I totally hear you, and I don’t want to contract Coronavirus either. However the best thing not to do is just sit and hope you don’t get it. With anything in life you gotta work for it, and this is definitely something you will want to put your all into. Well what do you want to put your all into? Building up your immune system. I understand that many are already doing so, however I wanted to share with you the best tips and techniques to ensure that your immune system is at its full potential. This will not only assist you to lower your chances of catching the Corona Virus, however increasing your immune system has so many more benefits that will help you throughout your future life once all of this blows over.

Lower Stress.

Yes, yes, lowering stress is always the first and foremost tip you hear in any guide to benefiting yourself in any positive way! Why is that? Well because it’s true! Lowering stress can help you to avoid big nuisances such as: digestive problems, weight gain, sleep depravity, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure and many more! Well if stress can cause all of these unfortunate issues, what do you think it can do to your immune system?? Stress can truly tear you apart, just ask anyone! Let’s take a look at some techniques on how we can reduce stress.

Start Smiling More — Try giving someone a smile and watch how you may brighten up their day. It’s a nice personal feeling to know that you’ve made someone happy. Little do you know, just a simple smile and warm gentle hello can break anybody out of their previous road rage rut, they had on their way to work. Smiling more, will also help you to see the positivity in others, and will uplift you, because if you start acting positive, sooner or later you will be positive! Fake it till you make it right?

Get up and move! — This does not always have to be just exercising, maybe try getting up a little extra early, open the windows, listen to the birds, do some stretching, feel yourself! Live in the moment! Or if you feel you have been sitting all day, get up and take a little walk to the bathroom, dance in the mirror, no need to always rush, your work can wait. Your happiness cannot!

Get to bed early — This is one we all procrastinate on, it’s funny because for people who love sleep we tend to love going to bed late. Catching up on sleep has such huge benefits and can help reduce you feeling scatterbrained, overwhelmed, and just plain out cranky. So set the phone down at least 15 minutes before, do your nightly routine, and get your butt in bed!

Try Practicing Meditation — I can attest for you, that when I first started meditation, I was not comfortable with it. We all have the misconception that meditation only consists of you sitting with your legs crossed, holding your hands with “ok” signs, and humming. I am here to reassure you that this is not the only form of meditating. There are many other forms of it that involve nothing more than you sitting down, relaxing, letting your thoughts flow, and practicing a proper breathing technique. I’m sure you’ve heard of the calm app. If not, check it out! It will give you a good idea on how to properly meditate, and basically remain…calm!

All of these techniques to reduce stress are not hard, tiring, or strenuous. So there is nothing holding you back from benefiting the immune system. Start today by implementing these techniques to help lower your risk of getting sick. No excuses!

Supplements.

This is something you want to think strategically with, too many supplements can actually harm you and turn a healthy situation into the opposite. I do not think you would want that. It is best to do your research on which supplements and herbs you feel would benefit you the most before taking them. One thing I would kindly like to recommend is taking a Multivitamin, yes I understand, some say that you pee it out 10 minutes later. However I have been taking one for years and my body has brought nothing but satisfaction on this vitamin. It has definitely boosted my metabolism which helped me to lose lots of weight. I also have noticed that I have much more energy while using it as well. I mean if you think about it, you are receiving your daily vitamins that your body needs to perform, so why not. Experts believe that vitamins including A, C, D, E, Zinc, Selenium, and magnesium are the most essential to creating your kick butt immune system. If you choose not to go the vitamin/supplemental route, I will go into detail on other ways you can obtain the right vitamins you need to help fight off that virus.

Eating a Balanced Diet.

Eating a balanced diet has its pros and it’s cons. Here’s a tip, the cons are not health related. Trying to maintain a balanced diet can be hard, especially when maintaining a busy schedule is hard. Time consuming isn’t the only hard part, many may tell you that eating healthy is expensive too. This is actually a common myth that I have tested many times throughout life to give myself excuses. You can spend just as much money at the grocery store buying nutritionally balanced foods, just as much as junk foods. So now that you know this, there is no reason to stall. Take 20 minutes, even on a lunch break and try to do some research and find some healthy recipes that may sound appealing to you. Once you do this, you can then create your grocery list!

Along with eating a balanced diet, I have conducted some research myself that I wish to share with you. I have found the best herbs, vitamins, and nutrient dense foods that can help slam the door in Mr. Corona’s face before he tries to enter.

Lemon- Lemons are a great source of vitamin C and have tons of health benefits. So what are the health benefits of lemons? Lemons are high in vitamin C which means they lower your cholesterol and are great for heart health. Lemon juice is high in fiber and electrolytes which will help you lose weight, improve your digestive health and help you stay hydrated. Including lemons in your diet will keep you healthy in many ways.

Vitamin B6- This vitamin is amazing for your health, there are so many different things it does for your body. Not only does this vitamin B6 help improve your mood and reduce symptoms of depression but it also reduces your risk of heart disease and helps prevent clogged arteries. Your brain and heart work hard everyday to take care of you so you should take care of them and include the vitamin B6 in your diet.

