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  • Foods to Avoid over the Holidays

    Foods to Avoid over the Holidays

    No one likes having gastrointestinal issues at family gatherings over the holidays. If you’re going to a Christmas or New Year’s party, there are some foods to avoid. We’re going to break down some of the foods that can be the hardest on your gut and why you should avoid them when you’re trying to enjoy time with family.

    No one wants to be bloated, gassy or in the bathroom the entire time they’re visiting family. So, if you’re hosting, consider not having any of these foods out. If you’re visiting, consider just avoiding these foods altogether. Why risk getting sick on a snack when you’re trying to enjoy the holidays?

    Foods to Avoid over the Holidays

    Acidic Foods

    Acidic foods, like soda pop, tomatoes and tomato sauce, citrus fruits and the like can all cause stomach problems. If you’re prone to acid reflux or heartburn, consider avoiding these foods. Whether it’s in the form of a snack or a major part of the meal, consider taking it easy on these foods. Acidic foods impact your stomach more when it’s empty, though, so maybe grab a few orange slices or a bit of grapefruit after the main course!

    The worst part is, tomatoes and citrus fruits are really quite good for you. It’s unfortunate that their high acid content makes them rough on an empty stomach. However, if you eat them in moderation and make sure you don’t have them before a meal you should be okay over the holidays.

    Dairy Products

    A lot of people have a really hard time digesting milk. If too much lactose gets into your large intestine, it can even lead to diarrhea, which is a surefire way to ruin your holiday party. If you’ve got a history of lactose intolerance, avoid ice cream, milkshakes and the like as much as you can.

    If you really, really want your dairy fix, consider hard cheeses or yogurt. Thanks to the way these are made, they actually have no lactose content. That goes for most types of frozen yogurt, too! So, if you’re really hankering for some dairy but can’t handle lactose, these are your best bets. Alternatively, you could also just carry Lactaid pills and take them before eating dairy products.

    Alcoholic Drinks

    Everyone loves eggnog around the holidays, right? Well, maybe you should take it a bit easy on the ‘nog. See, not only is it high in dairy content (see our previous paragraph), most people like to enjoy it spiked with rum. Drinking alcohol has been shown to have toxic effects on your stomach lining, as well as many other health complications.

    The metabolic processes of your liver can be thrown off by alcohol consumption, too. This means that ingesting too much alcohol can cause serious stomach issues. That’s not to mention the risk of dehydration and other complications that can occur in the short term with alcohol consumption. In the long term it can even lead to increased risk for liver and heart disease.

    Fatty Foods

    Foods that are very high in fats, like potato chips, ice cream and red meat can upset your stomach. High-fat food items have a tendency to cause serious issues with the speed at which your intestines move food along. If slowed down too much, this can result in constipation. If sped up too much, this can instead result in diarrhea. In either event, you’ll experience significant discomfort in your abdomen as your intestines deal with the high-fat foods. Just take care to eat these foods sparingly, or avoid them altogether!

    Spicy Foods

    Peppers, curry powders and garlic can all cause your stomach to become upset. This goes double if you’re going from an empty stomach to chowing down on something spicy or heavily seasoned. In small quantities, spicy foods can be great for digestion. They help to kick your digestive system into overdrive and really add some zest to your meals!

    However, if you have a sensitive stomach or eat too much spicy food, you might find yourself with an upset stomach. Also, be careful not to eat too much spicy food for fear of the discomfort that you could endure when you pass it. It may still be spicy after you digest it, if you catch our drift!

    Artificial Sweeteners

    Make sure you avoid diet sodas and other foods with artificial sweeteners. Not only are they bad for you in the long term, they can also cause your stomach lining to become irritated. Sorbitol, in particular, has been shown to cause bloating, diarrhea and nausea in some people. Just avoid it and save yourself the trouble!

  • Easy Diet Choices to Cut Your LDL Cholesterol

    Easy Diet Choices to Cut Your LDL Cholesterol

    Cholesterol isn’t inherently a bad thing: it’s a substance in your body that helps create vitamin D and makes various hormones. However, if it’s in your body in too high of quantities it can result in plaque deposits in your arteries. This causes your arteries to narrow and can increase your likelihood of a heart attack. LDL cholesterol in particular is the more dangerous variety, as it puts you at much higher risk of heart disease.

    There are some easy choices you can make in order to cut your LDL cholesterol levels. These dietary choices go hand-in-hand with exercise and wellness and speaking to professional nutritionists is a good way to stay up on your good diet choices.

    Easy Diet Choices to Cut Your LDL Cholesterol

    What is Cholesterol?

    First, let’s get into what, exactly, cholesterol is. It’s a waxy substance that your body naturally produces and it helps to regulate hormones and vitamin D. Cholesterol is created by your liver from materials you absorb from foods that you eat. That’s why your diet has such an impact on your cholesterol!

