My Family Digest 
Women live longer than men, have fewer fatal accidents, suffer fewer violent deaths, and are outnumbered by men in suicide by a ratio of four to one. Knowing this, why don’t men take better care of themselves? Boys, from childhood, are taught and expected to be tough and ignore pain.
Here are some of the top health risks and concerns for men in their 30’s.
If there is one thing that has been constant throughout history, it is the fact that kids and parents can mix like oil and water. We are speaking about that childhood cycle of love, like, hate, like and love again. It can lead to long nights and grayer hair for Mom and Dad as their children exert their will on the world.
Is there any way to stop this cycle? In a word – no, but you can soften the blow of it with a few tried and true tips that center on staying connected with your kids. No matter what age they are now, you can begin to work on strengthening the ties that bind you so that you may avoid at least some of the headaches.
How can you do that?
If your deck gets damaged or begins to become structurally unsound, repairing or replacing it can get pretty costly. Maintaining your deck is a much better option that’s more economical in the long run. To help prevent expensive problems from developing, here are some tips for extending the life of your outdoor wooden deck. 1. … Read more
Popsicle sticks – or craft sticks – open up a world of possibilities when it comes to crafts. Armed with glue and craft paint, you can do some amazing crafts with these handy wooden sticks.
Here are three ideas.
Just because a product says fat free or low fat doesn’t necessarily mean it’s healthier or even lower in calories. Most low-fat or fat-free products add sugar or other unhealthy ingredients to make up for the lack of taste.
Your body needs healthy forms of fat to keep cell walls strong and regulate hormones such as testosterone which helps fuel your sex drive. Testosterone also influences other body tissues and bone mass. So eating a certain amount of fat is necessary. Here are a few reasons why fat-free isn’t always the best choice.
Finding the perfect gift for the woman in your life may seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be.
The old adage “it’s the thought that counts” really is true. Many women just want you to show them that you care; that you put forth the effort to think about what they might like instead of picking up something from the closest mini-mart.
Here are a few gift ideas to let the woman in your life know how truly special she is.
Next to eyes, the mouth is thought to be the most attractive part of the body. When smiles are bright and lips are soft and supple, they can truly dazzle.
Here are some tips to keep your mouth healthy and beautiful.
There are all kinds of reasons why people end up as single parents. Whether you are parenting alone because of divorce, death of a spouse, your own personal choice, or any number of reasons, it is inevitably a challenging and demanding job. It’s great to have a list of useful tips you can refer to as you walk this single parenting journey.
Here are four success tips for single parents.
Stress has such a huge impact on our lives.
Not only is it damaging to our bodies, it can also annihilate a relationship. As humans, during high-stress times we tend to lash out at those around us.
Unfortunately, most of the time it’s those we love most that are on the receiving end of our rants.
Here are some ways to stop stress ruining your relationship.
One of the ways gardeners “cope” with winter is to plan for spring!
But this is not just an exercise to make you feel better about the cold and the gray weather. Getting ready for spring planting is actually a practical activity that prepares your garden for spring plants.
It also makes the growing season go more smoothly when you have a plan and start early.
Here are my tips on getting ready for spring planting.
One of the effects of ageing (even though reaching 35 hardly feels like “ageing” as we think of it) is a slower metabolism.
Sources say your metabolism slows at an approximate rate of 5% every 10 years, which translates into a 100-calorie discrepancy (you either need to burn 100 more or eat 100 less). This accounts for that frustrating trend of eating less, and not losing weight – if you’re lucky, you just stop gaining.
Thankfully, there’s good news. There are ways of boosting metabolism after age 35. Here are some of them.
It’s time to paint! But what colors should you choose?
Should you even go with color at all? Many people are afraid of color in their homes, and simply paint all the walls white. But it’s been shown that color in the home can enhance your mood and optimize your living experience.
Not all colors, however, work in all rooms. And designers suggest subscribing to the 60%, 30%, 10% rule – 60% of the room is the dominant color (walls), 30% is the secondary color (usually furniture), and 10% is an accent color (usually found in objects like wall art, vases, and/or flower arrangements).
So bearing all that in mind, here are some color tips for various rooms in your house.
What does it mean to “take a break”? Many of us are so busy these days that we don’t even know the true meaning of the concept.
When we are not engaged in any activities, our lives come to a screeching halt. Nervousness sets in because we are not texting on our phone, tweeting our friends, driving the kids to a rehearsal or sports practice or scheduling car repairs or carpet cleaning.
The truth is, most of us don’t know how to relax.
The answer involves making an escape from everyday life, taking the time to stand back from our hurried existence and getting a look at the “big picture.”
If all this sounds familiar, read on. It’s time to give yourself a break.
Cardiovascular health, heart attacks, and so forth are considered by many to be pretty much a male problem. But numerous studies and have shown that heart health is not just a “guy thing” – women need to be concerned about their cardiovascular health as well.
In fact, some sources say that heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States!
Here are four facts and insights into women’s heart health – what you need to know.
Music is an ancient form of human expression and as such is known for its almost magical powers.
It goes pretty deep, too – music has been shown to have profound effects on the human mind and emotions. What kind of music you choose to listen to can indicate and also influence your mood. Music can even help you cope with various difficulties.
How can you make the most of the music you listen to, and what types are associated with what moods?
Here is some insight into music and moods.
There’s nothing like a good book to provide inspiration. It’s been said that we really do feel “out of sorts” if we don’t take time to sit down and get some motivation and encouragement from others. And with pressures from home, work, and kids at an all-time high, women in particular can use some good inspirational reading!
Whether you need inspiration in the workplace, at home, in your relationships, or anywhere else, there is probably an inspirational book out there for your situation.
Here are six of some of the top inspirational books for women.
Relationships are hard work and at times you hit bumps in the road or find that you’ve lost the spark of years past.
Never fear – even the happiest and most romantic of couples hit rough patches now and then. What makes relationships survive long-term is how couples overcome the hurdles and work together to improve their relationship.
Even small choices you make every day can dramatically affect the status of your long-term relationship.
Here are a few helpful tips to get you started.
It might not be on the top of your list of “to do” exercises, but belly dancing can be one of the best ways to keep fit.
Belly dancing has an intriguing history – in fact, it’s one of the world’s oldest forms of dance. And women of all ages can participate (with your doctor’s knowledge and permission, of course).
Belly dancing is beautiful, fun, and healthful!
Here are 7 reasons why it’s considered healthy, and also why it’s so much fun.
It can be extremely challenging to co-parent effectively in a high-conflict situation. It’s tough when you don’t want to expose your children to conflict, yet there doesn’t seem to be an alternative. In addition, If you have a divorce situation that requires frequent court appearances, having done all you can to avoid conflict may help … Read more
Fresh flowers in wintertime!
They seem like an impossibility, but there are some really neat ways to get the beauty of fresh flowers into your home during the winter months. You can grow live indoor blooming plants, or force branches and bulbs indoors.
Here are some ideas on how to bring fresh flowers into your home this winter.