Parents looking for cleaning products with naturally derived ingredients may already be familiar with Jessica Alba’s The Honest Company. Now the company is offering a new and more sustainable way to clean. The Conscious Cleaning Collection features reusable bottles that can last up to a lifetime and lightweight, easy-to-use refill pods to help reduce single-use plastic & lower your carbon footprint.
The Clean Vibes Kit ($39.99) includes three reusable spray bottles, one Multi-Surface Concentrated Cleaner Refill (two pods per refill), one Glass Concentrated Cleaner Refill (two pods per refill), one Bathroom Concentrated Cleaner Refill (two pods per refill), one Palo Santo Stick and one Reusable Microfiber Cloth.
The collection is also available in Single Starter Kits ($16.99) and Refills ($9.99/pack of two pods).
The Honest Company Conscious Cleaning Collection is made without Parabens, Phthalates, Synthetic Fragrances, Bleach, Ammonia and Chlorine.
Researchers may have found a way for people to live longer and the answer lies with chili pepper! A new study will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2020 that could demonstrate a significantly reduced risk of dying from cancer or cardiovascular disease when people consume chili pepper.
After analyzing 570,000 individuals in the United States, Italy, China and Iran and combing through 4,729 studies, researchers produced four unique studies on the power of chili peppers. So what did they discover?
Science has long known the power of capsaicin (what gives peppers their spice) and the capabilities it has in regarding to being an anti-inflammatory, an antioxidant, anticancer and a possessing a blood-glucose regulating effect. Researchers took it one step further by comparing records of those who regularly consumed chili peppers with those who rarely or never did.
Those who did eat chili pepper had a 26% relative reduction in cardiovascular mortality, a 23% relative reduction in cancer mortality and a 25% relative reduction in all-cause mortality.
“We were surprised to find that in these previously published studies, regular consumption of chili pepper was associated with an overall risk-reduction of all cause, CVD and cancer mortality,” said senior author Bo Xu, M.D., cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute in Cleveland, Ohio.
“The exact reasons and mechanisms that might explain our findings, though, are currently unknown. Therefore, it is impossible to conclusively say that eating more chili pepper can prolong life and reduce deaths, especially from cardiovascular factors or cancer. More research, especially evidence from randomized controlled studies, is needed to confirm these preliminary findings.”
While there are still plenty of unknowns, tossing in a little extra chili pepper couldn’t hurt and it will definitely spice up your dinner.
In addition to free two-day shipping, there are a number of other deals the membership has to offer. Keep scrolling to see them all, then get shopping!
Amazon Prime members can share their membership with another adult and up to four teens and kiddos in your household. Each person has their own log in (so you can keep purchases a secret) but parents can also monitor each profile.
Ask Alexa for Extra Discounts
Alexa, what are my deals? You can check in with your fave virtual assistant on Alexa-enabled devices at any time and she'll share all the Prime-exclusive deals with you, which you can add directly to you cart (or later, if you want).
Ever wonder what "Prime Early Access" means on that product you've been eying? Early deals! Prime members can access sales 30 minutes before non-Prime members to snag items before everyone else.
Get Safe Package Delivery
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No one wants to fall victim to package theft and Key by Amazon allows delivery employees to drop them safely in your garage or home. When you use Key, you get notified of every step of delivery, receive a video receipt and have the ability to monitor the delivery.
Get Groceries in a Few Hours
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Busy parents will love the option to get groceries same day. While not every item or area is available, many are––including pet food. Just head to primenow.amazon.com to check your eligibility.
Choose your Own Delivery Date
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Prime Members can take advantage of Amazon Day, where you can select a specific day for deliveries to reduce the risk of theft. You even have the option to have orders placed on different days come on the same day, too!
Track Packages with Your Echo
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Check in on your Echo devices by asking "Alexa, where's my package?" and you'll get a delivery estimate. You'll know your order has arrived when your Echo's ring pulses yellow.
We are seven months into the pandemic and caregivers continue to be impacted by the increasing challenges of juggling work and family commitments. Recent labor statistics show that nearly 80% of the 1.1 million workers who dropped out of the workforce in September were women, and that number may continue to grow. A new study by Fidelity Investments finds that nearly 4-in-10 working women (39%) are actively considering leaving the workforce or reducing their hours due to increased remote schooling and caregiving responsibilities.
