Get 30% Off All Orgain Products For The New Year!

    Did you know that you can get 30% Off any Orgain Product, when you use my Referral Code? WAFFLES30

 

   Orgain has so many great products, from powders to bars, and supplements to nutrition, there's something to help get you going and on the path to healthiness.

 Some of my favorites items are their Protein Powders, because they are always coming out with new flavors to try!

   These protein powders make excellent shakes, but you can also you them in recipes! You can make different delicious goodies such as pancakes, muffins, cookies, and more. They even have vitamins and drinks for children as well. 

Check out Orgain and use my code: WAFFLES30 to get you 30% Off your order!!

Redd Remedies At Ease PM For A Thorough Night Of Sleep

  Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

 

   If you are one of the many people who have a hard time falling asleep each night, there are several remedies and medicines out there that can help you reach a peaceful rest. Some are amazing, some not so great, and as always, the results will defer per person. 

 

   I was recently given the chance to try out a sleep aide by Redd Remedies, called At Ease PM. This is a melatonin-free pill that promotes better sleep and relaxation, without having that yucky next day feeling of grogginess. 

 

The way At Ease PM works, is that it contains ingredients such as Magnesium, California Poppy, and Hops, natural remedies to help calm your mind and release tension from your body.

 

   You take one pill about 30 minutes before you are ready to fall asleep, and despite the size, the pill is actually really easy to swallow. Within an hour or less, I could begin feeling the tiredness set in. My body was relaxing, my breath was slowing, and I slowly drifted off to sleep. I experienced noticeably deeper sleep and had very eventful dreams! I woke up the next morning, feeling more rested and didn’t feel any negative effects of sleepiness. These pills have been great at giving me a more enjoyable night of rest! 

If you're interested in Redd Remedies At Ease PM, visit their website at reddremedies.com where you can also see more information and other products!

I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions my own.

Making Better Use Of Your Creativity In Your Daily Life

 

Being creative is a great joy, and one of the things that can make life so much more amazing. If you are creative or you are keen to build on your creativity, then this is the kind of thing that can be quite useful in quite a few ways. And the fact is that making better use of that creativity can turn out to be a really powerful thing as well. All in all, making good use of your creativity is well worthwhile - and it’s something you might actually be able to do easier than you might assume.

Pic Credit - CCO License

In this article, we are going to discuss some of the great ways to make better use of your creativity. As long as you are trying out some of the following things, you should find that you are able to make much better use of your creativity in your daily life, with all of the benefits that this can bring.

Understanding The Benefits Of Creativity

To help with that, however, it can first be important to really appreciate what the benefits of creativity can be. There are so many of these to know about and be aware of, and it’s something that you should always be able to work on if you really want to make sure that you are aware of just how great creativity is. So what are some of the best benefits to using your creativity?

One of the main ones is actually to do with your health. It has been shown time and time again that being creative can be good for your health, and in ways that can be quite surprising. One of the main ways this happens is through the way in which creativity leads to happier and better pathways in the brain, and that is something that is really quite amazing to see. This is thanks to something known as neuroplasticity, which is the brain’s ability to literally, physically change over time.

Beyond that, creativity can help you to feel more in touch with yourself, with your body, mind and soul. If you are spiritual at all, it can help with getting more in touch with that, too. These are clear benefits that you are going to want to be aware of if you want to make the most of your creativity.

Pic Credit - CCO License

You Are Already Creative

One of the main tenets of all this is the idea that you are already creative. That’s important, because a lot of us have been made to feel that creativity is something you either have or don’t have, and that’s simply not the case. Everyone has their own kind of creativity that they can develop and build on, and that’s just the way it is. If you don’t currently feel in touch with your own creativity, it’s because it is dormant, not because it’s simply not there.

With that in mind, you should try to remember that you are already creative, and that you are simply going to need to try and make use of that creativity. If you can remember that, you should find that all this is much easier to do.

Creativity Is A Muscle

Aligned with that is the idea of creativity as a muscle, rather than, again, something you either have or don’t have. The truth is that creativity is a muscle, it can be trained and used, and the more you do so, the easier it becomes to use it. If you have not exercised a muscle for a while, it can be hard to use and can even hurt - until you start using it again, at which point it quickly starts to build and develop.

