Tis the season to workout and now that there are longer sunlight hours, there’s no excuse not to. You should be making time to run, get a couple of aerobics sessions in and lift some weights at this time of year. As the temperature rises you want to wear less clothing and strut your stuff down the beach. You have plenty of time to get into shape before the summer rush hits. But what can you do that will help you work out for longer and avoid injury? Supporting your joints is the hidden secret to awesome workouts because novices end up hurting themselves as they need time and practice to learn proper form and technique. Here’s what you can do to protect your bones and joints.



Wearing wraps

Wraps are something that weightlifters and athletes like duelists (fencing) and boxers wear. This is to protect your wrists from bending the front way and over-flexion. Because your wrists are like very narrow corridors for our nerves and ligaments to pass through into the hand and forearm, it's inherently a weak area of the body. With wrist wraps that you can buy online, you only need to place them tightly around your wrists and you will have the extra rigidity to workout without any danger. These are useful for push-ups, barbell curls, pull-ups and other things like kettlebell thrusts. However wraps aren’t just for wrists, you can also wear knee wraps, ankle wraps and compression wraps on limbs, all to give your body extra support.

Change your diet

The first thing you need to do when you sense you’re having joint pain is to increase calcium in your diet. Drinking more milk will help a lot but calcium supplements will also boost your levels sharply. You can also take Glucosamine in your food or drink, which naturally supports your joints and cartilage. Made from a plant, it's a clean product which contains glucosamine chondroitin as a combination and works to either slow down or put a stop to joint damage. One of the key properties of it is, it's anti-inflammatory which massively helps in reducing swelling and thus, additional pain from an injury or strenuous activity. You can put a drop of this into your food and you won’t even notice it. Since it's a liquid, it goes well with smoothies and green juice if that’s what you want to take with you to work for lunch.


No ego lifting!

The issue with joint injuries is that you often have to stop moving for them to heal. This will incur that you stay home from work. You can already see the serious implications of what this could mean. So, when you are weight lifting, you should never lift more than you can. Ego-lifting is a modern phenomenon that has spread wildly, due to social media. Everyone wants to show how tough and strong they are, but don’t be that person who ends up seriously injuring themselves by doing something silly.

Muscles can heal but joints are less likely to make a full recovery if they tear or fracture. Thus, you need to increase your calcium but use things like wrist wraps to give you extra support.

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7 Summer DIY Projects To Do Now

 

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It's June, and the weather is showing that summer has begun, which means it is the perfect time to make the most of the excellent weather and to tackle some jobs around the home, inside and out. Not only will your home look great for the summer, but you'll thank yourself for doing it now once autumn comes around.

Exterior Paintwork

When the weather is dry and sunny, it is perfect for doing any exterior paint jobs you have as there is less chance of rain ruining your handy work and a much quicker dry time. When painting masonry or metal work such as garden gates or railings, you'll need a wire brush to remove old paint flakes first, and it's a good idea to get plenty of sanding blocks and a variety of brushes.

Inspect the roof

You may as well do this now as when it comes to roofing problems, a small amount of damage is easy to repair and won't cost you much, however, if you leave it, it can become costly if the problem gets worse - which it is likely to in the winter.

Clean your windows

When the sunshine is gleaming in, you're more likely to notice If your exterior and interior glass is looking streaky and dusty. In this lovely weather, grab a bucket of soapy water, a sponge and a squeegee and get that glass gleaming and streak-free.

Clean your gutters

Over the winter, your gutters will likely have amassed a great deal of debris. If you don't clear them now before the autumn comes along, there'll be even more falling leaves, which can cause blockages and you may find your gutters overflowing with water. To stop this from happening, while you're doing jobs around the house, grab some ladders and start cleaning out the guttering now.

Get into the garden

As many gardens get neglected over the winter months, there might be a lot to sort out. Make sure you give your garden a good clear out, ready for spending more time in it. Water any plants you have and plant some new ones and take advantage of the excellent weather. Make your garden look beautiful, so it's somewhere you want to spend your time this summer.

Trim hedges

It's important that you don't let hedges and shrubs get out of control. If they get too much, then trimming them becomes much harder to do. Keep on top of this by investing in some quality manual pruners, secateurs, or electric hedge cutters, which will save you from booking a gardener or a week off work!

Indoor tiling and decorating.

