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Our favourite nightwear looks to sleep in style

No matter the time of the year, snuggling into something comfortable and stylish before tucking yourself in at night is something we can all resonate with. Cosy nightwear is also ideal for lazy days on the sofa, watching back-to-back movies with that special someone. But just because something is comfortable, it doesn’t mean it can’t also be stylish. Below, we take a look at some chic and comfy nightwear styles that will help you feel your best as you relax after a long and hard day at work.

Stylish in satin

Sexy and stylish, satin is a winner when it comes to nightwear. You can choose between subtle tones and bold colours to find the perfect satin number for bedtime. Neutral pyjama sets with shorts are perfect for matching with a stylish satin robe, particularly when you’re looking for something sophisticated from your nightwear. No matter the style you’re going for, you can find a satin number to tick your boxes.

Luxurious in lace

Are you hoping to crank things up a notch in the nightwear department? Why not go for a cute lace design that helps you feel your fabulous best? Lace strikes a balance between contemporary charm and tradition and is the ideal nightwear material to settle into after a busy day at work. Some pyjama sets have just a small amount of lace incorporated into the design, which is often enough to achieve the style that you’re going for.

Stunning leopard prints

Take a step into the wild with a gorgeous leopard print pyjama set to spice things up in the bedroom. Although sophisticated, leopard print designs add a dose of personality to your nightwear collection and help to invigorate your style. Chi Chi’s classic leopard print pyjama set is created with smooth satin and would be a perfect addition to your current collection this spring.

Slip into some slippers

While you probably don’t need any excuse to wear some slippers at the end of the day, they’re a great way to add some cuteness to your bedtime look. Faux fur slippers are among the most stylish and comfortable options you can find and round your nighttime look off perfectly before you head to bed. But best of all is that you can keep your toes nice and warm, which is particularly helpful given the strange weather we’ve been having recently!

You can find stunning nightwear to suit your body type, and Chi Chi has a range of gorgeous plus size options for you to choose from this season. So, why not treat yourself to some gorgeous nightwear this spring to help you settle into the evening and feel your best when you slide under the covers.

3 Great Online Poker Strategies for Serious Players

With the pandemic, the online poker industry grew to greater heights. In fact, first-time poker players increased by 255% in the lockdown period. In 2022, interest in online poker continues to grow – with first-time players and serious players joining in on the fun.

Those from the older generation are now more likely than ever to play. As we wrote in our previous blog post on hobby ideas for people over 50, having a safe and entertaining hobby, such as a card game like poker, is something that can keep your mind engaged and excited. With online poker, players can play anywhere on a mobile device making it a very convenient and accessible game.

While the basic rules and hand rankings of poker are simple to pick up, if you want to be a serious player you need to implement good strategies to win. Read about three great online poker strategies below to help you out:

Learn to be Ware of Your Table Position

In poker, table positions can greatly affect how you play the game. As the hands go on the seating positions of every player changes in relation to the dealer (button). The best seating positions in poker are the dealer and the two seats to the dealer’s right known as the late positions. This is because they play last, without putting a blind in, and get a much better insight into how the hand is developing. Serious online players need to know how to take advantage of this position by being more adventurous and aggressive. Because you are the last to play the other players will think you must have a good hand if you bet big. On the other hand this is also the best position to bluff from. Also if you are in an early position it is much better to play conservatively until you are sure you have the best hand.

Be More Deliberate in Game Selection

You need to be deliberate in your selection and choose a game where you can learn and grow. Playing with first-time players wouldn’t give you action and playing with pros can just be a waste of your money. Taking your poker game to the next level means finding a healthy balance between these two groups. It is best to play with people at the same level as you. This way, you can learn from them and you will have a better chance of winning.

Know When to Fold

In poker, the best poker players know when is the best time to bow out of the game. As you make your strategy, you should also know when to fold before the flop. A preflop strategy sets you up for a better game in all rounds. Once the flop is laid down, the dynamics can quickly change, and getting attached to a certain hand can negatively affect your play. To know when to fold, evaluate your preflop hand and the players around you. Case in point, considered a very bad fold in 2021, World Series of Poker’s Ryan Leng folded after thinking that Dan “Jungleman” Cates had a straight. Cates, who would have been out of the game, proceeded to win the tournament. If Leng had kept playing a bit longer, the outcome may have been different.

