10 Books to Help Get Your Home Reading-Ready and Cozy
The days are getting shorter, the air crisper, and pumpkins are turning up in strange corners of the supermarket. There’s no getting around it—winter is coming. It’s time to get your living space together now before it’s seriously time to hunker down. Whether it’s color-coding your bookshelf or finding the perfect new throw blanket for your favorite reading chair, spruce up your digs with these books about reading-friendly organization. Whatever you need, these 10 books will make your hearth happy and clutter-free.
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Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips
by Stephanie Winston
60-second solutions to help you get organized — and get on with your life Are you overwhelmed by the clutter in your files and on your desk? Are you tired of being clobbered by clothes and hangers every time you open the closet door? Do household chores take twice as long as they should? Does the very thought of getting organized intimidate you — because you don’t know how, it takes too long, and you’d rather be doing anything else? Then this is the book for you. Featuring clear, quick-to-read lists and a meticulously detailed index, Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips pinpoints how to: * Do away with disarray in closets, cupboards, and cabinets * Lighten the load of household chores * Eliminate desk mess and paperwork pileups * Make short work of bill paying and taxes * Take maximum advantage of precious “found time” For perfectionist and procrastinator alike, Stephanie Winston’s Best Organizing Tips will prove indispensable.
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Complete Book of Home Organization
by abowlfulloflemons.net and Toni Hammersley
Have you ever wished you had the time and tools to organize your house in a clutter-free, design-conscious, Pinterest-worthy way? From storage solutions and cleaning tips to secret space-saving methods and expert strategies, The Complete Book of Home Organization is packed with the tips and shortcuts you need to effectively organize your home.From small spaces and apartment solutions to how to tackle a big, messy home with a 15-week total home organization challenge, this book covers it all. The Complete Book of Home Organization spells out everything you need to de-clutter your house, store your belongings, and keep your home—and life—in tip-top shape. With high-quality design, intricate detail, and a durable flexicover—this manual is the perfect gift! Organize the 30 main spaces of your home, including the living and dining spaces, bedrooms and bathrooms, guest areas, baby and kids’ rooms, utility spaces and garages, entryways and offices, patios and decks, closets and pet areas! Keep track of your pantry, holiday and craft supplies, weekly menu planning, keepsakes, and schedules. From the basement to the attic, this book covers every nook and cranny. With step-by-step instructions, detailed illustrations, and handy checklists, say goodbye to a messy home and wasted storage space!
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Keep This Toss That: Unclutter Your Life to Save Time, Money, Space, and Sanity
by Jamie Novak
Quick answers to the one key question everyone needs to answer in order to get organized and save their time, money, space, and sanity: “Should I keep or toss this?”Are you afraid to open your kitchen cabinet because you know food storage containers are going to come pouring out like an erupting volcano? Do you spend hours searching for the email you need? Will you regret it tomorrow if you give away all your old concert T-shirts? And how many tote bags will you really use? Keep This, Toss That answers all of these questions and much more. Featuring dozens of illustrated Keep/Toss Checklists, the book shows you exactly what you need—and what you can safely toss, regret-free (even if you’re a sentimentalist or saver)—in every room of your house, for each hobby or activity, and even online. It also includes: • quick tips on clever storage solutions • tools and utensils that can do double duty • advice on how to customize the lists to suit your house, your family, and your lifestyle. Answering the one key question you need to get organized and live happily with just the stuff you love, Keep This, Toss That is the one organizing book you must have.
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Unclutter Your Life
by Katherine Gibson
Are you ready to move into a bright clutter-free future? From noise pollution to financial messes and stressful relationships, clutter affects ALL aspects of our lives–not just our physical spaces. If you¹ve tried feng-shui and other organizing techniques and you still can’t find clarity in your life, this down-to-earth guide will show you how to evict the clutter culprits and cultivate peace of mind in your home and soul.
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Secrets of an Organized Mom
by Barbara Reich
Mothers are the queens of the castle and usually the organizers-in-chief. Secrets of an Organized Mom is a trusted resource not to be dismissed as organizing guru Barbara Reich offers a life-changing program for your life and home.
Mothers can feel like life is running on a never-ending loop. Just when one problem or responsibility is overcome, another trips us up. But help is on the way: Barbara Reich has all the strategies for staying ahead of the curve—and she’s wrapped them up into four easy steps that can be applied to any organizing project: 1. purge, 2. design, 3. organize, and 4. maintain.
