Category Archives: SEX & LIFE

Tips on sexual health, mental health, relationships, and everyday healthy life.

Conception’s Got You And Your Man Hot, Sweaty, And…Searching For A Surrogate?

Conception’s Got You And Your Man Hot, Sweaty, And…Searching For A Surrogate?

When it comes to conception, most of us imagine things will get hot and steamy. Sex between you and your partner might have been good before, but surely it’ll crank up a level when there’s added incentive? You likely expect to be at it like rabbits every chance you get. All the better for making that baby, right ladies?

But, what happens when things don’t go to plan? You’ve been trying for months and nothing’s happened. Then, you get the news you’ve been dreading. One of you is infertile, and suddenly your hot and steamy journey couldn’t seem colder. The two of you may go from jumping into bed every second to facing major marriage problems in one short appointment.

The good news is, infertility is by no means the end of the story anymore. With options like surrogacy, there’s every chance you can still go on to conceive a genetic child. But, you first need to go through the experience of finding a surrogate. Talking to your doctor for guidance or searching the web for surrogacy options in Montana or wherever you’re local is a great place to start. But, it’s all too easy to lose the love during this stressful process. Remember, you want to have a child because of the love you share, so it’s essential you don’t let that happen. And, to make sure of it, we’re going to look at a few ways to keep hold of that intimacy, even when surrogacy is on your cards.

Focus on sex regardless

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So, sex isn’t going to lead to babies the way you’d hoped. But, that doesn’t mean you should stop making an effort in the bedroom. If it helps, remember that you’re still on the road to conception. Keeping on top of your sex lives can help keep that momentum alive, as well as preserve the intimacy. Focusing on sex can also help to alleviate any guilt the infertile party might feel. If your man received the bad news, for instance, he might feel that you’re withholding sex as a form of punishment. And, that type of feeling isn’t going to help either of you. So, keep making an effort here. Remember how much fun you had in the bedroom before babies were even on your cards. It might be hard at times, but you need to work to keep that going for the duration of your surrogacy search.

Do everything together

It takes two to make a baby. But, when it comes to surrogacy, it’s all too easy to slip into bad habits of separation. After all,  you’re both giving different samples without each other in the room. And, you may decide to do independent research to put your minds at ease. Before you know, you’ll be having very different experiences of what should be a shared journey. Make sure it doesn’t happen by keeping this between the two of you. Don’t go off into your own heads at any stage. Instead, attend appointments together. If it helps, ask if you can go in with your man while he gives his sperm sample. And make sure not to research alone. Instead, sit down and snuggle up with the laptop one night. Together, visit resources like the ConceiveAbilities Blog which can answer a lot of questions for you. Just the act of coming together like this can help to keep you close and build intimacy during a difficult time. Make sure, too, that you make decisions together. You’ll need to choose everything from your timeline to your surrogate herself. And, it’s essential this is done together. Otherwise, it’s all too easy for one partner to fall out of the loop.

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Keep communication open

Communication is always essential in a relationship, especially when it comes to sex. But, you guys know that, else you wouldn’t have gotten this far. The trouble is, when issues of infertility crop up, it’s all too easy for the shutters to come down. A mixture of embarrassment and reluctance to face the problem are natural. But, you need to lift those shutters before they lock on your love. Instead, make sure you’re discussing your feelings from day one. If you’re upset, talk about it. Make sure not to be touchy or take things to heart. Just listen to your partner, and work towards solutions together. There are sure to be difficult discussions along the way, but you can’t afford to skip them. Only by facing these things head on can you both stay connected for when your baby comes along. Though it may not feel like it now, that could be a lot sooner than you think.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

10 No-Fail Gifts for Music Lovers

10 No-Fail Gifts for Music Lovers

Getting a perfect gift may sometimes be the most difficult thing to do. This is mainly because in most cases, the money is limited and therefore there is a limited list of gifts you can easily afford. In other cases, it may be difficult to identify a gift due to the different tastes and preferences of people. Maybe they would love a signed poster of The Who or prefer you to buy K-Pop albums at this site. We all know how challenging it can be to find the right gift at times for those music enthusiasts. However, below is a list of the 10 gifts that you can give to a music lover for any occasion.

For people who love music, buying them music related gifts would be the best move. Here are the top 10 things you can get a music lover as gifts:

1. An ergonomic keyboard

Many of the people that love music spend a lot of time with their computers. It is for this reason that an ergonomic keyboard would be the best gift idea. It is designed with a V-shape to ensure that both hands are comfortable even when using the keyboard for a long time.

2. Buy them a guitar or take them for guitar lessons

Many of the people that love music would love to have a guitar and learn how to play it in order to create and enjoy music. If they already have a guitar and they do not know how to play it, then guitar lesson would be the greatest gift.

