Health

I never leave home without these 9 Travel Essentials! Maybe you shouldn’t too!

April 18, 2018 Paris B 24 Comments

I like to think that I’ve got my packing down to a bit of an art these days. I packed a rather compact, capsule wardrobe for my travel this time around, and still managed to have clothes I didn’t wear in my luggage. Next time, I’ll compact it even further! I’m not a fashionable traveller, nor a fashion blogger, so it’s easier for me to have comfortable clothes in a compact suitcase. I don’t have to think about doing a fashion shoot every day!

But, clothes aside, there are some travel essentials that I always make sure I have with me, regardless of where I travel or for what purpose.

Naturally, your passport, cash and credit cards are essentials. Those go without saying! But beauty and comfort-wise, here are 9 things I always, ALWAYS travel with. If you have a trip lined up, this might be a good place for you to start 🙂

Your Say: Have you seen your dentist recently? Do you use an interdental brush?

August 23, 2017 Paris B 17 Comments

I went to see my dentist last week, and it was then I realised that I hadn’t been for over 2 years. 2 years! I used to be fairly regular before this, doing the twice-yearly check-ups as recommended, for oral health. But a lot happened in the past 2 years, and truth to tell, going to the dentist just didn’t feature on my schedule.

The only reason I thought of going, was because my teeth felt weird, which is reason enough! Fortunately, none of my teeth were going to fall out, and my teeth were professionally cleaned, as they should have been months ago!

So, my PSA today, is to tell you that if you have not seen your dentist for teeth cleaning and a check up recently, DO IT! Don’t wait! Make your appointment NOW!

I also wanted to share with you my latest dental discovery – interdental brushes!

While I was given a clean bill of dental health, my dentist did identify some potential issues that could arise in the future. So, he recommended that I use an interdental brush, instead of dental floss for healthier teeth and gums. We all know we should floss, but I don’t know about you, I’m a lazy bum when it comes to flossing. Oops 😛

So, after my appointment, I ran off to the nearest pharmacy and picked up a pack of interdental brushes, and then went home to do a little research on this little gadget that I was unfamiliar with 🙂

Can and should Essential Oils be used directly on the skin? I say NO

May 3, 2017 Paris B 20 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy using essential oils. I know, it’s all very New Age woo-woo. I’m not really that invested in the New Age movement, but I like my essential oils. Always have for years and years. I like them primarily because they smell so good, and well, to a degree, I believe that some oils can work on my temperament better than others. Lavender for one, soothes me and helps me sleep. Peppermint rejuvenates me and makes me feel refreshed.

But I think people have been lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to the use of essential oils, because of the fact that they’ve been around a long time and they are natural. This was brought home to me when I came across a piece of news on Twitter this week.

No, it’s not just any piece of news on Twitter, it was reported in the Independent (UK), which I’d like to believe isn’t fake news 😛

In a nutshell, the lady in the piece of news, applied essential oils directly to her skin, before going for a hot yoga class and then using a tanning bed. She suffered second and third-degree burns on the parts where she applied the essential oils which was attributed to the exposure to UV light. As much as I sympathize with her predicament, I felt that it was also timely for us to remind ourselves, with essential oils enjoying a bit of a renaissance, that essential oils aren’t play things.

If energy levels start to dip at noon, beat the afternoon slump with exercise

February 24, 2016 Paris B 12 Comments

I don’t know about you, but I think the Spanish and Mexicans got it right with their afternoon siesta. Never having been to either Spain nor Mexico (not for want of trying though!) I can’t ascertain the truth of whether businesses do shutter at high noon, to enable everyone to take a quick nap before they get back into the swing of things.

Personally, I’d like that!

beat the afternoon slump with exercise

For most of us who work, our days start at any time from 6-7am when our alarms go off, and we rub our bleary eyes before we wake up and rejoin the rat race. So, by the time the clock hits 12 noon, we’d have been up and about for at least 6 hours, and I think that calls for a break!

It doesn’t help that that’s when we break for lunch, and what with the heat and full tummies, and just low batteries, we find ourselves hitting that afternoon slump at around 2pm. So how do you beat that?

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