GETTING YOUR HOME READY TO SELL

 

3 EXPERT WINTER SKIN CARE TIPS

 

(Family Features) As temperatures drop, winter weather can wreak havoc on your skin – leaving it dry, itchy or even irritated. Blustery outdoor conditions can leave skin feeling thirsty while the warm air blowing indoors can decrease moisture in the air – and your skin.

Winter doesn’t have to be synonymous with dry, flaky skin, however. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sheila Farhang recommends incorporating these tips into your daily body care routine so you can fearlessly brave the winter elements.

Decrease shower length. While a hot shower may sound fantastic in the morning or after a long, chilly day, hot water actually strips away the skin’s natural oils and disrupts surface lipids and proteins. This damage can result in dry, irritated skin.

“I advise my patients to decrease shower length and use tepid water temperature instead of hot, especially in the winter,” Farhang said.

Use a moisturizing body cleanser. Most traditional soaps strip away the skin’s natural oils, but an option like Olay’s Premium Body Wash Collection is made with the No. 1 dermatologist recommended moisturizer, petrolatum and supercharged ingredients, including hyaluronic acid, collagen, vitamin C and vitamin B3 (niacinamide). These formulas infuse moisture 10 layers deep without leaving a coated feeling on the skin, and  they’re approved by the Skin Health Alliance, an organization of independent dermatologists and skin scientists who have verified the products so you can trust they are safe and effective.

“It’s important for those who spend their days and nights outside in low temperatures to protect their skin with not only warm clothing but also products that are formulated with ingredients that moisturize to improve the skin barrier,” Farhang said. “I always recommend Olay’s Premium Body Wash to my patients during the winter because it improves skin three times better than the leading competitor, boosts the skin’s moisture barrier and improves skin dryness.”

Look beyond lotion. If your skin sounds squeaky or feels tight, it’s likely been stripped of its natural moisture. For an extra dose of moisture, instead of lotion, consider adding an in-shower moisturizer, such as Olay’s Rinse-Off Body Conditioner, to your daily body care routine so you won’t need to apply moisturizer when you get out of the shower. Many lotions only provide temporary relief and need to be reapplied during the day, but a rinse-off body conditioner with ingredients such as vitamin B3, shea butter, coconut oil or vitamin E can fight dryness all day and provide concentrated moisture to help stop dry skin before it starts.

Find more information at Olay.com.

SOURCE:
Oil of Olay

4 TIPS FOR A PRODUCTIVE 2021

 

(Family Features) This year has taught many workers a thing or two about being productive when offices and homes blend into one.

As the calendar turns to 2021, consider these key products and processes to stay productive next year.

Find a system (and stick to it): Creating an organizing system is an easy way to ensure your at-home workspace is ready for optimal productivity. Designate space to house all your work items – a drawer, cabinet or box – and keep work items organized by type (pens, papers, computer gear, etc.) At the end of each day, transitioning to “offline hours” can be easier when you have a place to stow your work items.

Start your day clean: Studies have shown cleanliness has a direct impact on productivity. Yet, many people struggle to find the time and energy to clean, especially at the end of a busy day at home. An option like The DEEBOT T8 from Ecovacs provides a hands-free cleaning experience, complete with the time-saving benefits of an all-in-one robot vacuum and floor mop, along with TrueDetect technology to avoid tangling in small objects. Easily controlled via an app, just set it to clean before bed and wake up to a tidy workspace.

Break up your day: With so many hours at home in front of a computer, workdays can get a little monotonous. Break up the day to make working from home feel as “normal” as possible – shower in the morning, take a walk or drive to coffee then make time for at least two breaks throughout the day. Some people have found success with the Pomodoro Technique, which is breaking your day up into 25-minute chunks of work, with 5-minute rest periods. If you continue to work until you feellike taking a break, odds are you’ll overwork yourself until it’s too late to take the “big break” you had in mind.

