How to Manage Pain the Drug-free Way

Do you suffer from muscle pain due to participating in sports-related activities or exercise? I can speak for everyone in my family that we have had our share of muscle aches and pains. One of the best remedies is drinking a lot of water, resting, and using a muscle stimulator known  as a TENS unit. You might have experienced this type of treatment at the chiropractor's office. The Auvon brands makes it so affordable to have one at home. 

 

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The TENS muscle stimulator works by connect the wires to the electrode pads, and setting the intensity to what works for you. This particular unit is battery-operated (3 AAA batteries provided) and has a convenient clip to attach to your belt area or pocket for when you need to move around. You can use up to 8 electrode pads at once. 

This Auvon TENS Unit is a must-have for pain, and is perfect for travel especially since it comes with its own travel bag. 

This unit has a flip-open door with the buttons to turn on/off and for setting time and intensity. I recommend taking a glance through the instruction booklet to have a better understanding of how to use these functions correctly. It will initially feel like you are being zapped, but as you use it, you will get used to the feeling, and will gradually be able to handle a higher intensity. 

Product details:

• Drug-Free Pain Relief. This electric muscle stimulator machine stimulates sensory nerves and muscles, activate specific natural pain gate mechanisms so you get immediate pain relief anytime you need!
• 4-Output TENS Unit. This unit runs 8 pads simultaneously, and 2 channels can be set in different intensities as you like, e.g. CH1: mode 7 intensity 3; CH2: mode 7, intensity 10.
• 29 Modes TENS. Professional users can set pulse rate & width with 5 custom modes while others can start quickly with 24 pre-modes. The timer and continue mode allow you to set how long therapy lasts.
• Thoughtful Accessories. This TENS device provides 8 square electrode pads for your neck, back, thigh, etc. The cable tie keeps the wires organized and the pad holder stores the pads while not in use.

If you know someone who suffers from pain, this would make a thoughtful gift. You would be surprised how useful this little gadget is! We use ours frequently, and it's always a better option over taking pain medication. You can purchase one from Amazon for around $40, and there is even a coupon. 

Thank you Auvon for the product sample. As always, all opinions are our own. 

Get Your Mind Right with Fungies Lion's Mane Mushroom Gummies

Do you find yourself feeling a bit scatter-brained and forgetful sometimes? This is quite common as you get older, especially when you are a parent who has a lot to juggle daily. Some days my husband gets super frustrated because the little things will slip his mind. We both have had our share of lack of energy, focus and feeling out of it. 

We have been studying up on the health benefits of mushrooms, primarily lion's mane. We have checked out a few documentaries and they all seemed to show that lion's mane mushrooms are a great natural source to improve mental clarity, boost mood and overall cognitive performance. We were pretty excited to get the opportunity to try out Fungies lion's mane gummies. Simply put, Fungi + Gummies = Fungies™. Lion's Mane has also been shown to help improve mood, increase energy, provide immune support, and support a healthy inflammatory response from exercise.

Fungies are perfect for anyone looking for an extra boost for better focus, memory and mood. They are all-natural, vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and gelatin-free. These gummies have a delicious blueberry and strawberry flavor while having a great texture. All you need is one per day. Each gummy contains 500mg of lion's mane mushroom powder. 

We have been taking them for a week now, in the morning. So far we have both noticed we had a lot more energy. I usually get a little tired at a specific time each day, and take a quick nap to perk back up. I have not had the need for a nap! I really do feel a lot better with no sluggishness. I am able to cross off tasks from my to-do list with time to spare. 

We are quite pleased with the results we have experienced so far, and will continue taking these gummies daily. I think the fact that we have transitioned to a plant-based lifestyle, paired with taking these gummies will really keep us on a healthy track. Nothing beats feeling energetic, healthy and ready for whatever comes our way.

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Have you heard about the benefits of lion's mane mushrooms? You can get more info here. Fungies Lion's Mane Gummies can be purchased online for $19.95 (60 count) or you can save 20% if you sign up for their subscribe and save program. All U.S. orders get FREE shipping with a 100% money back guarantee. For every product sold, they make a 1-for-1 donation to Vitamin Angels to reach a pregnant woman or child with life-changing nutritional support. What a great company! We definitely recommend this product to anyone who needs to improve their memory, focus and clarity. 

