SEX & LIFE

Self-Care During Divorce

Self-Care During Divorce

Image via Pexels

Divorce is undoubtedly one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. The world you knew is crumbling around you, while there are all kinds of legal and financial things that need to be dealt with. Having a good lawyer can help to put your mind at rest, at least where the legal side is concerned. Mediation services like Buncombe mediation can also help to take the stress off.

But what about the emotional side of divorce? While all of the technicalities are getting dealt with, it’s critical to take time for self-care and reflection. Everyone’s divorce situation is unique and each of us handles these challenges differently. If you’re feeling down, stressed or tense due to divorce, spending time to care for yourself will leave you much better off in the long run.

Talking it through

Help make this messy process easier to cope with by understanding some of the mental effects of divorce. It’s totally understandable for you to feel sad, angry, depressed, lost or any other combination of emotions right now. Give yourself time and space to feel what you are feeling. Don’t be tempted to hide your emotions away or suppress them with drink, drugs, or other unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Instead, turn to friends, family, or specially trained professionals who can help you to navigate your way through this maze of tangled emotions. It can help to tell friends and family exactly how you’d like to be supported, as these times can be hard for them to navigate, too. Let them know what will help you.

Remember if you feel that the divorce is affecting your mental health, it’s important to speak to a therapist who can help you to cope. There may be support groups you can go to where you can share exactly how you’re feeling with people who are going through the same thing.

Going easy on yourself

You might be finding it hard to concentrate on other things or spending a lot of time going over the situation in your head. You may even be feeling guilty or having negative thoughts about yourself. It’s natural to feel this way when you’re going through emotional challenges, but try to be kind to yourself.

Practicing self-compassion or mindfulness techniques can help you to see things from a different perspective. You could boost your self-confidence by writing a list of all of the things that you like about yourself or any compliments you’ve received that have stuck with you. Gratitude journals can also be a great way of maintaining a positive outlook, as it can help you to see the little things worth celebrating despite the heartache you’re going through.

Exercising

It’s no secret that exercise is great for mental health and overall wellbeing. Your self-esteem and confidence might have taken a dive during this time. It’s natural to want to hide away when you feel stressed or down. But you can boost your endorphins and your self-image by making time for exercise you enjoy. This could be a challenge you set yourself to take your mind off things. Alternatively, you could take up a new sport or activity that you’ve always wanted to try. Having a sense of excitement and accomplishment could give you a little boost when things seem hopeless and remind you there are new things on the horizon.

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.

SEX & LIFE

5 Things You Can Do To Find A Date

5 Things You Can Do To Find A Date

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The dating game is hard. It doesn’t matter how smart, beautiful, or funny you are, it can be difficult to find that special someone. Far too many people rely on chance and wait around for their dream guy or girl to come to them. The trouble is, this is unlikely to happen, especially when the sort of person you want in your life is just as busy as you probably are. If you’re going to meet Miss or Mr Right, then you need to work at it. With that in mind, here are five ways to find a date.

1. Swipe Right On Apps

Dating apps can definitely be frustrating at times, but there is no option quite so simple. All you need to do is upload a few pictures, write a little about yourself, and then start swiping. Although people often tell the horror stories of online dating, there have been many successes too. As long as you stay safe and keep your wits about you, there’s no reason why it should go wrong.

2. Chat Over The Phone

While dating apps are convenient, some people prefer to talk over the phone than through messages. This is where freechatLines could come in. Whether you want to meet your soulmate or just talk to someone new, a chat line would allow you to do that. It’s fun, a great way to break the ice, and, because you’re talking over the phone, completely safe and private too.

3. Attend A Singles Event

Although it can definitely feel like it at times, you’re not the only one in your local area looking for a date. There are sure to be hundreds of other single people nearby. This is why singles events are so popular. These gatherings can come in many different shapes and sizes but are all full of people just like you. You could also try signing up for a class or social group of some kind.

4. Volunteer For A Charity

Volunteering is a great way to put yourself out there and meet new people. It’s also a particularly smart dating strategy for those looking to find someone compassionate and caring. Plus, you get to do some good for a cause close to your heart. There are many places you could volunteer, from animals shelters to beach cleanups. You just need to find a cause that you care about.

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5. Talk To A Friend

You may not know anyone that you want to date, but that doesn’t mean that your friends don’t. By letting your loved ones know that you’re looking for someone special, you give them a chance to find someone for you. Couples who meet through mutual friends benefit from having the same social group. Because of this, you should allow your loved ones to try to set you up.

Although the perfect person could find you by chance, this is unlikely to happen. If you want to meet your dream guy or girl, then take the advice above on board and start looking for them.

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.

BEAUTY

Skin Care: What Are You Putting In Your Bloodstream?

Skin Care: What Are You Putting In Your Bloodstream?

By Guest Blogger, Emily F.