Bookend your days with mindfulness: At the beginning and end of each workday, do a 3-5-minute mindfulness meditation. Before signing on to work for the day, allow your mind to fully focus on the day’s tasks at-hand. Signoff by doing another mediation to end the day and let go of any worries or stresses you might have. Incorporating this tactic into your daily routine can help create a natural boundary from work and home while also restoring peace of mind.

Find more solutions to help maintain productivity at ecovacs.com/us/blog/productivity-tips.

 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Ecovacs

RED VELVET FOR YOUR VALENTINE

 

(Culinary.net) On the sweetest day of the year, a day full of flowers, love and sweets, Valentine’s Day is the ultimate opportunity to try a different dessert meant for two.

It’s hard to resist a perfectly blended, rose-red, luscious Red Velvet Mug Cake.

It’s the perfect size, with just a handful of instructions, and it’s easily cooked before your eyes in the microwave. That’s right, the microwave.

This mug cake is a simple way to make something delicious and keep the portions small. Whether you have a small party, just you and your loved one or just simply want something easy and small, this quick treat is designed just for you.

Start by mixing all the dry ingredients into a large mug, including flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt.

Then add milk, melted butter, vanilla and red food coloring. Use a spoon and stir the ingredients together until blended.

Mix powdered sugar and cream cheese then drop the mixture into the cake batter and mix once more. Microwave the mug for up to 3 minutes until your cake is baked.

Valentine’s Day means sharing with someone how much you care, and it’s difficult to find a better way than to share something sweet.

This dessert has Valentine’s Day written all over it, however, it can be enjoyed anytime throughout the year and is perfect for a late-night snack if you’re craving something sugary-sweet.

Find more recipes and dessert ideas for every celebration at Culinary.net.

Watch video to see how to make this recipe!

 

Red Velvet Mug Cake

Servings: 1

• 6          tablespoons flour
• 2          tablespoons sugar
• 1          teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1/4       teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8       teaspoon salt
• 1/3       cup milk
• 2          tablespoons butter, melted
• 2          teaspoons vanilla extract
• 30        drops red food coloring
• 3          tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1          tablespoon cream cheese, softened

1. In 12-ounce mug, whisk flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add milk, butter, vanilla and food coloring; mix until blended.
2. In small bowl, mix powdered sugar and cream cheese until smooth.
3. Drop cream cheese mixture into cake batter. Press into batter until covered.
4. Microwave up to 3 minutes until cake is done.

SOURCE:
Culinary.net

IS A FIXER-UPPER RIGHT FOR YOU?

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MAKE MANAGING ECZEMA EASIER

 

(Family Features) More than 30 million Americans, including nearly 10 million children, have eczema, the umbrella term for a group of noncontagious, inflammatory and painful skin conditions marked by an itchy, rash-like appearance. Because one of the most challenging aspects of eczema can be its unpredictability, the National Eczema Association (NEA), designed an app to help people and parents easily track what’s important and make sense of it.

The app, called EczemaWise, aims to revolutionize how people living with the condition manage it with a faster, more efficient tracking system that helps uncover trends and makes preparing for doctors’ appointments easier.

People with eczema tend to have an overreactive immune system that produces inflammation on the skin when triggered by a substance outside or inside the body, such as food or pollen, along with factors like stress and sleep. Experts say tracking and recording symptoms and possible triggers is key to managing the condition, but it can be time-consuming, and many people struggle to keep thorough notes in journals or on their smartphones.

“One of the best things out there to help keep track of your child’s eczema is EczemaWise because it’s so easy to use,” said Aisha Bryant, mother of a 3-year-old with eczema. “Within a few days of using it, I was able to identify that tomato sauce was causing my daughter to flare.”

The app can help track nine different disease and care factors, including:

• Itch intensity on a scale of 0-10
• Pain on a scale of 0-10
• Skin symptoms using a body map to note affected areas
• Stress on a scale of 0-10
• Sleep problems on a scale of 0-10
• Weather, which auto-populates using your location
• Triggers, which track exposure to materials such as metals, chemicals, irritants and environmental allergies
• Diet with tracking of water intake and foods
• Treatments logged by time of day

The free app, which is available for Android and iOS as well as a web app, is designed to identify trends and patterns so people and their doctors can better determine the most effective treatments. NEA recommends tracking a minimum of three times each week – and ideally daily – though people can log as many or as few factors as they like. App users can also print their health data to share at doctors’ appointments.

