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How to Host a Holiday Ugly Sweater Party

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Image by TheUglySweaterShop on FlickrPeople have been having holiday ugly sweater parties for years, and for good reason. They’re a ton of fun, and they offer you a chance at a bit of sarcasm during a season that is often dripping with goodness and hope. Think you’re ready to have an ugly sweater party this year? These tips can help.

Invitations

The best ugly sweater parties get a helping hand from the very start with great invitations, and there are a number of great ways to spice up your invite. Whether you choose to go with a sweater shaped invite, a fabric invite, or even a creative e-vite that includes the best pictures of ugly sweaters you can find, make sure that you get as creative with the design as you do with the wording. Don’t forget to include your name, the date and time, and any RSVP info. If you want people to bring food or holiday gifts, be sure to note that on your invite. Don’t forget to go with jazzy text like “The uglier the sweater, the better the party.”

Decorations

Wondering how to spruce up your location for an ugly sweater? Try sweaters themselves. Head to the thrift store and find as many horrible sweaters as you can, then send them to a charity clothes closet at the end of your party. Hang them on the walls or hang a clothes line and make a kind of garland out of them. You could also use knitting needles and creative yarn colors to decorate. Alternately, find as many horrible family photos as you can with ugly sweaters in them, and use those to decorate your location.

Party Food

Choosing the food for your ugly sweater party is very easy. You’ll want to go with items that reflect your theme. Sweater-shaped cookies are a natural. You could also decorate gingerbread men with great sweaters. You may want to think about food that’s already wearing a sweater like corn dogs or pigs in a blanket. You should also consider all of the tacky foods that are just part of the holiday season like fruitcakes.

Games and Activities

What’s a holiday party without a few exciting games? A fashion show is an absolute natural for the ugly sweater party. Be sure to have American Idol style voting, too, as well as a prize for the person with the ugliest sweater. You could also have a relay race where guests have to unravel one of the ugly sweaters you purchased at the thrift store. The winning team could even get a gift certificate to your favorite clothing store. Another relay race idea is to have a pile of ugly sweaters at one end, then have your participants rush to put on all of the ugly sweaters at one end, then take them off at the other end, and start all over again with the other person. You could also have guests decorate the gingerbread men you baked with the ugliest possible sweater and award a prize for that as well.

An ugly sweater party is a great way to get everyone into the holiday spirit this year. With a bit of advanced planning, you could have the holiday party everyone is talking about this year and will remember for seasons to come.

Image by TheUglySweaterShop on Flickr’s Creative Commons.

Pinkchic18 is an avid party planner with lots of great ideas for holiday parties. She also regularly contributes to the Holiday Gifts & Gift Baskets Blog, where you can find unique holiday gift baskets.





Flashing Hot: 3 Ways to Find Relief From Menopause Symptoms

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If you are experiencing discomfort from some of the symptoms of menopause there are many treatments, therapies and home remedies which can provide you with some relief. Thankfully, many women only experience mild symptoms and do not require treatment to cope with their menopausal symptoms. However, this is not the case for the other women who face moderate to severe symptoms and will likely require some form of treatment.

Flashing Hot: 3 Ways to Find Relief From Menopause Symptoms

Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause can be an uncomfortable phase in a woman’s life. With hot flashes and night sweats, muscle aches and joint pain, and increased levels of stress and depression, it’s no wonder women are always on the lookout for new treatments. The menopausal symptoms experienced by each woman are as unique as the women themselves. That being said, there are some symptoms that are more common than others.

There are quite a number of possible physiological and psychological symptoms that can accompany menopause. Some of the more common physical symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, and irregular periods. Many women will also experience mood swings, anxiety, depression and insomnia. Fortunately, there is quite a range of therapy options, including a variety of natural remedies and medical treatments to help ease both the physical and mental symptoms.

Medicinal Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms

For women who are suffering from menopausal symptoms, medical intervention may be needed. There are a number of medicinal options. The types of medication and over-the-counter medicines you could use depend on the symptom or symptoms you are trying to alleviate. Birth control pills can be effective for symptoms during perimenopause as they can help control irregular periods, hot flashes, moodiness and vaginal dryness. Additionally, menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) can be effective for severe menopausal symptoms. Medications used to treat depression, epilepsy and high blood pressure can also be used to successfully treat hot flashes and moodiness.

Be sure to speak with your doctor about your symptoms and the best treatments available, as there are many possible side effects that can accompany hormone replacement therapies as well as other medical treatments. It is important to discuss your options with your doctor and weigh the risks versus the benefits of any therapies you are considering. You may find that you’d rather try some alternative therapies for your symptoms before trying medications or menopausal hormone therapy.

Natural Remedies for Menopausal Symptoms

If you’re reluctant to try medication to treat your symptoms or if your symptoms are fairly mild, there are a variety of natural remedies that you can try. Some of these remedies are massage (in particular, aromatherapy massage) aerobic exercise, yoga, stretching, and meditation. All of these methods can help to decrease stress and may also ease night sweats. Wearing light clothing or layering is also effective for managing night sweats.