Naturally based skin-care is on the rise, and it makes sense as to why. Your skin is your bodies largest organ. Anything you put on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream within 26 seconds. Majority of products on the market today are made up of 95% fillers, such as crude oil and animal byproduct. The harsh chemicals and ingredients found in certain skin care and beauty products are linked to many health problems such as eczema, cancer, hormone interruption, neurological diseases, and birth defects. Arbonne, a company that believes in the power of naturally based products, does not regulate over 2000 chemicals from being used in their products. The U.S. only prohibits the use of 10.

If you are looking for a healthier alternative that will have your skin glowing, looking young and refreshed, you are going to want to get your hands on some of Arbonne’s vegan skincare! Start off with cleansing your face with RE9 Advanced Prepwork Micellar Water. Micelles (tiny bunches of molecules) in this formula trap dirt, makeup and daily grime while coconut water conditions skin with hydration. After you get all the dirt and grime off your face, go in with the RE9 Advanced Skincare set. You’ll see results in just 24 hours! Who doesn’t want radiant, firm, hydrated and smooth skin that will only continue to improve over time? This skincare set, along with Arbonne’s others, are believed in by dermatologists. Don’t miss out on this anti-aging skincare, opportunity.

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.

SEX & LIFE

Why Buying a Used Vehicle Is Better

Why Buying a Used Vehicle Is Better

If you are in the middle of deciding what type of car to buy or truck to buy, the chances are you have browsed online for both new options, and second hand. Each choice has a range of pros and cons, for example, driving a new car is a pretty sweet drive. They have air-con, perfectly working heaters, inbuilt parking sensors and cameras. Some will even park for you now… Or in the case of Tesla – drive for you. And all of those things are great, but they come at a pretty steep price. If you aren’t a cash buyer, and most of us aren’t you might struggle to find a finance deal that is going to work for you. Or, you might not want to be locked into a contract for the next X amount of years.

Used cars come with much fewer strings. Unless it’s in the newer age bracket of ‘used,’ it’s usually within the grasp of most people to be able to afford it. But if you are shopping used trucks and cars online here are a few great reasons to buy used – not new.

Photo by Nikita Kachanovsky on Unsplash

Depreciation

No one who buys a new car ever says ‘well this was an investment!’. The moment it rolls off the lot, it loses a heap of value. And then over the following three years, they can lose up to 50%. Which is a lot if you are making a 30-40k investment. Used cars, however, you’re not likely to worry too much about that. You’re already getting a great deal on a car in perfect working order – just a few years under its belt.

Lower Insurance

Older car – cheaper to repair (in most cases). The value of your vehicle is one of the primary factors that is taken into account when determining the rates that you’re going to pay. It makes sense, right? The higher the value of the car, the more money the insurance company will have to pay out in the event of an accident. Of course, there are other factors, like how long you’ve been driving and how many seats are in the car. But mostly, they’re looking at the value.

Longer Life

While you can still find plenty of 20+-year-old cars trundling along, in general vehicles are designed to last longer now. Of course, they all have a certain amount of miles in them, and by no means in 100,000, the same as 200,000 but car designers and engineers have made incredible strides in the giving cars a longer lifespan.

This is one of the things that people who are buying used cars worry about, but with cars designed to last, it shouldn’t be a concern. Unless you are really going to buy that 20-year-old Volvo – of course.

Pick Of The Litter

Or something like that anyway. If you want an older model because it had a sweet shape, more boot space or a particular gadget they phased out then used is going to be your best friend. Each year, around 350 models of new car hit the market. Which might sound a little OTT, it’s just that some marketing is better than others – and we don’t always see the models that get released in other countries. So if that is what the new car market has each year, you can begin to imagine the range of the used car market.

Online Information

New cars come with a blank sheet. And that’s cool, but older cars come with a personality – and that is cooler. But, what is more – you have access to their history. You can check the plates of the vehicle too, has it been stolen? Do the plates match the make and model of the car?

If the car has been in an accident, has been repaired, or failed its last MOT you will have access to all of the information before you decide to purchase the car. Of course, a clean MOT one year isn’t a guarantee that it will pass the next – but if you know what some of the issues were, you will have an idea of what you can expect the next time.

More Motor for Your Money

A new car is going to run you a few thousand. Either upfront or a couple of hundred a month in a contract. If you have the cash to play with, then you’re going to be able to get a lot more car for your money. A new Land Rover, or a Volvo 4×4, are anywhere between $45,000 – $177,000. Which is pretty steep, even on finance. But a few thousand will get you second-hand version – with a few miles on the clock.

You aren’t tied to only purchasing something that has a heap of functions you might not use. You can buy any make, and model and any year of car that you like. In fact, if you have time, you can spend as long as you like finding the perfect second-hand sweetheart for you.

New Driver?

Obviously, no one wants this to happen, but in the first year of driving most people are more likely to have a crash. The insurance on a newer car is already going to be high, add in a new driver premium – and then an accident? It makes the car even more expensive. Having a slightly older car, and maybe even on the cheaper side is going to put you at ease just that little bit more when you start driving unaccompanied.

Cover

If you buy from a used car garage, the car will usually come with a decent warranty. One that will keep your covered for 3-6-9 months and the follow-up care is generally pretty nice too.