If you want to take your online poker playing to the next level and become a serious opponent at the felt, we hope these tips help.

3 Tricks To Make Your Home Look Like It Was Professionally Decorated

Unless you’re an actual interior designer, you might find it hard to redesign and redecorate your own home, even if you generally know what styles you like and what styles you dislike.

Because these decisions all feel so important, it’s easy for people to get overwhelmed when trying to choose how to set up their spaces and what decor elements to include. But luckily, there are some tricks that you can use to make your space appear like you used a professional designer when you actually made all the decisions yourself.

To help you see how this can be done, here are three tricks to make your home look like it was professionally decorated.

Don’t Worry Too Much About Matching

One thing that can be a dead giveaway that your home wasn’t professionally decorated is if things look too matchy-matchy.

While it’s good to have a home that looks like it flows well and belongs in the same place, having things that match too much can make it seem like you didn’t know what you were doing when you decorated. Rather than going this route, try to choose decor pieces and colors that complement each other. This can give a lot more interest to your space. As you seek to do this, you’ll see that things that might not appear to work together at first glance can really work together to make your space exactly what you want.

Know What Each Room Need To Improve On

Something that interior designers are great at is hiding the parts of your space that you don’t want to focus on. To be able to do this yourself, you first have to know what each room you’re decorating needs to improve on.

Whether it’s a radiator or something else that’s more exposed than you want it to be, once you know where the weaknesses of the room are, you can design the rest of the room around hiding or camouflaging this thing. Research what your problem is and how to address it, like using tall furniture pieces to make a room look like it has a higher ceiling or using mirrors to make a space appear bigger.

Don’t Underestimate Your Window Dressings

One part of any space that often gets left to the last is the windows. However, with the right window dressings, your room can really be taken to the next level of style and comfort.

When deciding how to dress the windows of your space, you should try to set your drapes from floor to ceiling, even if your windows don’t go all the way up to the ceiling. By doing this, you’ll make the entire room seem taller and larger, which is something that almost any space can benefit from and a trick that many interior designers use.

If you want your home to look like it was professionally designed without actually hiring an interior designer, consider using the tricks mentioned above to get a beautiful and professional look.

 

Tips in Staying Positive When Pursuing an Environmental Advocacy

You feel enthusiastic at first when you decide to pursue environmental advocacy. You’re passionate about what you do, and you hope others feel the same. The problem is that you might find it challenging to convince others. Even if you try your best, no one else wants to pursue the same path. But, before you lose hope, realize that you can succeed. Here are the tips to help you remain optimistic when you don’t feel that way anymore.

Think about your cause

You’re doing the right thing, and you can help save the environment with your actions. If you give up, the cause will go to waste. Therefore, even if you feel exhausted, you must keep going. Imagine if everyone else gives up, we won’t have an excellent environment for the future generation. Whether you’re pursuing animal conservation or recycling activities, you’re doing something good. You can never give up.

Keep practicing what’s right

Just because no one else believes in you doesn’t mean you should go against what you stand for. Even if no one is watching, you have to do what’s right. For instance, you should continue working with a trusted aluminum can recycling in Kansas City facility if you feel satisfied with your recycling partnership. You know how critical recycling is, and you can’t stop doing it. You can even inspire other people to follow your lead.

Remember the people who will benefit from the projects

Many people will benefit from your efforts. People who live in at-risk areas might have a better life because of your actions. They will be forever grateful because of what you do. The other organisms in the ecosystem you’ve helped will also feel the same. When you’re about to give up, think about these people.

List all your accomplishments

After years of working on various projects, you successfully made something happen. Regardless of its size, you still managed to do it. Therefore, you can’t give up. You made strides, and you will keep doing bigger projects. Without your leadership and sincerity, these accomplishments wouldn’t be possible.

Think about your children

You’re not doing what you do for personal reasons. While you think about several beneficiaries, the most important ones are your children. They deserve to enjoy what you do. Unfortunately, you can’t afford to deplete our resources and make it a difficult place for them to live in. So there’s an entire generation on your shoulders hoping that you do the right thing.

