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11 Self-Care Must-Haves for Women

August 22, 2015 By LovingOurHome.com Leave a Comment

More and more women are starting to get familiar with the idea of self-care—taking care of yourself to ensure that you’re okay physically, emotionally and mentally. It’s usually targeted to women because we ladies tend to be loaded with the stress of caring for children, husbands, elderly relatives and work demands while not having much left over for ourselves. This can lead to avoidable health and wellness problems, and is a major contributor to depression in women.

If you’re ready to get serious about self-care for women, here are a few items that you should invest in. Just order them by importance (depends on your lifestyle) and get one or two items from the list as time goes on!

A Good Juicer

Juicing is an activity that promotes a healthy lifestyle. It allows you to get more than your necessary daily amount of vitamins without having to eat loads of fruits and vegetables. It helps boost your energy throughout the day, fights off disease and can even help you lose weight. So get a good juicer that extracts the nutrients from your veggies and fruits while leaving you with an easy clean up process afterwards.

Activity Pedometer or Fitbit Wristband

You may be surprised to learn how many steps you take in a day. Get a pedometer or a Fitbit wristband to keep you informed of your activity level throughout the day. Seeing numbers on a screen may encourage you to walk even more each day to reach a certain level.

Massaging Gel Insoles

If you ask a podiatrist what is the top reason for foot problems, 9 times out of 10 she’ll probably tell you that it’s your shoes. Your feet are your foundation and should be a top priority for you. Get massaging gel insoles to wear in your heels and work shoes—especially if you spend a lot of time on your feet, or have to walk a far distance daily. It helps by providing cushioning and shock absorption. It also assists in alleviating heel pain. If you’re having a problem with calluses, pick up some callus pads. Get a referral for a podiatrist if you have bunions, hammertoes or pain that doesn’t go away—these aren’t just aesthetic problems to laugh off. Get help, you and your feet matter!

Massaging Foot Bath

Have you ever heard of reflexology? It’s the study of the foot-body connection. It says you’re your feet can have an effect on just about every part of your body. Reflexologists manage the left and right sides of the body by stimulating the corresponding foot.

If this is true, giving special love and attention to your feet will indirectly do the same for other areas of the body. Get a personal foot bath that has massaging and gentle heat to give direct comfort to your feet with indirect benefits to your whole body.

Cool Mist Humidifier

If you have sinus or allergy problems and feel stuffed up during the day, get a portable cool mist humidifier to use at home or when you’re on the road. The cool mist will help with certain nasal and cold conditions. It helps with breathing so that you can get a better night’s rest. It may also help alleviate dry skin.

Portion Control Tupperware

If you talk to a nutritionist, many will tell you that weight loss and a good diet isn’t as much about what you eat as it is about how much you eat. Get portion control tupperware so that you can accurately measure out the recommended daily portions to lose weight. Be sure to get Tupperware that is dishwasher, microwave and BPA safe.

Quality At-Home Nail Kit

Details matter, and every lady loves having pretty nails. Going to the nail salon can cost up to $50 per visit. Though this is a self-care for women favorite, it isn’t always economical. So invest in an at-home gel nails kit (including UV light) or a French manicure press-on kit (they’re of a much better quality these days). These will save you a lot of money by allowing you to do your own salon-style manicures that will last for an extended period of time. Some nail kits that you can find at the store will last up to two weeks. Give one a try to find the one that’s right for you!

Electronic Foot File for Pedicures

One indication that you’re not paying enough attention to yourself is to take a look at your feet. If they’re dry, crackly and covered in tough calluses, they need some TLC. Get an electronic pedicure foot file to remove dead skin from your feet. Use it at least weekly to keep your feet smooth and looking well-groomed when wearing heels or sandals.

LED Tweezers

A good tweezer can be an essential part of your beauty routine. But if you tweeze too eagerly and often, you can leave dark marks on your skin. Get a pair of tweezers that has a built-in LED light. This makes tweezing more accurate and less time consuming.

Curlformers Hair Curlers

Having the right hairstyle can give your self-esteem and self-confidence a boost. Curlformers are a must-have if you like to do your hair in curls or beach waves. They’re quick, easy to use and must better for your hair than using drying sponge rollers or direct heat from a curling iron.

A Vanity Mirror Set

How often do you take the time to sit down and really look at yourself? Pamper yourself? In the past, women had beautiful vanity mirror sets where they would sit and take care of their beauty needs, including oiling their skin, putting on makeup and pinning up their hair before bed. Invest in your own vanity to make a clear statement to the universe that you matter! Spend at least 15 minutes at your vanity every day to take care of yourself and relax.

Compiled by LovingOurHome.com Staff

* Advice given should not replace that of your doctor or other medical professional. Please consult your doctor before making any significant lifestyle change.

