Traveling Tips: How to Properly Plan Your Trip Without Forgetting Anything

When you travel, there are a lot of things that can go wrong. You could lose your passport, forget to pack something important for the trip - or worse. That's why it is so important to travel with a plan and follow these tips! In this blog post, the discussion will be about how you can plan your trip without forgetting anything - including some travel hacks to make everything run smoothly.

Check the Weather Forecast for Your Destination

Checking the weather forecast for your destination is important. You don't want to travel somewhere and not be able to enjoy the weather because you're unprepared, or worse yet, have a health hazard on vacation! 

To plan accordingly, you should:

  • Check what the average temp for that area will likely be during peak hours - if it's going to be in the 90s then pack light clothes, but if it'll only get up into the 70s then pack heavy clothing.

  • Figure out how hot/cold are their rooms usually at night? If they typically run warmers all day and at night to keep people nice and cozy, you should bring fewer layers of clothing as well as checking room temps before traveling, so you know when to wear them (when it gets colder).

  • Know which season it is? You can find out by looking up the average temps and wearing appropriate clothes. 

  • Check travel advisories before traveling to a new location - you want to be informed about any health hazards, travel warnings, or if there are civil disturbances in the area that might make travel unsafe.

Don’t Pack Everything

Pack clothing, travel necessities (toiletries) in a carry-on bag, so you can avoid checked luggage charges. And if the airline allows for one free checked bag per ticket, use this to your advantage by bringing items that won't be needed until later in the trip, such as winter clothes or bulky souvenirs. Also, take only important electronics like laptops with software licenses rather than full suitcases of documents and files. You may want to consider using cloud storage instead!

Research Where You're Going

Figuring out what you want to do while you travel is one of the most important things to plan. It's easy to spend a lot of time researching where you're going and what your plans are, but many people forget about some basic research that can help them have an enjoyable trip. If you, for instance, will be traveling near Joshua Tree National Park, make sure to do your research first and find out what attractions you can visit there. It is always smarter to figure things out beforehand.

  • Make sure that there aren't any major events happening during your visit.

  • Find out when it will be appropriate for kids to travel in case this is a family vacation with children.

  • Check if your destination has any specific health concerns or warnings.

  • If visiting another country, check their laws on customs and dress code before arrival.

Download an Offline Map of the Area

Having an offline map of the place where you travel to can be very helpful if you travel somewhere with limited Wi-Fi availability. 

This way, you don't have to worry about being disconnected from the internet at any time of your trip and not having access to good directions or other information that could help you find certain places on the map. In a lot of situations where there is no Wi-Fi available, like in some rural areas for example - offline maps are crucial!

Make Sure You Have Enough Cash on Hand

As you travel, it is important to be aware of your available cash. You never know when an emergency will happen, and the last thing you want to have to do was withdraw more funds from a bank machine or ATM, which means that you'll need money on hand at all times.

If possible, try not to travel with any cards other than credit cards as they can get stolen while traveling; if this becomes necessary for whatever reason, just make sure that there are no personal identifying numbers displayed anywhere near them.

In addition, always keep your wallet in front of you or even in front of a jacket pocket, so it's harder for somebody else to steal them without being noticed. And finally, don't wear clothes with big, deep pockets that can be easily reached and stolen.

You may not be able to control the weather, but you can prepare for it. Pack light and make sure all your travel documents are in order before getting on that flight or hitting the road. Research where you’re going, so you know what kinds of clothes to pack, which currency is used there, and how much everything costs--that way you won't have any surprises when checking out at a store abroad. And don’t forget about downloading offline maps if Wi-Fi isn’t available! These simple steps will help ensure your trip goes off without a hitch.

Follow These 7 Tips To Add Style And Color To Your Neutral Living Room

Are you still in love with the neutral color scheme of your living room, but feel like it’s missing something, or becoming a little outdated? You don’t need heaps of money and lots of time to entirely remodel a living room to make it feel like a new space. A few simple, yet stylish additions can really transform your space, making it feel like a space you want to spend all your time in. Here are 7 things you can do to add a splash of color to your living room.

