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Did you know that pets are remarkable not just for adults but kids too? Your pets' ability to adore, care for, comfort and be funny makes them a fantastic addition to every home. A 2019 study proposed that approximately 85 million US homes have a pet compared to 35 million households with children. Meanwhile, the APPMA claims more than $60 billion is spent by American pet owners due to the numerous advantages of having one at home. Want to know more? Here are some compelling reasons to have a pet at home this year.

They are great for kids

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Pets are scientifically proven to be useful for children to become responsible, confident, and kind. Additionally, several studies have proposed numerous health advantages, including reduced risk of developing asthma and other sensitivities when interacting with pets. Households with pets tend to have more active and dynamic children since they always have a partner to play with. If you have shy kids, consider getting them a pet since they'll likely engage other pet owners during a walk or at the park.

Pets are great companions

Companionship is one of the essential needs for each individual triggered by the need to feel affection and closeness. Pets make the best of allies as they stay with you regardless. Unlike your ex or best friend, your pet won't pass judgment or desert you when you need it the most. After what has been a long day, you return home to see someone eagerly waiting to welcome you home. How's that not a great feeling? For a person that frequently takes road trips or travels, a dog can be great company. Find a travel-friendly breed, spec up with a dog car hammock, get some supplies, and you are set for a worthwhile experience. Dog breeds like Toy Poodle, Affenpinscher, and Brussels Griffon are considered great travel dogs.

They make great guards

Pets, particularly dogs, are great rescuers. They are notable for their ability to guard and fight even in dangerous and life-threatening circumstances. Dogs will stay close to protect you from anything that may appear as a danger. Not just dogs, other creatures like birds are exceptional watchmen for your home since they can sense immediate danger. Against the widespread perception that only dogs can keep you safe, few other pets can undoubtedly flag a threat to their owner immediately.

Pets can help build social connections

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Pets are great for expanding your social circle. A study has proposed that pets can help you build more social connections since pet owners have considerable mutual interests. For instance, taking your pet for a stroll in the park can get you to meet and interact with other pet owners. Many individuals, especially children, will want to get close to you and your pet at the park or recreational facility. These associations, no matter how little, can get you feeling glad and positive about everyday life.

With over 6.5 million pets being admitted to shelters every year, an estimated 1.5 million are euthanized due to limited resources for the upkeep. The numbers aren't reassuring; knowing individuals can't take care of these beautiful creatures is quite disheartening. But why not try having one and create unforgettable memories.

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Joint Pain: Causes & Remedies

 

The joints in our body are the essential points where movement is enabled, such as hips, shoulders, elbows and knees, while the wrists allow for extended hand movement. There are many reasons a person might experience joint pains; sports injury and illness are the major causes, and medication can usually treat the condition.

 

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5 Easy Ways To Look Chic On a Budget

 

With fashion trends rapidly changing every season, keeping up with the latest styles can be expensive and time-consuming. If you don't want to worry about wasting time or money on fleeting trends, follow these steps to look chic on a budget all year round.
 

Shop for Basics

The easiest way to build your wardrobe is to start by searching for classic staples. These items should be simple and devoid of any busy patterns. Start by shopping for plain tees in neutral colors such as black, white and gray, a pair of denim jeans and a classic black dress. Starting off with basic staples allows you to dress up your outfit with bolder items such as cowhide bags or statement earrings. It's much better to have a few classic items that you can easily pair with multiple accessories than a huge collection of the hottest trends that'll be out of style by next season.
 

Shop Secondhand

Although buying a new top at the mall can be a nice treat, purchasing clothing from a vintage store or thrift shop can save you money without sacrificing quality. Secondhand shops have plenty of clothing items in perfect condition that people lost interest in for one reason or another. Shopping secondhand can also help you to explore your style and express your creativity, as thrift shops are known for having a diverse range of clothing to choose from. You never know what you may find, so what are you waiting for?
 