    After your liver creates cholesterol, it is carried throughout your body by lipoproteins, proteins that are fat-based. Low-density lipoproteins, or LDL, take the cholesterol throughout your body and is often called “bad cholesterol.” LDL cholesterol, in too high quantities, can cause serious problems for your body if plaque buildups develop.

    High density lipoproteins, or HDL, often gets called “good cholesterol.” That’s because HDL picks up excess cholesterol from your cells and organs and carries it back to the liver. If your HDL levels are too low and your LDL levels are too high, your cholesterol levels in your body will remain at dangerously high levels.

    Dangers

    There are a number of serious dangers inherent with high cholesterol, but there aren’t many symptoms. The side-effects of high cholesterol levels do carry some symptoms though, and they’re worth keeping in mind. If you’re experiencing chest pains, heartburn and indigestion, dizziness or lightheadedness, irregular heartbeat, cold sweats or swollen extremities you should see a doctor.

    If your doctor identifies this as high cholesterol then you have some options when it comes to getting it lower. Exercise, or at least regular physical activity, is the first thing any doctor will tell you about for cholesterol control. Diet is one of the most reliable ways to control your cholesterol. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help control it as well, though that’s not always the case.

    If you’re prescribed medicine, make sure to take it only as prescribed by your doctor. Many types of medicine can be prescribed for cholesterol, though the most common ones are statins and niacin. Statins reduce your liver’s capacity to create cholesterol, while niacin is a B vitamin that lowers LDL and heightens HDL.

    Drinks

    The most straightforward way you can fight cholesterol is simply by changing your diet. There are a number of foods you can pick to try to reduce your LDL cholesterol. For example, one of the most often-cited things you can ingest to lower your LDL is red wine. The kind of grapes that are used to create red wines, Tempranillo grapes, are high in fiber. These grapes are well-known for their ability to help reduce LDL cholesterol. As such, having a glass of red wine made from Tempranillo grapes in the evening can be really good for you! Remember, though, to drink in moderation and responsibly.

    Another drink to keep high on your list of things to keep your cholesterol down is black tea. Try switching your morning coffee out for black tea! Black tea is full of antioxidants and other great things that help your body. Notably, studies have found that those who drink black tea daily have ten percent lower cholesterol than control groups.

    Less Meat

    Animal products create cholesterol, so opting to eat less meat can be great for your cholesterol. Maybe consider doing meatless Mondays, or even cutting back to one meat dish a day. Many people have cited cholesterol and health concerns for why they’re vegetarian or even vegan. Of course you can eat unhealthy foods on those diets, but they will help you to cut back on your cholesterol.

    Cutting back is also good for your budget! Meat is expensive, after all, so eating more produce can be good for your wallet. If you’re looking for ways to save on your groceries, cutting back on meat is the right call. Watch out for your health while watching out for your money!

    Foods to Choose

    As for foods, opt for more nuts in your diet! Nuts are high in fat, but not the bad kind. Walnuts, cashews, peanuts, pistachios and the like are all fantastic sources of good fats. In the same wheelhouse is the avocado, which is also quite high in good fats. These are great foods to replace meats if you’re looking to reduce cholesterol.

    Oats are another fantastic choice for cutting back on cholesterol. Adding a few scoops of oats to your diet can help reduce cholesterol greatly. If you want to incorporate oats easily into your diet you can do so with the popular breakfast dish overnight oats. Look up recipes for overnight oats to find some delicious and healthy breakfast options!

    Dark chocolates are also quite high in antioxidants. Milk chocolates aren’t so good for you, but the dark chocolates are where it’s at. These antioxidants help you to increase your HDL cholesterol which helps regulate your body’s LDL levels.

    Final Thoughts

    Remember, a good diet and lots of exercise are some of the best things for cholesterol. Make sure you stay active and get lots of time outside or in the gym. When it comes to your health, it’s never a bad idea to speak to your doctor. If you feel like you’re struggling with high cholesterol, speak to your physician and get a professional opinion on how you should proceed with your condition.

    After all, it’s not hard to live well, you just need to make a concentrated effort and keep at it!

  • Take a Unique Winter Vacation with a Northern Lights Tour

    Take a Unique Winter Vacation with a Northern Lights Tour

    There’s something really magical about the Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis. Northern Lights Tours allow visitors to experience the stunning natural beauty of this phenomenon first-hand while also enjoying a unique and breathtaking winter vacation. If you’ve been looking for a new winter tradition, you should consider taking a Norther Lights tour. It’s time to set out for the adventure of a lifetime!

    Northern Lights Tour

    Types of Tours

    There are Northern Lights tours in Iceland, Finland, Alaska and Lapland. They are available for as little as $800 or as much as $2000, depending on what you’re looking for. Whether you’re married with kids, single or anything in between, there are a variety of types of tours you can go on. In order to help you narrow it down, we’ll go over some of the more popular types of tours.

