Lifestyle – Page 31

Moving On Up: 10 Tips to Make Moving So Much Easier

Published on October 8, 2018October 1, 2018 by Lee1 Comment

Frequent moves are practically a fact of life especially if you’re about 20- or 30-something. I’ve moved at least a half a dozen times in my life. As you transition from high school to college to a career and maybe a family of your own, it’s only normal for your living arrangements to feel like they’re in a constant state of flux.

Packing and unpacking all of your possessions isn’t exactly the most fun pastime. Recently, I have helped my mom moved so today I thought I’d share 10 of my most useful moving tips with all of you. Check them out below…

1. Purge before you pack.
Before you even begin packing, take a good look at your possessions and get rid of anything you don’t need. If there was ever a time to be ruthless rather than sentimental, this is it. Make three piles for your unwanted items—donate, toss, and sell—and then clear your house of them accordingly.

2. Start packing the items you use the least.
When you’re packing for a move, you always want to box up the items you use the least, and then gradually work your way up to things you use weekly or daily. This allows you to get your packing started early without feeling like you’re missing any necessities in the meantime. If it’s summer, for instance, pack up all your winter sweaters and coats ahead of time. But, Save your clothes and swimsuits for a couple of days before the move.

3. Pack for a pretend weekend getaway.
After a long day of moving, the last thing you’re going to want to do is rifle through boxes in search of your toothbrush or clean underwear. So, I suggest packing a bag with all of your essentials for the first few days in your new home. It’s a lot easier to live out of a suitcase for a couple days while you unpack the rest of your possessions at your leisure.

4. Hang ten.
Re-hanging all of your clothes is one of the most tedious moving tasks. So if you can, try to keep all of your clothes on their hangers. I suggest tying groups of 10-or-so hangers together using rubber bands. For added protection, you can create a makeshift garment bag for each bundle using a plastic trash bag.

5. Take the doggies to daycare and take the kittens to the new house first.
Pets get confused and worried during a move. So I always suggest finding a sitter for your four-legged friends on moving day. It will make things less stressful on you and your pets.

6. Go green.
Nothing beats the ease of having boxes delivered to your old home and then picked up at your new one. It’s also the eco-friendly thing to do. I suggest using a company that rents reusable plastic crates like Rent a Green Box because they’re sturdier and better for the environment than disposable cardboard boxes.

7. Play hooky from work.
Many truck rental and moving companies offer cheaper rates on weekdays. So if you can take a day off work or school, it will save you money to move on a weekday. Plus, having the weekend to just relax and unpack is invaluable.

8. Have a labeling system.
Having a detailed labeling system will make the moving and unpacking process so much easier. I recommend using stickers, brightly colored duct tape or colored sharpies to color code by room. Share your color-coding system with the movers so they unload the boxes in the correct rooms for you. You should also draw ‘This Side Up’ arrows on all boxes to make sure the contents aren’t tossed around too much.

9. Pack tight.
Don’t leave empty spaces in boxes. If there is an empty space, pad it with towels or packing paper. It’s a no-brainer to bundle breakables, but even seemingly indestructible items can get damaged if they’re shifting around a lot. It also makes boxes harder to lift if items are shifting around.

10. Pay it forward.
If you want to do something nice for your old place’s new residents, leave behind a box of useful information (appliance warranties, favorite local boutiques, takeout menus, etc.). It’s a small gesture, but a sweet one.

Do you have any other moving tips?

Share them with me below!

XO Lee

GLASS HALF-_____?!

Published on October 3, 2018October 1, 2018 by LeeLeave a comment

This tangent is all about perspective. Life is full of highs and lows but when it’s low, it can be hard to remember what being high feels like… and no this is not a philosophical way of recommending you take drugs. Just say no, kids. What I am recommending is choosing a perspective that suits your needs. You cannot control what happens in life. You can’t control opportunities, success, relationships or interactions with other people. You can do your bit but ultimately, you just can’t control them and that can be frustrating, saddening, infuriating and sometimes downright depressing. Good news is, you can control something… your perspective.

So, are you the type of person who sees the glass as half-full or half-empty? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Do you sometimes wish you had the opposite perspective of the one you typically carry? I do.