Vitamin E- This vitamin is an antioxidant that helps protect your healthy cells. It is also used by some doctors to fight diseases such as cancer, heart disease and high blood pressure. In order to keep your body healthy your body needs healthy cells so this vitamin is very important.

Garlic- Garlic tastes amazing and can be easily incorporated into all kinds of dishes. Doing so will benefit your health greatly. So what does garlic do for you? First off, garlic is highly nutritious with little calories. Garlic is rich in vitamin C and vitamin B6. Garlic is also great for your immune system and helps prevent and reduce the symptoms of the common cold or flu. So adding garlic into your dishes doesn’t only make the dish more yummy, but it makes the dish nutritious as well.

Ginger- Ginger is a superfood and is great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The anti-inflammatory effects can help with joint pain, stiffness, muscle pain and soreness. Ginger has also been shown to improve various heart diseases and lower blood sugar levels in diabetics. We all know why it’s called a superfood!

Onion — Onions have many positive benefits that people are not aware of. They can actually lower the risk of heart disease, contain cancer fighting compounds, antioxidants, and they even have some antibacterial benefits. The best part about onions is that they contain a good amount of Vitamin C which is at the utmost beneficial for your immune system.

Turmeric — Turmeric actually tastes amazing when used PROPERLY. I feel that it tastes best when used to season Indian foods, chicken, or even food with an asian zing! Turmeric is also jam packed with the perfect amount of vitamin C. The unique fun fact about Turmeric is that it is linked to improved brain function and a lower risk of brain disease.

Grapefruit — It’s low in calories, very low. Once again this fruit includes a surplus of vitamin C. I’m sure you’ve heard of grapefruit to be the go to for when you’re feeling sick and down. Grapefruit surprisingly actually can promote appetite control with the amounts of fiber it contains, and it can actually even help aid you in your weight loss journeys!

Spinach — Spinach contains a range of vitamins to benefit your overall health. It contains vitamins: A, C, K1, Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium, you might as well just use spinach every morning as your multivitamin….right? Spinach has been linked to help your eye health too, no wonder Popeye’s punches were always accurate!

Kale — The one and only Super K. This is one of the well known kick butt superfoods I’m sure you’ve heard of too! Kale contains vitamins: A, K, C, B6, Manganese, Calcium, Copper, Potassium, and Magnesium. Kale contains a rich amount of vitamin K, this vitamin is great to help activate blood clotting by activating certain proteins and giving them the ability to bind calcium. Want more weight loss foods? Look into recipes including Kale, this superfood is low calorie, meanwhile it contains a high water and a low energy density. If you do research on low energy density, you’ll understand why this superfood is amazing to add to your diet. Kale is also loaded with many compounds that are believed to help fight against cancer! If there is any food I would recommend for health benefits, it’s Kale.

Acai Berries — These actually can be an amazing compliment to certain snacks! They taste great, and are packed with plenty of nutrients and vitamins. These can be considered an antioxidant due to them neutralizing the damaging effects of free radicals throughout the body. Studies have linked Acai berries to reduce cholesterol levels in individuals as well!

Sweet Potatoes — These are another fun healthy food that can be added into your diet in many different ways, whether they are baked, chips, fries, hashed, or even made as a pie! Sweet potatoes are low in carbs, but high in fiber, and even include a hint of protein, and did I mention that they are jam packed with vitamins as well? I don’t know who would turn down this good healthy side to their meal.

Exercise.

I know it is hard, however the CDC recommends that the average adult gets active for about 150 minutes a week. However it is hard to add this into your routine, but once you do, I promise all you will see are benefits. Have you been feeling tired, and fatigued a lot lately? Exercise can help that. Do you feel the need for greater sleep quality? Exercise can help with that! Lastly, do you want to help improve your immune system to fight off and protect against viruses?…Well you guessed it, exercise helps with that! It doesn’t take long to fit into your schedule, the hard part is doing it. You will feel so much better about yourself and about life as you continue to add exercise within your daily routines. I mean think about it, your body isn’t just a bag of bones and a skin suit, you are living in it. It is the home of your life, you take care of your home you physically live in right? Well take care of your body, because you live in it!

Get Some Sleep.

As stated previously, going to bed just a bit earlier can help reduce stress levels, well if it’s powerful enough to reduce stress levels, what else can it do? When you sleep your immune system releases proteins called cytokines, some of which help promote sleep. A percentage of those cytokines need to grow when you have an infection, inflammation, or even if you are simply stressed. Certain cytokines need to increase when you have an infection or inflammation, or when you’re under stress. Depriving yourself of sleep can decrease the production of the cytokines. On top of all of this, infection-fighting antibodies and cells are reduced throughout the periods you are not receiving enough sleep. So I hope you can see and understand how important getting the right amount of sleep is. Don’t let yourself continue to lack sleep as a routine. If you happen to do this, you could be putting yourself at risk for: obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The average amount that teenagers and adults need is around 7 to 9 hours. So if you want to help boost your immunity, make sure to start setting a proper sleep schedule and set the phone down at least 15 minutes before bed.

Hand Washing.