1. Add Some Paint

We’re starting this list off with our guns a-blazin’! Adding a pop of color to a wall turns it into a feature rather than a drab, unseen part of the room. You can paint a smaller nook, or if you’re feeling bold, you could paint one of the larger walls to turn it into a bold statement. Go to the hardware store and pick up a bunch of bold paint swatches that will really contrast your neutral fabrics found elsewhere in the living room. If that is too loud for you, you can go the quieter route and paint the wall a more subtle version of that color, or even a tone darker than the rest of your walls. You can also use Annie Sloan chalk paint for a natural, calm look around the house in whatever color you want. Be sure to know how to use it beforehand.

2. A Styled Accent Wall

An accent wall doesn’t have to be painted. You can also have a large piece of art strategically placed to create this contrast of color. For example, Serenity Prayer Art is a lovely way to light up a room and give inspiration and motivation to those who read it. Another option is to have a bunch of your family photos grouped and hung in an appealing and modern way. Both of these add additional shape and meaning to a room.

3. PLANTS, PLANTS, PLANTS

Plants come in all sorts of glorious colors. They bring life to any space and add that perfect pop of color without being overpowering. Depending on your lighting situation there are different plants that would better suit your space. Be sure to choose indoor plants that fit your conditions. If this seems too intimidating, you can always opt for realistic-looking artificial plants and flowers. This is a super-easy way to have the beauty of a plant and never have to be concerned with it dying and having to care for it.

4. Paint a Piece of Furniture

This one is so much fun. Do you have a bland bookcase, chest of drawers, or a shelf unit that could benefit from a little splash of color? Turn it into a conversation piece. There are so many ways of doing this. We would recommend looking to Pinterest for some color inspo. You don’t have to go crazy and paint the entire thing a super bold color. You can color block it, or paint certain pieces that you think should be accented. This can really turn a piece of furniture that blends into the background into something that stands out.

5.Throw in a Few Pillows and Blankets

Throw pillows are the best way to add a pop of color in my opinion. Add patterned pillows to plain, solid-colored furniture, and vice versa. This is a really easy way to play with color because if you are not feeling a specific color that day you can just change the pillows out for something else. If you are an indecisive person this is probably a better option for you, than painting a bookcase or an entire wall.

Blankets are just as good as pillows when it comes to adding a pop of color to a space. This is a fun way to play with textures and colors. A nice big, chunky knit blanket can add depth and color to your space and you can use it when things get cold. Throw it on the back of your sofa, or over the arm of a neutral chair.

6. Colourful Rugs and Carpets

Like throw pillows, this is one that requires minimal commitment. A rug can add warmth to a space, and a bold rug that is strategically placed can make your living room pop and really come to life in quite a shocking way. You could even try layering rugs to give the space more texture, or to play down a really loud rug.

7.  Repholster Something

This seems might harder and trickier than it is. Reupholstering a chair is quite simple. It can make a rather dramatic difference to your space. Consider getting one chair in an accent color to the rest. A nice luxurious green or blue velvet could be just the thing your living room needs.

The most important thing is to create a space that you love and enjoy spending time in.

5 Things Doctors Want You to Know About Psoriasis

Oh my God, you have a rash that looks like the picture you saw on Google describing psoriasis!

Oh, immune system, what have I done to thee?

Our body has a natural defense mechanism, the immune system, to fight off viruses and bacteria.

But sometimes, through unknown reasons, it can start attacking our organs and cells!

That’s what happens when you get psoriasis.

Psoriasis occurs when the immune system sends wrong messages to your skin cells, informing them to grow faster.

Eventually, what you get is a massive lump of skin cells that cause your skin to appear red, cracked, and covered with silvery scales. 

But is psoriasis similar to chickenpox? Can you catch it?

Before jumping to conclusions, check out these five medical bullet points that briefly cover psoriasis!

1. A Physician Should Diagnose Psoriasis

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that results in itchy, well-delineated, red, scaly plaques in locations across the body, often on the scalp, elbows, and knees.

Patients are diagnosed with psoriasis in their 20s or later in adulthood, after a thorough clinical examination and query about family history, and sometimes followed with a skin biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

You may get a rash from eating a specific food that might resemble the symptoms of psoriasis. 

Although it might help to research and read about skin diseases through online articles, do not self-diagnosis!

2. Psoriasis Is Not Eczema

Psoriasis, which is claimed to be an autoimmune condition, is most often confused with the most common form of eczema called atopic dermatitis.

Concerning its appearance, psoriasis lesions have sharper borders and thicker scaling than atopic dermatitis.