So you might want to think of your creativity in these terms, and see what that does for you. You might be pleasantly surprised at just how amazing this can be. Ultimately, it can lead to a distinct improvement in the relationship you have with your own creativity, so that is something that you might want to be aware of in all this.

Pic Credit - CCO License

Try Making Something New

If you are keen to exercise your creativity a little more, there are many ways to do so, and one of the most powerful is simply to try making something new. If you can do that, you’ll find that you are going to have a much better chance of actually building up your creativity, and of enjoying the process of doing so too.

You might be wondering what you should make, but it’s entirely up to you, and there are so many things that you might consider here. You can go to craftdirect.com and start making some crafty things based on what you find there, or you could get into woodworking if you want to make a table or something similar for instance. It’s entirely up to you, but just make sure that you are trying something new at least some of the time. That is going to help you to build your creativity soon enough.

Use Your Creativity At Work

Of course, you don’t have to think of creativity as something that is separate from the rest of your life, and it might not be the best approach to do so. Instead, you can try to begin to apply your creativity to different areas of your life. And a good place to start with that is your work, which is somewhere that you probably put a lot of effort into already, and which you can therefore use as a kind of playground for your creativity.

There are many ways and opportunities to use your creativity at work, and it’s something that you might indeed want to do starting today. You might find that this starts to make a huge difference to how you experience your work on the whole, so it’s really something that you should bear in mind.

Those are some of the best things to consider when it comes to making good use of your creativity in your daily life.

 

Brighten Your Holiday with Candoliers from Wondershop by Target

  Disclaimer: I received the following product(s) in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own. 

 

   Light your way through the holiday season with this beautiful Candolier Set from Wondershop by Target! 

   This set comes with six warm white candles that are power operated by 2 AA Alkaline Batteries for each candle, though batteries are not included. You place the batteries inside at the designated time you want the candles coming on each night, and like clockwork, they will come on daily until the batteries die out. 

 

   

   Once on, these candles will stay lit for six hours and then shut off until approximately the same time the next day. This allows the candles to be longer lasting than others, so you won’t need to change out the batteries as often. I’ve had mine going for about a month now and still haven’t had to replace the batteries! They’re amazing and so beautiful. 

 

   You can dress these candles up with wreaths or garlands, or you can leave them as is and they will look just as nice. They really brighten up a window seal, mantel, or table centerpiece. They’re gorgeous and so easy to use, I want to display these lights all over my house!

 

 

You can find this six piece candolier set available for purchase at Target, in different base finishes while they last!

I received a complimentary product in exchange for an honest review and compensation.. All opinions my own.

 

Learning Photography? Here's How to Make Money

 

  

CC0 Licensed Image Courtesy of Pexels

Learning photography is a valuable skill with superior results to your phone. Even a beginner DSLR such as the Canon 4000D/Rebel offers stunning results. But you will also learn about how cameras work, light, and subject focus for great shots you can use on sites and even sell.

Shoot for a Niche You Can Sell

Anyone can go outside and take pictures of the clouds, insects, and flowers. There’s nothing wrong with this, and it’s actually an excellent way to learn about macro and landscape photography. But pretty much everyone already does this. As with most things today, it helps to have a niche to make money. For example, how about Angel Wings for fantasy photo shoots? Or maybe baby and family photos where you spend time at home to get truly natural images.

Register with Image Websites

One of the first things you should do is register with image sites such as Pexels, Shutterstock, and Pixabay. These sites can earn you some money. It won’t come quickly, and you must play the long game as they work on royalties. But they are also excellent for getting noticed. Remember, there isn’t a bad shot, just experience. When you take a photo that doesn’t turn out as you would like, consider what to do next time, such as aperture and focus adjustments.

Remember, Learning Photography Takes Time

Photography can be one of the most enjoyable hobbies because it is as fun as it is challenging. Nobody becomes the next Annie Leibowitz in a day, and you will need to spend a great deal of time with your camera. Just learning how to manually focus a DSLR under different conditions takes a lot of trial and error, even shooting your pets. It is estimated that it takes around 6 to 10 years, or 10,000 hours to master something. Imagine what you could accomplish in this time.

Set Up an Online Store for Sales

Like art, photography can be subjective, and even though one person doesn’t like a specific image, another might. And this means there is always a market for selling your images. Getting pictures onto sites like Pixabay is a good starting point, but there is no guarantee of money. However, a blog with your images for sale can bring in some cash. Builders like Wix and GoDaddy are very easy to use, and you can have a gallery up and running within a day or two.

