June 5, 2018 - Oh My Heartsie Girl

June 5, 2018

10 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer

Looking For Ways To Make The Most of Your Summer

As a kid, many of us looked forward to summer. We crossed off the days on the calendar at school, desperate for that first week in June to end. We stopped paying attention as soon as the classroom windows were open, because we could smell fresh-cut grass and warm spring air. Summer spelled the beginning of freedom, and we couldn’t wait to enjoy every drop of it.

Now, as adults, summer doesn’t hold quite the same magic. You work full time now, and even if you’re lucky enough to be a teacher, you must corral your own kids during the summer months! Just because you’re older, however, doesn’t mean summer must lose its magic touch for you.

This summer, try to make the most of every day. As a kid, summer meant more fun. This year, summer can mean more fun for you, too. Look at the following suggestions, and see how to turn this summer into a success for everyone.

Take a Trip

Summer is the perfect time to take a vacation if you have kids. Unless you plan a trip during their Christmas break, summer is the only time you can get the entire family out of work/school. That added dose of freedom makes summer the perfect time for vacations. All across the country, there’s no shortage of things to do, whether you want to visit Georgia, The Grand Canyon, Seattle, or Chicago. Enjoy the best of the U.S., and travel this summer with your entire brood.

Read a Book

If it’s been too long since you had time to read, now is the time to pick up a book again. You might want to invest in a classic, like Moby Dick or Jane Eyre, one that you’ve been meaning to tackle. Or, you might want something shorter, fast-paced, and a great deal of fun. Whatever your literary passions, this summer is the perfect time to pick one and enjoy yourself all the way through it.

Have a Yard Sale

Everyone has old junk lying around. You may enjoy visiting yard sales all summer, since one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. However, your junk might also be useful to another family. So, get out that unused furniture, old toys, and lamps from your attic. You could make decent wad of cash hosting a yard sale. Even if you don’t, it’s a fun way to teach your kids about math, business, and getting rid of the things you don’t need.

Get that Remodel Done

Most Americans want to remodel a certain part of their home, often the kitchen or the bathroom. You might have a part of your home you wanted upgraded, as well. Summer is the perfect time to tackle home remodels, since it’s easier to keep the windows open and air out fresh paint, and your kids don’t need as much normalcy for homework and getting to school on time. If you have a pet project, contact home improvement contractors and work on getting it finished this summer.

Go Camping

Camping is the joy of some, and the nightmare of others. If you hate mud, bugs, or pit toilets, camping isn’t for you. If, however, you can brave the wilds, take your whole family camping this summer. Camping is the perfect chance to enjoy the simple life, appreciate nature, and feel like old-timey pioneers together.

Buy a New Car

Buying a new car is often a hassle, but summer is the best time to look. In the snow and ice of winter, you won’t enjoy a stroll through your local car dealership. Instead of testing the new car in slushy conditions, test in in the summer sun. Plus, your kids aren’t in school, and they can come along to lend their opinion, which they’ll enjoy. Summer is a wonderful time to find the right vehicle for your family, so explore local car dealerships and find the best one.

Get Ready for School

Perhaps you already finished your degree, but you might wish to improve your education. It’s often hard with kids and work, but night classes or online programs help you fulfill your dream. Online colleges offer everything from an RN to BSN degree program, and you can start earning the wages of a nurse after a few years of schooling.

Explore Your Own Town

Summer is great for big trips and great for camping. It’s also great for exploring the town in which you live. You might have historical museums nearby, street fairs, art festivals, car shows, and more. Hit up your local farmer’s market or watch a movie in the park. You’ll find things you never knew existed. Your own town offers plenty of fun summer activities, so take advantage of each one this summer.

Take a Full Day Off

Many parents run constant errands. This summer, however, take an entire day off. Not just from work, but from everything. Let your spouse or parents help you, and take the entire day for yourself. Don’t clean. Don’t watch your kids. Don’t run errands. Just do whatever you want to do, from morning until night. You’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Plus, one day of relaxation is easy to arrange.

Join a Team

It might be awhile since you played any sports, but this summer is the perfect chance to start again. Somewhere near you, there’s a local team waiting for you to join its ranks. You might be a little rusty, but if so, so are your teammates. You might not win many games, but you will have fun, enjoy the summer evenings, and get some enjoyable exercise. Plus, you might make lasting friendships on your team.

More Activity Ideas:
15 Summer Activities For Your Kids To Enjoy Nature
Fun Family Outings
9 Tips For Your Home For Family Fun

June 5, 2018June 18, 2021

How to Beat Oily Skin

Skin Care Tips For Oily Skin

With scorching temperatures rising daily, oily skin is almost unavoidable. There are a number of reasons why you might be struggling with oily skin this summer. Fortunately, there are also a number of ways for you to get it under control, starting now.

What Causes Oily Skin?

Slight sheen, blemishes, and acne are characteristic of oily skin. Acne can stem from a number of causes, including heredity and hormones, improper cleansing, and diet. If your siblings or parents struggle with oily skin, there’s a good chance you have it too. There are a number of oil glands in the face that secrete an oily substance called sebum. The amount of sebum that your glands secrete is based on your genetics. Too much secretion, and your skin will not be able to tolerate the overproduction, resulting in oily skin and blemishes. If you are going through puberty or starting a new medication that changes your hormonal balance, this could also be a cause for oily skin. Teenagers are stereotyped as having acne simply because the hormones found during puberty tend to cause it. The same result as with heredity occurs here–an excess amount of sebum is produced.