    Finnish Tours

    One of the most popular Finnish tours is the Northern Lights Finland tour. The tour is based around the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort and offers some stunning amenities. Visitors stay three nights in traditional cabins, allowing them to enjoy the rustic beauty of the region. One of the four nights during their stay, though, they get to sleep in a heated glass igloo from which they can view the stunning Northern Lights. Talk about an adventure!

    The tour also provides four breakfasts and four dinners, snowmobile rides and more. If you’ve ever wanted to take a dazzling winter tour of Finland, this is the way to do it. It’s hard to overstate just how wonderful the sights and sounds of this region are.

    Did we mention the cross-country skiing? Because this tour totally includes cross-country skiing. Yeah, we figured that would get your attention. Who doesn’t love racing downhill on the snow while the sunlight shines down on your ski gear?

    This five-day adventure is $2,195 per person, making it a little on the high end. However, the number of awesome amenities that come with it make it quite worth it.

    Icelandic Tours

    Icelandic tours are rather popular among visitors to the region. The Golden Circle Classic is a four-day tour that leaves out of Iceland that is incredibly popular. It takes visitors through stunning landscapes that include volcanic rock, geysers and waterfalls. Of course, during the course of the tour you also see the Northern Lights. If you’ve been itching to take in the natural beauty of Iceland, the Golden Circle Classic is a great choice.

    Reykjavik is a stop on the six-day Golden Circle as well, allowing travelers to take in the beautiful Icelandic capital and enjoy the local culture, cuisine and sights. After all, when visiting a new place, it’s only right to sample the local customs! This tour also includes guided sightseeing through the breathtaking regions of natural beauty in and around Iceland.

    The four-day tour is priced at $1,016, while the six-day version is $2,349. This makes them a bit on the higher side, but comparable to most luxury vacations.

    Alaskan Tours

    Starting from Anchorage and lasting eight days, the Arctic Circle Tour offered by Pursuit is one of the best American Northern Lights tours. This tour takes you along the path of the Iditarod Dog Race, through glacier hikes, and, of course, lets you see the Northern Lights. If you want to enjoy a Northern Lights tour without leaving the US, here’s the tour for you!

    After starting in Anchorage, the Arctic Circle tour also goes through  Talkeetna, Fairbanks, and Coldfoot. Finally, there is a brief jaunt into Denali National Park, allowing visitors to enjoy the scenic park firsthand. The tour is $1,843 per person.

    Another popular Alaskan tour is the Northern Lights Activity Tour offered by Go Alaska. This particular adventure is a really reliable way to catch the Northern Lights in all their glory. This journey, which starts in Fairbanks, lasts for six days and five nights. For those looking to stride down the historic Dalton Highway, this is the tour for you.

    The Northern Lights Activity Tour also goes farther north than most tours into the region, allowing travelers a stunning look at the Northern Lights. After their trip, visitors are given personalized authenticity documents to show they personally journeyed to the Northern Lights. It’s a fun activity for any visitors to the frosty north.

    Anyone who wants to enjoy this tour only needs around $800 for some of the starting packages, though some of the higher ones go up to $1,285. In any event, you’re sure to have fun out there!

  • Best Options for Winter Dry Eyes

    Best Options for Winter Dry Eyes

    Winter is known for being a very dry time of year. After all, everyone knows the common complaints of people suffering from dry skin in the winter time. Much less known, however, are the issues that plague those with dry eyes. If you suffer with dry eyes in the winter time, you know how awful and itchy they can be. It can feel like there’s no relief to be had!

    Thankfully, there are some great treatments for winter dry eyes. If you’re looking to stop your eyes from itching and drying out so much this time of year, consider trying some of these treatments to keep your eyes comfortable in the dry months. After all, no one wants their eyelids to feel like sandpaper!

    Best Options for Winter Dry Eyes

    Mild Dryness

    If you experience some mild dryness and discomfort in your eyes you don’t need some huge thing to help you. Instead, you should opt for a treatment more suite to the scale of your issue. In this case, eyedrops or simple saline solutions will work wonders. If you need something a bit stronger, such as medicated drops, that’ll require a prescription. Normal eye drops are easily available over the counter, though, so you should have no problem getting those.

    The kind of dry eye that is normally milder can be caused by looking at computer screens for too long, so there are a few other ways to tackle that. One way is to use “night mode” on your computers. This is a visual mode that changes your computer’s display to lessen the blue light it emits, making it much easier on your eyes.

    Ongoing Dryness

    Chronic dry eye, or dry eye syndrome, is a bit more problematic than some mild irritation or redness. For those with this ongoing, chronic issue, winter time only magnifies their normal issues with dry, itchy eyes. If this is the case for you, you need to see your doctor. They will be able to help you by prescribing a treatment plan that works for you.

    One such treatment is prescription lubricating eyedrops. These eye drops are medicated and contain enzymes that are intended to help your eyes produce moisture on their own. After repeated uses, the drops are meant to “trick” your eyes into producing a healthy amount of moisture. As such, the goal of these drops is to use them until you simply don’t suffer from dry eye syndrome anymore.