“As more women and caregivers nationwide find themselves contemplating stepping away from their career or reducing hours at work, Fidelity is here to support them,” said Kathleen Murphy, president of personal investing at Fidelity Investments. “From providing financial planning support in the workplace, to working with women one-on-one to evaluate options to keep savings goals on track, to helping Fidelity’s own associates navigate these work and family challenges, we’re here to help.”
The study also found an increase in financial engagement among women since the onset of the pandemic. While women were already building good planning and savings habits, many have amped up those efforts in the last six months.
Fidelity is collaborating with thousands of companies across the country to roll out Women Talk Money, a new program to help more women get financially engaged and connect with the guidance they need to address these pressing work and life decisions.
Photo courtesy of Fidelity Investments
“Women and caregivers are being challenged like never before and are looking to become more informed and better prepared as they make financial choices for today and the future,” said Lorna Kapusta, head of women investors at Fidelity. “Women Talk Money delves into why women need to think differently about financial planning, how life choices may affect the growth of savings and future financial security, and how to create a financial road map to help reach individual goals and accommodate expected and unexpected detours along the way.”
The program’s flagship six-part video series provides an overview of the key factors that affect women differently and can have a significant impact on their financial futures. Each 10-minute segment is reinforced with a ‘What You Need to Know’ Resource Guide with key takeaways and actionable next steps to apply to personal planning.
New Jersey’s American Dream is set to reopen following Governor Murphy’s recent announcement. Guests are invited to visit the acclaimed indoor entertainment experiences including Nickelodeon Universe, DreamWorks Water Park, Out Of This World Blacklight Mini Golf and The Rink beginning Oct. 1. Retailers will also be opening at American Dream for the first time, including ZARA, H&M, Primark and more.
To ensure the safety of guests, reduced attendance levels and extensive health and safety protocols will be observed by all attractions and retailers.
A few things guests can expect upon their return to American Dream include, but are not limited to:
Face coverings required for entry into American dream
Reduced capacities throughout American Dream and within each of the open attractions
Increased sanitizing and disinfecting throughout American Dream common areas and attractions
Hand sanitizer stations and hygiene reminders installed throughout American Dream and within the attractions
Physical distancing guidance, including ground markings, plexiglass barriers, touchless programming and more.
Reduce your holiday stress and get a head start on shopping. Sam’s Club has your back. The toys topping the wish lists will be available at the warehouse store starting this month.
Play sets for pretend play, outdoor toys, and karaoke sets are just a few of the trendy items you’ll find at Sam’s Club this month.Sam’s Club will also release new toys, including many exclusive items, now through the end of the season.
With amazing items like an interactive, wooden grocery store with moving conveyor belt and a register that beeps as you scan, a licensed 12-volt kid-sized BMW motorcycle, an exclusive Mia’s Mansion Pet Loft Dollhouse complete with an elevator and an exclusive L.O.L. Surprise! OMG Styling Head and Doll bundle plus so much more you’re sure to find special items hitting the clubs and on SamsClub.com throughout the month and beyond.
These toys will only be available for a limited time and while supplies last, so if you see something you know your kids can’t live without, grab it while you can.
According to a survey by FlexJobs and Mental Health America, 75% of people have experienced burnout at work, with 40% saying they’ve experienced burnout during the pandemic specifically. This is not surprising as many are currently working longer hours than usual. A flexible workday was listed as one of the top ways their workplace could offer support during this time.
However, just 21% said they were able to have open, productive conversations with HR about solutions to their burnout. Fifty-six percent went so far as to say that their HR departments did not encourage conversations about burnout. This survey was conducted by FlexJobs, fielded in partnership with Mental Health America (MHA) in late July 2020.
“One of the most important things remote workers can do is to set clear boundaries between their work time and non-work time, and HR needs to take an active role in helping workers practice healthy boundaries between their professional and personal lives,” said Carol Cochran, VP of People & Culture at FlexJobs. “Offering flexible scheduling to employees can have a dramatic impact on reducing burnout, since rigid work schedules usually magnify conflict between work and family, leading workers to mental exhaustion. Most importantly, leaders should strive to create a healthy company culture that values the individual as a person, and prioritizes the overall wellness of its workers,” Cochran recommended.
Employed workers are more than 3x as likely to report poor mental health now vs before the pandemic (5% vs 18%). 42% of those employed and 47% of those unemployed say their stress levels are currently high or very high. More than three-quarter (76%) agreed that workplace stress affects their mental health (i.e., depression or anxiety). Only about half (51%) of workers agreed that they had the emotional support they need at work to help manage their stress.
Top stressors include COVID-19, personal finances, current events, concern over their family’s health, the economy, and job responsibilities.