We were taught this as children, and as you should know this does not stop now that you’ve grown. Washing your hands is the best way to rid yourself of those dirty germs, bacteria, and even viruses. It’s crazy how much germs can spread, from one person sneezing to a shopping cart, to them touching the key pad at the checkout entering their card pin, to you being next in line… It’s hard not to touch our eyes, mouth, and nose. However if we wash our hands we can prevent from putting those bad germs into our bodily openings.

Listening & Understanding Your Body.

Some days you come home and just feel tired, however there are so many more things that need to be done. This in turn becomes an everyday thing, and before you know it you’re burning yourself out and losing sleep. Doing all of this everyday begins to stress you out, then in turn you start losing sleep. As we read up above, we know what stress and a lack of sleep can do to us. If I could choose to give you one take away from this article, it’s to not be this person. Yes I do understand that there are things that need to be done, however some of these things are done by our choice. Sometimes you need to take time for yourself. Don’t let your life tear you down and kill you. The person mentioned in the beginning needs to take a day off, and so do you if you happen to feel the emotions that are described up above. Remember your happiness and health are what comes first, everything else can wait. The world still turns, your house, work, and family will still be there. I promise!

I know, this virus is scary and the rate of people getting sick is only increasing. Everything I stated up above will not guarantee that you will not obtain the virus, however it can help protect you against it. Even if you do happen to obtain the virus, remember to keep up your healthy habits if you can, and most importantly get quality rest I cannot stress that enough. We can get through this, and before we know it, this virus will be nothing but a bad memory of the past that we can tell our grandchildren. Everything will be okay, and so will you! Take care!

If you would like straight direct advice on, life, your body, or dating feel free to check out my blog here! Thank you for reading and have a great day!

What Is The Coronavirus?

The Coronavirus has become a worldwide epidemic, and a lot of people are in panic mode. But what exactly is the coronavirus? The coronavirus is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. How is this virus spread? This virus is spread through bodily fluids such as spit or by sneezing or coughing. Another way the virus is spread is by touching a contaminated area, these areas can stay contaminated for several hours to several days depending on the temperature and weather the surface is in. The virus is transmitted less easily from soft surfaces than hard surfaces, such as door handles, counters, or electronics. So, what are the symptoms of the virus? The common symptoms of the virus include fever, dry cough and trouble breathing. More severe symptoms include difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, persistent pain or pressure in chest, confusion, and bluish lips or face.These symptoms can appear anywhere from two to fourteen days after you have been in contact.

How To Protect Yourself In Public.

Sadly a lot of us have to go out in public daily. Whether it’s going to work, school or the grocery store there is still a chance of you being exposed to the coronavirus. So here are a few precautions you can take to help reduce the risk of you contracting the virus.

Precautions To Take:

• Avoid going out in public as much as possible
• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for 20 seconds, after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing, or having been in a public place.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid all non-essential travel including plane trips, and cruise ships.
• Avoid crowds.
• Wash your hands after touching surfaces in public places.
• Do not go into a crowd over 100 people
• Try to avoid touching frequently touched objects in public such as door handles, elevator buttons and handrails.
• Use a tissue or your sleeve if you must touch frequently touched objects.
• Try to limit physical contact such as hand shakes and hugging.
• Remember to wash your hands frequently or sanitize them with sanitizer that has 60% or more alcohol.
• Keep disinfectant wipes in your car to wipe down your handles, steering wheel and other frequently touched items.

Some of these precautions may sound extreme but you can never be too careful when it comes to a worldwide pandemic. This virus spreads like wildfire, so be careful and do what you can to protect your family and you.

How To Protect Yourself At Home.

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to keep your home clean and disinfected. Your home is where your family and you are going to be spending a lot of time. So you’re going to want to make sure the virus stays out of your home. So here are a few precautions you can take to help reduce the risk of your family contracting the virus.

Precautions To Take:

• First and foremost educate your household about coronavirus symptoms and how to properly clean your home.
• Wash your hands before preparing & eating food.
• Wash your hands after cleaning or wearing gloves.
• Wash your hands after touching pets or the pets belongings.
• Wash your hands after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing.
• Wash your hands after using the restroom.
• Wash your hands before and after providing care for someone (e.g. a child).
• Clean frequently touched items in your home (e.g. light switches, door handles, sinks, toilets, remotes, desks, counters etc)
• Keep up on laundry and wash blankets every few days.
• Take your shoes off at the door so you don’t track the virus into your carpet.
• When you get home from a public place put your clothes in the dirty clothes before sitting on the couch, laying in bed or etc.
• Spray couches, carpets and other soft surfaces with disinfectant spray that is safe for your furniture and carpet.

Keeping your home free from the virus may take a good amount of cleaning, but doing the things listed above will definitely help keep the virus out of your home. This virus spreads like wildfire, so be careful and do what you can to protect your family and you.

How To Prepare For A Self Quarantine.

Most families, including my family, are doing self quarantines to keep down the chance of getting the virus as much as possible. By the time that the virus hits your community it would be hard to find supplies, so you should stock up beforehand. Make sure that you have enough food, water, toiletries, household items, medicines and health care supplies for your family and pets for at least two weeks or more.