Invest in Extra Equipment

It’s the photographer and not the camera that takes great shots. However, you will need some help getting the shots you want. First, lighting rigs are vital, even when outside, because you can’t control the sun. If you want to take images of nature up close, it is recommended that you use a remote shutter control to avoid camera shake. At the very least, invest in a good tripod. Be aware that a full-sized tripod is considered commercial and isn’t allowed in some places. 

Summary

Nailing down a niche is a great way to make money when learning photography. You will also need to put in the time and effort to master the camera. And buy some extra equipment too.

 

Dealing With Your First Child Going To University

As a parent, you will probably appreciate how difficult it can be when your children go to university, especially when this happens for the first time in your family. It is one of those rites of passage that every family goes through, and it’s just something that you will need to learn how to get through, as emotional and difficult as it can be. As it happens, however, there are some things you can do to make sure that this is as easy as possible.

Pic Credit - CCO License

In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the things that you need to do in order to manage your children going to university a lot more easily and effectively. If you can do the following, you should find that this is a much easier thing to deal with for all involved.

See It As A Transition

This is in essence one of life’s many transitional periods, and one that can actually be quite joyous if you approach it in the right way. It can certainly help to think of it in these terms, especially if you find yourself fretting about it. As long as you can see it in this way, you’ll probably find that it is a lot easier to deal with.

Remember that it is a big transition not just for you, but for your child as well, and their siblings too. If you can remember that, you will probably find that it is a lot easier to manage on the whole, and that you are going to be able to get through it together so much more easily and quickly.

Talk About It

It’s hugely helpful if you can manage to talk openly about the whole experience and process with your children. The family that is able to talk about it together is going to find it so much easier to manage and to process. That is one of those things that you are absolutely going to find can make a huge difference, so it’s worth trying to set some time aside before they go to talk about it.

Pic Credit - CCO License

 

They may or may not be willing, but even if you have just tried, you should find that this helps. And you might be able to improve how you feel about it, as well as how they feel about it a bit too. All in all, that is going to help a lot.

Keep In Touch

One of the most important things you can do as a family is to make sure that you are keeping in touch. There are many ways to do this, and it’s something that is going to be very important for you to consider. You’ll find that you are much more likely to actually cope with the emotions easily, so that’s something that you are certainly going to need to consider. And it’s going to mean the relationship can remain strong too.

So what are some of the ways you might choose to keep in touch with your child when they are at university? One of the best, and simplest, is to send each other messages, whether you do so digitally or in a more traditional way, such as through letter-writing. In any case, it’s going to be a great way to keep in touch, and a really simple way too.

Beyond that, you might want to occasionally have a set time with one another. You can use this to call each other, meet up if you are close by, or watch something together even at a distance - you can find out how to watch netflix together here if you want to do so.

However you do it, keeping in touch will be really important to do.

Give It Time

All in all, you just need to make sure that you are allowing some time for all of these changes to settle in. It can take a long time, sometimes, before you and your child develop a new relationship together, one that is going to be beneficial for you both. So be patient and try to bear that in mind. As long as you remember to do that, you'll find it is so much easier for you both. Conversely, if you try to force anything, it’s unlikely to work as well.

Those are the main things to think about when your child goes to university and you are trying to learn how to handle it.

10 Simple Ways To Keep Your House Looking Tidy

 If you find your house isn't looking too clean and you just don't have the time or energy to do the things you need to do to get it tidy, here are 10 different ways that you can fake it til you make it. These tips will give your house a mini facelift for the in-between phase of going from messy to organized. 

1. Keep Your Counters Clear of Junk

2. Fluff Your Couch Pillows

3. Have a Nearby Basket To Hold Clutter Until You Can Put It Away

4. Dust Low Areas With Your Socks (Still On Your Feet!)

5. Wipe Counters As You Go

6. Keep Hand Towels Straightened

7. Tidy Bed With A Fluff Of The Blankets

8. If You Have The Money, Invest in a Robot Vacuum to Keep Your Floors Clean

9. Minimize the Amount of Knick Knacks You Have In Your House

10. Wash The Dishes After Every Use So They Don't Stack Up in the Sink

These easy tips will help you keep your home looking clean and tidy until you have enough energy to get the deeper cleaning done.