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  • Best Over the Counter Sleep Aids

    Best Over the Counter Sleep Aids

    When it comes time to lay down to sleep, you can’t seem to drift off. Your mind is racing from the day’s events and you can’t get yourself to calm down enough to get to sleep.

    What do you do? Today we’re looking at some of the best safe sleep aids that don’t require a prescription.

    Best OTC Sleep Aids

    Diphenhydramine

    Diphenhydramine is commonly found in allergy medicine, like Benadryl and Aleve PM. It’s got some side effects: it can lead to blurry vision, constipation, urinary retention or daytime drowsiness. However, many people note it’s quite effective at simply knocking them out if they’re having trouble getting to sleep. This is doubly effective if you already need allergy relief.

    White Noise

    Many people find it difficult to get to sleep in a totally silent room. If this applies to you, consider sleeping with some white noise. A softly running fan, or some quiet nature sounds could do the trick. Some people even listen to soft music while they’re trying to sleep, finding it helps them to calmly dose off.

    Doxylamine succinate

    Commonly found in medicine like Unisom sleep tabs, Doxylamine succinate is a sedating antihistamine like Diphenhydramine. It also has similar side effects to those found in Diphenhydramine, though it is technically a different compound. Much like with Diphenhydramine, Doxylamine is good for treating allergies as well as sleeplessness.

    Control Your Space

    Make sure the room you’re trying to get to sleep in is quiet, dark and cool. Trying to sleep in a room that is too hot, too loud or too bright can be very difficult. If you need to, consider getting blackout blinds, noise-canceling headphones and running a fan while you sleep.

    If there are others that live with you who don’t respect the tie you need to sleep, pull them aside and ask them to be more conscientious of your time. It’s important that you get between 7-9 hours of sleep per night!

    Melatonin

    Melatonin supplements are commonly used to treat people who are having trouble getting to sleep. While melatonin can have headache-inducing side effects, it’s also a great way to treat jet lag and off-kilter sleep schedules. You can typically find melatonin supplements available over the counter.

    Keep in mind that no medication or technique is a miracle solution. Extreme cases of insomnia could require help from a sleep doctor to remedy, so speak to your doctor if you’re having substantial trouble sleeping.

  • Accounting Software: Which One is Right for Your Business?

    Accounting Software: Which One is Right for Your Business?

    When it comes to running your business, nothing is quite as important as your accounting software. Whether you’re selling ice cream or life insurance, you’ve got to have accurate bookkeeping.

    The question remains, however, which accounting software is right for you business? Today we’re going to help you narrow it down.

    Which Accounting Software is Right For You?

    Sage50 Cloud

    Designed primarily to help mid-to-small sized businesses, Sage50 Cloud is a great accounting software suite. It helps businesses to stay up on their taxes, keep their bookkeeping clear and concise, and generally stay compliant. Payroll, budgeting, inventory and more can all be tracked through the software.

    As the name suggests, Sage 50 utilizes the cloud to keep your information all backed up. This allows you to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing all of your important accounting information is saved and backed up. You can even track purchases and pay vendors all through this software!

    Sage50 Cloud has a variety of pricing options, which start around $45 per month. Depending on your needs, you can opt for more complex packages at higher rates.

    Freshbooks

    The streamlined, seamless and easy-to-use Freshbooks software is one of the top picks for accounting software. Whether you’re running a large business or a small one, Freshbooks as an accounting suite is a strong choice. You can easily set up recurring invoices to pay out to various contractors, record your expenses easily and import to other software in a flash.

    The dashboard makes it easy to find what you’re looking for, while the easy-to-navigate menus and options make it impossible to get lost. Accounting can be quite difficult, but Freshbooks takes a lot of the difficulty out of the equation! Pricing for this software starts at $15 per month.

    NetSuite ERP

    Another user-friendly and well-presented suite, NetSuite ERP is great for businesses of all sizes. Including integration for marketing, sales and customer relations, NetSuite is a rather robust accounting software. You can even handle your stocks through the excellently-designed suite!

    NetSuite ERP offers integration through inventory management tools, as well as a shipping module to keep track of all of your orders. The easy-to-use interface is available even on mobile devices! You don’t need to be an accounting expert to use the software, and it’s easy to find what you’re looking for through the simple dashboard.

  • Suffering From Dry Skin? Try These Moisturizers

    Suffering From Dry Skin? Try These Moisturizers

    Dry skin can be a huge pain, or, in some cases, hugely itchy! The worst cases of dry skin can be quite uncomfortable, but there are a few things you can do to fight the itch.

    Namely, you can pick up skin moisturizer and use it to keep your skin from being dry and flakey. Today we’re going over some of the best skin moisturizers.

