neck might be longer or shorter, so amend your pattern as needed.

After you have reached your desired length, join with a slip stitch to the top of the ch3 and sew in the end. And you’re done with your hot water bottle cozy! You’ll notice that by adding the neck you will have created small pleats in the work. This is intentional as it gives you three 1/4″ bits of slack to allow you to move the bottle in and out of the cozy.

To remove the cozy, simply turn your bottle into itself, in a C-pattern. I like to keep my cozy in my bottle and keep it located by my cleaning caddy and Winter Home Germ Season Survival Kit for easy access each germ season! 

4) I make sure my family knows how to properly wash their hands at home: While most of us know that handwashing is one of the best ways to protect yourself and your family from getting sick. But how many of us know the right way to do so?

Here are the 5 steps to washing your hands properly at home each germ season:

1. Wet your hands with clean water and then turn off the tap. Apply soap to your hands.
2. Lather your hands by rubbing them together with the soap, including the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails and cuticles.
3. Scrub your hands for at least 20 seconds. A tip: Hum the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice to ensure you’ve had time to properly clean your hands.
4. Next, rinse your hands with clean water.
5. Finally, dry your hands using a clean towel.

Throughout the year, but especially during germ season, I constantly reiterate the point of proper hand washing to my family. I want them to not only know how to properly wash their hands but also the proper times to wash their hands as well. Such as before, during, and after preparing food, after eating, after using the bathroom, and after caring for someone who is ill. 

Looking for a way to help your kiddos understand the best way to wash their hands at home? Right-click the infographic below to save and print your own safe hand washing printable at home!

5) Create a working Germ Season Shopping List: The final way I help protect my family at home during germ season is by keeping a working shopping list on my phone that allows me to know just what I need to pick up while in-store at my local Kroger!

I keep all of my above-mentioned home health and cleaning products as well as any last-minute holiday food items I might need as well to keep my family happy and healthy each holiday season! Be sure to right-click on my shopping list pdf below to make sure you’re prepared and stocked up for germ season at home too!

This past weekend when my husband came home from school fully inundated with germs I knew I was already prepared for everything my husband needed to start feeling his best again.

But I knew we were covered! Because as a family, we always tackle the winter germ season with our winter survival kit because we know that Abreva, Theraflu, TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid, and with the help of Clorox Scentiva cleaning products, we are protected at home this time of year.

Though my husband is on the mend, I’ll be sure to re-stock everything I’ll need for our next germy bought this season at my local Kroger. When it comes to germ season at home, you can never be too prepared! 

Friends, be sure to stop by your local Kroger and pick up Abreva, Theraflu, TYLENOL® Cold + Flu Severe Warming Honey Lemon Liquid, and Clorox Scentiva cleaning products, and everything you need to help you prepare for this year’s germ season at home.

Be sure to check click here to find out about the savings you can currently score on the above-mentioned products at your local Kroger to help ensure your family has their healthiest holiday season yet from your local Kroger! Now I have to ask, what is your favorite way to tackle germ season at home? I’d love to hear about it below! 

Disclaimer: Abreva – Use only as directed. Read and follow label directions. Clorox – Use as directed on hard non-porous surfaces. Theraflu – Read and follow label directions. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older. Use products only as directed. 

TYLENOL® – ® Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2017. Use products only as directed. The makers of TYLENOL® remind you to use only one medicine with acetaminophen at a time.

*Influenza A Virus **On hard, non-porous surfaces. See product label for a list of organisms.

***Median healing time is 4.1 days, 25% of users healed in 2.5 days.

Please note: This post is sponsored by MommyKnowsBest.com. All opinions expressed are my own. Thank you!

The holiday season. The time of year when temperatures drop, heaters come on, the wind chills, and the daily battle to maintain healthily, moisturized skin begins.

Winter is always a trying time for skin. As dry indoor air often strips away the thin layer of oil that traps moisture in the skin during the colder parts of the year. Leaving skin itchy and tight. Like wearing an undersized turtleneck. And for those living with painful conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, this severe dry skin can be made all the worse each winter.

Whether you have eczema, psoriasis, or xerosis, otherwise known as severe dry skin, finding new ways to replace moisture stripped away from the skin from dry, cold air is a must! Which is why during the holiday season I love to break out this recipe for 1-Hour Winter Skin All-Natural Lotion Recipe. A recipe that is super nourishing, super versatile and super simple to make.