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At Home with Madame Chic
by Jennifer L. Scott
Approach life at home the Madame Chic way: a beautiful, illustrated toolbox of tips and ideas for organizing, entertaining, and savoring a stylish life.When she arrived at Madame Chic’s Parisian apartment as a foreign exchange student, Jennifer Scott was a casual California girl who thought sweatpants were appropriate street attire. Madame Chic took Jennifer under her wing and tutored her in the secrets of how the French elevate the little things in life to the art of living.
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Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying
by Melissa Michaels
Your home is where life happens. Melissa Michaels, New York Times bestselling author of Love the Home You Have and the best-selling book and blog The Inspired Room, knows how it feels to become overwhelmed by stuff.
In spite of the messes and clutter that accumulates in daily life and the inevitable life-changes that bring so much disorder in the house, a home should be a sanctuary.
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Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter: Simplify Your Life One Minute at a Time
by Erin Rooney Doland
Whether you have thirty seconds, one minute, five minutes, or fifteen minutes, this organizing daily devotional offers tips, checklists, weekend projects, quizzes, and encouragement that will help you find the time, motivation, and permission to let go of sentimental clutter, set up storage solutions, and establish routines that make sense for your life.
Filled with practical advice and small, doable projects that were created with your busy life in mind, Never Too Busy to Cure Clutter is a loyal resource, as well as a workbook, that you can rely on for straightforward, inspiring advice and tips you can return to time and time again.
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Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul
by Ruth Soukup
STUFF. It’s everywhere. Lurking in corners and closets, spilling onto counters and coffee tables, creating havoc everywhere we look. And it’s not just the physical clutter that weighs us down. Oh no, it is the stress of overbooked schedule, and the weight of a life that sometimes feels oppressive and totally out of whack.
New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup feels your pain–she has been there too. Through personal stories, Biblical truth, and practical action plans, she will inspire and empower each of us to finally declutter not just our home, but our mind and soul as well. Unstuffed is real, honest, and gets right down to the question we are all facing–how can we take back our lives from the stuff that is weighing us down?
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The Mindset of Organization: Take Back Your House One Phase at a Time
by Lisa K. Woodruff
Most organizational books on the market profess to have a one-size-fits-all solution to home organization. Common anthems are to: go paperless, get rid of everything that doesn’t spark joy and capsulize your wardrobe. While some find success using these methods the majority of American women are facing decades of delayed decisions piled high in unmarked boxes and shoved in storage rooms bursting at the seams. Fifteen minute a day organization tips and color coordinated plastic boxes are no match for the memories and clutter contained in those rooms. What is needed is a complete mindset shift. It’s time to look at home organization in a whole new way.
The post 10 Books to Help Get Your Home Reading-Ready and Cozy appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.
Almased Shake Review: Does it Work?
What is it?
Almased is a weight loss meal replacement protein powder made with non-GMO soy to help provide essential amino acids and enzymes. It’s said to be an easy to digest, stimulant free, and clinically studied formula.
The claimed is that due to its potent appetite suppression, it can prevent hunger for up to 4 hours. Other benefits are regulated blood sugar levels and no cravings for food. It also has a low glycemic index at 27, which means it won’t raise blood sugarsignificantly. They also offer a full meal plan which includes 3 shakes a day and the eating of certain foods to help prevent weight gain. In reviewing countless meal replacementsour experts have found the best overall is 18Shake. It’s a meal replacement shake made with high quality whey protein to help suppress appetite, and it includes a full range of vitamins and minerals. More information about the benefits of 18Shake can be seen in the link featured here.
Do You Know the Best Diet Shakes of 2016?
Almased Ingredients and Side Effects
Soy Protein Isolate
Honey
Skim Milk Yogurt Powder
Potassium Chloride
Magnesium Carbonate
Calcium Citrate
Vitamin C
Niacin
Color Additive
Riboflavin
Vitamin E
Zinc Oxide
Ferrous Fumurate
Manganese Sulfate
Calcium Pantothenate
Vitamin B2
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B1
Vitamin A
Folic Acid
Potassium Iodide
Sodium Selenite
Biotin
Vitamin D3
Vitamin B12
Soy Protein Isolate: Defatted and dehulled soybeans which are processed in a way that make them 90% protein by weight. It contains all the essential amino acids which are needed when one is replacing meals.