    Moisturizers for Dry Skin

    Nivea Soft Moisturizing Crème

    Nivea is a respected name in the world of skin care products, and this moisturizer is no different. This cream, complete with vitamin E and jojoba oil, helps to keep dry skin from being so uncomfortable. Not only does this cream quickly absorb into the skin, it also keeps your skin from becoming too oily.

    While many moisturizers have a very oily after-effect, this cream doesn’t leave behind such an oily feeling. Instead, it simply helps to moisturize and rejuvenate your skin! You can shop for this skin cream online or in stores.

    Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Deep Moisture Balm

    This skin cream is fragrance-free, which is great for people who have allergies or don’t like the scents of other moisturizers. This is also great for use on the face, as it doesn’t have any strong smell associated. If you live in an extreme climate, where it is particularly hot, cold or dry, then you will love this balm.

    The balm has a thick consistency, making it ideal for rejuvenating damaged skin. It’s able to help skin that’s been exposed to harsh elements, making it a great pick for people who experience extreme weather. For heavy-duty dry skin, go with Keihl’s.

    Andalou Naturals Purple Carrot + C Luminous Night Cream

    This moisturizing and healing cream has stellar customer reviews and is said to be great on even intense dry skin. Made specifically to help revitalized damaged skin on the surface, the Andalou night cream is great for people who constantly expose their skin to the elements. For people who work outside, or around hot or dry materials, this can be a huge help.

    Including lots of minerals and compounds meant to help skin heal, the Andalou cream is great for even extremely dry skin. If you’re looking for a skin cream that works as hard as you do, look no further. While it’s a bit on the pricey side, this cream is well-worth the price tag to help give you relief from itchy, dry skin.

  • Best Medicine for Heartburn: Keep the Party Going

    Best Medicine for Heartburn: Keep the Party Going

    Nothing kills the idea of a fun night out with friends faster than remember your acid reflux could act up. Overactive stomach acid can put a damper on any party. When you want to just have fun and enjoy your friends, what are your options? Today we’re going over some of the best medicine options for heartburn to help you keep the party going.

    Best Medicine for Heartburn

    Oral Suspension Medicines

    Oral suspension medicines include brand names like Pepto Bismol. These medications work by coating the inside of the esophagus, offering up protection from short-term heartburn symptoms. Generally speaking, Pepto and the like is more ideal for people who suffer acid reflux symptoms less frequently. That’s because once the coating wears off, it loses its effectiveness.

    Antacids

    Antacids are a common medicine used to combat the worst heartburn symptoms. Brands like Tums, Rolaids, Mylanta and Maalox are all antacids. These medicines work by neutralizing the stomach acid that is over-acting in your stomach and causing you discomfort.

    Generally speaking, antacids are used for fast relief from acute symptoms. For instance, if you’re out to dinner with friends and you begin feeling heartburn, you can pop a Tums to try to settle your stomach. Generally, antacids are used by infrequent sufferers because they give fast relief but aren’t ideal for long-term use.

    Make sure you don’t take too many antacids in a short period. Taking too many can lead to diarrhea or constipation, so make sure you only take the ones you need.

    H-2-Receptor Blockers

    These medicines were once only available by prescription, though they are now available over-the-counter. Pepcid AC and Zantac are examples of brand names of this variety of medicine. Generally speaking, these receptor blockers are slower to act than antacids but work over a longer period.

    That’s because receptor blockers stop the production of stomach acid, allowing people with mild symptoms of heartburn to treat their symptoms proactively. These medications are taken over a long period, instead of being taken in response to the appearance of symptoms.

    Proton Pump Inhibitors

    Medicines like Prilosec and Nexium fall under this category. These medications keep your stomach acid neutralized and can even heal damaged esophageal lining. These medications are ideal for people who suffer from more severe heartburn symptoms that are quite frequent. The trade-off is that these medications tend to be more expensive and require you to take them regularly.

  • Best Flea Prevention Methods for Dogs

    Best Flea Prevention Methods for Dogs

    If you see your dog constantly stopping and scratching, gnawing and itching, then they might have fleas. When the weather turns warm, it’s time for fleas to crawl back out and cause problems. When you’re trying to combat fleas, the awful little bugs can seem indestructible. Don’t worry, though. There are many effective ways to combat fleas on your pup.

    Beast Flea Prevention for Dogs

    Flea Collars

    One of the best things you can do is stop fleas before they get started. Give your dog a flea collar before they have fleas, not after. The collar will prevent fleas from jumping on your dog well before the infestation gets started.

    That said, you’ll want to give your dog a flea collar even when they already have fleas. This allows them to prevent new fleas from rolling up while you deal with the existing problem.