You’re not alone

You might give up because you seem to be the only person who cares. However, you’re not alone. Some other organizations and individuals are just as passionate as you. They will work with you and pursue their respective projects. You will never give up when you feel like you’re a part of a larger community.

Hopefully, these tips will make you optimistic even if you have reasons to stop. For example, if you feel tired, pause before you move forward.

4 Tips For Leading A More Stress-Free Life

Living a stress-free life is a big goal for a lot of different people, but it isn’t always the most easily attainable thing. There are so many things that can cause you stress, and it can be really difficult to handle at times. Even if you have great ways to manage your stress, it’s always better to just have lesson the first place. So here are 4 helpful tips for leading a more stress-free lifestyle.

Hire A House Cleaner

Hiring a cleaning services company to help take care of your housework can be extremely helpful in keeping your stress levels down. Not only does it give you so much more free time, it can also be really nice to come home to a clean and tidy house after a long day at work, which can help to keep you calm.

Seek Therapy

If you feel like you are more stressed-out than you should be or that your stress levels are constantly high and never seem to get better even when you make changes, you may want to consider seeking professional therapy.

Talk therapy is not just for depression – it can also help with all sorts of anxiety and stress. With this kind of help, you may be able to finally get to the bottom of why you are so stressed out all the time and you will also learn the tools to stop feeling that way as much.

Practice Self Care

Self-care can mean something different to every person, but the bottom line is that it is important to take time out of your busy schedule to do things that make you happy and make you feel good. For some people that might be a hot bath and a good book, while for others it could be going out to a nice dinner or shopping. Spending time with your pets, doing an elaborate skincare routine – you name it. Just about anything can be considered “Self care”.

The important thing is that you make time for it, because that will really make a huge difference in your general wellbeing and stress levels.

Take Time Off

Many people work hard their entire lives trying to reach certain goals such as homeownership that they forget to take time off from work. Working to live rather than living to work is key. Try never to become so much of a workaholic that you don’t take regular days off!

People who take too few days off will end up buying out, and this can make your stress levels skyrocket.

Getting rid of your stress and living a more calm lifestyle is not out of reach! It can actually be quite easy. All you have to do is make some small adjustments. Hopefully this list helps.

 

 

Ways To Maximize Space In A Small Apartment

If you have moved to the city, chances are you are now living in a small apartment. The problem is aside from paying a high monthly rent you also live in a place that has minimal space. It means you need to find ways to adjust to your current living situation and make the most out of what you have.

If you happen to have junk and unused items inside your apartment, better get rid of them fast. Reaching out to cleaning companies such as Evergreen Junk Removal for junk removal Delray Beach offers can help you clean up old and damaged furniture, piles of newspaper, clothing, and other things that are unnecessary and crowding your space. Aside from going through the process of decluttering, here are more practical and easy to follow tips to maximize living in a tiny area.

Multipurpose storage boxes

If you still have stuff that you refuse to let go of after decluttering, it leaves you with no choice but to hide it. You can purchase fancy storage containers like wooden chests where it serves as a chair or a center table as well. Look around in various stores that sell modern furniture and see if you can find something that is dual purpose and stylish at the same time.

Install shelves and hooks on your walls

Since space will forever be a problem when living in a tiny apartment, you need to find where to place some of your essentials. Putting hooks in the living room would allow you to hang coats, hats, and bags. Hanging shelves can help you organize your books, personal items, kitchenware, and different kinds of stuff. You will be quite surprised to find out how much space you can save by using these hacks. Also putting things on shelves makes it easier for you to look for stuff than inside cabinets.

Invest in hanging shoe organizers

Some of the things that are hard to organize are small things like toiletries, beauty products, and medicines. Instead of living them exposed in your dresser or bathroom sink, why not place them in a hanging shoe organizer. Hang them behind doors to save space and minimize clutter.

Hide dirty laundry

Piles of exposed dirty laundry can be such an eyesore if you have guests coming over. Make sure to hide them by investing in large baskets that you can keep underneath the bathroom sink. It would help if you did the same thing for soiled towels and sheets. Laundry baskets are a creative yet inexpensive hack to save space and make it look more appealing at the same time.

Organize your kitchen pantry

Make sure to hide all of your groceries items like cereal boxes, canned goods, spices, and condiments inside your kitchen cabinets. If you have a tiny kitchen, it is essential to make it look clean and organized at all times.