Some other possibilities that can aid menopause relief are dietary changes, herbs, natural hormone replacement therapies, black cohosh, natural progesterone and vitamin E. Keep in mind that many of these therapies are unproven. Be sure to research any therapy you are considering and discuss it with your doctor, especially if there are risk factors involved.

There are a lot of options to treat menopausal symptoms. However, a therapy that works for one woman may not work for the next. These treatments are not a “one-size-fits-all” response to menopause. Finding a therapy that is effective for you is what really counts, and luckily, there are quite a number of options available.

To learn more about treatments and a new innovative therapy that relieves menopause symptoms be sure to visit the team at KuhlCare today.

5 Habits That Will Improve Your Marriage

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We all want a happy, healthy marriage. We all want to feel fulfilled, loved, and needed in our marriage. We want to find joy from our marriage. We want to know that we bring joy to our spouse.

But, not all of us have that in our marriage. Not all of us know how to achieve that happy, successful marriage. And even for people who do have great marriages, we can always do better. We can always find more ways to improve that love and companionship.

Below are 5 habits that we can all adopt that will help to improve our marriage.

1. Go on dates

Marriage should be fun! Yes, there are always going to be causes for stress, and disagreements, and busy lives. But our marriages should bring us joy. Go on dates to strengthen your marriage. Have fun with your spouse. Find activities that you enjoy doing together. They don’t have to be expensive. Just the act of putting each other as a priority, and spending time together, will help to improve your marriage.

Going on dates provides dual benefits. First, it helps us to have fun with each other. It’s good to remember that we enjoy being with our spouse! On top of that, it helps us to get away from the stresses of life. Relieving some of this stress will help us to be less anxious in our lives. This will help us to be in better moods, think rationally, treat each other better, etc.

2. Give compliments

We all want and need to feel loved, appreciated, special, needed, good looking, talented, etc. And in your marriage is the best, and most important, place to feel that. Complement your spouse. Let them know that you appreciate them. Let them know that you are attracted to them. Let them know that you need them, and you think they are special. Say I Love You.

Be specific. Tell them WHY you think they are special. Tell them what they do that you appreciate. Tell them why you can’t live without them.

3. Never talk bad about your spouse

It’s not just about the good words here. Complements aren’t enough. It’s also about avoiding the bad words. Don’t speak negatively to your spouse. This will just frustrate, hurt, and anger them. They are supposed to be receiving encouragement from you, not the opposite. On top of that, never talk badly about your spouse to others. This not only paints them in an unfair negative light, but it helps to foster and encourage you to have negative feelings towards your spouse.

As much as possible, try not to think bad thoughts about your spouse. And never vocalize those thoughts. When you do think negative thoughts about your spouse, immediately replace them with positive thoughts about your spouse.

4. Never say “I”

Your spouse should always be your number one concern and priority. You should always put your spouse’s needs over your own. When making decisions, thinking about perceived grievances, never say the word “I.” Don’t think about yourself! Don’t say “I want to do this,” or “I didn’t like it when they did this to me.” Instead, always think about your spouse first. Think “my spouse would love this,” or “that may have been hurtful to him/her.” Try to understand their feelings and needs more.

Serve your spouse. Put them first. Do the dishes. Even if it’s their turn, or their job. Do an activity that they enjoy doing it, even if it’s not your favorite. As they recognizing you doing this, their attention and priority will also change. As you both work to put each other first, you will notice your marriage strengthening, growing, and improving immediately.

5. Listen

If you just listen, your spouse will tell and show you the things they need from you. Watch the things they do for you. Odds are, they are the types of things they would like you to do for them. Don’t think of their feedback as nagging or whining. Instead, take it as an invitation. Listen to the things they’d like you to do more. And then work to do those things. As you work to listen (and follow up) to the things your spouse is telling, hinting, and showing you that they need, they will feel more of a love for you. They will recognize and appreciate your attempts more. They will work to return the favor.

Nicole is an article writer for The Rehab Advisor. Find addiction treatment and get answers now.

What’s the Real Difference between Wheat and Gluten?

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Two terms that people use interchangeably are gluten and wheat. While you may think that both allergies are the same, they aren’t. There are differences between gluten and wheat allergies and the type of allergy you have can affect what you can and can not eat. Let’s take a closer look at the difference between wheat and gluten.

What Are Wheat and Gluten?

Wheat is a grain – plain and simple. It’s used to make bread, cakes, and anything else that contains wheat or white flour. Gluten is a protein that binds the dough in bread and baked goods. While wheat does have gluten, so does barley, rye, and malt. What does this mean? It’s means that while you may be allergic to wheat, you may not be allergic to gluten. However, if you’re allergic to gluten, you will need to avoid wheat.