Thank you Fungies for sending samples for us to test out! 💚

Learn to make a genuine Thai Khao Hom Mali at home

Southeast Asia has many beautiful landscapes to offer and an interesting culture behind which can also be learnt through its food. As a region, it’s pretty diverse and every meal mirrors that diversity, so much so that you’ll find very simple dishes next to most intricate ones, not only in terms of ingredients but in terms of the elements used. 

What can’t be denied is the fact that they, sometimes, may be seen as weird and bizarre because of the combination of ingredients. However, the landscape offers a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and crops. That’s the reason why rice is such a staple element in this region. Moreover, this gastronomy is rich in seafood and herbs. All that combined gives as a result diverse textures and flavors. 

Rice types and Khao Hom Mali

Jasmine rice is a typical medium-grain rice type used in this gastronomy because of what its name describes: the fragrance it releases when cooked. It can be steamed or boiled, but, common to every recipe, as this type of rice is gummier and creamier than other kinds, the process of cooking has some specific steps. For example: you need to rinse it three or four times before cooking in order to get rid of most of the starch. Besides, once it is fully cooked and strained, you’ll need to move it around with the help of a fork so that the grains stay separate, otherwise, the rice will compact as it cools down.

However, the true secret to cooking rice is to know the proper water to rice ratio. In the case of Jasmine rice, you’ll need one cup of rice and 1¼ cup of water. Depending on the cooking method, this is generally the best way to do it. And last but not least, the heat should be low for the grain to cook evenly.

One country, one recipe

Now, as for jasmine rice recipes, as said, every region and country has its own delicacies to offer so, let’s focus on how to cook the rice first and you’ll find two Jasmine rice-based dishes you can make from different countries. Either of them will be a pleasure to make and eat.

How to cook Jasmine rice

Rinse the rice two or three times under abundant cold water.

Pour three cups of water and 2½ cups of Jasmine rice.

Cover the pan and bring to a boil. Once it boils, take the heat to low and cook for fifteen minutes.

A pro tip is to let it sit for five or ten minutes with the heat off and the lid on before serving or using.

Thai Basil Chicken

Ingredients:

2 cups of rice.

1 onion.

2 cups of ground chicken.

Soy sauce.

Fish sauce.

Fresh parsley.

Basil leaves.

2 tsp of salt.

2 tsp of pepper.

Preparation:

Preheat some oil in a wide saucepan and add the minced garlic and the diced Thai chili. Fry that for a minute and add some previously peeled and diced onions. Sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes.

Take the ground chicken to the pan and break it up with a fork. Fry it for at least five minutes or until it’s golden.

Pour some soy sauce and then some fish sauce. Mix and blend everything together. Keep frying for an extra two minutes. 

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir continuously.

Place some roughly chopped basil and fresh parsley.

When the chicken is ready, serve with the previously cooked Jasmine rice. 

Vegetable rice

Ingredients:

1 Onion.

2 cloves of garlic.

Ginger.

1 carrot.

Bay leaves.

Green beans.

1 cup of Jasmine rice.

Preparation:

In a wide pan, sauté some previously peeled and diced onions together with minced garlic and some ginger. Do so for a couple of minutes, until the onion is translucent.

Now, add a diced carrot, roughly cut bay leaves and some green beans.

In this case, you’ll cook the rice here, add the rice and toast it. Stir continuously so it doesn't burn.

Then add the right ratio of stock (you’ll save time if you have it already made).

Season the mix with a teaspoon of salt and one of black pepper. You can also use some paprika.

Bring the mix to a boil and at that point, reduce the heat, as explained before.

Turn the heat off and let everything rest for ten minutes before serving.