While I’ve bought so many lotions and creams in my life, including expensive organic blends, but I always come back to this recipe because it’s both simple to make and simply makes my dry winter skin feel better!

Why make your own lotion:

I also love making my own lotions because I’m able to keep out of my blend the harmful ingredients commonly found in many store-bought lotions including:

• Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA): A food preservative and stabilizer that’s an endocrine disrupter and carcinogenic.
• DMDM Hydantoin: A formaldehyde-releasing preservative used in body lotions that’s an irritant for eyes and skin. And while there’s no evidence that DMDM hydantoin itself is a carcinogen, formaldehyde definitely is. 
• Artifical Fragrances: Including diethyl phthalate, endocrine disruptors that are toxic to organ systems and can potentially emit harmful VOCs, which pollute indoor air quality, cause reparatory allergies, and induce asthma symptoms at home.
• Parabens: Parabens, including butylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and ethylparaben, widely used in the cosmetic industry since the 1950’s. While they prevent bacteria and fungus from growing in cosmetics, they are known hormone disruptions and have been linked to the formation of malignant breast cancer tumors. 

The best part about making your lotion at home? Many of the lotion’s ingredients are products you more than likely ones you already have on hand or can affordably buy online. Making it frugal in and time-saving in nature. In fact, I buy most of the products I need to make my DIY lotion at one online site, Mommy Knows Best. It’s my one-stop-shop for holistic living products at home. 

I love to use products from MommyKnowsBest because they are a leading provider of safe, natural products for nursing mothers and moms who seek an affordable, holistic lifestyle at home, like myself. Something everyone can appreciate this time of year!

Mommy Knows Best carries the staples I use in this recipe including nourishing oils and xylitol powder. A naturally derived sugar, that in addition to helping promote healthy teeth and gums, helps skin retain its own natural moisture by way of a natural boost of hyaluronic acid, a natural lubricant that promoted collagen production.

I use all-natural soy wax flakes in this lotion. As soy also contains isoflavones, a type of plant-derived compound called phytoestrogen, that helps diminish wrinkles, reverse sun damage, and even tighten sagging skin. Making these vegan soy flakes the perfect base for DIY lotions!

I also like to purchase pre-grated wax flakes. After all, who wants to grate wax? Not me!

For my nourishing oils, I use jojoba and avocado oils. Jojoba oil is great because it naturally moisturizes skin by way of Vitamin E, Vitamin B Complex. It also helps fights skin-related fungi infections and promotes overall skin health. My favorite blend? Vie Naturelle Jojoba Oil, from Mommy Knows Best.

Avocado oil is great for hydrating the skin but is a naturally effective treatment for acne, eczema, and other forms of skin inflammation. Because of its skin-loving fatty acids, avocado oil is perfect for nourishing and pampering dry, itchy winter skin at home. My favorite blend comes from Vie Naturelle Avocado Oil. 

I also love to use essential oils in my lotion recipe. Adding them can turn your lotion from simply being moisturizing to a product that is nourishing and healing for your skin. An added bonus? Essential oils also make this lotion customizable. By adding a combination of holiday-inspired oils and jarring this lotion, you then have a DIY holiday gift idea too!

My favorite essential oil blend for winter:

• 10 Drops Bergomant Essential Oil
• 10 Drops Rosemary Essential Oil
• 20 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil

Need a few essential oil blend ideas?

Aging skin: Rose, geranium, and lavender.
Energy: Lavender, lemon, bergamotnt, and grapefruit oils.
Issues with psoriasis or eczema: Helichrysum, frankincense, lavender, or chamomile oils.
Avoiding stretch marks: Helichrysum, lavender, patchouli, neroli, rose, geranium, or fir essential oil.
Holiday-inspired scents: Rosemary, clove, anise, or sweet orange oils.

So if you’re looking to help relieve your tightest, driest winter skin, here’s how to make it!

How to make 1-Hour All-Natural DIY Lotion at home:

Begin by measuring out your wax. You’ll need a full half cup. Make sure you are densely packing your measuring cup during this step. Adding less wax to your nourishing oils will result in a greaser more slippery lotion blend.