Do your best to stock up on your prescriptions if your doctor and insurance allows. Try to get a 30 day supply or a 90 day supply. Make sure to have over the counter medicines and other health care items stocked up as well such as allergy medicine, bandages and more.

Medical & Health Supplies:

• Garbage bags
• Hand soap & over 60% alcohol based hand sanitizer
• Thermometer
• Cold & cough medicine
• Prescribed medical supplies such as diabetic supplies etc
• Tampons, pads, diapers, toilet paper, paper towels, tissues
• Fever & pain medicine
• Acid reflux & anti diarrhea medicine
• Prescription medications
• Contact lenses, contact lenses case & contact solution
• Gloves
• First aid kit
• Laundry detergent, household cleaner, disinfectant spray & dish soap

Medical supplies are important, but more importantly keeping a two week or more supply of food and water is what you are also going to need to keep your family healthy. Non perishable foods are great to stock up in for a quarantine because they won’t go bad during your time at home.

Food, Drinks & Cooking Supplies:

• Canned & jarred baby food & formula
• Pet food
• Canned and frozen veggies
• Jarred and frozen fruits
• Coffee, coffee creamer
• Sugar & flour
• Crackers
• Oil for cooking
• Ziplock baggies
• Pasta, rice, bread & other grains
• Oatmeal & granola
• Granola bars, protein bars, dry cereal, poptarts
• Chicken broth & beef broth
• Canned soups
• Canned and frozen meats
• Peanut butter & jelly
• Snack nuts
• Hot chocolate mix & tea bags
• Chips, pretzels & popcorn
• Chocolates & candy
• Sauces
• Lunch meats & Cheeses
• Water
• Alcohol
• Fresh fruits & Veggies
• All other snacks or food you love

Remember, that you could be staying home for a few weeks. So remember to stock up on non perishable foods or foods that you can freeze that will last you awhile. Of course we will still have electricity so dairy, fresh fruits and veggies will be great for you to get as well but keep in mind they will expire. So make sure to have enough non perishables items or foods you can freeze so you go out in public as little as possible.

Don’t forget to take care of your mental health as well. Play video games, watch movies, bake something, do arts & crafts, play card or board games, facetime friends and family, etc. Just remember to have fun and stay safe. You don’t want to go stir crazy!

What To Do If You Contract The Virus.

If you or a family member contracted the virus do not panic. Relax and breathe. Call your doctor or the family member who is infecteds doctor to see what you should do. If you are having severe symptoms such as confusion, shortness of breath, bluish face and/or lips, and high or low body temperature go to the emergency room. Please be sure to call the emergency room before your arrival and tell them that you might have the virus so they can prepare for your arrival.

Sadly, there is not a treatment or vaccination for the coronavirus but here are a few ways you can get yourself back on your feet AFTER seeing a doctor.

What You Can Do To Get Better:

• Follow your doctor’s orders
• Relax, keeping your anxiety down is one way to get better
• Rest, you don’t have to stay in bed but take it easy
• Make sure to take the appropriate amount of whatever medicine your doctor recommends
• Stay hydrated, make sure to drink plenty of water.
• Eat, eating nutritious food will give your body the nutrition it needs to get better.

If you are infected try to stay in one room of the house as much as possible and keep up on your hygiene to help reduce the risk of it spreading to your family. If you have to care for an animal make sure to wash your hands before and after care. Remember, to wear a face mask when around other people.

What To Do If Someone In Your Home Contracts The Virus.

Of course you love and care for your family members and want to take care of them even more when they have this terrible virus. But you also have to take care of yourself and the rest of your family. So here are a few things you can do to care for the infected person while protecting yourself and others.

How To Care For The Infected Person & Precautions To Take:

• Clean frequently touched areas everyday
• Do not share ANYTHING with someone anyone who is infected
• Wear a disposable face mask and gloves when caring for the infected person
• Throw away all used face masks and gloves after one use
• Wear gloves at all times when cleaning up after the infected person
• After you remove your gloves and face mask wash your hands immediately
• Do not touch your face while caring for the person
• If you have long hair tie it up before caring for the infected person
• Immediately remove and wash your clothes if they have any body fluids on them
• Throw away all of your contaminated items in a lined container before disposing of them
• Wear gloves while dealing with infected laundry
• Stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom if circumstances allow
• Make sure that shared spaces have good airflow (turn on the ac or open a window)
• Consult your local health department about trash disposal guidance

Caring for an infected person can be stressful, but just breathe and remember to take care of yourself as well. Take a bath and relax and do other things you love to do. You have to take care of yourself first to take care of others. For tips on doing self care with a busy schedule check out this article!

Even with the coronavirus being a worldwide epidemic, you can still be prepared for it if you follow the steps above. Remember to wash your hands and keep good distance from people in public. Don’t over stress yourself about this situation you don’t want to weaken your immune system. So stay safe out there and remember to wash your hands BabyGirl!

If you would like straight direct advice on, life, your body, or dating feel free to check out my blog here! Thank you for reading and have a great day!