Trade With Friends

On a similar note, swapping clothes with friends can be a great way to freshen up your wardrobe without spending any cash. You can turn this into a fun event by hosting a clothing swap party, in which you and your guests agree to bring a certain number of items to the party that are fair game for exchange. While you might be sick of your cream cable-knit sweater, it could be perfect for your friend.
 

Supplement Your Outfit With Accessories

Accessories are often less expensive than clothing but can nevertheless add a stylish element to your outfit. Look for statement items such as sunglasses, belts and jewelry to complement basic pieces. A beanie or beret can also go a long way in elevating your outfit while also keeping you warm in the winter months. Accessories can make your outfit look much more expensive than it actually is, which makes them a staple for looking fashionable on a budget.
 

Shop for What You Need

There's a reason why it's called retail therapy, but you shouldn't rely too much on shopping just because it makes you feel good. Think about what you're buying before you purchase it and ask yourself if you really need it. Of course, it's okay to treat yourself once in a while, but try not to make it into a habit.

You don't have to break the bank in order to look stylish. Follow these easy steps, and you'll be on your way to looking chic on a budget.

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How To Start Fresh in 2021 – Purge, Clean, Organize, and Plan All Aspects of Your Life

 

As cliché as it is to say, “it’s time for a fresh start,'' it really is. It’s time. How long have you had the same clutter piles in your home, the same financial issues that you have yet to try to address, and the same unhealthy habits that you feel so guilty about? It’s time for a fresh start! This time of year is PERFECT for this for several reasons. First, the weather tends to keep us indoors and that’s where we can really force ourselves to sit down and knock some major items off our to do lists. Also, what better time to start new habits and clear the crap out of your life then at the beginning of a new cycle?! So today I have several aspects of your life that you may want or need to work on as well as some ways to do it. In this post you’ll find links to tutorials, free printables, and other tips and tricks. 

Let’s do that inner work guys!! I promise you it's worth it!


The Great Purge
You know that feeling you get when you finally go through a pile of junk on your counter, clear it all away and then you have a sigh of relief. You did it! You dealt with it!! Well imagine having that feeling in nearly every aspect of your life! Purging and decluttering is when you get rid of unnecessary things that don’t bring you great joy or save no real purpose. One of the most popular ways to do it is the KonMari Method. And lucky for you, I have a free printable KonMari checklist for every category of item in your home! The best time to start this is after your holiday decorations are taken down. This is when your home is starting fresh and new. I often comment on how bare but clean and uncluttered my house looks come January.


Set aside an entire day, week, or several hours each day to work on declutter each aspect of the inside of your home. When you have more open space in your home, you feel better. You aren’t as stressed when you aren’t staring at piles and piles of stuff that seems daunting to sort through. What do you do with all this stuff you purge though? Well, donate it! I mean, if you want to you can sell it, but that can be a huge task of it’s own and it’s still sitting around your house each time it doesn’t sell. So if you really want it gone, donate it! If you’re struggling with your closet, check out my guide on how to purge your wardrobe. Don’t start organizing and cleaning until the purge is done!!! And don’t forget to purge the digital aspects of your life like apps you don’t use, unsubscribing from email newsletters, and cleaning up your friends list on social media!

When it comes to your finances, you can still purge there! Cancel subscriptions you don’t use or gym memberships you’ve neglected (or start utilizing them!). Cut up old credit cards and gather your gift cards you find so you can start using them.

When you’re done in every aspect of your life, take a deep breathe and find peace knowing that if you keep on top of things (we’ll get to that later), you can definitely live an organized life like this forever.

The Great Organize
Once you have emptied your home and life of the unnecessary or impractical things, it’s time to organize them. Put everything in a logical place. No more piles (to deal with later), instead you need to deal with the mail as soon as you retrieve it from the mailbox. No more losing things, because everything will have a place and you will always return things to that place.