3.Headphones

You can get the really light and in ear headphones so that they are not very heavy to carry around on their heads and necks. The headphones can also have Bluetooth connectivity for continuous music. This way, they are able to listen to music anywhere any time.

4. Give them a Spotify gift card

This is a gift card that enables the recipient to get 3 months free premium music streaming services. It is the perfect idea for any music lover irrespective of whether they have the service or not. This is because eve the people with the service can renew their subscription.

5. A Bluetooth speaker

It would be better to get them a smaller that is easier to carry around. In addition to being compact, it would also help to get a powerful speaker that is also good-looking. When the quality of sound is top-notch, then they are able to have more fun and appreciate the gift even more.

6. Rock n’ roll t-shirts vintage

Most of the music lovers appreciate rock n’ roll vintage t-shirts. There is a large variety for you to choose from when you want to buy one for a music lover. The major advantage of this is that the t-shirts are simple and cheap but they have a lot of sentimental value to music lovers.

7. Get them a showerhead speaker

This is one of the gifts that all music lovers will be able to appreciate. Most people play music on their phones when they are hitting the shower. Having the Bluetooth speaker shower head will completely blow their minds.

8. Get them vintage concert stickers

We all have our favorite wall where we stick all the stuff we like most. Music lovers can either have that wall or a book where they collect and collage all their favorite stuff. Getting a music lover a reproduction of a vintage concert sticker will go a long way in brightening up their day.

9. Pillows, cushions and even duvets with music themes

This is one of the most affordable gift ideas for a music lovers. This is because you can get a simple pillow and have it customized. You can either put the title of the song they love so much, the name or picture of their favorite artist or even their favorite lyrics. All these ideas will work great for a music lover.

10. You can also get record coasters for a music lover who also loves vinyl

This may be a really small gift but it would have a lot value to the music lover because it will help them expand their stock of the records. You can even go ahead and get their favorite tunes on the records.

Getting a gift is one of the most hectic things to do. This is because you may not have the perfect gift idea on your head. However, above are the top 10 gift ideas for music lovers. You have the guarantee that the gift you choose from the list above will go a long way in making their day complete.

Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on TwitterTikTok, or Instagram.

What We Learned from Sex and the City

By Guest Blogger, Brigitte E.

What We Learned from Sex and the City

 

Our favorite girl gang might not be airing on TV anymore, but they still hold their spot in our hearts. The Sex and the City show made us all wonder if we have what it takes to live the high life in the urban jungle and what it is you actually need to do to get there. So, if you want to bring back the best of the times into today, here’s what you’re going to need:

An outfit to make a statement

Each of the girls in the show has her own unique style that worked brilliantly when then show aired in the early 2000’s, but let’s just say that not all of their styles aged so well. While Carrie might have been the fashion icon during the series, these days you might want to be a bit more like Charlotte. But if the girls have thought us something, it’s that you should always dress to impress. Surprisingly, while Miranda was the odd one out, dressing far less stylish than the other girls, her outfits would look the most normal if worn today. Clashing colors and weird pattern mixes might have been considered a catastrophe back in the day, but today you can see such designs on the biggest runways of the world. So really, whether you want to rock knee-high boots with an over-the-top fur coat, or if you want to show off your body in a sexy red dress, it’s important that you find the look that represents you.

Dating

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Relationships take time. You might meet the perfect one and fall in love instantly, but actually not end up together until several arguments, other partners and a couple of seasons pass by. But if we step away from Carrie and look at Charlotte, we’ll see that things don’t always work out – or do they? Your perfect life falls apart, you get divorced and you feel like you are at the bottom, but them someone new just walks by and there you go, back up on your feet.

Sex

 

Let’s take a page from Samantha’s book: She’s not only sex obsessed, but she is perfectly fine with sharing every single detail with her friends and the unseen audience. The thing to remember here is that this show made great strides in demystifying adult toys and showing us that sex isn’t always good. And when it isn’t – you should speak up, change something about it or, at the very least, take things into your hands. But the show also addresses a major problem: unplanned pregnancy. Miranda’s against-all-odds pregnancy was a shock to everyone, and the message is clear: if you don’t want kids (or and STI) always use protection.

Know your perfect cocktail

There is really nothing more iconic for this show than a glass of Cosmopolitan. So let’s see how you can recreate it at home with your best friends: Originally, the recipe uses cranberry juice, but you can substitute it for grapefruit or blood orange. Put 1oz in a shaker over ice, add a ¼ oz of triple sec and 1 ¼ oz of vodka (or a bit more, if you’re trying to cheer up a friend who just broke up). Shake it all up and pour into a martini glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon and you are good to go. Alternatively, go downtown to your favorite bar and tell mr. Bartender to keep them coming.