You might think it's best to do any tiling and decorating over the winter months when you're stuck inside the house more often, however now that you can leave the windows and doors open, it is the best time to do it as adhesives and paint will dry quicker. The fresh air will disperse any strong odors. The light is good too, and the days are longer, so you can get more done.

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15 Things You Can Make Instead of Buy

When it comes to saving money, little things add up to big savings over time and today I wanted to share some things that you can make yourself instead of buying them. Over time these little savings can add up to be used towards you financial goals like paying off debt and building up your savings!

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Great Ideas For Outdoor Events This Summer

 

It's summer, and outdoor events are back on the wish list after many weeks in quarantine. We take a look at some awesome ways to make that first gathering one to remember.

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Summer has been different this year - so far.

With quarantine, many things have been postponed or canceled: holidays, weddings, garden parties, and beach BBQs. It's been challenging, but necessary, we have all gladly stayed indoors to protect our communities from the deadly virus.

Now there is light at the end of the tunnel, or shining brightly in the sky. With many States easing their lockdown restrictions, we are now permitted to meet in small gatherings in the garden, park, or down the beach.

For those of us who have missed an important event, such as getting married, or jetting off to a dream holiday in the Galapagos Islands, the idea of kick-starting the summer is as mouth-watering as a fresh melon on the sands or some sizzling kebabs on the barbie.

With the pandemic, our plans have had to change, as well as our expectations, but it's an excellent opportunity to explore some of the ways we can make the most of our homes and surrounding areas, to bring some of that summer magic back into our lives

In this post, we look at some fantastic and novel ideas to make summer 2020 one to remember; for the right reasons. It's time to catch up with friends face-to-face and to absorb some of those mid-summer rays.

A BBQ

We've all been there, a few text messages back and forth with friends, and suddenly, a bbq is a good idea. Often that's when they don't turn out the best, usually due to lack of planning.

If you plan to have a bbq in your garden or at the beach, make sure you've got the right hardware. It will make all the difference.

A great choice is the Travel Q Portable Propane Grill. This cute little grill looks great in the garden or down at the beach. It folds up easily and can be transported anywhere, meaning you always have a top-quality grill to use at any location.

Despite its size, it can still handle 16 burgers at a time and can quickly turn out a medium-rare steak with distinct grill marks. This grill has two burners powered by either a one-pound propane cylinder or a full-sized tank, great for direct or indirect cooking.

A Drinks Menu

As Bob Dylan once said - the times they are a-changing. Gone are the days when everybody boozed at social gatherings; now, some people prefer not to consume alcohol at all, whether it's because they're driving, watching their weight, or for some other reason.

The market has caught up with this trend, and now there's a decent range of alcohol-free beverages to choose from, many beers and ciders. If you have friends around, you'll definitely want to make this an option.

But don't only include the obvious brands. Make your event more unique with some colorful and inspiring summer cocktails.

Nonalcoholic sangria punch is easy to make, fruity, and surprisingly clear-headed. To make it fill a pitcher with orange slices, lemon slices, lime slices, orgeat syrup, and orange juice. Add nonalcoholic red wine such as Ariel to give it an authentic flavor. Stir it all together and refrigerate for at least three hours.

Don't forget to add the ice-cubes when you serve it up.

A Soundsystem

An outdoor party, or any party, just isn't the same without some music. All too often, the music at an outdoor event gets overlooked as people chat and mingle. It could go off without anyone noticing at some point.

Don't let this happen. Your music sets the atmosphere for your event, so get the right playlist and play the right tunes at the right time. Doing this can really set the mood.

If you need a Soundsystem, check out the diamondboxx. It might look dramatic, but it's a versatile sound system with amazing sound quality that's perfect for outdoor events or as an addition to your home.

The sound system is designed with two things in mind, durability, and sound quality. The enclosure is made with a dense fiberboard making it strong enough to stand on; never worry about your expensive speaker getting damaged again. Although it looks dramatic, like something from a techno party, most people put this aside because of its outstanding sound quality and versatile controls.

Vegan Food

BBQs are often associated with burgers, steaks, and sausages. Still, with an increasing number of our friends switching to a vegan diet, the bbq menu is changing.

Even your committed steak-loving friends will hang their tongues at these meat-free delights.