I have plenty of budget friendly storage solutions but don’t be afraid to get creative and work with what you have already in your home. That means using boxes and bins you already have to keep every single drawer organized, folding fabrics and clothing in the most space efficient ways and keeping things in the most logical place. Scissors would be nice in every room of the house of course but keeping them in the craft room or office (and maybe one pair in the kitchen) is much more logical. If you feel overwhelmed with where to start, try your closet first. Just like with the KonMari method of purging and decluttering, you can go in that same order. It’s easier to organize by category than room, I promise!

The Great Clean Up
Now that everything has been organized into its own spot, it’s time for you to clean. Cleaning is a great form of self-care. I promise you that nothing feels better than going HARDCORE when you clean after the holidays and at the start of a new year. And by cleaning I don’t just mean vacuuming and mopping, I mean vacuuming under every single piece of furniture (hello dust bunnies), scrubbing high and low, washing windows inside and out, scouring the kitchen, scrubbing the fridge, and fixing any patches or holes in the walls. When you do all of these things, imagine you are clearing the negative or difficult experiences you’ve had in your life and in your home away, and you’re making room for nothing but positive ones.

Of course, the key is to keep on top of this. How is that possible? Well, personally for me, when I cook, I clean up after myself as I go. This is the easiest way I’ve found to keep a clean kitchen. As the water is boiling for pasta, I am putting my items away, sanitizing the counter, and setting the table. At the end of each day, I scan the kitchen, dining room, and living room for any items that don’t belong and I then take them to where they belong.

For the rest of your house, now is the time to clean all the little nooks and crannies. This means polishing wood furniture, cleaning drapery, moving furniture to dust behind it, and anything else your home needs.

The best part about when you’re finished is that there’s a fun aspect that still needs done. Now you can fill your home with scents like essential oils or candles to keep it fresh and pleasant. You can launder pillow covers so your couch and throw pillows look brand new, and you can set out your comfiest throw blankets and display your most beautiful collectibles.

Planning Home Life and Home Maintenance
So lucky for you I have a free printable home management binder which is quite frankly the easiest way to track any kind of maintenance for your home or living space, as well as important contacts, home projects, utility bills, and more. It’s a good idea to begin tracking when your bills are due and when you pay them, what maintenance needs done around the house, your plans for home projects, your family’s schedules and activities, your automobile maintenance, and create cleaning lists to use on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. You can do all of that with my free binder! It’s important that you keep up with everything, but since I already did all the organizing for you, all you need to do is stay on top of filling everything in.

The physical parts of your home are one thing, but the activities that happen in and around it are super important and need to be tracked.

Planning for Your Health
This is by far the most important part of anyone’s life because without your health, what do you really have? And you know who has the most control over your health? YOU!!! There are several parts of this that involve planning things for your health and then maintaining them.

So, first things first, make sure you have your appointments for your health written down, with reminders to make your next appointment. This means dentists, doctors, gynecologists, dermatologists, therapists, and any other professional you may see. Doing this ensures you’re keeping on top of your health and it’s highly likely that if something goes wrong, it’ll be caught early.

This is also a time to set your goals and intentions for the fitness aspect of your life. Do you want to move more? Start writing down goals and then steps you need to take daily in order to achieve them. If you want to lose weight, staying active daily will obviously be a big help. Do you want to learn a new practice like yoga? Write down the supplies you need and set aside time each day in your schedule to practice. You can even sign up for classes if you don’t think an online tutorial is enough for you. You have a fresh calendar for this new year, so start setting your daily tasks which include any exercise you wish to do.

Do you want to eat better? Well, meal planning is a great way to start that! I have a beginners guide to meal planning and honestly, it won’t just help your diet but using a meal plan and a strict grocery list will REALLY help your budget too. Before you start, use up any ingredients you already have laying around the kitchen by thinking of recipes you can use them in. Then after that, you can start fresh and stay on top of your stock. I’m telling you if plan out what you eat and how you eat, you can cut out any poor eating habits.