    Another treatment method is through eye solutions that have steroids. Steroids are used for short term, immediate relief of irritation, redness and itchiness and are only available through a prescription. The use of steroid eye drops is less common and is typically only advised in short-term situations and usually it goes hand-in-hand with other treatments.

    Serious Dry Eye Treatments

    For those experiencing serious, ongoing problems with dry eyes there are a few other procedures available that are a bit more drastic. For instance, there is always the option to undergo an eye and tear duct cleaning by their doctor. This is recommended in cases of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, which is an uncommon condition.

    In the case of a Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, the eye cleaning is used in order to flush the blockage causing the dysfunction from the tear duct. This allows the eye to function normally again. If you feel like your eye dryness is abnormal, speak to your doctor to see if it is a legitimate medical concern like Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    As for other dry eye treatments, there is also the option to have a punctal occlusion surgically inserted into the openings of your tear ducts. This object causes the moisture excreted by your tear ducts to stay on the surface of your eye for longer. However, as with all surgeries, this procedure is not without risks. It involves the surgical implantation of a foreign object into your body, and so there are potential risks involved.

    Potential Complications

    If you suffer from mild, seasonal dry eyes then you don’t have anything to worry about if you don’t seek treatment. Over the counter eye drops are more than enough to combat minor eye irritation. However, if you’re experiencing a more serious condition that is causing your eyes to stay far too dry, you need to speak to your doctor.

    Leaving some conditions untreated could lead to blurry vision, damage to the eye and sunlight sensitivity. There’s no reason to risk your eye health over some chronic eye dryness. Don’t be afraid to speak to a medical professional!

  • Make Room for New Toys by Decluttering Before Christmas

    Make Room for New Toys by Decluttering Before Christmas

    Toys. So, so, so many toys. If you feel like your child’s room is absolutely cluttered full of toys, this article is for you. It can be so difficult trying to get your children on board with decluttering before Christmas. After all, no one wants to give up their toys! Here are some of the best tips for helping you declutter and make room for the new toys.

    Remember: at the end of the day, it’s just stuff. Developing strong attachments to material things isn’t healthy for young people, so helping them to understand that happiness doesn’t come from things is important.

    Decluttering Before Christmas

    Emphasize Quality over Quantity

    If your little one has a huge chest full of tons and tons of toys from over the years, help them to emphasize quality over quantity. Pull out their toys, place them on the floor and go over each one and ask which ones they really, really love. Then, have them organize them into piles based on which ones they really want to keep.

    Make sure they understand that you’re not having them declutter out of not wanting them to have nice things, but instead to make room for newer and better things. Make sure they know that their old toys are going to go to little kids like them who can’t afford new toys, so they don’t feel like their toys are just going into the garbage.

    If you stress the importance of having a few nice things over having a ton of old things, it’ll help them to understand where you’re coming from. Put yourself in their shoes: it’s hard to understand why their parents wants them to get rid of things they love. Make sure they understand that there’s only so much room in the house for toys, and that you need that space for the new Christmas toys.

    Elf on the Shelf

    If your family does Elf on the Shelf, consider shifting the conversation to be more external. Tell the little one that the Elf on the Shelf is helping Santa to recycle old toys. This brings in an earlier tactic, of showing the kid that their toys are going to help other kids their age.

    The little ones are likely already sympathetic to the Elf on the Shelf, as he’s a sweet little Santa helper. He wouldn’t ask them to do anything that wasn’t for good, right? You can tie in how Santa wants them to be nice, and not naughty, and that donating their old toys to a good cause is a surefire way to get on the nice list.

    It helps to pick a number of toys that you want the little ones to recycle out. Then, make sure they get that number of toys for Christmas. This helps the kid to better understand that it’s a one-for-one exchange: the old things go away so that new things can come in. It’s an important lesson for them to learn early, too.

    Set Expiration Times

    This one helps a lot in some houses. Let the kids know that they need to play with their favorite toys to keep them. If they don’t use a toy for, say, a month, then tell them it’s time to donate it to charity. If they don’t want to use their toys, it only stands to reason that another kid would love to.

    Now, that’s not to say you ambush them with this. Make sure they know what time table they’re on when it comes to not having toys anymore. If they understand that this is the rule, and that it is enforced evenly, they won’t feel as though you’re unfairly taking things away from them.

    In most cases, they may even not notice the toy missing once it’s donated. If they haven’t played with it in a month, why would they? However, make sure you make exceptions for seasonal toys. If a toy is only really usable in the summertime, make sure your child knows that it’s not on the chopping block.

    Final Thoughts

    Don’t be mean about it, and make sure your kids understand why old toys have to go. Keep them involved with the decluttering, make sure they know why you do it and why they should care. If you keep them involved, and make it fun, the kids will be more motivated to help.