    Flea Bath

    When you dog has fleas, the best thing you can do for them is just give them a flea bath. Fleas aren’t indestructible, though they might seem that way. Their biggest weakness, it turns out, is drowning. Your dog simply taking a dip in the water can cause the fleas on them to all drown and die the horrible deaths they deserve.

    That said, there are also flea shampoos that are medicated to make your dog’s coat hostile territory for the evil bugs. Follow a good flea bath with a flea collar for double the protection.

    Shampoo the Carpet

    Once fleas have been on your dog, they’re in your carpet. You’ll have to wash your carpet to get them out. There are specially-made shampoos made specifically for killing dormant flea eggs and hiding adult fleas. Get this carpet shampoo and rent a carpet-cleaning machine and go to town.

    Make sure you hit rooms you don’t often walk in, as fleas love quiet, dark places to lay their eggs. Show those bugs no mercy: you deserve a flea-free home.

    Diatomaceous Earth

    Commonly abbreviated to D. earth, this mineral compound does a funny trick with fleas. When fleas walk over it, this material slices their exoskeleton to ribbons, causing the fleas to lose all of their internal moisture. Even if they find water, their compromised exoskeleton causes them to lose the moisture again.

    If this sounds brutally efficient, that’s the idea. Sprinkle food-grade D. earth all over your home, focusing on entryways, and watch your flea problems disappear. Remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry with fleas, and there’s no such thing as overkill.

  • Best Decongestants for Spring Allergies

    Best Decongestants for Spring Allergies

    It’s almost that time of year. Spring is nearly upon us. That means it’s time to get ready for allergies and congestion for a lot of people. If you suffer from serious Spring allergies, that means it’s time to start looking into good decongestants. That, and good allergy medicine! Today we’re looking at the former to try to help you get that stuffy nose to become a thing of the past.

    Best Decongestants

    Notes

    Before taking any decongestants, be aware of the side effects. Some people note that they get jittery and have trouble sleeping when they’re on decongestant medicine. If this is the case for you, take it easy on caffeine while you’re on decongestants.

    If caffeine doesn’t seem to be the problem and you remain jittery, it’s probably time to leave the decongestants alone. In these cases, you can opt, instead, for nasal sprays. These tend to not have notable side effects and can work well as short-term relief to extreme congestion.

    How they Work

    Generally speaking, decongestants work by shrinking swollen blood vessels and membranes. Allergies cause these areas of the body to swell up, which, in turn, causes congestion. Often, antihistamines alone don’t help with congestion. That’s because the sneezing and itching of allergy symptoms are actually caused by different functions within the body than those that cause congestion.

    People who suffer from extreme allergy symptoms often need both antihistamines and decongestants. Be careful when mixing medications, though! Always speak to your doctor before starting any new medications so they can help you pick the ones that will work best for you.

    Best Types of Decongestants

    Decongestants come in a few forms. The most common of these are in pill form, though there are also nasal sprays and nasal drops. Some people prefer liquid medicines, which are taken orally, though these are less common. Common types of decongestant include pseudoephedrine, though these are often found behind the counter.

    That’s because pseudoephedrine plays a role in the creation of some illicit substances. Buying decongestants with pseudoephedrine, like Sudafed, in bulk can result in attention from law enforcement.

    Other types of decongestants include oxymetazoline, such as Dristan, Sinex and Vicks. Finally, phenylephrine-based medications are also common. Phenylephrine is found in medications like Suphedrin PE and Sudafed PE.

    Combinations

    Many allergy medications include a combination of antihistimines and decongestants. Examples of this type of hybrid medications are Allegra-D, Claritin-D and Benadryl Allergy. These are preferred by many allergy sufferers as they have two-in-one relief for allergy symptoms.

  • Saving Money with Online Postage

    Saving Money with Online Postage

    Who likes hanging out in the post office while waiting to buy stamps? Certainly not us. What’s even worse is trying to find time in the day to set aside to get over to the post office, navigating through traffic and making it across town. There’s a better way, though: online postage. Just print your stamps out online!

    Saving Money with Online Postage

    Online Stamps

    That’s right, you can buy your stamps online and print them out right at home. There are numerous websites that are out there to help you find the best postage solutions for your business or personal use. Today we’re going to look at a few of the best sites for finding the top deals on online stamps! Let’s get into it.

    Stamps.com

    The biggest site in the world of online stamps is, unsurprisingly, Stamps.com. Stamps from this site can be purchased in bulk or in single increments. When it comes to buying stamps, this site is preferred by many small businesses. That’s because their interface is clean, straightforward and easy to navigate.

    Whether you’re buying for your businesses or just for yourself, this is a great site. Once you buy your stamps, you can print them out right from the site. All you need is a printer and you’ll be ready to go!