Soy has natural compounds in them such as phytoestrogens, which according to the University of Maryland Medical Center:
“chemicals that act like the hormone estrogen”
This can increase the amount of estrogen hormone one has for both men and women.
The same medical group also has this to say about soy:
“Isolavones may lower the amount of iodine in the body, which can lead to underfunctioning of the thyroid, called hypothyroidism”
This can damage the thyroid and lead to weight gain. Eating Well also has the following to say about this issue:
“Soy is high in isoflavones compounds that may inhibit the body’s ability to make thyroid hormones, which play a role in controlling everything from metabolism to body temperature”
There have been other issues with soy as well due to its natural compounds. Soy contains phytates, which according to study by the Nestle Research Centre:
“Even relatively small quantities of residual phytate was strongly inhibitory”
“phytic acid is a major inhibitory factor of ironabsorption in soy-protein isolates”
This means it can reduce the amount of iron in the body, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Yet another issue with soy is due to the goitrogenic effects. A clinical study by the National Center for Toxicological Research in Arkansas concluded:
“soy products may cause harm in the human population via either or both estrogenic and goitrogenic activities”
Goitrogens are substances which can damage the thyroid. So it has a combined effect with the isoflavones to promote unwanted issues related to thyroid health.
For a list of meal replacements that made the top 10 list, follow the link provided here.
Honey:Sweetener that is made up primarily of fructose and glucose. There are many different varietals and grads of honey available; some are less likely to contain any added ingredients. It has no essential nutrients and can lead to weight gain in high amounts.
There’s a total of 15 grams of sugar in just one serving of Almased which all comes from honey. This is a high amount, and t the recommended 3 servings a day, this can provide 45 grams of sugar. The Heart organization advised the following standards:
Men: 36 grams per day
Women: 24 grams per day
This means at the full recommend dosage, women will receive 21 extra grams, and men receive 9 extra grams. The organization adds:
“Added sugars contribute zero nutrients but many added calories that can lead to extra pounds or even obesity, thereby reducing heart health”
There are many issues that can arise when one has excess sugar. Even natural sources like honey are still broken down by the body in the same way, so it should be taken in moderation.
Skim Milk Yogurt Powder:Dehydrated form of yogurt made fromfat reduced milk. It’s unknown if sit still retains the healthy probiotics which yogurt provides. The processing technique typically can destroy many health compounds if it’s not done carefully.
Color Additive: This can mean either an artificial good coloring or a natural extract made to provide a color. It has no nutritional value and is only included to provide a certain tint of color.
For a list of the highest rate mealreplacements out now, click the link provided.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this supplement with a proven meal replacement such as 18Shake for better results.
Almased Quality of Ingredients
There is a high amount of protein at 27 grams per serving, however, this comes fromsoy protein which has been criticized due to its numerous possible health damaging effects.
It also has a high amount of sugar at 15 grams. This can make weight loss harder, as sugar is known to increase appetite and turn into fat. It also has a high amount of calories at 180 per serving. At the 3 advised shakes, this amounts to 540 calories, this is asignificant amount which can make weight loss more difficult. When looking to lose weight it’s important to limit calories as much as possible.
There are many flaws to this meal replacement that make it a poor quality shake. Our experts have rated the best meal replacements in a comprehensive top 10 list.
The Price and Quality of Almased
No direct sales are offered, but the company does recommend certain vendors. One container sells for $27.92 on Amazon.com.This amounts to 10 servings making the daily price at 3 shakes a day $8.38.
This is a pricy mealreplacement as the key ingredients are cheap honey, skim milk yogurt powder, and non-GMOsoyprotein. These key ingredients can be sourced for a reduced price elsewhere.
Business of Almased
Almased, USA is the name of the company, and they can be reached via the following:
Phone Number: (877) 256-2733
Email: info@almased.com
Since the company does not allow for direct sales, any returns have to be handled with whoever sold you it. However this all depends on whether or not the seller allows for a money back return, it’s unlikely they would.
The FDA sent them a warning letter for making false claims about the health benefits. The warning letter stated:
“Almased product is not generallyrecognized as safe and effective for the above references”
This included claims thatit can help with blood sugar, cholesterol, and many other unproven health claims. There are a total of 14 health benefits which the FDA has said are not true.