Patients who suffer from atopic dermatitis usually start experiencing symptoms in early childhood after having allergic conditions, like asthma, seasonal allergies, and food sensitivities. 

Unlike psoriasis, atopic dermatitis tends to be itchier, less well-defined, and present in different body parts, such as the face and body fold areas of the arms and the legs.

3. Psoriasis Is Not Contagious

Many patients feel distressed or sad when talking about psoriasis because of the social stigma surrounding it. 

Unfortunately, what people don’t understand, they fear.

Psoriasis isn’t infectious. Your next of kin and strangers shouldn’t be afraid of someone who has psoriasis. 

In fact, genetics play a significant role in the incidence of the development of psoriasis.

4. There Is Still Ongoing Research into the Causes of Psoriasis

According to medical professionals, there’s still a lot to learn about how and why patients develop psoriasis.

Inflammatory pathways that are involved in psoriasis are still under study. Addressing that inflammation is the key to treating this skin condition much more effectively nowadays.

It’s important to note the role of genetics in the likelihood of psoriasis.

If someone has a parent or grandparent with the condition, they are at higher risk for developing it. However, there are likely various factors involved that eventually lead to the onset of psoriasis.

5. Treatments of Psoriasis Have Improved Greatly in the Last 10 Years

Nowadays, it’s possible to help patients get rid of or greatly diminish the development of psoriasis while improving their internal symptoms, including psoriatic arthritis.

Treatment options vary depending on the extent of the condition, but most work through targeting inflammation caused by an overactive immune system.

Moreover, because patients with psoriasis have a greater risk of diabetes and heart disease, doctors recommend that primary care physicians be actively involved in screening for such conditions.

Get in Touch with a Professional

If you think you are experiencing any symptoms related to psoriasis or know someone who suspects that they have psoriasis, reach out to a psoriasis specialist to inquire about the condition further. 

Learn the truth about your tap water

Clean, running water forms the backbone of modern society. Without it, people’s lives are at risk. But could there still be some unwelcome visitors lurking in your tap water?

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What is living in your drinking water?

You can find both viruses and bacteria in your tap water, but not all are of concern. Not every bacteria and virus is pathogenic. Pathogenic strains get closely monitored and regulated through water treatment. 

Bacteria are single-celled, microscopic organisms not visible to the human eye. They divide exponentially. Given enough time, they form a large mass, referred to as a biofilm, that grows on pipe walls in treatment centres. Eventually, the growth collapses under its weight, releasing the bacteria into the water.

In optimal conditions, Escherichia coli can divide every twenty minutes. Within 24 hours it can grow from a single cell to 47,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 cells! 

Some strains of E. Coli are dangerous and can cause pneumonia and diarrhoea. When drinking water's contaminated with animal waste or sewage, the bacteria enters the waterways resulting in outbreaks. 

What contaminants are in water?

One cause for concern in water is legionella bacteria. It thrives in warm water, between 20 and 45 °C, and an outbreak can have deadly consequences. If it becomes aerosolised and is subsequently inhaled, such as in the shower, it results in Legionnaires disease. Without immediate treatment, this can cause pneumonia. 

Legionella grows in incrustations along pipe walls and forms a biofilm. If it entered the water column, it could infect hundreds of people with a life-threatening disease.

Knowing CFU to understand your water

In low numbers, pathogens like legionella are harmless. The amount of bacteria present is measured using a colony-forming unit (CFU). It’s an estimate of the number of bacteria in a sample that can divide and replicate. It’s recommended to stay under 100 ml per CFU. 

When the number of CFU in a sample rises, it indicates current water treatment methods are failing. Urgent assessment of the situation is essential. 

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The benefits of having clean water

Dirty water contains a plethora of pathogens with deadly consequences. Every year over three million people die from water-related diseases. Despite this, over two billion people still do not have access to clean water. Untreated water can host diseases like typhoid, polio, dysentery and cholera. 

Clean drinking water is good for your body. It maintains your body fluids, enabling you to transport nutrients, regulates your body temperature and helps digest your food. It’s great for your skin and is the best anti-ageing product on the market! It also boosts your energy levels.

Summary

There are many organisms trying to make a home inside your drinking water. While they’re not all dangerous, it’s important to monitor and control their populations. With effective water treatment, tap water is reliable and safe to drink.