    Amazon

    Surprisingly, Amazon is another great place to buy stamps online. Many people might overlook the online retailer, or simply not think of them when they’re considering where to purchase stamps. However, Amazon often offers a great deal and great convenience for people looking for stamps in bulk.

    Amazon is preferred by many people for how easy it is to navigate their site and to purchase goods. In fact, many people already have Amazon Prime accounts, and, as such, are able to get free shipping on a number of items.

    USPS

    Where better to get your stamps than from the source themselves? The USPS website allows you to purchase stamps at normal rates, and even print them off right from your computer. This method allows you to get the same experience you would at the post office, without having to drive or wait in line! That’s a win-win.

  • Best Places to Buy Frames Online

    Best Places to Buy Frames Online

    Frames are more than just the things that go around your picture. Whether you’re looking to hang a poster, a piece of your favorite art or just a photograph you like, you need a good frame. Now, the hard part, of course, is finding a frame that fits with the look of your house. The best way to do that is by shopping online.

    Best Places to Buy Frames Online

    Simply Framed

    This website offers a great variety of sizes and price ranges for whatever you need framed. You first have to select what you’re framing, and then you select a type of frame you want for your image. The prices range from $65 to $1440, and you can get pieces from 1″ x 1″ to 40″ x 60″ framed. That means there are a number of images you can get framed through this site.

    The site is also able to shadow box your image, as well as fitting images to various dimensions for you. You simply send them the image you want framed in a tube they provide, and then once the framing is done they mail it back to you. Easy!

    Framed and Matted

    With prices ranging from $61 to $233 and frames from 1″ x 1″ to 32″ x 40″, Framed and Matted is a bit different from Simply Framed. Namely, Framed and Matted is more about framing artwork than pictures or posters. To that end, this site offers museum-quality materials, including wood and acrylic, for their frames.

    The site offers double mats with each frame, and the frames are designed to be installed at home. However, you can send in your art to be framed by the professionals at Framed and Matted for an upcharge. In short, this is a great site if you want fine art framed.

    Framebridge

    Beyond just fine art, Framebridge can also frame any object less than 3/8” deep, such as buttons, coins and jerseys. They have prices from $39 to $199 and will frame pieces from 4″ x 4″ to 32″ x 40″. You can send in a piece of artwork or memorabilia you want framed, or you can opt to simply upload to them the image you want framed to save on shipping.

    No matter which you go with, Framebridge is a fine choice for framing thanks to their wide selection. You can get frames made from bamboo, whitewashed wood and more. Whatever your home’s style, Framebridge has you covered.

  • Best Treatments for Migraines

    Best Treatments for Migraines

    Chronic migraines can be downright disruptive to your daily life. It’s difficult to explain to people who don’t experience them just how hard it is to make it through your normal tasks with such intense, pounding headaches. As such, finding the treatment that works best for you is important. Here are some of the best treatments for migraines.

    Best Treatments for Migraines

    Preventative

    Preventative treatments, such as medicines and therapies, are designed to stop migraines before they even start. Typically, preventative medication is prescribed to those who suffer from serious, chronic and debilitating migraines. That’s because these medications require daily doses and work only if taking consistently.

    Another preventative treatment that some people have noted is getting a daith piercing. The daith is a part of the outer ear that is somewhat above the opening of the ear canal. Piercings in this location have been stated by some to help greatly reduce the number and severity of migraines. While it’s not a guarantee, some people swear by this preventative treatment.

    Relief

    There are a few medications available that are able to relieve pain for those who need immediate relief from migraines. Common NSAIDs, like Tylenol and Ibuprofen, are often taken for mild migraine symptoms. Those who suffer from mild or infrequent migraines often just keep a bottle of their preferred NSAID on hand in case of a sudden flare-up.

    There are also pain relievers that are geared, specifically, toward migraines. These medications use a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine, which are all useful in combating serious headaches. However, these are best when used in a dark room and when attempting to get to sleep. Nothing flares up migraines worse than bright lights and loud sounds.

    Triptans

    Triptans are medications that were designed specifically to combat extreme migraine symptoms. Triptans work primarily by constricting blood vessels and blocking the brain’s pain receptors. These are primarily taken by people who are experiencing infrequent but intense migraines.

    Triptans are available in pill, injection and nasal spray varieties. Typically, people who want relief from extreme migraines but don’t get them often enough to merit full preventative regiments opt for triptans. Those at risk for heart attacks and strokes are urged to not take triptans.

    Side effects of these medications can include muscle weakness, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and skin reactions due to injection. While many other medications are available, these are of some of the most common, and relied upon, forms of relief available.