Have a support group

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If you strip away all the side action that fills up the show, you are left with one very simple theme: friendship. The four girls go through their life’s ups and downs together and support each other through it all. So before you start buying furry coats, shaking up cosmos and updating your sex toy collection, first make sure you have a group of friends that will see you through thick and thin, laugh and cry with you and love you and simply love you unconditionally.

 

And if this made you feel nostalgic, then maybe get your friends together and watch a season or two of the show to remember the good time and give yourself inspiration for your own adventure. After all, we are all writing our own stories, and perhaps it’s just the right time for another plot twist.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

How To Improve Your Focus

How To Improve Your Focus

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Do you find that you are struggling to focus as of late? Do you often find yourself staring out of the window or daydreaming and you don’t know how long you have been doing it for? Maybe you cannot focus on one idea for a long period of time without getting frustrated and thinking about something else. We all get like this from time to time. However, the only person that can get your focus back is you.

With that being said, read on to discover a number of different suggestions that will help you regain your focus again.

Read: THIS IS WHY YOUR BRAIN CAN’T FUNCTION WITHOUT SLEEP

Take short breaks –

There is only one place to begin, and this is by taking short breaks. Sitting at a computer for hours on end is not going to help anyone. Instead, if you take short breaks and you do so regularly, you give your brain a chance to refresh. You will come back to your station feeling rejuvenated, which will enable you to tackle your work with a much higher level of focus and concentration. There have also been a number of studies that have backed this up, too.

This includes one that was carried out by Alejandro Lleras, a psychologist at the University of Illinois. He carried out a study that involved participants taking short breaks throughout a task lasting 50 minutes. He found that they performed better than participants who worked straight through the task without taking any breaks. The theory is simply that short breaks like this will re-energize the brain. In order to stay focused, you need to deactivate and reactivate your goals. Brief mental breaks will actually enable you to stay focused on the task at hand.

Turn on some music –

Another way to increase your focus levels is to turn on your music. You may assume that this would be a distraction, but it all depends on the music you play. After all, too much background noise can be very distracting. However, if you play a song that you like, it can help you to focus your thoughts. This is something that was proven by the University of North Carolina and Wake Forest School of Medicine. You can find their research in the Scientific Reports. The researchers who carried out the study said they were surprised by the consistency of their results because of the fact that music varies considerably, from pieces with and without lyrics to the differences in acoustic complexity. Nevertheless, no matter whether it is Beyoncé or Beethoven, listening to music that you enjoy can help you to improve your focus.

Check the thermostat –

The next step in improving your levels of concentration is to check the thermostat. Your focus can be negatively impacted if your place of work is too hot or too cold. You need to make sure you are comfortable and that you are working to the optimal temperature.

Grab a coffee –

Are you the sort of person who needs a morning coffee to get your day going? If not, this could be where you are going wrong. You are probably aware of the fact that coffee can give you an energy boost and wake you up. However, it does a lot more than this, as it can actually help you to focus on the day too. A run to the coffee shop could be just the thing you need if you require an attention booster in the afternoon.

Natural energy boosters –

There are a lot of energy-boosting products available on the market today, yet most people are skeptical of using such supplements. This is understandable. After all, you don’t want to put something in your body if there is a risk of it having an adverse side effect. This is why it is good to use a natural energy booster, for example, something like Nitro Xtreme works well. With natural products like this, you can be sure that you are not consuming anything harmful. Some of the ingredients in this product include Niacin, Chromium, Zinc, Magnesium, and CoQ10. This increases your focus and gives you a natural boost of energy, making it especially suitable for anyone who has been experiencing a hectic and stressful life lately. Similarly, you can also opt to use Dr. Grundy’s MCT Wellness supplement to improve focus and boost energy function. You can check out MCT Wellness reviews online to see whether this supplement might be a beneficial addition to your diet. 

Unplug for 30 minutes –

Earlier, we spoke about the importance of taking brief breaks throughout any task you are carrying out that is going on for a considerable amount of time. However, it is also good to unplug for 30 minutes if you find that you are struggling to get in the zone out of work. This means logging out of social media and your email too. You can do this at the beginning of the day or for a period during the afternoon, whichever is better for you.

You will be shocked by how much more you can achieve once your emails and social media messages are not distracting you. Why not go one step further and turn off your notifications altogether? A lot of people assign themselves certain periods throughout the day for checking their emails so that it does not get in the way of what they are meant to be doing at work.

Understand what your focus needs to be –

You are going to struggle to achieve the high levels of focus and concentration you need if you cannot determine what is worthy of your distraction. Every morning, think about what really needs your most focus for the day so that you can direct your efforts properly and you can avoid wasting time on tasks that are not considered an emergency.