There are so many kitchen items in the world, and they release more and more fancy high tech gadgets everyday that can leave you undecided and feeling overwhelmed when you walk into stores like Bed Bath and Beyond or any other home goods store. Those fancy high tech gadgets can be very useful but they usually cost some, if not a lot of money. So here are three basic but amazing kitchen essentials that can be used everyday that won’t break your bank.

A Slow Cooker.

Over the decades, slow cookers have evolved from single bean cookers into a diverse and extensive line of slow cookers. For busy families, slow cookers offer a solution to healthier, more wholesome meals then fast food. A slow cooker is a definite kitchen essential! You can cook a meal during the day and have it ready by dinner time or you can throw it in for a few hours and get your evening cleaning done. Not only can big meals like roasts or chilis be made in slow cookers, but slow cookers can also be used to make dips, desserts and even drinks like hot chocolate or pumpkin spice lattes! I absolutely love making dinner in a Crock-Pot it’s so easy! I also love chicken enchiladas. So here is a simple amazing Crock-Pot chicken enchiladas recipe to try!

What You Will Need:

12 white corn tortillas cut in 4s

1 Whole rotisserie chicken deboned and shredded

1 large can of salsa verde

2 packs of taco seasoning or desired amount

1 can of rotel diced tomatoes

4 cups monterey jack cheese

How To Prepare:

1. Coat the bottom of your Crock-Pot with verde salsa and top it with tortillas
2. Mix chicken and rotel tomatoes in a bowl and add the mixture on top of the tortillas
3. Top the mixture with cheese and repeat in layers
4. Cook on high for two hours
5. Enjoy!

A Dutch Oven.

A Dutch Oven is a thick walled cooking pot with a tight fitting lid made of either seasoned cast iron, ceramic, or aluminum. A dutch oven is an amazing kitchen essential because it is so versatile! From leaving it on the stove and boiling noodles or simmering a homemade soup, to throwing it in the oven and baking bread or making a chuck roast. But not only is it versatile it is also thick and heavy enough to conduct and retain heat and deep enough to hold soups, broths, or big cuts of meat. There are so many amazing dishes that I love to make in my dutch oven, but one of my favorites has to be a chuck roast! It is very easy to make and tastes absolutely amazing. It is definitely a crowd pleaser!

What You Will Need:

A chuck roast

Carrots

Red Potatoes

Celery

Onion

Beef Broth

McCormick beef stew seasoning

Butter

Pepper and Salt

How To Prepare:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
2. Chop your carrots, red potatoes, celery, and onion
3. In the dutch oven add butter to temp
4. Braise the roast on both sides
5. Add the chopped carrots, red potatoes, celery, and onion to the dutch oven
6. Add in the seasoning pack, a little salt and pepper and cover with beef broth
7. Put a lid on it and put it in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour
8. Turn down the oven to 325 degrees and cook in the oven for another hour
9. Enjoy!

An Indoor Griddle Grill.

Indoor ceramic non-stick reversible griddles are another amazing kitchen essential. An indoor griddle is essential due to the fact that it is so versatile and you can use it anywhere in the kitchen. From the smooth non stick side where you can cook pancakes and eggs to the grill side where you can make tasty burgers or kabobs! One of my favorite recipes to make on the grill side are mushroom swiss burgers! They don’t take too long and taste amazing, like a gourmet burger that you would pay $15 dollars for.

What You Will Need:

2 pounds of ground chuck

Hellmanns Mayo

Brioche buns

Swiss cheese

Mushrooms and Onions

Seasoning Salt

Garlic powder

Pepper

How To Prepare:

1. Chop your onions and Mushrooms
2. Heat the griddle
3. Mix seasoning and ground chuck together and form into patties
4. Put your patties on the grill
5. Saute your mushrooms and onions
6. Once the patties are almost done add the swiss cheese on top
7. Toast your buns
8. Spread mayo on both buns
9. Add the sautéed mushrooms and onions and the burger onto a bun.

10. Enjoy!

These three kitchen essentials have helped me out a lot with being young and newly married. Being able to make multiple tasty dishes in those three versatile kitchen essentials really boosted my confidence in the kitchen, to where I actually found a passion for cooking. Another great thing about them is that they don’t break the bank! All three items are under $50 US dollars! If you buy them, just make sure that you are ready for all the endless amazing recipes you can make!

If you would like straight direct advice on, life, your body, or dating feel free to check out my blog here! Thank you for reading and have a great day!

So you’re tired of the Tinder dates, or the average Joe wanting the same thing as the last guy huh? A girl needs her knight in shining armor, but sometimes she is too shy or embarrassed to do what is needed to win him over. Well girl, I got 5 tips for you to be able to take the small steps that can lead you to your dream relationship with your dream man. However using these 5 steps will take patience, but I promise it will pay off in the end.

