Wellness Archives - Serendipity Mommy

Choosing Life Insurance as a New Mother: Things to Know

February 22, 2020 by Mandy

Life insurance may not have been on your radar prior to becoming a mother; you’re not alone. Most people don’t consider life insurance until they are a parent; once their baby is born, they want to make sure that he or she is financially protected if anything were to happen to them.

Life insurance can be an overwhelming topic to understand in full, there are a lot of aspects to get to know and there are a lot of different things to consider. A life insurance attorney in Philadelphia summed up exactly how life insurance works for new mothers that may not be familiar with life insurance, “Life insurance is a promise between an insurance company and the insurance policyholder that states after he or she passes away, the insurance company will pay the beneficiary listed on the insurance policy a designated amount of money.”

Here are some other pointers for new mothers to keep in mind when beginning to look into purchasing a life insurance policy:

How Much Life Insurance Should I Buy?

In order to best determine how much life insurance you should buy, consider your family’s financial situation and potential needs. The answer to this question is different for every family, but consider these points in order to determine the appropriate amount to spend on life insurance:

Determine how many years of income you want a life insurance policy to replace
Think about what financial obligations you want this policy to take care of for your children; such as college tuition, counseling, and medical bills
What services do you provide your child with that will have to be replaced? Health insurance? Daycare? Car insurance? Any/ all living expenses?
Do you have money in your savings account? Designate where that will go and what it will cover

Decide on Beneficiaries

If you are married, it’s common and recommended that you name your spouse as the beneficiary of your life insurance policy. Your spouse will get the death benefits from your policy and will be able to take care of your children with it and spend it accordingly. If your child is eighteen or older, you can name him or her as the beneficiary and he or she will receive the payment from the life insurance policy.

However, on a life insurance policy, you can’t name your child as the beneficiary if he or she is under the age of eighteen. Similarly, if you are not naming your spouse as the beneficiary, you are able to set up a life insurance trust fund that will hold money for your children. In other words, the trust is the beneficiary. With this trust, you will also have to select a trustee in order to manage the trust according to the instructions you give.

How Life Insurance is Priced

The price of a life insurance policy is different for every policy and different for every insurance company. Insurance companies take into consideration your age, your gender (women usually pay less than men), your health and habits- good and bad.

In order to get a life insurance quote, you can look online prior to working with a financial advisor.

Stay At Home Parents Need Life Insurance Policies

This is a crucial point for new mothers to keep in mind. Both parents, even stay at home moms need life insurance. Many new mothers that decide to stay at home moms don’t consider purchasing a life insurance policy because they aren’t bringing in a steady income. However, stay at home moms provide valuable services such as child care services that will need to be replaced if anything happens to her.

Protect Your Children by Purchasing a Life Insurance Policy Today

Purchasing a life insurance policy will make the legal process easier and less painful for your family if something were to happen to you. Knowing your family is financially stable is important. Be proactive and protect your children from financial hardships, look into life insurance policies and options today.

Tell-Tale Signs You Need Root Canal Treatment

January 17, 2020 by Mandy

Ask any dentist and they will gladly confirm that tooth extraction really is a last resort, and root canal treatment is often the preferred option that allows the tooth to remain in place. If you are wondering why it is so important not to extract teeth unless absolutely necessary, once a tooth has been removed, the teeth on either side have now lost the critical support and this means they will loosen over time.

Here are a few of the signs that tell you root canal treatment might be required.

Sensitivity To Heat & Cold– If you wince when drinking hot or iced coffee, this is because of exposed nerves, which might be due to a cracked or chipped tooth, or possibly gum disease that has reached the nerve section of the tooth. The best solution if you are experiencing this kind of discomfort is to make an appointment with a local dentist, who can carry out a thorough oral examination to determine the cause of the sensitivity. Sensitive teeth are a problem for many Australian people, although root canal treatment is not always the answer, and the only way to know for sure is to visit your dentist and ask them to examine you.