Clever Ways To Make Your New Business Premises Standout From The Crowd

Drawing customers into a new business is vital to its growth and survival. And while advertising and word of mouth are integral to this, ensuring your business premises stand out from the crowd is equally essential. There is a glut of commercial websites online, meaning it's surprisingly easy to get lost in cyberspace, so an instantly recognizable presence is equally vital online as physically. In order to be successful in the physical world of shops, there are so many elements to keep on top of. For example, if your premises don't feel safe to the customer, you will have to invest in some alarms (more info here) to ensure they feel as safe as possible. Also, decoration and furniture choices are key when it comes to bringing customers in! 

Check Out Your Competition

If you don't know what you're trying to stand out from, it's hard to achieve the end goal. As such, before choosing color schemes and signage, you need to scout out the competition. Once you know what you're up against, then you can make your business stand out by doing something different like using channel letter signs. Looking at the online presence of other similar companies can also give you an advantage; for example, if they aren't using social media, there's a convenient advertising gap.

Signage

For a business with physical premises, signage is essential as it helps customers identify where they are. Internal signage is vital for customer service, as no one likes feeling lost, meaning an adequately signposted business will do better than one that leaves it vague. Printed Dibond signs are a cost-effective and stunning-looking option that works both outside and inside. Have your storefront sign, interior signage, and artwork printed to Dibond for a long-lasting, contemporary look. 

Online

Implementing a robust and cohesive advertising campaign is vital to be seen in the cyberworld. This cohesion will help people recognize and identify your business instantly wherever they see your name. Spend time planning the color scheme and logo for your business, making it relevant, unique, and slick. Then implement it across online and offline advertising, from the storefront to social media and print ads. 

Break The Mould

Don't be afraid of choosing a unique look when choosing furniture and furnishing. Mass-produced office furniture and homeware can be cheap, but it’s so common it can be hard to give individual personality. Where appropriate, look for something different, such as recycled furniture in a café, an upcycled statement piece in a meeting room, or rustic-looking shelving. A unique slant not only creates an attractive working environment for staff but will create a mental hook that sticks in customers' minds, helping draw them back.

Superb Customer Service

Give excellent customer service, and you'll steadily grow a loyal customer base who happily recommend your company far and wide. It doesn't matter how good your business premises look and how comfortably set out the inside is; long-term people will avoid you without excellent customer service. Negative feedback always travels faster than the good, so a half-hearted to poor customer service reputation is exceedingly detrimental to business growth.

When you consider all the possibilities and eventualities, it doesn’t take much hard work to create new business premises that will stand out from its competitors, both physical and online. 

Try Mary's Gone Crackers for Healthier, Plant-Based Snacking

About a month ago, I had a real awakening in regards to my health. I made a drastic change in my diet which included eliminating meat, eggs and dairy. While I am still working out the little kinks here and there, a plant-based diet has been a necessary shift that I am committing myself to.  My family decided together that we will all take part on this journey to better health. 

One of the biggest changes for us has been what we snack on. I think snacks have been the trickiest for us since we all love our share of junk food. We have really cleaned up our act and have discovered some new things we love. Mary's Gone Crackers are a delicious, savory snack that really does cure your craving for something a little salty and crunchy. 

Mary’s Gone Crackers products are minimally processed from consciously and sustainably sourced ingredients. These healthy choices are not only good for our bodies, but also healthy for the planet. It's comforting to read the ingredients on the box and actually recognize all of them. 

What do they taste like? The real thin crackers have a unique texture, crunch and taste that make them irresistible. The olive oil and cracked black pepper variety is my family's top pick. If you like the taste of freshly cracked pepper, you will love these. We were all so surprised that these gluten-free crackers don't taste like dried out cardboard as many GF snacks do. 

Mary's Gone Crackers snacks come in so many varieties and flavors. They are perfect for everyday snacking, charcuterie boards and for when you are on-the-go. Organic, vegan, cruelty-free, and Non-GMO certified, these crispy, crunchy, and delicious crackers will go great with your favorite cheeses and jams. 

If you are on the hunt for healthier plant-powered snacks for yourself or your family, you must try these crackers. I want to try all of their amazing varieties. Learn more here. Many thanks to Mary's Gone Crackers for the product samples to try. We love them!