1. Insta Flirt

In this day in age social media is what takes priority in most of our lives. We are always looking down at our phones, checking our messages, and yes I know SCROLLING on our feeds. Whether we like it or not social media is the new way of doing everything. Sooner or later you will be consumed. However you can definitely use this to your advantage. Instagram is a very easy platform to learn about him and see his interests very quickly. I promise after 10 minutes of looking(not drooling) at his photos you will be able to judge and determine what type of guy he is real quick. I will tell you the easiest way to flirt is literally by double tapping. Yes Mashing that heart button on four of his most handsome photos will definitely let him know that you are showing some interest. It seems small, but the moment he sees that and likes your photos back it will spark up that mutuality! Yay!! He notices you! Once this is done, you even can try sneaking a DM!

2. Talk To Him! Duh!

OMG you guys finally have a moment to talk and your body is fluttering with butterflies, however those butterflies are made of cement and slowly start to harden as you proceed. There is nothing more frustrating than freezing up and losing out on a good conversational opportunity with him. So just remember, you can’t get him without talking to him. Regardless of who he is around, walk your pretty self up there and say hi, let him know your name and let him remember. Most Importantly be yourself, this is the most valuable tip I can give you. A tip that I had always done was to do something memorable give him a firm handshake, try to make him laugh, or do something to make you stand out from the other girls. Just try not to bend and snap, it might end up badly.

(PS) Kudos to you if you understand my movie reference.

3. Talk Consistently.

If you did not get his number when talking to him, then you have a second chance. Remember step 1? Well this will be another advantage to using social media, by doing so you can send him a nice conversational message, maybe ask him about his fancy watch, his car, or even his favorite sports team. This should be enough for a conversation which will lead to you being relevant in his mind for some time. This will be your second chance to get his number. Now it’s your time to shine! It’s your time to win him over….right?? Well yes, but you will need to have patience during this step. Make sure to try to keep an open conversation without very long gaps in between or switching the topic. Try to keep a consistent form of communication without saying how much you want to kiss him. You will develop your chemistry, just remember not to be excessive or overdo, as this can come off as creepy. You want him running to you, not away from you.

4. Ask Him Out.

This here is the one that takes a lot of courage, but I can reassure you. If you guys are talking constantly then it won’t be a problem to him at all. I mean who doesn’t want to hang out with someone they can talk to and get along with. Remember, were no longer in the 80’s, asking someone out does not always mean it has to be a formal date at a high profile Italian restaurant. Simply asking to go to a movie is all that’s needed! I mean…who doesn’t love movies right? This will also almost always lead to dinner after. There are many things you can do, just find out his interests and work around that. You got this girl I promise.

5. Keep It Up No Matter What.

Finally, this is your time to shine, keep being yourself. Try your best to be patient and get to know each other before making any irrational decisions. Keep in mind arguments happen, but remember the best way to overcome any quarrel or argument is to take a break from the phone, or step away. Take a second to yourself, breath and remember who you are. Everything will be okay, this will allow the air to settle and let both of you think. Acting calmly and patient in tense situations, will help judge any future decisions that the both of you may decide upon.

Okay girl, those are five steps I have taken to get my knight in shining armor. Just remember there are jerks out there, and not everything can go as smooth. However using some of the techniques we talked about can help you choose the right fish from the pool of sharks. The biggest tip to always keep in mind is to be yourself. You got this Baby Girl…

If you would like straight direct advice on, life, your body, or dating feel free to check out my blog here! Thank you for reading and have a great day!

So babygirl, what are your plans tonight? Having a sleepover? Getting ready for an event or hot date? Just want to do some skin care along with your hair care? Well babygirl, I have the best DIY face masks, serums, and scrubs you could wish for.

DIY Eyelash Growth Serum.

Who doesn’t want long eyelashes? I have always been super jealous of boys with long lashes. Like excuse me? Why do you need those sir? Anyways, here is what you need for that eyelash serum. You are going to need a ½ teaspoon of vitamin e, a ½ teaspoon of argan oil, a ½ teaspoon of almond oil, a teaspoon of castor oil and mix it well. Make sure to apply it with a clean mascara wand.

DIY Moisturizer Mask.

Do you need some hydration? This mask is called the cocoa dream mask. And it’s truly a dream. *wink wink* This will work wonders for you. It is made with avocado which is hydrating, cocoa a skin soothing antioxidant, and honey which is an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Here is how to make it. First, mash one quarter of an avocado in a small bowl. Second, stir in one tablespoon of cocoa powder and one tablespoon of honey, mashing and mixing well. Third, apply the mask to your clean, dry skin for 10 minutes. Lastly, wash off with warm water, then moisturize as per usual.

DIY Acne Mask.

This mask is perfect for acne, especially if you’re breaking out during your period. So here is how to make it. First, brew one cup of chamomile tea with two tea bags and let it cool completely. Second, In a tiny bowl, stir together one tablespoon of raw honey and one teaspoon of nutritional yeast. Third, add just enough chamomile tea to the bowl to create a thicker paste that’s still runny enough to spread across your face, but make sure it’s not too watery. Fourth, apply a thin layer to your face and let it sit for 20 minutes. Lastly, rinse off and pat dry and moisturize!

DIY Glow Mask.