Vegan bbq ribs - made from seitan, these meat-free ribs offer a real bite. They can be cooked on the grill, turned and forked like authentic ribs, and taste great smothered in smoky bbq sauce.

Veggie Kebabs - These kebabs, made with tofu, and a selection of choice vegetables, are dosed in a peanut sauce that you will fall in love with. Grilling them on the barbie is easy and authentic.

BBQ Tofu - Tofu tastes bland and unappetizing right? You'd be surprised with these bbq tofu squares. Use extra firm tofu and slice into squares, paste in your favorite bbq sauce and grill or bake in the oven.

A Fire Pit

A wood-burning fire pit is a great way to bring people together at an outdoor gathering and chat and eat together informally.

There are many to choose from on the market, but if you plan on having regular events or even one annual event that becomes a date in the diary, it' s worth investing in one you can rely on.

One good design is a cast-iron bowl. It is large enough to sit around but not too big to carry. Generally made of cast iron or copper, you can expect one of these to last up to five years.

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Summer Trends And Looks

 

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When it comes to dressing for the warmer months the aim of the game is to keep comfortable. This is why accessorising plays such a significant role, as it adds a stylish touch to a light and airy outfit. Sunglasses and sun hats become somewhat a necessity and thus the way of making your style look unique and giving it that five-star edge is to accessorise effectively. That is exactly what this article is here to help you with.

Keep on reading to discover the top summer accessories for 2020…

Hats off

Let’s begin with one of the quirkiest and edgiest accessory trends of the year; hats. This trend is filled to the brim with personality and offers a fantastic way of rocking up your look. The black trilby is the easiest way of emulating this look. But, why not take a bit of a risk? Go for an oxblood or a wine shade instead? These colours stay true to the edgy vibe yet they provide a stunning richness at the same time.

Glowing skin

You don’t need to wear a statement pair of earrings or a bold hat in order to make an impression. In fact, subtle make-up and accessories could work much more effectively, especially during the summer months. Your best accessory during this time of year is your skin. Glowing, radiant skin can make any outfit look incredible, and is assured to turn heads. We recommend investing in an affordable vitamin C serum to improve the condition and appearance of your skin.

Above the knuckle rings

This fun and quirky trend is set to hit a fever pitch over the upcoming months. These rings offer a brilliant way of bringing some excitement to your summer look – and the great news is; they are extremely versatile as well. It is of little surprise that this trend has become such a hit with the celebrities. If it is good enough for Nicole Scherzinger, it is good enough for us!

Vintage watches

Roll back the clock when it comes to selecting your watch for summer 2020. Vintage watches are stunning because they boast such a unique character which instantly captures attention. And, who can deny how important a quality watch is? It’s undoubtedly the number one accessory and thus choosing with care is crucial. Make sure you select a quality brand to avoid disappoint. There are a number of brands that have a wealth of fantastic vintage watches for you to choose from and have attained an excellent reputation in the industry, so this should not be too much of a challenge.

Statement jewelled necklaces

Statement necklaces have been at the height of fashion throughout the entire calendar year. However, throughout the coming months, you can expect to see the trend evolve as jewelled necklaces, in particular, come to the fore. This gives you the opportunity to bring some colour into the warmer months. From turquoise to fuchsia; unlike many other trends there are no rules when it comes to selecting the right shade. Go as bright and bold as you like. This is ideal for those who are looking to bring some sparkle to a plain jumper.

Neon fun

Another trend that we have seen become incredibly popular recent is neon! Adding slight touches of neon to your outfit is perfect for the summer months. This enables you to add some colour and intrigue to your clothing. You don’t have to go overboard with neon. You can simply add some small neon flashes of colour; you don’t have to opt for a fully neon outfit! It is whatever you feel comfortable with. That’s what fashion should always be about; your own personality.

Soft pink clutch bags

Last but not least, soft pink is definitely the colour of summer 2020. This shade is simply stunning. It creates that delightful feminine feel. But, how should you incorporate this colour into your winter wardrobe? Go for a clutch bag. The sophistication of the style coupled with the femininity of the colour generates the perfect juxtaposition.

To conclude, there are lots of exciting trends that are going to be a hit throughout the summer months. Do you like any of the trends that have been mentioned? Perhaps you have some of your own trends to add to the list? No matter what trends you decide to embrace throughout summer 2020, looking after your skin should be the number one priority.

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