People are eager to attend virtual mental health solutions offered through their workplace, such as meditation sessions and virtual workout classes
Employed workers are more than 3 times as likely to report poor mental health now vs before the pandemic. Before the pandemic, 5% of currently employed workers said their mental health was poor or very poor. That number has now jumped to 18%. Unemployed workers are more stressed as well. Before the pandemic, 7 percent of currently unemployed workers said their mental health was poor or very poor. That number has now jumped to 27 %.
“Company leadership, including executives, HR, and management, have a responsibility to their employees to model and talk openly about behaviors that reduce stress, prevent burnout, and help employees establish the appropriate boundaries when working remotely,” said Paul Gionfriddo, President and CEO at MHA. “Offering flexibility during the workday, encouraging employees to use their PTO when they need a vacation, and providing time off for employees to tend to their mental health can help employees at all levels of a company cope with COVID-19 and other stressors.”
76% of respondents were currently working remotely. To help remote workers avoid burnout, FlexJobs has compiled these key tips for them to consider.
Develop boundaries. One of the difficult things about being a remote worker is that you’re never really “away” from your work physically, and you need to develop actual barriers between your work and personal life. One boundary is to have a dedicated work space that you can join and leave. Or, put your laptop in a drawer or closet when you’re done with work. Start and end your work day with some kind of ritual that signals to your brain it’s time to change from work to personal or vice versa.
Turn off email and work notifications after work hours. Turning off email when you’re not “at work” is important — you shouldn’t be available all the time. Let your teammates and manager know when they can expect you. Let people know your general schedule and when you’re “off the clock” so they aren’t left wondering.
Encourage more personal activities by scheduling them. Most people struggle with the “work” part of work-life balance. Schedule personal activities and have several go-to hobbies that you enjoy so you’ll have something specific to do with your personal time. If you don’t have anything planned, like a hike after work or a puzzle project, you may find it easier to slip back to work unnecessarily.
Ask your boss for flexible scheduling so you can better control your days and balance both your personal and professional responsibilities.
Focus on work during your work time, rather than letting “life” things creep into your work hours too much. If you’re productive and efficient throughout the day, then at the end of the day it will be easier to walk away feeling accomplished and not be tempted to work into the night to finish what should have been completed during the day.
Take a mental health screen. If your stress feels unmanageable or you have other mental health concerns, take a free, confidential, and anonymous mental health screen at https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools. Online screening is one of the quickest and easiest ways to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
With COVID-19 being part of our daily lives let’s try and understand why wearing a protective face mask can help us prevent getting the virus from others and protect the community at large. Also what type of mask is suitable for adults to wear and do children also need to wear one?
Why are people wearing masks right now? The purpose of people wearing masks in public right now is to protect the community. Since so many people who have COVID-19 don’t have symptoms, wearing masks can help reduce the possibility that someone with no symptoms could transmit the disease to others.
Why does wearing a mask help? Face masks reduce the spray of that person’s infectious respiratory droplets so masks can help reduce this kind of spread of the virus. Masks also can protect you from others who may have coronavirus but have no symptoms showing and who could come within 6 feet of you which is the range of transmitting infection through acts like sneezing or coughing.
Is there a right way to wear and use a mask? For a mask to be safest and most protective for children and adults they should securely cover the nose and mouth area. Masks should not be worn when eating and should not be touched when on. Hand washing should take place before and after you remove a mask. Also masks should be washed after each wearing. Remove the mask from behind without touching the front of the mask.
Should children wear masks? It is not recommended for children under age 2 to wear a mask. Some opinions hold that children under age 6 for various reasons should not wear a mask. Also if children can be kept at least 6 feet away from others and not be in contact with surfaces that could harbor the virus then they do not need a mask for the protection of themselves or others. Additionally, a child should not wear a mask if it causes touching their face more frequently hence increasing the child to an increased risk of getting exposed to the virus.
So what kind of mask is best to wear? There are 3 types of protective face masks available in the market at present:
3-ply mask: This is a mask made of 3 layers with the innermost layer used for absorbing moisture, the middle layer is a filter and the outermost layer repels water. You should always wear the 3-ply mask with the pleated side facing out. The pleated material allows you to expand the mask so that it covers the area from the nose to the chin. The better-manufactured ones have a pliable nose piece for proper fit across nose & cheekbones. The 3-ply mask is the most popular and least expensive protective face mask for mass-market use.