Lastly, you should avoid the urge to add more stuff in your apartment. It is easy to build clutter if you live in a tiny space.

 

3 Things To Consider Before Buying A Foreign Car

Now more than ever, American consumers are looking to foreign cars for optimal vehicular performance. Whether you are in search of a new car for better gas mileage, or to reduce your carbon footprint, or to simply have a more stylish car, there are a few things you should consider before importing a foreig model. When making your decision, be sure to consider the following factors.

The Import Fees

Import fees and taxes on new cars manufactured outside the United States are inevitable. Just as you would have with any imported good, there will be an added tax to the final price. Depending on the car make and model, this added tax might be rather minuscule. For example, if you purchase your car directly from a verified dealer whose business is based in the United States, the import tax will likely be integrated into the price.

What’s more, it will have been negotiated at a lower rate by the auto dealer. You will barely even know you’re paying an import tax! On the other hand, if you wish to purchase a rather exclusive car from a dealer outside the country, you should be prepared to pay the import tax upon entry.

The Shipping And Delivery

On that same note, shipping a car is no small feat and is a job that should be entrusted to reliable transporters only. Make sure there is an insurance plan included in your shipping price. There is a lot of risk involved in shipping and unloading freight, especially with heavy cargo such as cars.

Before being dispatched to your region, the car will need to go through international customs before being delivered. For this reason, choose a transport company will accompany you throughout the customs process. Ideally, you could pay them a flat rate that includes the import tax and administrative fees. This will save you a lot of time if you do not wish to navigate international customs processes.

Your Country’s Driving Norms

This may seem pretty obvious, but have you thought about the subtle differences between American-made cars and imports? If not, you should make sure that these differences are worth living with. If you are considering an English car for example, double-check that the steering wheel is not on the right hand side. And for most European cars, the speedometer is in kilometers per hour and not miles. And should you ever need a repair, it might be costly to order parts for your car if they are being shipped from overseas. This, however, is less and less of an obstacle as more Americans switch to imported cars.

There are many advantages to having an imported vehicle but be sure to consider these important factors when making your selection.

 

The Best Way to Treat Your IBS Symptoms 

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) leads to painful and uncomfortable symptoms that are difficult to deal with. Unfortunately, it’s also a condition that people experience for life, having a significant impact on the digestive system in the process. While there’s no cure for IBS, there are some things you can do to manage your symptoms and feel better each and every day. 

Prepare meals at home 

If you rely largely on processed doos when you live with IBS, your symptoms will worsen over time. Therefore, preparing healthy foods at home that are rich in nutrients will help you feel better. Prepare meals that consist of lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and a range of other plant-based ingredients. Resisting the temptation of turning to junk food will help alleviate your IBS symptoms and leave you feeling much healthier as a result.

Keep track of your symptoms 

Everyone’s gut works in slightly different ways, meaning that you may experience different symptoms from someone else who suffers from IBS. As such, it’s helpful to keep a diary that tracks your diet, as well as times that you notice symptoms arising. You should keep track of everything you eat and when you eat it, as this will help you identify patterns that may worsen your IBS symptoms. As such, you can make the necessary adjustments and stop eating foods that seemingly make your symptoms even more pronounced.

Exercise routinely 

We know it can be difficult to maintain an exercise schedule, but routinely exercising is so important when it comes to managing IBS symptoms. Bloating and gastrointestinal discomfort, in particular, can be alleviated by exercising routinely. Research has also found that regular exercise can inhibit long term symptoms from manifesting. You don’t need to run a marathon or hit the gym every day, either. Just incorporating some simple exercises into your day can be enough to stave off the symptoms of IBS.

Opt for a supplement 

Sons’ Gut Health Supplement – LP299V can help to reduce your IBS symptoms. It also contributes to the overall general health of your gut, ensuring your microbiome can work to its full potential. LP299V is one of the most rigorously tested live bacterial supplements in the world and will help you function optimally from day to day. If you’re sick of suffering from painful IBS symptoms, it’s definitely worth adding the supplement to your daily routine.