    If you make it something to dread, or something ominous, they’ll nervously hoard their toys and even hide them. Make sure you keep things lighthearted and fun!

  • Best Places to Get Ugly Christmas Sweaters

    Best Places to Get Ugly Christmas Sweaters

    Ugly Christmas sweaters are almost as time-honored a tradition as Christmas trees and jingle bells. That said, it’s a bit difficult to find good ones. Well, good is subjective when it comes to ugly sweaters, but you know it when you see it. Some sweaters are just plain ugly, without being Ugly Christmas Sweater candidates.

    In order to help you look your best (er, worst) on Christmas this year, we’re running down the best places to get ugly Christmas sweaters. Trust us, there is a science to this. We plumbed the depths of the internet so you don’t have to. Well, you can if you want to. Now, on to the best of the worst!

    Ugly Christmas Sweaters

    Amazon

    First things first, check Amazon. The huge online retailer has a little of everything so you usually want to check them first for anything you need. Thanks to that massive stock, you can often find pretty inexpensive Christmas sweaters of sufficient ugliness.

    If you’re looking for a specific type of ugly-chic, Amazon is a good place to start. The number of ridiculous sweaters tucked away in warehouses somewhere means you can find that right balance of fashionable and hideous to make your Christmas pictures downright awesome.

    Make One Yourself

    Pinterest is a good place to go to find inspiration for butt-ugly sweaters. The best thing about making them yourself is that you don’t have to pay for something so downright heinous-looking. You also get to have the fun of making a downright unsightly piece of clothing.

    The other upshot to this is that you can make sure it’s everything you want it to be. It can be as ugly and specific as you want. Do you have a dumb inside joke with your family that you want to reference? Or maybe a specific joke has occurred to you and you want to execute it? In short, you can’t go wrong making it yourself.

    Walmart

    When you think about Walmart, you think about saving money. Well, that and tackiness. At least, we do. So if you want to get the most bang for your ugly, ugly buck then you should head to Walmart. If you want the authentic ugly sweater shopping experience, go to your local 24-hour Walmart around midnight and make sure you’re wearing pajama pants and slippers.

    Then, make sure you’re ready to see some horrendous-looking sweaters. Walmart is nothing if not consistent, and you can be sure that their corporate identity of unsightly fashion will bleed over into their Christmas sweaters. This is one of those odd cases where poor taste is good taste, so you can actually find some great sweaters for Christmas here.

    The Sweater Store

    TheSweaterStore.com is a great site to go to when you want to look like you just threw something on. There is true irony to be found in the lengths people go to in order to look like they’re not trying, and the ugly sweater phenomenon is a great example of this.

    In any event, the Sweater Store is a great site to go through in order to find some of the best ugly sweaters. It’s not that their sweaters are normally ugly, they just have a great selection of seasonal, hideous sweaters. Glitter? Check. Fuzzballs? Check. Christmas lights with LEDs in them embedded into the actual sweater? Disgusting, and check.

    Thrift Shopping

    The most authentic ugly Christmas sweater experience comes from the thrift shop. If you’re looking to really make the most of the season and the ugly tradition, you need to hit up the thrift shop. Firstly, you’re going to spend nearly as little as you would at a store like Walmart. Secondly, you’ll be helping your local community by buying from the thrift shop.

    Most importantly, though, you can get truly authentic ugly sweaters. The thrift shop has ugly sweaters made with no pretense and no intention of looking ugly. These downright unsightly sweaters were made with love by grandmas or aunties and made to truly put smiles on the faces of the recipients. If you’re looking for the most authentic ugly sweater, look no further.

    So, there you have it. There are a few other options out there, like department stores and big box stores, but they often have either overpriced or inauthentic sweaters that aren’t worth it. You can typically find pretty great deals at various online stores, too, and you get all the upsides of shopping from the comfort of your home. There’s no wrong way to ugly sweater shop: just find the ugliest sweater and wear it proudly.

  • Best Ugg Boot Trends for 2019

    Best Ugg Boot Trends for 2019

    Ugg Boots are everyone’s favorite ugly fashion accessory. The fur-lined, beige-colored boots really shouldn’t work as well as they do, but they end up being pretty great when paired with the right things. Today we’re going to look into the best Ugg Boot trends for 2019 and help you rock the casual look in style!

    The most important thing to remember when accessorizing around your Ugg Boots is that less is more. You want to look dressed-down, carefree and easy, so make sure you don’t sweat the small stuff. With the right accessories and fashion you can rock these Ugg Boot trends like a boss.

    Best Ugg Boot Trends for 2019

    Brief History

    UGG, the brand, is based on a style of Australian beach boot that came about in the 1970’s. As strange as it sounds, the earliest versions of these boots were made from sheep skin and fur lined to keep surfers’ feet warm in between hitting the swell.

    These Australian boots were waterproof and warm all at once, making them excellent companions for surfers. It wouldn’t be until the 1990’s that the boots began to gain popularity in the States, and they really hit their stride in 2000 when Oprah named them one of her “favorite things.”