KN95 mask: This mask model is similar to the well-known N95 mask. With such similar-sounding names, it can be confusing to understand the difference between N95 and KN95 masks. What are KN95 masks, and are they the same as N95 masks? In short, they are both multi-layered protective masks (usually 4-layers) and N95 masks are the US standards for respirator masks and the KN95 masks are the Chinese standards for masks. In reality, the two masks are equivalent or nearly equivalent on the features that most people care about. Even according to mask manufacturer 3M, “it is reasonable to consider” China’s KN95s “equivalent” to US N95s. Mask standards for Europe (FFP2), Australia (P2), Korea (KMOEL), and Japan (DS) are also highly similar. A good comparison is in what percentage of particles the masks capture. On this parameter, N95 and KN95 respirator masks are the same. Both masks are rated to capture 95% of tiny particles (0.3 micron particles, to be exact). If you want a sturdier mask at a reasonable cost the KN95 is a good option.
N95 mask.This is the “professional” mask and the most expensive. The N95 mask reduces exposure to airborne elements, has a higher filtering efficiency and is made to have a better fit than conventional face masks. The N95 typically come in a contour cup design, has an adjustable nose piece and has at least two elastic straps that go around the head, one above the ears and one below. Due to very limited supply now in the market professional grade masks like N95 masks should be reserved for medical professionals on the front lines who have increased risk of exposure to coronavirus in close proximity.
Alternatively you can order one of these clever face masks or make your own protective mask using cotton fabric and elastic bands ensuring that the fabric is securely covering the nose and mouth area.
Whatever mask you decide to buy and wear just keep safe and healthy out there.
Sources: the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC])
Michael Braunold is CEO of Elepho, Inc, the company that created eClip. eClip is a device that attaches easily inside the car and connects to a cell phone via Bluetooth. It alerts parents if they walk more than 25 feet from their car without removing their child along with monitoring the temperature within the car. Elepho has also developed a device called eFloat to constantly monitor water temperature in a baby bath as well as eTherm to check baby temperatures.
The magic is happening at Walt Disney World, but starting in September your visits may be cut a little short. The theme parks announced this past weekend that hours will be reduced beginning Sept. 8.
Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios Epcot and Animal Kingdom will all be losing an hour or two every day in light of the recent drop in attendance attributed to the pandemic.
July, officially labeled “Plastic-Free July Month” is a great time to assess what you have around your house and decide just how many plastic items you have laying around. And while plastic is inevitable in our world, single-use plastics do not have to be.
During “Plastic-Free July Month,” let’s gather our kids and ask them what it means to have a cleaner world. Why? Because as adults, we eventually have to leave the world to our children, their children, and so forth. So why not get them talking about how to keep our planet clean?
Let’s start with the basics: Why is single-use plastic is so dreadful for our precious planet? To put it simply, single-use plastics are plastic products that can only be used once and then thrown away to end up in our pollution mainstream. Single-use plastics, when not disposed of properly, can lead to the eventual buildup of waste floating into our streets, into our beautiful oceans, and end up causing drastic pollution that will affect everyone’s health and well being.
Below are 7 easy steps you and your children can take to reduce single-use plastics and maybe eventually remove the need for them in the future.
1. Buy consciously. Think about how many times you’re going to use that product. If it’s a plastic sandwich bag, skip it and buy reusable bags such as ones made from silicone, cloth, or a stronger plastic that will last for many years. You can also use paper sandwich bags that will break down when wet and can be disposed into your recycling bin or compost bin.
2. Use natural materials. Natural materials and materials that are sustainable include bamboo, organic cotton, wood, and glass. Natural materials are a lot safer for children as they are usually manufactured without toxic by-products.
3. Bring your own lunch containers. There are tons of cool looking lunch containers for your kids. The best materials are stainless steel and glass.
4. Choose Reusable straws. Reusable straws are great for reducing plastic waste. Reusable straws can be stainless steel, glass, or made from bamboo.
5. Use Reusable water bottles. You can find reusable bottles almost anywhere. Pick some up made from stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic.
6. Bring your own utensils. When packing lunch for your child, be sure to pack reusable utensils. They can easily put the used utensils back into their lunch bags/containers to bring home.
7. Look at brands and websites that offer sustainable products. Then, find easy and doable solutions for you and your family. You can find more ideas here.
I am a mom first and foremost. I might not be a supermom, but I am constantly learning and growing.Topics I stand with are parenting, the environment, and living a healthy and happy lifestyle. I work at an elementary school and I have 30 years experience in the health industry.