Reduce stress 

Stress and gut health are inexorably linked. The gut-brain axis is the main communication system from your brain to your gut and is what causes things like cramps and unusual sensations in your gut when you’re stressed. Practising mindfulness meditation and performing simple breathing exercises are excellent ways to reduce your stress levels and will help you feel much better as a result.

So, if you’re suffering from IBS symptoms, you don’t need to put up with them. The above tips will help you stay in control of your symptoms and alleviate your everyday discomfort and pain from this troubling condition.

 

The Endocannabinoid System; How the Brain Absorbs Cannabinoids 

For around fifty years, scientists have realised that cannabinoid receptors form part of human brains. When you use cannabis, the receptors are sensitive to the compounds found within the plant, which causes various powerful effects in the human body. When cannabis was made legal in various parts of the world, we got a much clearer idea of how these cannabinoid receptors worked. Let’s take a look at the system in more detail now. 

Why is the endocannabinoid system important? 

Found in the brain and other organs, the endocannabinoid system is made up of cells, receptors, and signal molecules. They influence things like our mood, our sleep, our appetite, and even the way we experience pain. Scientists also discovered that they’re responsible for regulating stress, which was a key finding. As a result, many researchers believe that a range of afflictions, from depression to chronic pain, may be caused by an imbalance in the endocannabinoid system.

Found in the ECS, cannabinoid receptors bind and trigger a reaction from their position within these cells. In the brain, the receptors are positioned on neurones that influence things like memory processing, motor function, cognition, and emotional response. In humans, two primary cannabinoid receptors are present – one that deals with pain response and another that is involved with the psychoactive effects of cannabinoids. If you take medical marijuana or products with high levels of THC, your brain has a powerful reaction that can limit the effects of anxiety, depression and physical pain.

An important scientific discovery 

When scientists learned of the existence of cannabinoid receptors, they also found that THC and CBD – two of the compounds found within cannabis – activated them. As a result of its further study over the years, medical marijuana has been legalised in many different countries. Contrary to what people often think, cannabinoid receptors can be found in nearly every part of the brain. CB1 is more prevalent in the limbic system and cerebellum, while CB2 is found in the immune system. Additionally, other parts of the body have cannabinoid receptors.

If cannabinoids activate CB1, they lead to reduced decision making, reduced motor activity, and even impaired memory and learning function. However, when CB2 is activated, the result is a reduction in neuropathic pain and a range of anti-inflammatory effects. Since the receptors were discovered in the seventies, THC has been found to limit the progression of Alzheimer’s and has even been used to treat epilepsy and schizophrenia. CBD has helped to reduce seizures and has even been used as an anti-psychotic.

Cannabinoids and the human body 

The endo-cannabinoid system is capable of a range of effects on the human body. Some of the results include alleviated anxiety, reductions in chemotherapy symptoms, fewer seizures, and less pronunced nausea. Research into the system that started in 1988 found that Anandamide – an endocannabinoid – was able to produce similar effects to THC. Although there are other compounds, further research is needed to discern how they would interact with other cannabinoids in the human body.

Given that the endocannabinoid system was unknown to us until the 1970s, it’s remarkable how far we’ve come in such a short space of time. One of the best ways to enjoy the natural benefits of cannabidiols is to take it in the form of CBD, which can be vaped, used as an oil, or enjoyed in myriad other ways.

 

The Benefits of Pineapple

Is there really a place for pineapple on top of a pizza? We don’t think so, either! Why not try it in Love Struck’s delicious Firestarter instead – a spellbinding mixture of pineapple, coconut, mango, and lime, with a kick of heat from the chilli. And rather than adding apple juice, you can take it one step further by adding a 50/50 mixture of pineapple juice and water to bring out even more delicious tropical flavours. 

Let’s talk about pineapples 

European explorers first discovered pineapples in South America, where they named them after the plant’s resemblance to a pinecone. Frankly, it’s a miraculous fruit. It’s been a stalwart in traditional medicine for generations, and thanks to a remarkably impressive profile of nutrients – Vitamin C and manganese, in particular, (131% and 76% of your RDA, respectively) – few can argue about the incredible properties of this delicious fruit.

Vitamin C is vital for development and growth, a healthy immune system, and enables you to absorb iron from the other foods that you consume. Manganese, on the other hand, maintains healthy metabolism and is valued for its antioxidant properties. Its star role sees manganese fight those dangerous free radicals that can lead to chronic inflammation and a weakened immune system. It’s a crucial nutrient, that’s for sure!