Now you’ll need to melt your wax flakes. You can heat your wax flakes over low heat in a saucepan or in a double boiler. For me, I opt for the microwave. This can be done by microwaving your flakes in 30-second increments until melted.

Once melted, add your wax to your vessel of choice. Quickly adding your xylitol to your wax. The residual heat of the wax flakes will melt your xylitol into your lotion.

You’ll then add your nourishing oils. I use equal parts jojoba and avocado oil. A few points to consider. Should you want a blend only for your face, add only jojoba oil. If you want a blend more for your body, especially for dryer areas such as knees, elbows, and legs, opt for a blend of only avocado oil. Make sure to stir in your oils into your wax and xylitol blend until well combined.

Now let your blend sit for 15 minutes, or until no longer transparent. After which, you will need to give it a stir. Then repeat this process every 15-minutes for the next hour. 

During the last round of stirring, add in your essential oils. A good rule of thumbs is to add 40 drops of essential oils, per 6-ounce jar, for citrus oils, and 10 drops per 6-ounce jar, for herbal oils.

In terms of storage, because of the fatty omega-rich nourishing oils, this lotion has the added benefit of being broad-spectrum preserved. Making this blend shelf-stable!

That’s it! How simple was that? Making your own lotion doesn’t get more simple than this! If you’d like to see my make this lotion live, you can check out my YouTube tutorial too! 

Friends, I hope you will consider trying your hand this at making lotion this cold weather season. Treat yourself to this all-natural blend. And when you’re ready to purchase the supplies to make this lotion at home, check out Mommy Knows Best for everything you’ll need to get started!

Looking for other natural, zero-waste skin DIY’s at home? Check out my other beauty posts and for more zero-waste goodness this season! 

Now I want to ask, do you make your own lotion products at home each winter? Or do you have tips for nourishing and healing dry, cracked winter skin at home? If so, I’d love to hear about them below!

Connect with Mommy Knows Best:

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DIY All-Natural Winter Dry Skin Lotion

2017-11-22 16:38:47

Looking for a simple, all-natural lotion recipe? You're in for a treat! This 1-Hour DIY lotion is full of skin-nourishing oils. Making it perfect for treating dry, cracked winter skin at home. Here's how to make it:

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Prep Time

1 hr

Cook Time

5 min

Total Time

1 hr 5 min

Prep Time

1 hr

Cook Time

5 min

Total Time

1 hr 5 min

Ingredients

1. 1/2 grated soy wax flakes
2. 3/4 cup avocado oil
3. 3/4 cup jojoba oil
4. 1 Tablespoon Xylitol Powder
5. 10 drops of herbal essential oils or 40 drops citrus essential oil blends

Instructions

1. Begin by measuring out your wax. You’ll need a full half cup. Make sure you are densely packing your measuring cup during this step. Adding less wax to your nourishing oils will result in a greaser more slippery lotion blend.
2. Now you’ll need to melt your wax flakes. You can heat your wax flakes over low heat in a saucepan or in a double boiler. For me, I opt for the microwave. This is done by microwaving your flakes in 30-second increments until melted. Stirring each time you check your flakes.
3. Once melted, add your wax to your vessel of choice.
4. Then quickly add your xylitol to your wax.
5. The residual heat of the wax flakes will melt your xylitol into your lotion.
6. You’ll then add your nourishing oils. I use equal parts jojoba and avocado oil.
7. Now, should you want a blend only for your face, add only jojoba oil. If you want a blend more for your body, especially for dryer areas such as knees, elbows, and legs, opt for a blend of only avocado oil. Make sure to stir in your oils into your wax and xylitol blend until well combined.
8. Now you will need to let your blend sit for 15 minutes, or until no longer transparent.
9. Then every 15-minutes for 1 hour you will need to stir your lotion blend.
10. During the last round of stirring, add in your essential oils. A good rule of thumbs is to add 40 drops of essential oils, per 6-ounce jar, for citrus oils, and 10 drops for herbal oils.

Notes

1. Because of the blends fatty omega-rich nourishing oils, which lend this lotion the added benefit of broad spectrum preservation. Making this blend shelf-stable.

By Nicole Roberts

The LadyPrefers2Save https://theladyprefers2save.com/