“Using EczemaWise will empower patients with eczema,” said dermatologist Eric L. Simpson, MD. “The app allows them to communicate a much broader story about their disease than we can typically capture in a 15-minute visit.”

For more information, visit EczemaWise.org.

SOURCE:
National Eczema Association

6 REFRIGERATION TRENDS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER

 

(BPT) - The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the house - especially now, when we're all at home more than ever. And while we're cooking more meals in and stocking up on necessities, having the right features and appliances can help make our lives in the kitchen easier when we all need it most.

Whether you're looking to improve capacity for storing essentials, or you simply want the most useful kitchen innovations, these are the top refrigeration trends to keep an eye on as we head into the new year:

1. Fast, freshly filtered ice

Have you been reaching for more ice water while at home? You're not alone. A recent survey revealed that 50% of Americans consider themselves "ice obsessed," with 53% realizing the need for better ice production at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and the same percentage saying no ice available means they simply drink less water. The survey also found that the average American consumes up to 116 glasses of ice per month or nearly 36 pounds!

Always looking for ways to simplify life for consumers, the new QuickIcePro System refrigerator from Bosch is one of the fastest refrigerator ice makers in the industry, producing several pounds of freshly filtered ice a day at a rapid rate - which means you won't be running out anytime soon.

2. Fresh-food storage

If you're staying home, cooking more and making fewer trips to the store, you need extra storage and features that will keep your food fresher longer. Refrigerators have come a long way in helping you maintain optimal freshness, especially when it comes to fresh produce. Look for options that offer precise temperature and humidity control, like the Bosch FarmFresh System, to take your food preservation to the next level and minimize waste. This advanced system uses four technologies to circulate cool air, filter out unwanted odors and ethylene gas, as well as remove the guesswork in storing items at the ideal environment.

3. Energy-efficient technology

Technology can also help you save energy and money at the same time. For example, refrigerators with automatic freezing functions return to normal operation after reaching the required freezing temperature to save energy. As a result, frozen food keeps its flavor, even when new food is being added.

And if you've ever accidently left your fridge or freezer open, you know it can be a costly mistake. Some refrigerators can help you avoid those high energy bills and spoiled food by sending a notification directly to your smartphone if a door has been left open.

4. Smart refrigerators

If you've ever been at the grocery store without a list, it's likely you wished for a crystal ball to see inside your fridge. Connected appliances help make that wish come true with remote monitoring and diagnostics, fridge and pantry management, and quick-cooling capabilities that get your fridge ready for new items when you're on your way back from the grocery store.

5. Two-in-one appliances

Refrigeration isn't only about keeping your food fresh. Storing beverages at the right temperature is just as important. In fact, 56% of Americans agree that having a drink at the wrong temperature has the potential to make their day less enjoyable.

The new Bosch Refreshment Center refrigerator offers pre-programmed settings to take the guesswork out of achieving the optimal temperature for the beverages of your choice at the touch of a button - from red or white wine to beer, soda or other drinks. Plus, its industry-first, glass-front beverage drawer puts beverages in view and within reach in your kitchen, eliminating the need for a second appliance dedicated to drink storage elsewhere in your home.

6. Easy organization

Having a large fridge and freezer makes it easier to store more, but without organization, food can become lost or buried and go to waste. To make it easier, the new Bosch French door bottom mount refrigeration collection features organizational solutions like a FlexBar, split glass shelving and three-tiered freezer system to make it easier to keep all your ingredients organized, in view and within reach.

Now more than ever, the kitchen has become a place that brings everyone together. Turn yours into the focal point of your home with these refrigeration trends for a happier and more efficient space.