For a comprehensivelist of the highest rated meal replacements, follow the link provided.
EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results with meal replacement shakes diet our experts recommend to use it at least 5 months. Save your money buying a few bags of meal replacement product.
Customer Opinions of Almased
Here are some reviews from users:
“caused dangerously high estrogen levels”
“caused cramps and hormonal imbalances”
“had moderate to severe cramping and then went into a full period”
“I threw it up every time. The after taste is awful”
The official Amazon.com page has a current 598 negative review fromusers. This included complaints that people noticed side effects such as nausea, diarrhea, uncontrollable bowels, increased blood sugar, difficulty with stomach problems, and other issues.
Some also had medical performed and wound up less healthy after use. There were a few people who noticed a significant increase in estrogen, and for the women who had this test they did so because they couldn’t get their periods anymore.
People also criticized the taste, many felt it was much too sweet and that it did not blend well.
The top 10 list featured here has a listof the best meal replacement shakes for weight loss.
Conclusion – Does Almased Work?
Almased does provide a high amount of protein, and it does contain a well-rounded nutritional profile. However, the fact it contains only soy based protein means it has many compounds which can potentially cause increased estrogen and hormone imbalances. Many customers say that the taste is unpleasant, it’s difficult to mix, and that they noticed increased blood sugar levels and hormone issues. People who were tested said they went to the hospital after they noticed some negative changes. For these people there was an increase of things like cholesterol, blood sugar, and estrogen levels. The company also fails to offer a money back return policy.
Our experts have found the most effective meal replacement is 18Shake. It has only whey protein at 15 grams for hours of appetitesuppression. There areno added fillers, binders, colors, or any artificialadditives. Customers have mentioned on their official website that it has a good taste, it mixed with ease, and it helps provide weight loss benefits.
18Shake is also fully backed by a 30 day money back return policy. It’s offered with no questions asked with no risk. To learn more about 18Shake click the link here.
Instant Knockout Review: Does it Work?
What is it?
Instant Knockout is a weight loss diet pill made for athletes to help burn fat while still keeping energy high. It’s claimed to have cutting edge fat burning additives that come from pure ingredients.
It’s also said to help burn fat while preventing lean muscle loss or causing hunger. They also say it’s safe to use and is only made with pure natural ingredients. There’s a commercial offered online which shows people working out. It’s also said to have been created especially for MMA fighters to help them cut weight. By reviewingmany different weight loss diet pills our experts found the best was Sletrokor. It has only naturalplant extracts with no added stimulants or artificialadditives. You can learn more information about the benefits of Sletrokor in the link provided here.
Do You Know the Best Weight Loss Pills of 2016?
Instant Knockout Ingredients and Side Effects
Here are the full ingredients listing for Instant Knockout:
Pyridoxine HCI
Cyanocobalamin
Zinc Oxide
Chromium Picolinate
Green Tea Extract Leaf
Green Coffee Extract
Cayenne Powder
Glucomannan Konjac Root
Caffeine Anhydrous
Black Pepper Extract
Silicon Dioxide
HPMC
Magnesium Stearate
FD&C Red 40
Green Tea Extract Leaf: Antioxidant rich extract taken fromthe camelia sinensis plant. It’s used to reduce inflammation, improve immune function, and increase mental focus. Web MD adds:
“Green Tea us POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken by mouth log-term or in high-doses”
“side effects can range from mild top serious and include headache, nervousness, sleep problems, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, irregular heartbeat, tremors, heartburn, dizziness, ringing in the ears, convulsions and confusion”
There have also been issues having to do with an increased risk for heart attacks with the use of green tea extracts in diet pills.
Green Coffee Extract:Unroasted coffee beans which are high in antioxidants. It can potentially cause side effects that range from:
Upset stomach, anxiety, and agitation.
Increased heart rate, nervousness and headaches.
Ringing in the ears, vomiting, and vomiting.
Restlessness, mood swings, and depression.
There are claims this ingredient can help with weight loss, but it’s suggested the only reason for this is due to the added caffeine .This additive can lead to tolerance issues which reduced any of the metabolism boosting effects of caffeine.
Glucomannan Konjac Root:Thickener and gelling agent taken fromthe konjac plant. It’s often advised to drink large amounts of water to prevent digestive issues. Web MD also adds:
“These can sometimes cause blockages of the throat or intestines”
It’s used to help suppress appetite and provide weight loss benefits. However, there have been mixed reviews on this effect.