Constant Pain– If you are suffering with a constant pain at the base of a tooth, this could well be due to a serious infection, and in some cases, root canal treatment is recommended, and by making an appointment at a Brisbane endodontics clinic, an expert can give you a diagnosis. Of course, toothache can be caused by many things and in a lot of cases, other forms of treatment are advised.
Swollen Gums– Swollen gums signify that something is wrong under the surface of the gums and it is usually accompanied by pain, which might be due to a deep infection. In many cases, the tooth is fine and the inflammation will clear up with some medication, yet there are times when the root is damaged, and rather than losing the tooth, root canal treatment is the best option.
Dark Tooth Discolouration – This could be due to root damage, which affects the small blood veins and causes a dark discolouration, and this is often because of extended periods of tooth decay, due to poor oral hygiene. If you notice a dark discolouration at the base of one of your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist and he or she would carry out a thorough oral examination to determine the cause and recommend a treatment.

Without root canal treatment, many people would have no choice but to have teeth extracted and this can cause a whole new set of issues, as the teeth on either side will soon work their way loose and this is a very difficult thing to treat. Only a qualified dentist can perform root canal treatment, which involves removing the substance in the root canal, cleaning out the space, then filling it with a special composite material that retains the tooth’s strength.

Benefits of Hydrating Aloe Vera Juice For Your Skin

December 11, 2019 by Mandy

Aloe vera is a plant with a well-deserved reputation for healing properties. The juice of the aloe vera plant is included in many natural skin care treatments, such as the best organic face wash, because of its superior hydration properties. Discover what sets aloe juice apart from other lightweight moisturizers and makes it ideal for daily use on acne-prone skin.

Lightweight Hydration

Aloe is a go-to ingredient for quenching thirsty skin, particularly after cells sustain sun damage. The juice of this plant has a unique ability to smooth over the epidermis, locking in moisture without leaving behind a greasy residue that could clog pores. These properties make aloe vera juice an effective counterpart to an oil based acne treatment. The juice of this succulent is also rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin C and folic acid, all of which are essential for skin health.

Reduced Irritation

The juice of the aloe vera plant can also reduce reactions such as pain and visible redness while working to repair damage on the cellular level. Aloe suppresses the triggering enzymes for inflammation with compounds such as acemannan, which may be helpful for acne as well as skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.

Aloe vera juice is also a source of polysaccharides, which are compounds that support cell turnover and damage repair. This plant-based product also contains the pain-relieving enzyme carboxypeptidase. The regenerative properties of aloe juice are most potent when the leaves have been cold-pressed and minimally processed.

Improved Absorption

Aloe vera juice and gel both contain lignin. These organic polymers promote the penetration of other treatments through the epidermis and deep down into the dermis. This is another reason why the juice of the aloe plant is recommended for topical use with the best acne oil treatment. Aloe vera juice also features antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents such as plant phenols, salicylic acid and sulfur.

Clarification and Exfoliation

Most acne sufferers are familiar with salicylic acid. This acid naturally occurs in aloe, which enables the juice of this plant to function as a gentle exfoliant. The high rate of absorption makes it possible for aloe vera juice to thoroughly clarify skin. Other compounds present in aloe can limit the production of tyrosinase, an enzyme that triggers the formation of skin discoloration. Antioxidants such as glutathione peroxide may also help to fade existing skin damage. As aloe vera juice is absorbed into skin, it also increases collagen and elastin production while promoting fibroblast activity.

Two distinct products, gel and juice, are sourced from the leaves of Aloe Barbadensis Miller and other common varieties. The juice referred to as Aloe Latex is a yellow sap found between the inner skin of leaves and the gel. This liquid drips from cut leaves and has a bitter taste and strong smell. Aloe vera juice is effective at hydrating skin without clogging pores or provoking irritation. Whether you apply juice directly to skin or look for natural products that contain active botanical compounds, you shouldn’t overlook the nourishing properties of this effective, lightweight moisturizer.