Symptoms of Allergies and Intolerances

Allergies and intolerances are different from one another, but are the same for wheat and gluten. Allergy symptoms include digestive problems (vomiting, nausea, bloating, gas, and indigestion), chest pain, hives, eczema, and possibly anaphylaxis. However, an intolerance to wheat and gluten may include irritability, vomiting, headaches, heartburn, fatigue skin irritations, and digestive problems that are similar to those found in allergies. This can make it harder to determine if you have an allergy or intolerance. One way to determine the difference is that allergy symptoms usually occur quickly, while intolerance symptoms may be delayed or never show up at all.

How to Handle Allergies and Intolerances

In some cases, those with an intolerance may be able to enjoy wheat or gluten in small amounts. However, those with an allergy should cut wheat and/or gluten from their diet immediately. An allergy is not something to play around with and can lead to dangerous reactions. The good news is you don’t have to live with the symptoms that occur from either an allergy or an intolerance. Today’s restaurants and food manufacturers are making it much easier for those with wheat and/or gluten allergies and intolerances to enjoy food that meets their dietary guidelines.

Don’t be confused when your doctor says that you are allergy to wheat or gluten. The truth is while you may be allergic to wheat, you may not be allergic to gluten. This can have a huge difference on the foods you’re able to eat. However, if you are allergic to gluten, you’ll need to avoid wheat. Also, it’s important to know whether you have an allergy or intolerance. This can have a huge impact on the lengths you need to go to in order to avoid wheat and/or gluten.

About the Author: Thaddeus Vergeer has worked in the healthcare industry for 15 years and has seen a wide variety of different allergies. He’s currently researching information on ultrasountechnician.info and plans to go back to school to become an ultrasound tech.

5 Creative DIY Projects on The Budget for Halloween

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Eek! Halloween is almost here. You don’t have a costume, or even an idea! Quick, get on the web for a number of available costumes. Wait. Rather than spend money on a grand costume this year here are some better ideas, how about some DIY Halloween costumes!

Our Jack-O-Lanterns for 05

Original Image Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/53508842@N00/53646331/ R

rather than open your wallet, tap into your creativity. Do you need some help? Consider the following five DIY costume ideas.

1) Roll the Dice It’s a crap shoot finding a good costume at stores. However, your creativity supplies unlimited DIY ideas. Find a large-sized box (one for a large screen television or small refrigerator). Paint the box completely white, adding black dots to make a die. Cut holes in the box for your arms. Depending on the fitting, you could use ‘suspenders’ to hold the box in place. Voila, you have yourself a cheap but extremely creative costume. Go the extra yard and paint your face black and white as well.

2) Blues Brothers The Blues Brothers started out as a skit on Saturday Night Live, making way into a feature film. The brothers are legendary in entertainment and music. As popular as they were, there was not much to their iconic attires of black suits, black hats, and glasses. You’ll need a partner to pull off the effect. Additionally, Dan Akroyd was tall and slender while James Belushi was short and pudgy. If this is not your dimensions, use shoe lifts or a pillow to make your body more befitting.

3) “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up!” This catchphrase first gained momentum in the 80s. It’s not funny to make light of medical emergencies; yet, the dramatic display of the elderly actor made her an ongoing sensation. All you need to reenact the ridiculous commercial is a piece of sturdy board. Paint the famous scene of the elderly woman on the floor, leaving a hole for your face. Use suspenders or tape to affix the piece of board to your body. It costs virtually nothing; and, it’s highly likely no one else will have thought of anything nearly as clever.

4) Marlboro Man The Marlboro brand wanted to align itself with its consumers, envisioning rustic, tough men smoking the cigarettes. The Marlboro man essentially is a cowboy. Looking as such requires little effort and money. Search for a western-styled shirt, a pair of boots, and preferably well-worn-in jeans. Obviously, you’ll need a cowboy hat to top it all off. Cigarettes (could alternate with candy cigarettes) are optional.

5) Decorations The above ideas address personal costumes; however, many people enjoy dressing their homes for the fall holiday. Decorations are expensive, yet often pale in comparison to homemade attempts. It’s really about investing time rather than money. Do you have an afternoon to invest into the project? Of course you do; if you ‘make’ the time. Many common household items and cheap arts and crafts can transform your house’s interior and exterior into a creepy crypt. Think about using cardboard cutouts for tombstones, purchasing fake webs to hang from trees and bushes, hiding a cassette player outside that plays eerie sounds and music, and best of all, dressing up as a scary character for ‘trick or treaters’! Creativity always wins out against money. It’s just a matter of investing your thoughts rather than your money. Take the time to mind the above suggestions; or, take these and make modifications of your own!

Author Credits | Apart from DIY, Amie is passionate about savings, in her spare time she enjoys to make the most out of her savings by comparing fixed rate bonds and different investment opportunities – fairinvestment.co.uk has to offer.

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