Caffeine Anhydrous: There’s a total of 350 mg per serving of this ingredient. This common stimulant is known to increase mental focus, raise metabolism and boos energy. At 350 mg it almost meets the standard advised limit for health effects.
It’s advised to limit oneself to 400 mg maximum in order to prevent side effects. Because of this high amount of caffeine it’s advised to not take Instant Knockout within 5 hours of bedtime.
This ingredient can also promote side effects that include:
Nausea, upset stomach, and diarrhea.
Headaches, mood swings, and feelings of depression.
Rapid heart rate, insomnia, and feelings of anxiety.
Cardiovascular symptoms, feelings of terror, and difficulty concentrating.
For a top 10 ranked diet pills list follow the link cited here.
Caffeine is known to cause issues in certain people who are sensitive. It’s also not advised to take caffeine in any other sources, as this can increase the likelihood of experiencing unwanted symptoms. Sources such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and others are advised to be limited or entirely avoided.
FD&C Red 40:Artificial food coloring made to help provide a red tint. It was once banned by countries in parts of Europe including France, Belgium, Denmark, and Switzerland due to health concerns.
A US based organization has tried banning this additive due to clams it can produce unwanted side effects. It’salso said to lead to effects such as ADHD, increased risk for cancer, and hyperactivity.
EDITOR’S TIP: Combine this supplement with a proven fat burner such as Sletrokor for better results.
Instant Knockout Quality of Ingredients
The additives found within are commonly added to other diet pills. These additives are known to potentially cause side effects, and the good minerals can also be easily replaced with whole foods.
Due to high amounts of caffeine it makes it a potentially unsafe diet pill. There are many potential issues which may arise due to the use of these additives. It’s also not a guaranteed weight loss solution, as the body creates a tolerance to caffeine on a short period. No amount of added caffeine can help boost the effects.
Click the link provided here to see a top 10 list of diet pills.
The Price and Quality of Instant Knockout
A one month supply sells for $59. Sales are offered direct fromthe official website.
The major issue with the ingredients is that there is a significant amount of caffeine. There are also common ingredients which hare used in many other diet pills. It’s not unique in what it adds. There’s fiber, stimulants, antioxidant extracts, minerals, and chili extract.
The overall quality is poordue to the common ingredients which can be sourced for cheaper. Much of what is offered can be replaced by whole foods such as green tea and minerals taken from whole foods.
You’ll also see in the “Business of Instant Knockout” that there have been issues with the lack of a money back return policy.
For a comprehensive top 10 list of diet pills follow the link cited here.
Business of Instant Knockout
Thecreator of the diet is Roar Ambition;their contact information is listed as:
Address: 27 Old Gloucester Street
London, WC1N 3AX, UK
People have also given the company bad reviews, here are some customer service reviews:
“customer service from their parent company is terrible”
“After several months of emailing and trying to get them to honor their 90 day money back guarantee, I was offered a refund for one bottle”
“The lied and didn’t honor what they said they would”
“I can’t get my money back”
There is a claimed 90 day money back guarantee, but users mention that this was not allowed. Many complained that the company does not honor this, and that they are difficult to deal with. For a comprehensive top 10 ranked diet pills list, follow the link here.
People who attempted to make a return often mention that they followed the return policy standards, but that they are impossible to reach. Those who emailed and called for month’s mention that they fail to provide any support. Even with repeat messages, some have said they have been ignored.
EDITOR’S TIP: For the best results, our experts recommend using weight loss pills for at least 3 months. Save your money by buying a few bottles at once.
Customer Opinions of Instant Knockout
Here are some quotes taken fromcustomer reviews:
“Don’t waste your time! I tried Instant Knockout for a week and because of its extreme amount of caffeine, I felt continuously dizzy and lightheaded”
“Complete rip off, No added benefits other than having to pee 10 times a day”
“I am totally dissatisfied with the product… NO RESULTS except the feeling that I was eating cleaner”
“I saw no energy boost what so ever and my appetite is exactly the same… trust me don’t waste your money”
Overwhelmingly people experienced side effects and a lack of weight loss. People also mentioned how they experienced major side effects such as fatigue, lightheadedness, feelings of anxiety, insomnia, lack of sleep, and ill feelings. These are the same symptoms that one can experience with high amounts of caffeine.