In general, there are pros and cons to both new and used. But, if you are looking to maximize what you can get with the money you have, and keep your insurance low, then used cars will win every time.

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.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Saving Money On Big Life Decisions

Saving Money On Big Life Decisions

As we get older, and the responsibility piles on, we can often find we are spending out left, right and centre. Money worries are a significant cause of stress, and with many people less able to save on a weekly or monthly basis, it pays to get smart about what you buy.

Weddings, new babies, moving house, decorating and buying a car are all heavy hitters in terms of big spending. Maybe you have to relocate for a new job and need to view cheap apartments in Austin online. Or you need to move everything you own overseas. Any of these things can be overwhelming yet truly exciting. So how do you spend less and still enjoy those things?

Here are a few tips for you!

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash

Weddings

If you have been dreaming of a perfect wedding, for years, you don’t need to cast that aside just yet. Think about what you non-negotiables are. What is it you have to have without question. Is it the dress? What about the cake? Flowers perhaps? Sometimes the pinch really comes when the guest list keeps getting longer and longer.

If something doesn’t make the non-negotiable list, then those are places that you can safely cut back. Not everyone wants to spend so much on flowers when a small wild bunch looks beautiful.

Call in favours from friends and family to help you decorate the venue yourself, and do other things in the early stages like:

  • Design and print your own invitations, or create a free website for people to RSVP
  • Hand make the favours
  • Skip the DJ and create your own playlist, and use a simple Sono style speaker
  • Put a down payment on your dress as early as possible, so that you won’t need to pay too much of a lump sum later on.
  • Same with the venue
  • Always get insurance for your wedding. That way, if something does go wrong, you won’t lose a penny.

It is easy to get caught up in color schemes and taffeta, but try to remember that a wedding is about you and the person you love. The rest is just the trimmings.

Car

Buying a new car is out of most people’s reach. You can, of course, opt to go down the finance route, and that does come with a lot of perks. But in the end, you are still going to be spending a premium for those four wheels. Before you start working out what % deal you can get, consider buying a used car instead.

They have a few miles on the clock, sure, but they have also (in most cases) been well looked after. New cars do have that ‘new car smell’, but a second-hand vehicle has a whole personality of its own. They’re usually cheap enough to buy outright, you are free to haggle on the price if you want it even, and depending on the age they are cheaper to insure.

When you make the decision to buy a used car, don’t just buy the first one you see. If you have the time to visit a few and fit in some test drives, then try to do that. You’ll quickly learn if a car is for you or not. If you aren’t very great with cars, then try to bring someone along with you who is. They will be able to do some checks on the overall health of the vehicle and guide you n the right direction in terms of price.

Moving House

If you aren’t moving too far, then you have the luxury of calling in friends and family, hiring a van and doing most of the leg work yourself. When you are thinking about moving out of state or even to a new country, the logistics get a bit trickier.

The best place to start is by having a good clear-out. Get rid of things you don’t love, need, or use. That might be a lot more than you think. Starting with your clothing works really well. If you need the inspiration to get your clothing sorted, or the rest of the house for that matter, then check out Marie Kondo. She has excellent tips about how to really clear your space of clutter. Donate what is good enough to be used again, sell what you can, and try to streamline what you’re taking.

Consider hiring a moving van yourself. It’s a lot cheaper than having a whole moving team doing it for you. And, while yes, you’ll need to do the heavy work yourself – you’re going to be saving big bucks. The size of van will obviously depend on what you are bringing with you, so really give everything a lot of thought.

Redecorating

Before you rush out to the DIY store, start cleaning and getting rid of stuff too. Much like moving, it will make the whole thing much smoother. Once you have gotten rid of the clutter, and given the place an excellent clean, consider this – do you want to redecorate, or do you just want a fresh feel?

Paint isn’t too expensive, and if you then focus on moving the furniture around instead of replacing things, you’ll get a ‘new’ looking space at a fraction of the cost. If you want to pick up smaller items, like vases, candles holders and even pieces of art for the walls, they are also cheap alternatives to a full redecorating project.

Don’t forget about redecorating the exterior either! You’ll need to wash down your concrete, exterior walls, and your lawn. Check out sites like http://vikingconcretellc.com/ if you don’t have access to a pressure washer of your own. Then, break out some hard wearing paint! 

30 Day Rule

Unless you have to buy something immediately, start putting yourself on a timer. If you see something you want, instead of instantly buying it, make yourself wait 30 days. Then, if you still really want the item at the end of those 30 days go and get it. Often we make hasty decisions when it comes to making purchases. During the 30 day wait, you will think about your finances more, and do you really need it? More often than not, we won’t go back a month after to get something. Impulse buying always costs more in the long run. From dresses, you’re ‘saving’ and never wear, to the coffee machine that ends up gathering dust on the side.

Always give your finances the once over before making big decisions, and give yourself plenty of time to find alternatives too.

​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.

Everyday Tips from Tia