Long Time No Talk: How to Talk to Family You Haven’t Seen in Ages

November 28, 2019 by Mandy

Has a distant relative recently friended you on Facebook? Did you randomly bump into an ex-partner in the street? Or have you found yourself sat next to an old colleague at a dinner party?

Whenever you find yourself reconnecting with an old friend or relative, awkward silence may fill the air. You may find yourself wondering how you managed to converse all those years ago!

In those “long time no talk” situations, how can you reconnect without sounding like a rambling idiot? Read on for the answer.

Conversing in Awkward Situations

Meeting or chatting with someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time can feel extremely uncomfortable. Especially if it’s an unexpected event, such as meeting at local funeral homes when a relative has died. Or bumping into each other in the grocery store.

Either way, it can be hard to think on your feet and say the right thing. So how can you use your words wisely? Follow these simple tips.

Think Before You Speak

If you know you’re going to meet up with old friends and family members at an upcoming event, such as a wedding or funeral, keep a few questions in mind. Try these for conversation starters:

How’s life?
What are you enjoying at the moment?
It’s been 5 years since we last met, what are your highlights?

And while it’s always good to reminisce about the past a little, try to focus on the future too. Plans, hopes, and dreams are all good topics of conversation.

Show Some Love

If you’re happy to see someone, then show some emotion!

A big hug, a smile, and a warm demeanor can break down barriers. You could even say, “I’m happy to see you” or “I was just thinking about you the other day”. Showing love is the best way to ease a potentially awkward situation.

Build Bridges and Apologize

While drifting apart is a natural part of life, you may be at fault. If you feel like you could have been better at keeping in touch, try a small apology. You could say, “I’m sorry I did such a bad job at keeping in touch after we left college”.

But don’t sit there sticking out your bottom lip waiting for the other party to apologize. Take the initiative to build broken bridges. Don’t come across as stubborn or arrogant.

Is it worth it apologizing?

While some toxic relationships may not be worth revisiting, some may be extremely good for you. In fact, research shows that friendships may affect life expectancy. So if you keep leaving friendships behind, you might live to regret it.

Avoid Unmentionables

Of course, in any relationship there are unmentionables. Don’t kill the conversation by asking uncomfortable questions or bringing up bad experiences from the past. Even if you’re trying to make light of something.

This is vital when you’re reconnecting with an ex-partner. Saying something like, “How’s that girl you cheated on me with?” is going to bring the conversation to a complete stop.

Go With the Flow

While having some topics in mind, be fully prepared to go with the flow of the conversation. You’ll find as you start reconnecting, the conversation will become spontaneous. Instead of worrying about what to say next, listen to what they’re saying.

Basically, don’t try too hard. Let it flow naturally.

Keep in Touch

While some relationships are better left to family reunions or events you can’t avoid. Some relationships might be worth saving. This time instead of drifting apart, try to keep in touch.

At the end of the conversation, take their contact details. Tell them, “I’d like to keep in touch”. Or arrange a specific date to meet up again in the future.

Reach Out and Reconnect

Instead of waiting for a chance encounter, you might want to reach out to family members and friends you’ve lost touch with. How can you reconnect? You could try one of these methods:

Write an annual “newsletter” with your latest family news, and encourage your loved ones to send one back.
Use social media to reconnect. Video calls, photo likes, and even simple text messages can rebuild a broken bridge.
Hold a reunion reminiscing on “the good old days” while flicking through old photos and mementos.
Retrace your ancestry and build a family tree.

It might feel daunting to reach out, but once you get chatting it’s often easier to rekindle your relationship than you might have imagined.

Long Time No Talk—The Struggle Is Real!

If you’ve met up with an old friend, the first thing that might roll off your tongue is, “long time no talk”. But instead of letting the situation get even more awkward, follow these tips and reconnect like a pro.

For more tips on how to deal with moments that make lose your cool, check out #thestruggleisreal section of this blog.