In spite of these wondrous benefits of pineapples, we actually want to focus on bromelain, which helps you recoverr following an intense workout, helps your stomach settle after you’ve gorged on too much food, and even fights cancerous cells. Oh, and did we mention that it also helps your kids recover more quickly from sinus infections? Talk about a superfood! Let’s dive into the details of these benefits now.

Digestion 

Classified as a digestive enzyme, bromelain works as a protease. Its fundamental purpose is to break down protein molecules into building blocks, including small peptides and amino acids. This is important because protein molecules are much easier for your small intestine to ingest once they have already been broken down. This is super helpful for people who suffer from pancreatic insufficiency, which is a condition that means the pancreas is incapable of producing sufficient digestive enzymes.

Another key characteristic of bromelain is the fact that it can break down tough meat proteins. Who knew – maybe adding some pineapple to a meat feast pizza is a good idea after all?

Anti-cancer 

Multiple studies have indicated that pineapple and its compounds might reduce the risk of cancerous cells developing. The reason for this is that they reduce inflammation and minimize oxidative stress.

For instance, in two groundbreaking test-tube studies, bromelain was found to suppress the growth of breast cancer cells and even stimulated the death of the cells. Other non-human test-tube studies have found that bromelain has the potential to suppress cancer in the colon, gastric system, bile duct, and skin, which is extremely promising.

Scientists believe that bromelain is capable of making white blood cells that stimulate the immune system and suppress cancer cell growth while eliminating some cancer cells entirely. Of course, you would need to eat an awful lot of pineapple to ingest sufficient quantities of bromelain into your system (equal to that of a supplement), and it’s perhaps too early to draw conclusions in the absence of human studies, but it’s still a promising start, and there’s no reason not to enjoy more pineapple!

Kids inflammation and immunity 

To see what would happen to their immunity, one study fed 98 healthy children lots (280g) of pineapple, some (140g) pineapple, or no pineapple at all. The study found conclusively that children who ate pineapples had a much lower risk of bacterial and viral infections. Additionally, the children who were selected to eat the most pineapple had up to four times as many disease-fighting white blood cells – known as granulocytes – than the kids within the other two groups.

Interestingly, a separate study discovered that when children were given a bromelain supplement, they recovered much faster from a sinus infection when compared to standard treatment. We hear you – what’s the easiest way to get your kids to eat pineapple? Coco Loco!

It might help with arthritis 

In the United Kingdom, arthritis affects more than ten million adults. And while there are various types of arthritis, most of them result from joint inflammation. Research into bromelain from the 1960s indicated that it successfully relieved joint pain for people suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

More recently, a study learned that osteoarthritis patients who took a digestive enzyme supplement containing bromelain found it equally as successful in relieving pain as diclofenac – a common arthritic medication.

Post-surgery recovery or intense exercise 

One study indicated that people who took bromelain prior to receiving dental surgery had much less pain and generally felt better than those who didn’t. The study also showed that it provided comparable pain relief to anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen.

Particularly intense or strenuous exercise is known to damage muscle tissue and cause inflammation. This results in muscle aches and pains for up to three days after exercise. But bromelain (and other proteases) are thought to increase the speed at which your muscles can recover, as it targets and reduces inflammation around the muscle tissue that has been damaged by exercise.

To test this theory out, one study provided participants with a digestive enzyme supplement containing bromelain after exercising intensely on a treadmill for 45 minutes. The results were clear: the people who took the supplement had more strength afterwards and less inflammation.

Therefore, pineapple and its star nutrient bromelain are incredible when it comes to improving your health and wellbeing, and we would absolutely recommend you add more of it to your diet.

But we need to end with a quick warning. If you have an existing latex allergy, you might be more at risk of suffering an allergic reaction to pineapples. Symptoms include the swelling of your tongue/throat/face/lips combined with breathing difficulties, intense itching, sinus congestion, constipation, dizziness, fainting, and anaphylactic shock. Please consult your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.

So, all that’s left is to figure out how to cut a pineapple! Or, you can let us take care of the prep for you. In the meantime, stay well and get more pineapple into your diet.