Planning for Finances
When it comes to financial planning, remember that I have some amazing blog posts on this topic. My Ultimate Guide to Being On A Budget can walk you through each step of getting your finances in order, setting up a cash spending system, paying down debt, building up savings, and achieving your goals. My free financial spreadsheets can help you work on all of these things and my Facebook group Fixing Your Finances is a great source for advice and motivation.

Working on Your Inner Self
Now that everything around is in order, has good planning in place, and feels in control by you, you can really clear your head and focus on any inner work you want to do, whether it’s spiritually or just because. Want to spend more time in nature? Set a goal to take a nature walk every weekend, even in the cold months so you can appreciate the beauty in every season. Want to meditate? Get started! You now have a clean, happy home, and an organized schedule to make room for that kind of practice. Get a library card and start borrowing self help and other types of books. Immerse yourself in the magic of YOU. Create an altar, connect with like minded people, join monthly moon circles. Learn about the world.

These are the ways I put my life in order, and I do them each year, just to fine tune them. I hope this helps you!

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4 Reasons Why Every Woman Should Own At Least One Jumpsuit

 

When we talk about wardrobe staples, things like blazers, jeans, and white t-shirts are usually top of the list. But what about jumpsuits? The jumpsuit is such an amazing, versatile piece that has you covered in so many different situations, but it often gets overlooked. If you don’t already have one in your wardrobe, here’s why you need to get some jumpsuits right away.

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They’re Easy

When you’re in a rush and you need a nice outfit but you don’t have time to mess around pairing tops and skirts, you might decide to reach for a dress. They’re an easy option and you don’t need to worry about matching anything with them. But why not consider a jumpsuit instead? Dresses get all of the praise for being an easy outfit choice but jumpsuits are just as convenient and they look very elegant. They are usually suitable for most occasions where you would wear a dress, so why not get a few and give yourself some more options?
 

They Provide Added Coverage

Dresses are great in the summer but once winter rolls around, you may find that you’re a bit cold and you need to pair jackets and tights with them to stay warm. The great thing about jumpsuits is that they provide added coverage so they can be worn all year round. In the summer, you won’t need to wear anything else on top and if you are building a fall wardrobe, you can use a light scarf or shawl to cover your shoulders in the evenings. Even in the winter, a jumpsuit with a cardigan or jacket will be enough to keep you warm.
 

They’re Comfortable Yet Stylish

Often, we sacrifice comfort in the name of style. A close fitting ball gown, for example, might look very elegant but it’s not always the most practical thing and it can quickly get uncomfortable. But when you wear a jumpsuit, you don’t need to make that compromise because they’re incredibly comfortable, yet they look stylish and classy. If you are fed up with choosing style over comfort and you want the best of both worlds, a good quality jumpsuit is the best option for you.
 

They Provide A Good Middle Ground

Choosing an outfit for a formal occasion can be tough. Sometimes, it’s very clear what the dress code is and if the men are instructed to wear black tie, you will probably need a formal evening gown. But sometimes, it’s not so clear cut and it’s tough to decide whether you can get away with a standard dress or whether that is still too casual. If you feel that a normal dress isn’t quite formal enough but a ball gown is too much, a jumpsuit provides that perfect middle ground. They still look formal enough, but they are not over the top and they’re nice and comfortable.

The jumpsuit has to be one of the most underrated fashion items out there. It’s ideal for most occasions and you can wear it all year round. On top of that, it’s comfortable, so why not invest in one today?

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What to Know About Brain Fog

 

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So many women and moms, in particular, experience brain fog on a regular basis. There are a lot of different reasons you may have brain fog.

In some cases, the reason for brain fog can be easily traced back to a particular situation. For example, following a car accident, you may have brain fog stemming from a brain injury, including a mild one.

In other cases, brain fog is a side effect of something like a medication. Another reason for brain fog is often an underlying health condition, which can be mental or physical.

Brain fog can affect how you parent, your career, and your relationships. Getting to the source can help you overcome some of the adverse effects it might have on your life.

The following are some of the things to know.

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