    The Australian-style Ugg boot is now back in vogue and trending. Whatever your opinion of the unconventional boots, they’re a major part of casual fashion among American women. If you want to look effortlessly at ease and comfy, rock a pair of Ugg boots with some of these fashion tips.

    No Makeup, No Problem

    Don’t wear makeup when you rock the casual look. If you’re trying to look effortless and easygoing, your blush and immaculate eye shadow might be undermining your efforts. You look great without makeup anyway, so don’t be ashamed to bust out that natural look.

    The temptation to just throw on a bit of foundation or maybe a bit of lipstick is strong, and we get that. But you should try the no makeup look when you’re trying to come across as effortless and carefree. People who are just relaxing don’t tend to spend half an hour on their makeup before heading out, and people will find you more easygoing if you forego the makeup. Trust us on this one!

    Loose Bun

    Instead of getting your hair all nice, consider just throwing it in a fun, loose bun. This is the signature “just taking it easy” look, but it’s a classic for a reason. If you want to give off that easygoing and classic look, what better way than through this hairstyle?

    The loose bun might remind you of the look someone has when they’re just going out to shop or grab some food. It can also be a good look for just hanging out at the mall, seeing your friends or some other social event.

    Sweater Weather

    Rocking a combo of sweater and Ugg boots and sweaters are as classic as peanut butter and jelly. If you wear an oversized, ugly sweater (maybe even an ugly Christmas sweater!) you will give off the most laid back and easygoing vibes. This look is great when paired with either yoga pants or leggings, or even sweat pants.

    Getting the look correct is something of a sweet spot: you need to hit the right notes. If you’re trying too hard to make the outfit work, it might look overdone. However, if you just grab whatever and throw it on you might look a bit too disheveled for anything other than running errands.

    The sweet spot is caring just enough about color and design to make sure things match, but not going above and beyond when it comes to outfit selection. You can look put together without spending ten minutes picking out an outfit.

    Dresses

    When it’s colder outside you might not be wearing dresses, but in early Spring you might be able to pull off this interesting easygoing look. Wearing a sweater dress or super long sweater along with a pair of Uggs and ankle-high socks is a great look for early-to-mid March.

    If you pair this look with a more Spring-themed look, something with sunflowers or another floral print, you’ll look very laid-back. The easiest and most flowing look for Spring involves the no make-up, dressed-down, loose-bun look. If you want to give off the air of someone who doesn’t make too many bones about fashion, this is the look for you.

    There you have it! These are some of the hottest Ugg boot trends for 2019.

  • Top Treatments Deep Vein Thrombosis

    Top Treatments Deep Vein Thrombosis

    In the medical field, Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a common name for what are informally known as blood clots. DVT is often characterized by painful swelling, redness and discomfort in the extremities such as the lower legs. The most dangerous thing about DVT is that the blood clots in question can travel to your lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism.

    Chest pain, shortness of breath and eventual death are the symptoms of embolisms. Suffice it to say, DVT is a serious issue that requires immediate medical attention. Today we’re going over symptoms, causes and treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis.

    Top Treatments Deep Vein Thrombosis

    How it Starts

    DVT typically begins when the fibrin in red blood cells becomes too dense. When this happens, the veins in question can begin to become obstructed, which can lead to ongoing pain and inflammation. This is most noticeable when standing for extended periods of time. If you live a mostly sedentary lifestyle or have experienced recent physical trauma you could be at a greater risk for DVT to develop.

    Other risk factors include hyper-coagulation, or the presence of too much thickness in the blood. Breaking legs or experiencing similar trauma in the extremities can also lead to the increased risk of DVT in patients. If you’re experiencing symptoms similar to these, speak to your doctor and ask about treatment options.

    Types of Treatment

    There are a number of treatments available for DVT in the modern era. These include stents, IV procedures and medical treatment. Each has different strengths and weaknesses, though some are more dangerous or more effective than others.

    In any event, the best person to talk to about these treatments are your doctor. We’ll give a brief overview of each, though you should consult your physician regarding any treatment plans. They’ll be able to advise you as to which treatment is the best for your unique situation.

    Medicine

    Blood thinning drugs like coumadin and heparin are commonly prescribed to help with DVT. These drugs help to thin the blood if it is experiencing hyper-coagulation. This allows the blood to flow more easily and prevents the buildup of clots, though it is not entirely without risk.

    Those on blood thinners need to take care to not experience physical trauma. Simple scrapes and cuts can be very dangerous for people on blood thinners as their blood is much slower to clot when they are taking blood thinners often. As such, younger patients aren’t advised to use these medications, as they’re not a great idea in the long term.

    Typically, older patients are better candidates for blood thinner medication. That’s because they have a lower risk of receiving injury that can draw blood and they also won’t need to take the medication for as long a period as younger patients.