Photo credit: Flickr/proflowers

7 Self Care Ideas and Tips for Women

August 9, 2015 By LovingOurHome.com Leave a Comment

Women have so many responsibilities, from caring for family members to taking care of business at work. It can be difficult to find time for some much needed pampering, but self care is extremely important. The University of Kentucky defines self-care as any purposeful actions that you take to care for your “physical, mental and emotional health.” Here are some self care ideas and tips for women.

1- Make a foot bath with Epsom salt and apple cider vinegar. Fill a foot bath or tub with very warm water. Then add 1/2 cup of Epsom salt to water. Then add 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar. The salt has healing properties, such as soothing tired feet, relieving aches and pains. The vinegar will help soften calluses and assist in removing excess skin from your feet. Make sure to soak your feet for at least 20-30 minutes. It helps tremendously if you have a pumice stone to remove excess skin. Just gently use stone in a circular pattern on feet and don’t forget to do your heels. When you are done the last step is to moisturize your feet with lotion. Your feet will thank you and you will feel rejuvenated. Do this at least once a week to renew your tired feet.

2- Buy yourself a really good pair of comfortable shoes. Sometimes I wonder if stores that sell cheap shoes are owned by podiatrists! If you ask any foot doctor, wearing poorly made, cheap shoes is one of the top reasons for foot problems, including bunions, heel spurs and hammertoes. So one self-care idea is to go out to a very nice store and purchase one pair of really good, comfortable shoes. $50, $100, $200… it’s okay to spend some money on yourself–especially when it means you’ll have healthy, happy feet.

3- Make a coconut oil deep conditioner for your hair. Using coconut oil as a deep conditioner will strengthen your hair. The oil penetrates deep into your hair and can actually reduce hair loss and thinning. First, in a medium size bowl add 1/4 cup of coconut oil and combine with 4 tablespoons of warm water. Mix well. Apply mix to scalp and hair. Cover your hair with a shower cap, plastic wrap or a plastic bag for 30-45 minutes. Shampoo afterward and style as usual. Do this at least once a month.

4- Buy an ice cream cone for yourself and go sit OUTSIDE to eat it. Many times when you eat ice cream, it’s while sitting in front of the television or feeling sorry for yourself. If you’re going to enjoy some ice cream, go outside and enjoy nature as well. If you’re going to have a treat, have it when you’re feeling good.

5- Give yourself a full body massage with your favorite oil. When you put on lotion in the morning, you probably do it so quickly that you don’t even have a chance to reach every spot. Set aside at least 10 minutes out of your day, sit down with some music and massage every part of your body with your favorite oil–the neck, arms, hands, feet and back of your knees. Don’t stop massaging until every part of your skin is properly covered and treated.

6- Make your own hydrating water to drink throughout the day. As you know beauty starts from the inside out. Drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water can become boring, so make some hydrating water. This water will be a tasty thirst quencher that encourages you to get enough water each day. Slice a half of a cucumber and add 6 mint leaves to 2 quarts of purified water. Allow the water to chill for at least 1 hour before drinking.

7- Do 5 Minutes of Yoga. Many people assume that they yoga has to take hours and is very difficult, but it can actually be fulfilling in short spurts. Pick your five favorite positions, rotate them for about five minutes, then lay back and relax for the last 30-45 seconds. Get up and proceed with your day.

These self care ideas and tips for women will help you begin to take better care of yourself. Remember that if you are not happy you can’t make others happy. So take care of YOU and make the most out of every free moment.

Posted by Eve

Photo credits: Flickr/basheertome Flickr/diophoto

Finding & Hiring Home Contractors: Tips for Women

July 9, 2015 By LovingOurHome.com Leave a Comment

Owning a home as a single woman is rewarding in many ways, but it can also be stressful—particularly when it comes to finding and hiring home contractors. This post is specifically targeted to single women homeowners who find themselves in need of the help of a contractor to do home repairs, but the information can help anyone. Here are a few preliminary tips:

Educate yourself thoroughly on the home issue you’re dealing with. Watch YouTube videos, read home improvement articles and consult with experts at your local home improvement store. Check out the various materials that will likely be used for your project (as well as their costs). You should be able to understand the issue when conversing with prospective contractors.
If possible, have a male friend or family member call the contractor to set up the appointment. As unfortunate as this may sound, working with a contractor can sometimes be similar to hiring a new mechanic. Some will try to take advantage of a woman who they don’t think is knowledgeable about home repairs.

Be serious, firm and clear when communicating with the contractor you want to hire. Look at this as a business relationship—and you’re the boss.
Check sites like CostHelper.com to get a general idea of how much you will spend for the type of repair or home improvement you’re hiring for. This way at least you have a range, and will know if the quote you’re receiving is just ridiculous.
Don’t wait until the last minute to look for contractors. You want to have plenty of time to hire someone who will be reliable. When you’re pressed for time or desperate, they can sense that. Whenever possible, allow at least two to three weeks to find someone that’s just right for the job.