Prepare your brain –

Aside from the points that have already been mentioned, another way that you can focus more effectively is by calming your brain prior to carrying out any task. You should take a minute or two and sit in a position that is comfortable for you. Practice deep breathing into your stomach. This does not mean that you need to chant or sit cross-legged. You merely need to find a way to calm your body down before you start your work. This will really help you to get into the zone and concentrate.

Read: ULTIMATE SUCCESS ROUTINE

Drink more fluids –

The final tip when it comes to giving your focus the boost it needs is to drink more fluids. This is another suggestion that has been proven with a study. The Journal of Nutrition found that mild dehydration is one of the key reasons for inattention. Their 2012 study concluded that drinking more fluids could make a big difference in terms of focus levels. They recommend 12.5 cups for men and nine cups for women. Carry a water bottle with you while you are at work and use an app on your phone to track how much water you have drunk each day.

As you can see, there are many different ways that you can improve your focus. If you have been struggling to concentrate in the workplace and you do not know what to do to get your high levels of concentration back, follow the suggestions that have been provided above and you should notice a difference in terms of your efficiency and focus levels. You will be able to achieve more, and you will know exactly what to do if your concentration levels ever start to take a dip again.

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on TwitterTikTok, or Instagram.

5 Things You Can Do to Feel Better about Yourself

By Guest Blogger, Rebecca B.

5 Things You Can Do to Feel Better about Yourself

We can’t always feel our best or be at our best. But in order to live a happier and more stress-free life, there are certain things you can do to help the tough times flow by faster.

Exercise More

Did you know that exercise actually makes you happy? While doing your workout, your brain recognises the activity as stress, which is why it releases endorphins which are also known as the hormones of happiness. And the more you “torture†your body with exercise, the happier you are afterwards! You can even get hooked on your daily workout and it is probably the best addiction you can develop. There is a long list of benefits including a healthier heart, lower blood sugar levels, a slimmer figure, a sense of achievement, better mental health, to name but a few.

Most people find it hard to endure a certain type of exercise. We tend to give up for all sorts of reasons: it is too hard, we don’t have the time, it is more fun to do other things or we simply get bored of repeating the same drill over and over again. You can solve this problem by changing the type of workout you do. Combine different activities such as running, cycling, swimming and going to the gym. Or try out some fun new ways to keep fit such as power yoga, pilates, kickboxing or even dancing.

Enjoy a Long Walk by Yourself

If you want a quick fix for your body and soul, then go outside and take a stroll by yourself! Did you know you can spend a lot of calories just by walking? In one hour, you can burn about 200 calories, which is one snack. And just being outside alone and enjoying the fresh air will help you clear your mind and forget about anything that was previously bothering you. Beautiful scenery will help you even more, so go to a park, forest, river bank or simply stroll along quiet streets.

But what if it is too hot, too cold, too windy or too rainy outside? Then you can walk at home! All you need is a few square meters and a step counter. You can play the music you like or even watch a movie! And if you need extra motivation, find walk at home videos online.

Eat Healthy

Changing your eating habits can also help you feel better about yourself. If you want to lose weight, start counting calories. You can download an app to help you monitor what you eat and achieve your goals. You should also carefully choose the food you eat. Read the labels and avoid products which contain additives, artificial sweeteners, nitrites, nitrates, and other nasties.

You should also try to eat more organic food and cook your meals from scratch. Instead of buying a pasta sauce or mayonnaise, why not make them yourself. Fresh, healthy food tastes better anyway! Whenever you can, cook your meals, because it can be so rewarding. And if you don’t have time to do that, buy healthy, quality ingredients which can be tossed together and prepared quickly, or order food from trusty restaurants.

Have a Cosmetic Procedure

Not happy with your looks? Why not treat yourself with a cosmetic procedure! If you need a small boost, try one of the non-surgical treatments such as lip enhancement, face fillers, acne treatment or laser hair removal. Perhaps you have a tattoo you are no longer happy about? That can be fixed too!

Cosmetic surgery is nothing to be ashamed of if it can actually improve your overall wellbeing. A small intervention can boost your confidence and let you embrace new opportunities in life easier. In some cases, it can even improve your mental health!

Have a Pampering Session

 

And occasionally spoil yourself with a pampering session! Book a treatment at a beauty salon to fix your brows, get a wax or have your nails done. It will make you feel so much better about yourself! Or even go to a spa and enjoy a massage, an indulgent cosmetic treatment, a sauna or an energetic swim in the pool. It is a great idea for a girly outing with your bestie!

Alternatively, stay at home and dedicate an evening to yourself. Light up your favourite candles, make a bubble bath, put a rejuvenating mask on your face, do a scrub and use your most loved lotions and potions. Then tuck yourself in comfy pajamas and watch a series you are hooked on. It is one of the best ways to end the day and fill yourself with positive energy.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.