    Stent IV Treatments

    For younger patients who can’t stay on blood thinners indefinitely, there are other options available. For instance, many younger patients opt for more invasive procedures like stents in order to combat their DVT.

    One example is the stent procedure. Doctors perform this procedure using a catheter that helps to clean out a clot and then installing a stent. Stents are small mesh objects that are placed inside the vein at the narrow point. These stents then hold open the thinnest part of the vein while doctors implant a small balloon.

    This medical balloon, which is quite tiny, is then inflated ever so slightly in the vein. This helps open the stent a bit more and gets the vein back into the shape and width it should be normally. While that may all sound like a lot, patients have stated that it’s a great treatment to help ease DVT symptoms.

    Typically, patients will need to go on blood thinners for about a year following this type of procedure. However, this is to make sure that the vein doesn’t experience the same blood clot production it did to begin with. Compression socks are also usually recommended for those recovering from this procedure.

    Potential Complications

    There are risks associated with invasive surgery. The first, and most notable, is that you’re introducing foreign objects to the body. This does introduce the risk of infection, though it is a minor one. Normal complications like potential allergies to anesthesia or medications are also considerations. Other complications that can occur from surgery are internal bleeding, as is the case with all surgical procedures.

    In the case of IV stent treatments, there aren’t a lot of ways to ensure that clots don’t form in the stent area again. While blood thinners are prescribed to keep the likelihood of this down, it’s not a surefire way to stop it from happening. Those at higher risk of developing repeat blood clots may be kept on blood thinners for longer in order for doctors to ascertain what their risk is.

    People who receive stent IV treatments for Deep Vein Thrombosis need to be aware of the risks that the recovery period could pose. For instance, if the leg begins swelling again after the treatment then they need to contact their doctor immediately. This is why regular check-ups are very important following this procedure, so that your doctor can keep tabs on how you’re recovering.

    After Treatment

    Typically, patients who receive stent IV treatments for their Deep Vein Thrombosis will experience back pain for a few weeks following the procedure. Most patients report this pain as being mild and manageable with simple pain medication like Advil.

    Final Notes

    If you feel shortness of breath, pain in your extremities or swelling in your legs or arms, speak to your doctor. If they diagnose you with Deep Vein Thrombosis, don’t panic. There are a number of treatment options available for you. If you speak with your doctor about treatment, they’ll work with you to find out which procedure is the best fit for your lifestyle.

    Remember: pulmonary embolisms are scary and potentially life-threatening. If you think you might have DVT, don’t hesitate to speak with your doctor. Better safe than sorry!

  • Is it Time to Think About a New Furnace?

    Is it Time to Think About a New Furnace?

    It’s that time of year when the cold creeps in and you’re wishing you could just get warm in your own home. Maybe you’re finding your old furnace isn’t keeping your home as warm as it should. Maybe it’s too expensive to run. If so, it’s time to think about a new furnace!

    Today we’re going to help you decide on the features and performance you need in a new furnace. We’re going to go over the factors that go into furnace cost and help you decide on what you’re looking for in a new furnace for your home.

    Is it Time to Think About a New Furnace?

    Quality

    If you’re looking for serious quality then you can’t go wrong with the top brands. Lennox, Trane and Carrier are all considered premium brands, and they’re typically rated to last for up to 25 years. However, these are typically also the most expensive brands, as they last the longest by far of any furnaces in the field.

    For someone looking to keep costs down, you could opt for a budget brand. Brands like Aire-Flo, Goodman and Payne are only rated for around 12 to 16 years, but they also have the lowest base price of any furnace. If you’re looking for the middle-of-the-road options, brands like Rheem, York and Amana are rated for 15 to 18 years and sport middling prices.

    Size

    No matter what brand you select, the size of the furnace will change based on how much space you need it to heat. Typically, furnaces are sized between 40,000 and 120,000 Btu. Typically the range in between these numbers is in increments of either 10,000 or 20,000 Btu.

    Depending on the amount of square footage you’re trying to heat, the price of the furnace could vary greatly. That’s on top of the considerations you need to make for brand, of course. However, generally speaking, the size is a good first consideration when you think about getting a furnace. If your furnace is too small, it won’t adequately heat your home. If it’s too big, your home will get too hot and stuffy.

    Type of Heating

    The type of heating your furnace emits is a big consideration in both unit price and ongoing price. If you’re finding your current furnace is very inefficient, it might be due to the type of heating it’s utilizing.

    For instance, if you have a single-stage furnace you might find you’re getting unheated air at the start and end of the cycle, which is wasting gas. Single stage furnaces are also much louder and often have uneven heating amounts. All manufacturers have furnaces of this variety available.

    Two-stage furnaces are more efficient than single-speed, as they have variable-speed blowers to help smooth things out. They run more quietly and efficiently thanks to their two-stage approach, more evenly heating and carrying heat to your home without using as much gas. Usually the standard or high-tier brands make these types of furnaces.