How to Stop Allergies Immediately for Your Children

November 18, 2019 by Mandy

Parenthood is often a double-edged sword. The love we have for our children is like nothing else, but that love comes with other side effects: fear and worry about their well-being. Seeing your child suffer through allergies is fun for no mother or father.

That’s why so many parents are curious about how to stop allergies immediately. No one wants to have to see their child fight through irritating symptoms for a moment longer than they need to. Luckily, there are some steps you can take to help cut allergies out of your child’s life.

Not all will work for every child, but all the tips below are worth trying out. Read on and we’ll walk you through what you need to know.

Block out the Allergens

It may sound too simple to be true, but it’s really the best way: keep the allergens away. The more you keep your kids around access to whatever their allergy may be to, the more chance they’ll have to suffer through the consequences.

That means shutting your windows during pollen season, not going to that friend’s house with the dog, or keeping that certain kind of vegetable out of the home.

There’s a lot you can do around the house to help stop the spread of allergens and keep them out of your home. Turn your air conditioner to recycle mode so that it filters just the air that is already indoors around. This will keep pollen and outside allergens out.

You should also clear your air filters as much as possible. Dust and all sorts of potential allergy issues get caught in here, and leaving them uncleaned can create dirty, problematic air. You can even invest in a humidifier for allergies if you want to ensure the air in your home remains clean.

Investing in air purifiers and keeping away from strongly scented detergents and cleaners also can help to make your child more comfortable during an allergy flare-up. Creating a strong and pure environment at home is really one of the best things you can do.

Do Laundry More Frequently

Allergens can stick to our clothes. This is an important fact to understand if you really want to prevent allergies in your child. That means when you go for a walk or spend some time doing activities outside, you are interacting with allergens.

When you come back to the home, you are bringing these allergens in with you. If you want to avoid allergies, it can be best then to toss your clothing off immediately into the laundry hamper. Put new clothes on.

This will be true for both you and your child’s clothing. Everyone has the possibility of bringing allergens into the home, so it will need to be a team effort to keep these allergens out. You might not be able to maintain this system year-round, but it’s something you should keep in mind at least during the highs of allergy season.

When you do wash your clothes, consider doing it at a high temperature. Research has shown that high temperatures can destroy nearly all allergens.

By the same token, if you have pets that live both indoors and outdoors, you’ll need to better monitor their behavior during allergy season. They can easily bring allergens into the home, so you should keep them out of your bedroom and off the furniture.

See a Doctor

Modern medicine has come a long way, and if your child is suffering from allergies, there may be a medical solution. If you haven’t ID’d your child’s triggers, that’s the first step. If you don’t know what’s causing allergic reactions, you won’t know how to best prevent them.

That being said, you probably have already taken that first step forward and you may have already had medication prescribed. This medication isn’t intended to remove allergies as much as it is there to help dull symptoms.

However, it might be worth checking in with your doctor and seeing if the medication you’re using is still the best option. You may be using an over-the-counter medication when something prescribed would be better, or vice versa.

The most important thing is that your child takes the allergy medication as suggested by a doctor, and not just when they begin to experience symptoms. Doing so can really limit its effectiveness.

If pills aren’t doing the trick, there may be a nasal spray that could be better. Veramyst and Nasonex are two examples of nasal steroid spray that have been very popular in those who suffer from seasonal allergies.

Last but not least, if your child suffers from allergies year-round, it might be worth seeing if there are more extreme measures that can be taken. You can look into immunotherapy, where an allergy specialist administers shots over the course of several months.

This can be quite expensive and often painful for small children. Your child would likely not be too excited at the prospect of constant shots. But if their allergy symptoms are very severe and show no signs of fading, this might be the only option available to you.

How to Stop Allergies Immediately

If you see your child suffering, you want to do anything you can to stop it. Knowing how to stop allergies immediately is as simple as reading and implementing the above information into your everyday life.

Need more parental advice, tips, and tricks? Check out the rest of our blog for more information.