People found it extremely uncomfortable and they had to stop taking them.
Click the link cited here to see a top 10 list of the very best diet pills available.
Conclusion – Does Instant Knockout Work?
Instant Knockout has many common additives including fiber, pepper extract, green tea, cayenne, minerals, and high amounts of potentially harmful caffeine. This can promote many unwanted side effects, and customers mention it’s an ineffectivemixture. Most of the complaints have to do with the lack of weight loss and rate of symptoms. People have also claimed that it is not backed by a full 90 day guarantee as what’s claimed. There have been issues with customer service and a lack of weight loss benefits. Theadditives added are also cheap and commonly found in many other diet pills. This is the reason why there are a majority of negative reviews.
Our experts have rated diet pills and concluded the best overall solution for weight loss is Sletrokor. This all naturalstimulant free plant based extract is a potent blend of ingredients made to improve mood, increase metabolism, burn calories, and provide well rounded weight loss benefits. Testimonials and customer reviews are also featured on the official website, people mention it’s a potent solution to help promote weight loss.
Sletrokor is also fully supported by a 30 day money backreturn policy. This allows for a risk free return with no questions asked for the entire 30 days. You can learn more about the benefits of Sletrokor when you click the link here.
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10 Cocktails Perfect For Any Book Lover
Libations and literature have a long and proud history together, from the well-greased mechanics of Ernest Hemingway’s writing process to the timeless summer pairing of a beer and a book. If you have a taste for a hard stuff as all as the poetic, our friends at Glommable offer up several new cocktails of their own invention, crafted specifically to appeal to the refine palates of book lovers:
1. Waiting For Merlot
A cocktail specifically designed to be sipped while you wait for the red wine to breathe. Equal parts dark rum, ginger ale, and existential dread.
2. Infinite Zest
Pour 1.5 ounces of vodka and six ounces of tonic water into a highball glass with ice. Top with seventeen lemons’ worth of grated peel.
3. To the Light Beer
Virginia Woolf’s favorite shandy. Pour eight ounces of your favorite light beer and six ounces of seawater into a conch shell using a steady stream of consciousness. Mix well.
4. The Adventures of Huckleberry Gin
Take some gin. Put a huckleberry in it. Pretty simple, folks.
5. Anna Caipirnha
Brazil’s national cocktail with an old-school Russian twist. Combine lime juice, cane sugar, and cachaça in a whiskey tumbler, and slowly mix in two cups of borscht.
6. A Raisin in the Punch
A modern take on the traditional rum punch. Start by stirring together one cup fresh lime juice, two cups grenadine syrup, three cups Jamaican white rum, and two cups fresh orange juice. From at least ten feet over the punch bowl (using a ladder, if necessary) and paying careful attention to go one at a time, drop in five hundred raisins. If two raisins accidentally fall in together, please start over, or the cocktail will not taste as it should.
7. Treasure Island Iced Tea
Set sail for adventure with this summertime delight! Shake together one ounce each of vodka , white rum, gin, and tequila, as well as one half-ounce of Triple Sec and two tablespoons of lime juice. Pour into a glass and top with cola, as well as two peg legs, a cubic meter of sand, and one pound of parrot flesh.
8. The Sound and The Brandy
Pour four ounce of well-aged armagnac into a snifter. Hire a mean and terrible man to scream into the glass for fourteen minutes. Enjoy at room temperature.
9. The Jungle Juice
Like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, this cocktail highlights the strong, if a little unorthodox, flavors of a man who accidentally falls into a big vat of boiling lard. Scoop a healthy spoonful of the lard into a tin cup and mix liberally with whatever grain alcohol you have on hand.
10. Pale Ale Fire
A warm cocktail perfect for the winter months, and the only proper way to enjoy an India pale ale. Select a complex, spicy, and high-proof IPA. Pour it into a glass. And set it on fire.
The post 10 Cocktails Perfect For Any Book Lover appeared first on Tips on Life and Love.
6 Things You Might Not Know about Life as an Erotic Romance Writer
I’m an erotic romance novelist. I earn money writing the books that make you blush. When people find out, they respond in any number of ways: some are disdainful, some scandalized, some intrigued. I’ve been asked a lot of questions about what it’s really like to write what I write, so here are a few things you might not know about my life as an erotic romance writer.