    Finally, variable-capacity valves are the best-performing furnaces, but also the most expensive. These are also known as modulating heat furnaces, and they ensure your home stays one consistent temperature. If you live in an especially cold area, a high-quality furnace like this would be ideal for you. Only standard and high-tier brands make these.

    Efficiency

    Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE, is a quick measurement of how efficient a given furnace is. It usually goes hand in hand with heating type, although not always. The AFUE is given as a percentage, and that percentage indicates how much of the heat the furnace creates is sent into the ductwork.

    If you live in a Southern climate with mild winters, you might not mind an 80% furnace that isn’t terribly efficient, as you pay a much lower price for it. However, if you live up North with harsh winters, you don’t want a furnace that is that inefficient. You would instead opt for a 97% furnace to ensure your home was getting the most warmth possible.

    Selecting Your Furnace

    Selecting which furnace to get isn’t as hard as it might sound. Generally speaking, you want to consider where you live and whether you need higher amounts of efficiency, size and brand quality. If you live in a very large house in a Northern climate and plan to live there indefinitely, you’re going to spend more.

    If you live in a small home in the South that you’ll be selling in a few years, however, you might get out spending a bit less on your furnace. Either way, make sure you carefully consider these variables before making a decision!

  • Best Deals on Winter Jackets: Your Holiday Shopping Guide

    Best Deals on Winter Jackets: Your Holiday Shopping Guide

    When it’s cold outside there’s nothing you need more than a nice winter coat. Everyone needs a good, reliable coat for the winter that keeps snow, rain and wind from chilling you to the bone as you go about your daily life. If you’re in the market for a new winter coat, you’re in luck. Here are some of the best deals on winter jackets this season!

    Best Deals on Winter Jackets

    What to Look For

    What to look for in a jacket depends on your unique needs. Do you live in a very frigid area? If so, you’re going to want a very thick, well-made winter coat. Does it snow a lot? If so, consider something water resistant so you don’t have to worry about the elements. Do you often wear dress clothes? If you do then consider buying a classier winter coat.

    Other considerations include fashion. What looks good with your wardrobe? Are you more of a brand-name person, or would you rather wear something nondescript? Also, consider your budget when shopping. If you’ve got a limited budget, consider not shopping name brands and instead trying bargains in big-box stores.

    Where to Buy

    Where should you go to buy a winter coat? You’ve got a lot of options. There are retailers like Burlington Coat Factory, Ross and Marshalls that are well-known for the coasts they carry. These higher-end retailers tend to have some of the better brand names and a wider selection.

    For those looking for deals on jackets instead, big box stores like Walmart and Target are a great place to shop. They don’t often have as wide of a selection as some of the premium outlets, but they often have great deals on off-brand jackets. For those looking to simply save money on their jacket, this can be a better way to go.

    If you want something that looks a bit classier, department stores like Macy’s, Kohl’s and Belk often have great deals on dress jackets. These can include long coats for keeping your nice clothes safe from the elements, peacoats that look elegant themselves and even dress jackets that go with suit ensembles.

    Best Brands

    When it comes to winter jackets a few brands instantly spring to mind as being the best for the season. For instance, North Face is considered to be one of the best brands for staying warm. Patagonia, likewise, has a reputation for some of the best windbreakers. Columbia brand jackets are considered some of the best fleece jackets for the winter season.

    Columbia Jackets

    People who want great deals on Columbia jackets can look for savings in premium outlets or try shopping online. Their website is a great place to find up-to-date deals so you can compare prices directly to other sites.

    For those looking to save money, shopping online is ideal. Not only can you check out the full range of jackets available, you can also compare the prices of the various jackets on the fly. No fussing with memorizing tag prices, dealing with salespeople or navigating confusing store interiors.

    Not to mention, you can safely shop in your pajamas and have the items you buy delivered right to your house! What’s not to love?

    Patagonia Deals

    Some of the best deals on Patagonia brand jackets can be found on their own website. It might seem too simple, but it’s true: you often get the best deals by simply buying directly from the manufacturer. If you’re looking for a great deal on Patagonia’s stellar line of winter coats, we recommend starting on their website.

    Often, Patagonia will offer pretty steep discounts on their jackets. Examples include up to $100 off of select jackets in their range. While they might be pricey, shopping through their site can help you keep the prices manageable.

    North Face Deals

    The popular and stylish North Face brand is notorious for being expensive. Much like Patagonia, some of their best deals are available on their website. For a few examples, they have great deals on both men and women’s fashion. For men, there’s the Americana Tri-Blend Full Zip Hoodie for $22 off, or the Allproof Stretch Jacket for $60 off. Another example is the Reyes Thermoball Shirt Jacket for $70 off.

    For women, there are deals on a number of jackets. These include the TNF Indigo Insulated Jacket for $80 off, and the Apex Flex GTX 2.0 for nearly $90 off. It’s hard to beat deals like that outside of North Face’s website, though there are often sales comparable on distributors’ sites.