Who doesn’t love beautiful glowing skin. Between dewy foundation and highlighter this is the look I always go for. So here is a super easy mask that will help you to achieve this naturally. First, combine three tablespoons of orange juice with a quarter cup of honey. Second, rub the mixture lightly over your face and then leave it on for 15 minutes. Lastly, rinse with lukewarm water and moisturize.

DIY Oily Skin Mask.

Oily skin can be such a bother sometimes. So here is a face mask that can help. First, you will need to take one large egg and separate the yolk from the white of the egg and put the white into a bowl.Second, add 3 to 4 drops of fresh lemon juice and softly whisk the white and lemon juice together. Third, wash your face and rinse it with warm water then gently apply the mask with your fingers in an upward circular motion and allow the mask to dry for 15 minutes. Lastly, rinse off the mask with warm water and I think you know this step… MOISTURIZE!!! PLEASE!!!

DIY Body Scrub.

This sugar body scrub will leave your skin feeling soooo soft! Like why can’t I stop feeling my legs?? Soft. So here is how to make it. First, place one cup of brown pure cane sugar into a container. Second, add one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil stirring in between until you have added three tablespoons. Make sure the mixture is sandy. Third, take a shower and at the end of the shower pat your skin dry and then rub in circular motions all over body and rinse well. The best way of getting the scrub off is by soaking in the tub for about twenty minutes, this will loosen your skin making the scrub work even better! Lastly, moisturize!

DIY Lip Scrub.

This lip scrub will make your lips so soft! In fact I’m planning on doing it today. So here is how to get your lips looking and feeling amazing! First, mix one teaspoon of honey with two teaspoons of sugar. Second, massage the mixture into your lips and leave on for 10 minutes. Last, remove with a wet rag. But remember when exfoliating do not go hard or fast. Make sure to go slow in light circular motions and to limit yourself to once a week. Make sure to hydrate after and wear a chapstick that has SPF component when going outside.

DIY Glow Serum.

Essential oils work wonders for your body in so many ways! One way is adding them to face masks and serums. So here is an amazing glow serum that will leave you looking and feeling refreshed. You are going to need 1o drops of Frankincense, 10 drops of Lavender, 10 drops of Copaiba, 5 drops of Geranium, 5 drops of Manuka and then fill the remainder of the 2oz dropper bottle with jojoba oil. Make sure to apply several drops to face, neck and chest in the morning and at night.

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So there you have it babygirl. Rather it being, you doing a pamper night with the girls, having a self pamper night or preparing for an event, I got you covered. These face masks, serums and scrubs will have you looking and feeling great. And remember, no one has “bad skin”, everyone has flaws and that is okay. Your flaws is what makes you unique and beautiful. So remember babygirl you will always be beautiful to me. Also, if you want to save these for later pin them on Pinterest!

If you would like straight direct advice on, life, your body, or dating feel free to check out my blog here! Thank you for reading and have a great day!

What is body positivity? Well, there is no true definition of body positivity. But a lot of people believe body positivity is when you love and accept your body and other people’s bodies no matter what flaws or complications those bodies supposedly have. Loving your body and what it does for you now and what it can do for you in the future. Rather you’re skinny, normal, medium, chubby or whatever “disabilities” you have body positivity is for everyone, male or female.

Body Positivity Back Then.

Body positivity was created when a few movements were converged around the 1960s. Body positivity came about when black women and obese women fought discrimination in public places. The National Advanced Fat Association was founded in 1969 and was made to protect the rights of big people and to end discrimination based on body weight. Their focus was to improve the quality of life for big people. The NAAFA works to eliminate discrimination based on body size and provide bigger people with tools for self empowerment throughout many different ways. Health At Every Size is an initiative that resulted from the creation of NAAFA, and set forth the concept that health is better determined by medical testing rather than observation of one’s weight. These organizations were what created the body positivity movement that we know today.

Body Positivity Today.

Body Positivity today has become a groundbreaking movement due to social media platforms. Body positivity is everywhere in social media. All people of all representations are being noticed. We are defying the unrealistic standards of beauty like smooth skin, body size, and avoidance of any imperfections. Finally women of all sizes and colors are being represented. In 2016 a new line of Barbie dolls were released under the name “Fashionistas” which included three different body shapes, seven different skin colors, twenty two different eye colors and twenty four different hairstyles. Many brands are supporting body positivity by including people of all types. People of different sizes, colors, and disabilities are being represented by big brands such as Dove, Aerie and more. Dove has been using women of all shapes sizes and colors for a long time under a campaign called Real Beauty. In 2017 Aerie launched a campaign called AerieReal which encouraged body positivity and body acceptance by promising not to photoshop or retouch their models and showing natural features like cellulite, fat rolls and stretch marks. Refreshing right? Everyone deserves to see someone that looks like them in the media.

Body Positivity And You.