Preventative Measures

Cleansing

Dirty skin can lead to oil buildup and blemishes. Keeping your hands off of your face can be a good place to start. When you touch your face, the bacteria and dirt from your hands can clog the pores of your skin, resulting in blemishes. You should also cleanse your skin daily. Steer away from harsh bar soaps. If you use the same soap for your body and face, you may want to consider something a little more specialized for your face wash. It seems strange, but oil cleansers were actually made for oily skin. If you need more, a wash with salicylic acid removes oil buildup at a greater extreme than other washes, causing your pores to become clean and clear of blemishes. It is recommended that your skin feel soft after a cleansing, not tight. After you have cleansed thoroughly, use a moisturizer. Plenty of people who struggle with oily skin skip moisturizing because it seems like it will make the skin more oily. In fact, moisturizer closes up the freshly-cleaned pores, allowing moisture to stay in and dirt to remain out. A gel moisturizer for oily skin will leave you with that refreshed feeling that is characteristic of clean, healthy skin. With its light texture, it is tendered to oily skin, unlike heavy oils such as coconut and shea butter.

Exfoliation

Exfoliation is a technique used to remove the buildup of dead skin cells. Like dirt and bacteria, these cells can overwhelm your pores, leaving them clogged and prone to acne. By exfoliating nightly with a light brush or a scrubbing cleanser, you help rid your face of these dead skin cells, leaving you with fresher, softer, smoother skin. The trick to exfoliation is to do it gently. Otherwise, you risk ripping your pores open, which means more room for bacteria and dirt to settle.

Diet

Your diet could also be affecting your skin. A diet high in fried and sugary foods could lead to more blemishes. The vitamins and minerals found in a healthy, balanced diet with vegetables and minimally processed foods give your skin the nourishment it needs to glow. More water couldn’t hurt either. With more water in your system, you can sweat more. This is a good thing! Sweat is the way your skin releases its toxins. Paired with an effective cleansing routine, the process of sweating can clear your skin of unwanted particles, resulting in a healthy, natural glow.

Makeup Choices

The key to makeup for oily skin is light textures. Heavy, cake-like foundations and powders will only clog your pores more deeply. There are plenty of options these days which are specified for oily skin. Look for non-drying pressed powders that are made for oily skin. It may take a bit of trial and error to find out what works best for you, but the results will be worth the effort. Give this a try and you may begin to notice the difference in your skin health.

Dermatologist

If you are trying a number of skincare routines without success, consider consulting a dermatologist for help. You may need a prescription face wash or medication to combat your oily skin. Try to catch it early. Don’t wait until your skin is uncomfortable and unmanageable to admit that you might need help discovering your skincare regimen.

It is important to remember that oily skin and blemishes are nothing to be ashamed of. With some preventative care, you may find the discomfort subsides and your skin starts to look healthier. Above all, what matters is that you feel comfortable and confident in your skin.

June 5, 2018

Ways in Which Your Choice of Water Filter Factors into Creating a Green Home

The future of building design lies in the protection of the environment. You will find that more and more homeowners are looking for ways of making their homes more environment-friendly. As you focus on energy saving and use of more environment-friendly building materials, you should not forget to apply the same concept to the water filtration system that you choose for your home. The good thing with running a green home is that you will save money in many ways while adding value to all the actions you take.

You may wonder how your choice of water filtration system will factor in your efforts for a more environment-friendly home. The right choice of water filter will contribute to your efforts in the following ways:

Reduce the amount of chemicals making their way into the environment

The best water filter does not make use of chemicals. Such a filter is ideal as it will not introduce more chemicals into the environment. When you use chemicals for water purification, you will still be relying on chemical processes. A water filter such as that will ensure that you do not introduce more chemicals into your body. You can use AquaOx Filters USGBC.org Profile as this will guide you on environment-friendly solutions.

Add value to your home

The best water filter will add value to your home. A whole-house water filter will ensure that all taps in the house only dispense clean water free from any contaminants. This is a good selling point when you place the house in the market. The best water filter will require a one-time installation. Such will filter a high capacity of water without need of frequent replacing. The best water filter will add to the overall value of your green home.

Ensure a safe environment for all

With the use of water filters, you create a safe environment. You can drink water from any part of the house without worrying about disease-causing contaminants. Contaminants in water do not just enter the body through drinking. Using the contaminated water to bathe can also pose a threat to you. A whole-house filter system makes it ideal as all water in the house is clean. You do not need to install multiple filters in the house.

Cut down on your costs

The ideal water filter is great for cutting your overheads. As mentioned, a whole-house water filter will remove the need of getting multiple filters at all water outlets. This will help you save money this way as you will have total filtration. The other way can you save costs is if you get a self-cleaning water filter. This reduces maintenance costs. A water filter that filters a high amount of water is also great as you do not need to replace it after a short while. The best filter will not require much attention from you after installation. This is good as you will save on your overheads.