Having a positive perspective doesn’t come naturally to me, it’s something I have to make a conscious choice to find, project and maintain. You get from the universe what you put into it and hey, we all want positivity coming our way! As I get older and put more effort into becoming the woman I strive to be, I try more and more to have a positive perspective. When I try and am genuinely feeling “glass half-full” about life, the universe pays it forward and good things come to fruition. When I’m all “glass half-empty”, the world sucks, life’s unfair… I get stuck in a rut and no good comes from it at all. But… yes, there’s a but…

BUT I was having a conversation with a friend not too long ago and I found myself using this glass half-what?! analogy to encourage her to look at the situation as half-empty because there is such a thing as being optimistic to a fault. I’d vote for positive energy all day long but this was a dilemma of the heart and frankly, a big ol’ ” he’s just not that into you” moment. I know. Harsh. But it’s the responsible duty of a true friend… Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston said so. There are some scenarios where seeing the glass half-full seems to set you up for disappointment whereas seeing it as half-empty can leave you pleasantly surprised if and when it all turns out well in the end.

All that said, is it better to be negative and happy when life exceeds your expectations or positive and risk being let down by life’s lows? I’d say positivity is generally a more pleasant way to ride the inevitable roller coaster but how does one know when it’s the right time to choose one perspective over the other? Can we know? Is there a right answer? I sure as hell don’t know. Sorry if you were waiting for some profound guidance on life but this is just my two cents, people.

HOW TO SURVIVE YOUR NEXT PERIOD

Published on September 4, 2018November 3, 2018 by Lee1 Comment

Your period. It’s scary when it comes and terrifying when it doesn’t. We know what we get to look forward to every month: bloating, cravings, fatigue, homicidal rage, and perhaps worst of all, menstrual cramps. What if I told you there were simple, at home remedies that greatly reduce symptoms of PMS? Even better, they are risk free with no side effects!

Getting your monthly bleed is the one thing that connects you to every single woman who has ever lived. Let that sink in. For hundreds of thousands of years, women have gotten their periods and they did so together. Periods were celebrated as a symbol of youth, fertility and life! It wasn’t until recent times that menstruation was seen as something to dread. What has changed? So so much, but, alas, this isn’t a lesson on female disempowerment. I am simply here to give you a crash course on how to survive your next period. So, open up that bottle of Cab and lets get to it!

To reduce cramps, you have to start early. A week before your period is due increase your water intake. The uterus is mostly composed of smooth muscle, and what happens when muscles dehydrate? They cramp! This is the number 1 tip I give to my clients and it ALWAYS works. My second big tip is to get your Omega 3’s and Calcium. I call this winning combination Nature’s Midol. You get more Calcium by eating collard greens, broccoli, spinach, kale, and you-bet-I’m-gonna-say it, CHEESE! When I say CHEESE I’m talking about organic, grass fed CHEESE. Not Kraft’s American cheese, cheese. Reach for the unprocessed stuff if you can. You can opt to get your Omega 3’s and Calcium from a supplement, but be sure to consult your doctor first!

Some MONSTERS are blessed and don’t suffer from cramps, but perhaps their problem is bloating. To minimize bloating I suggest drinking dandelion tea as it has a diuretic effect (it makes you pee.) Reducing sodium intake also does wonders. Combine these two steps and voila! Stretchy pants are now a choice, not a requirement. Tip: Mix Bigelow Green Tea with Lemon and Red Rose Tea together. Not only will it help with bloating but it also helps with cramps. Drink it during your cycle and you’ll notice that the cramps aren’t there. I find that it is best to drink it 1 week before your next period so it can start being affective right away. Plus Green tea, Red Rose Tea and lemon are good for your health and skin, so that’s a bonus!

Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t touch upon tampons. Did you know that most tampons are hybrid cotton blends (aka not cotton) that are BLEACHED and sprayed with pesticides and God knows what else? I don’t know about you but I don’t want any harsh chemicals anywhere near my hoo-hah. That’s why I encourage every woman I know to find an organic, environmentally safe tampons and pads. Beauties, I am telling you that we can save our cervixes AND our planet!

I have been seeing a lot of articles stating their opinions about the Lena Cup, and to be honest I bought one because my curiosity got the best of me. For those of you who don’t know, the Lena Cup is a reusable bell shaped cup that sits inside your vaginal canal and collects your blood. It is by far the most environmentally friendly product I have read upon on, but it requires patience and it can be a little messy at first. Once you’re in touch with your body’s rhythm and you can determine when its time to remove the cup, it will be smooth sailing. If you’re interested in the Lena Cup, I applaud you, and I suggest using it at home first for a few days before venturing out to any important events.

Directions: To use the LenaCup, some people choose to boil their cup before first use and between periods. Fill a pan with plenty of clean water. Bring to boil and let your cup float for 5-7 minutes while ensuring that the cup does not touch the bottom of the pan. You can use a pair of tongs to keep your cup in place and to remove it from the boiling water. Let your LENA Cup cool down before using it. WASH – Using warm water and mild soap wash your cup. If in a public toilet, bring a bottle of water to rinse your cup – once convenient clean thoroughly. As always, make sure to fully read the LenaCup User Guide before use.