How to Find a Contractor

One of the most challenging steps of hiring a contractor is finding a good one. Sometimes scrolling through the phone book and calling people just doesn’t work—you get a lot of voicemail pickups (no call backs) or price quotes that might not fit your budget. So sometimes you have to find the right contractor using other sources. Here are a few suggestions for how to find a contractor:

HomeAdvisor.com

I’ve found that HomeAdvisor.com is a fairly reliable way to get in direct contact with a contractor who is licensed and insured, and has a good reputation (starred reviews). When you call the number listed on the Home Advisor website, you’re connected with a representative who will refer you to a few contractors in your area who are currently accepting new clients.

Home Depot or Lowes Installation Services

The great thing about going to Home Depot or Lowes for installations and home repairs is that you can usually rest assured that the person you hire is licensed, insured, reliable and does good work. In most cases you’ll get a warranty on the work being performed, so that if a modification is necessary that turns out to be the worker’s fault, you won’t end up having to pay more. The downside of hiring through a major home improvement store is that it may be more expensive and they don’t offer all types of repairs. To schedule an appointment for an estimate call your local Home Depot or Lowes and ask for the installation department.

Ask Your Friend or Neighbor for a Recommendation

If you have a trusted neighbor or friend that is a homeowner in your area, ask him or her to recommend someone for your job. This may actually turn out to be the best way to find a reliable contractor.

Browse Home Improvement Stores to Find Contractors

Contractors spend a lot of time at home improvement stores picking up supplies, so you might find success by going to your local store and browsing the aisle that is related to the type of home repair you need (such as flooring or windows). See if you can find someone who’s wearing a worker’s shirt or covered in paint to ask about your project. Even if he can’t do your specific job, he may have a recommendation for someone who does or advise you on how to get it done. Keep in mind, however, that this doesn’t always yield a service provider who is reliable and licensed (only one who is working). Get his card and look up the business online for reviews.

Tips for Hiring a Contractor

Once you have a list of possible contractors, sit down and call each one to describe your job and get a quote. It might help to email a picture of the problem for an accurate estimate. For larger jobs, an on-site estimate will likely be necessary. Ensure that the contractor is licensed and insured (this is for your protection as well as theirs). When you’ve finally settled on a contractor that fits your needs, here are some tips for how to manage the project:

Set a FIRM date and time for them to arrive for your job. Don’t leave it up in the air (“oh, just come when you can”), because some contractors will leave you waiting all day if you’re not 100% clear with them.
Sign a written contract with the contractor if this is a job that will take more than a few hours or a day. Clarify with the contractor beforehand how long they estimate the job will take and get this all in writing (due date). In cases where homeowners have problems with contractors, it’s usually because the workers left for the day and didn’t come back to finish the job.
Ask for a receipt that outlines the work that has been performed. Keep that and your money order receipt in your records indefinitely (or for as long as you own the house).
After you get a quote for the job over the phone, go to the post office to buy a money order to pay for the job. If additional supplies are required that you agree to, pay cash or credit for them at the store and keep the receipts (or pay when the contractor brings you the receipt for supplies he’s purchased).
Pay for the job after the work is completed. If the contractor insists on an upfront payment, the usual standard is to offer at least 30 percent down and the rest when the job is done. In this case you would get two money orders.
Clarify everything that you want done with the contractor BEFORE he begins work. If it’s a large job, you might want to write everything down on a piece of paper so that it’s 100% clear for both parties.
Ask a friend to come hang out with you while the workers are at your home—especially if it’s an interior job. If that’s not possible, open up all of the doors and windows of your home and always remain alert while the team is there doing work. Lock up all valuables.
Monitor the contractor’s progress as he works. You don’t have to hover over him at every moment, but you have every right as the homeowner to check in every now and again to see what they’re doing.
Maintain a very professional tone and attitude with your contractor throughout the entire project. Remember that this is a business relationship.

One more tip for hiring a contractor as a woman: try to maintain a positive mindset about the person you’re hiring. Some people believe that all contractors are “scammers” (and in some cases that has proven true), but if you’ve done your research and went through a thorough selection process, trust that you’re going to get a job well done and on time. When you find the right guy, stick with him or her for future projects.

Finally, try to put yourself in a home contractor’s shoes—they often work in hot (or cold) and uncomfortable conditions that demand a lot of physical endurance. Their jobs really aren’t easy, they just make it look that way!

Posted by Louise

Photo credits: Flickr/86639298@N02 , Flickr/34316967@N04, Flickr/jeepersmedia, Flickr/49364825@N02

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