You are probably thinking “come on enough with the facts, I came here to feel empowered.” Well honey am I going to empower you… First things first, DO NOT let anyone’s negative opinion about YOUR body bring you down. This is your body, the thing that you live in everyday, the thing that supports you and your dreams. Your body is the only thing that will always be there for you no matter what. Your body works hard for you every day to keep you alive and healthy. No body is perfect as we are imperfect human beings and that’s okay. This is how we were made, this is how we are supposed to be. All of us are unique and are beautiful in our own ways. Body positivity isn’t about only loving yourself when you have extra pounds or when you don’t match society’s beauty standards. Body positivity is for everyone, male or female, white or colored, disabled or not disabled, short or tall, skinny or fat, or even just normal size. EveryBODY can be body positive.

In this day in age no one is ever going to be fully happy with their body or appearance and that’s okay. But find things you love about your body. Even if it is a small thing like the color of your eyes or how your body fought and got over the cold you had last week. Body positivity is another way of saying self love. The first step to self love is to accept yourself. Yes, I know it is easier said than done. But work toward it everyday, surround yourself with others that uplift you and love you. Confide in a trusted friend with how you feel. Embrace your differences. It would be so boring if everyone looked the same. Appreciate your qualities, are you loving, or funny? There is more to you than just how you look. Remember the Health At Every Size Organization I told you about earlier? They believe that good health is defined by good blood pressure, heart rate and etc not by body weight. As long as you stay healthy, you can look good whatever your body shape is. Don’t EVER listen when someone says only thin people are beautiful. Because all body shapes are beautiful. When it comes to your body shape, genetics is thought to be an important factor. This means that wishing you looked like a Victoria’s Secret model when you have a naturally curvy figure is unrealistic. In all reality the social norm of beauty is unrealistic because as we all know most if not all of those photos are airbrushed.

So remember, self love and body positivity is very important to your mental and physical health. Please love yourself for who you are and love others for who they are. Body positivity is meant for people to be happy and healthy in their own bodies and be the best that they can be. So if someone that is body positive decides to lose weight, it does not mean they aren’t body positive. These people are body positive because they are pushing themselves to the best and the healthiest that they want to be. So love yourself and love others babygirl, because all of us are beautiful.

If you would like straight direct advice on, life, your body, or dating feel free to check out my blog here! Thank you for reading and have a great day!

We all know that as we live through the ups and downs time passes and flies by within the blink of an eye. Certain times of the year come around, by this I don’t just mean holidays, but it can be anything such as even an anniversary. I don’t think mom and dad will want you showing up to their 30 year anniversary empty handed. However if you are shopping for the holidays, it’s not too late. If you have an extra dollar, two day shipping will be your best friend. I have compiled a list of items that might save you in time of dire need!

Please do note that the prices are accurate and appear in stock at the time of publication. Please also remember that no product is guaranteed to arrive before a specific date. Shipping will vary by location.

1. A Beautifully crafted Lodge Dutch Oven

I currently do own one of these babies, and I promise these will go a long way if taken care of properly. I have cooked and perfected numerous dishes in mine such as, cajun pastas, jumbalaya, roasts, one pot dishes, and many more! I would recommend the 6qt as this will be just enough room for anybody to make a sufficient dish of any type. Check it out here!

Price $57.99

2. 12 Piece Makeup Brush Set

Honestly these beauty’s would be a great gift for any lady, they are very adorable and most importantly affordable. If you know any makeup lovers, this last minute gift should be a must(hint hint). Take a look at them!

Price: $8.99

3. A Disney Plus Subscription

Honestly I don’t care who you are, or how old you are. Disney plus is amazing for anybody, and this would be an ideal gift for absolutely anyone. I feel that this streaming service is the best bang for your buck.

Price: $6.99 or $12.99

4. Echo Dot 3rd Gen Smart Speaker

I currently own one of these myself and it has saved many times whether if I have forgotten to turn off the lights, needed to lock the door, or even just need some rain sounds to sleep to. This reliable friend is definitely worth the money, and one cool thing I learned recent is it basically can be used as a bluetooth speaker for your phone! Take a look at it here!

Price: $24.99

5. Starbucks Gift Card

I love Starbucks, don’t you? I know this gift may seem simple, but I can guarantee that any coffee drinker will love this kind gesture, as we all know that those morning coffee’s can add up. Plus when you go in to get that gift card, you can grab yourself a cup too! It’s a win win situation.

6. Mermaid Tail Blanket

I know this looks weird, but this blanket is such a hidden want by many. Just know that no matter what, this gift will be used. Just ask my husband, he falls asleep in it more often than I do! I’ve honestly been considering on buying another one. Check it out!

Price: $15.99

7. Fuzzy Socksss!!!

Because…who doesn’t love fuzzy socks. See?

Price: $13.99

8. Electric Panini Press Grill

This is a neat little gadget, with the right creativity you can make more than just panini’s. Although panini’s are amazing, who can complain! Grab your grill here!

Price: $32.75

These recommended gifts are a sure fire way of making anybody happy, without breaking the bank. It honestly is tempting me to gift myself. Planning ahead of time definitely takes a load off your shoulders, however if you don’t, there is always other options to fulfill that special someone or special people in your life. It’s hard to find good advice online, especially with numerous articles to choose from. If you would like straight direct advice on, life, your body, or dating feel free to check out my blog here!