To recap: drink plenty of water the week leading up to your period and during. Be mindful of getting enough Omega 3’s and Calcium. Drink dandelion tea, Bigelow Green Tea and Red Rose Tea to de-bloat, decrease cramps, and reduce sodium intake. Get your hands on some organic tampons and if you’re feeling brave check out the Lena Cup! Here’s to having a happy period!

Have you tried the Lena Cup? If so, what are your thoughts on it?

Name your favorite tea and let me know how you drink your tea? (cold, hot, & etc)

( Let me know in the comments)

A Day At The Fort Lauderdale Beach

Published on July 30, 2018July 30, 2018 by Lee1 Comment

Hello Beauties, June 29, I had decided last minute to head to the beach and it turned out to be an experience that I cherish close to my heart. That day, my head became a little clearer and my smile became bigger. My smile was real too. Here are couple of reasons why I cherished that moment so much.

I have anxiety which means I have become antisocial over the years. Being around bunch of people, especially people I don’t know can be stressful for me. I’m always in my head and thinking about the worst. But that day, I survived.
I was at peace by MYSELF. I was there from 11:30 am to 4 or 5 -ish pm.
I enjoyed the scene and everything with little money I had. I was happy, like truly happy and learned a lot about myself while getting a nice workout in the process.

Making time for yourself and learning how to enjoy your own space is so important. Never in a million years did I think that I would go to the beach by myself and stay there for longer than 15 minutes. I’m happy I did though and can’t wait to go back. I might even just travel to Orlando or Miami just because. You might be thinking girl, it’s just the beach but for me, its more than that. I proved a lot to myself and didn’t let my anxiety or anything else get in my way. I want to do bigger trips but for now, traveling around Florida will do. If you want to know how I did it with basically no money, What I did, and Where I went then keep on reading…

How Did You Get There?

I took the bus, simple. I got the whole day bus pass which is $5 and took Bus Route 40. I asked a nice man who was hitting on me but it didn’t bother me because he wasn’t disrespectful. He told me what bus to take and gave me directions to get to that bus stop.

Now, if you want to get there quicker without having to wait and make several stops along the way then I suggest you take Lyft. It is going to be pricey depending on where you coming from but you can use my code: CRYSTAL40317 to save $$.

What Places Did You Hangout At?

First, I walked along the beach then I stumbled upon CVS. It wasn’t that far, it was located in Beach Place plaza. I purchased a bottle of coke, I was really thirsty. Mouth felt dry and everything. Thinking back at it, I should had got a water bottle instead especially since when the coke wasn’t cold anymore, it tasted weird. It was warm, not like room temperature, just warm.

Then I went to the beach and dip my toes into the nice cool water. The sun was out but it wasn’t too hot. I wished I had my bathed suit or extra clothing because if I did, I would had became a mermaid for sure lol.

After I finished playing in the water some more, I went up to a family who was tryna take pictures and asked if they needed help. They were so nice, they were traveling from Switzerland. I took some bomb pics for them and said goodbye. Next, I walked some more and saw many parties that was happening at different resorts. I was invited by this lesbian who was cool as fuck. I sat by the pool with them and talked. The music was booming and boobies were out. I spent like 1hr with them before I left. Everyone was just happy and living their best life.

I continued to walk and saw many beautiful resorts, restaurants, hotels, homes, and boats. I decided to turn back around because I was getting hungry and I was a little scared that I might be going too far; I didn’t want to get lost. Since, I wasn’t wearing my glasses, me getting stuck wasn’t the plan and I do sometimes forget things. I just didn’t want to take any chances. Plus, I didn’t have cash on me, so if it had reached 11:59 pm, I would had been screwed because that’s when my bus pass would had expired.

I headed back to Beach Place to rest up. There were many tourists. It wasn’t packed but it was still busy. My back felt better, my body felt better so I got up and continued to see what the prices were looking like for the food. One restaurant had a sale going like buy a burger and get a coke for free and another restaurant Lona had different promotional flyers up. That place was busy, well from what I saw at least. People were eating, drinking and just chilling. Honestly, I wanted a hot dog but the place wasn’t open and there were no other place that was selling hot dogs.

I rode back taking the Bus Route 40 then jumped on Bus Route 22 to get back home. I ended my day with a sweet tea from Dunkin Donuts and 6 pieces of hush browns. They have sweet tea, any size for a $1. I am kinda sad that I missed the Live Music & Entertainment at Fort Lauderdale beach but next time.