Just because I write about a sex act doesn’t mean I’ve done it. I get variations on this question a lot: “So, like, do you do all the things you write about?” The question is generally coming from a place of mixed curiosity and voyeurism. Because sex is not just physical, but mental, I’m easily able to write about sex acts I haven’t done before. Don’t assume I’ve done everything I write about… but then again, don’t assume I haven’t, either. Yeah, I probably have done it. But that’s not necessarily true of all erotic romance authors, and we get sick of being asked about our sex lives. It’s even creepier when the question asker then turns to my husband and gives him a wink wink, nudge nudge.
Yes, writing sex turns me on…but not all the time. My goal when writing is to arouse the reader. This means that on a first draft, I’m looking to be as sexy as I can be for my first reader—myself —and that has some obvious physical effects. On my numerous edits and rewrites, though, the sexy feelings are gone. I’m instead looking for characterization, narrative consistency, word choice, and to stop repeating the words “felt” and “sensation” so damn much.
Research doesn’t happen in the bedroom. Very little of my research involves me asking my husband to pretend to be my main character and replicate the scene from pages 73-78. I have asked him to help me practice a particular bondage knot so I can accurately describe it, but that’s as far as the “sexy research” goes. Oh, and I attend kink conventions now and then, too, so those are fun “sexy research.” Most of my research is spent on far more mundane topics, though: studying the hierarchical organization and day-to-day activities of the jobs I’m writing about, or doing Google Street View walkabouts of places I’ve never visited, or examining IKEA floor maps, to name a few.
I could lose my day job over my writing. I write under a fake name not because I’m embarrassed by what I write, but because I teach high school. While I teach in a very liberal and sex-positive part of the country, if I were “out” about my writing, it would be difficult for me to continue my work. There’s nothing illegal about what I write, which is fiction between consenting adults, but teachers are expected to maintain puritanical standards of moral conduct in their own personal lives. I’m a consummate professional with my students, but I always fear being “outed” and the impact of the reveal on my career.
It’s work, but it’s worth it. Writing a sexy letter to a lover is fun. Write a titillating erotic scene is fun. Writing an entire novel with character development, deliberate and arousing sex scenes, and a satisfying arc and resolution is a lot of work. I can’t just sit at my keyboard and crank out a novel in an evening or two, send it off for publication and be done with it. Just because there’s sex in a book (sometimes a lot of sex) doesn’t mean the book hasn’t been deliberately crafted and painstakingly edited, draft after draft. Even though the books are a lot of work, they’re so rewarding to write. Getting a book from idea to publication is incredibly satisfying. That finished product makes all the struggle worthwhile, even if I’m not just spending my spare time practicing new sex positions. Well, maybe I am… but not for book research.
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Enter for a Chance to Win $1,200 in Back-to-School Prizes
Now that school is in full swing, you may find yourself wistfully wishing you’d gotten to all the supplies on your back-to-school shopping list. Never fear: You can enter for a chance to win $1,200 in terrific back-to-school prizes with our PopSugar Moms sweepstakes.
The grand prize winner will receive $750 toward shopping, plus $400 worth of children’s books from Simon & Schuster and $75 in classroom supplies from Yoobi.
Hurry, the contest ends Sept. 26, 2016!
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How to Create a Life You Don’t Need to Escape From
The dive into entrepreneurship can be an overwhelming struggle—which I know all about as the creator and founder of Collective Hub. So how do I deal with the ferocity and relentless busyness of life? By injecting vacation vibes into the everyday.
I’ve had my days of Monday dread, which kicked in with sobs at 7pm on a Sunday when you realized the weekend was almost over, or the fog that set in as your return flight from somewhere tropical started its airport descent. I have cried when unpacking my bags to find sand in my shoes from Costa Rica or mud on my boots from the Australian outback.
But these days, I’m the one shouting, “Hello, Monday!” and am beyond pumped and excited to get back to my awesome team when a stint away draws to a close. I’m not a workaholic (been there, done that), but unlike a lot of people, I don’t see the end of a holiday as a full stop on happiness. I believe you can create a life filled with so much everyday awesome that it becomes one you don’t need to escape from, making vacation the icing but your life still a decent slab of delicious cake.
Everyone needs time out and I’ll never stop that (I am writing this fresh from a catamaran stay in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef sans Wi-Fi) but the key to sustained happiness is creating a life you love in the small moments of the everyday. Don’t click away thinking that kind of world is far beyond your reach, because with a few small tweaks, you can taste those holiday vibes every day and be all the happier for it. Try these:
Ditch the 9-5 Mindset
Flexible working hours are the new black, giving employees a greater sense of freedom and, according to research, more hours of quality sleep. I’m not entirely a morning person, but one of my team members knuckles down from 5am most mornings (usually from a café or from the beach). Another gets busy once her kids are tucked in bed, moonlighting until 2am. That’s how we roll at my company Collective Hub, but even if you’re in a more structured workplace, you’re not physically shackled to your desk and it’s up to you to change the situation if you’ve allowed this to happen. Find or negotiate small pockets of flexibility for a sense of empowerment and autonomy – be it starting 30 minutes before everyone else so you can jog or visit the post office at lunch, working longer worker days across four days so you can take the fifth off, or working from home a morning or a day a week so you can put the washing on while you conference call. You’ll be amazed at how much sunshine a touch of flexibility can bring to your soul week on week.
Ease Up on the Rules
OK, to look at my Instagram feed you might think I’m a little virtuous. I always hit the office slurping a big green juice, insist on sweating out a few training sessions a week, and love nothing more than getting a nature fix. But behind the scenes (and screens) you will also find me munching on an egg and bacon roll and splurging on an iced mocha… with cream. And that’s OK! It’s essential to be healthy in life and I’ll prioritize that over almost everything, but I refuse to become a slave to fads or fashion. Personal indulgences shouldn’t be curbed or confined to holidays or Friday nights and that is where so many of us get tripped up. So find out what works for you, and what little indulgences make your heart smile and then, pepper your everyday life with them. (Anything harmful or illegal is clearly excluded!)
Embrace Community
No, not your Snapchat or Instagram posse; I’m talking real, flesh-and-blood connections here. One of my favorite things to do is turn domestic goddess and put on a casual dinner for good friends–and my home has become something of a free zone, with pals often letting themselves in with a key to raid my wardrobe for a photo shoot–only to realize I’m actually sitting in the lounge room! There is NOTHING better than a house full of laughter, madness, and at times, tears. And there is nothing more horrible that the opposite. Gather your people around, and if you can’t cook then order in, host impromptu slumber parties, be the party organizer, and overall, put a value of developing deep connections with others to bottle that “happy holiday” feeling all the time. If you need to beef up your circle or are new to your hood, join the local sport, wellness, or book club, visit the same café so you become buddies with the barista, chat with your neighbours, or offer to walk someone’s dog—there’s nothing like a pooch to break the ice.
Get Playful
I’m a big believer in the power of daily playtime, no matter how old you are. I am the first to bounce on a trampoline, create sandcastles, accept a dare, or dance until dawn if the offer is on the table. On vacation, we suddenly seem more lightweight, free, and playful, but it shouldn’t be restricted to your allocation of leave each year. Do yourself a favor and add more play into your life generally, especially mid-week so you also avoid a case of “Monday dread,” which I personally refuse to entertain. Add a bit of silly to your day with a dance off (we’ve been known to at Collective Hub on a Friday afternoon, and I for one pretty much freestyle dance anywhere, anytime—I don’t need an excuse), do something spontaneous on a Wednesday night (you might laugh now, but in reality that is harder to orchestrate that you might think), scoot with your kids or your friend’s kids (serious fun to be had), take friends to a trampoline center for a catch-up instead of a coffeeship, join a nude art class. There is so much fun to be had in every day, if you’ll let yourself. So go on, bust out a move! I dare you.
Find a Stress Outlet
Part of the reason vacations are so incredible is that we have a chance to escape work and generally the pressures around us. The problem is that they will all be there when you get back home. The first 12 months of starting Collective Hub were pretty tough and I can honestly say I have had some super-stressful moments and middle-of-the-night freak-outs. But I won’t let them get the better of me, and when things get tough, I honestly get tougher. Get on the front foot with the stresses in your life—don’t just sit back and let them slowly crush you. Yoga, meditation, boxing, keeping a one-sentence journal of thanks or a gratitude jar, seeing a counselor, finding a mentor, acting on good advice, firing troublesome staff, getting a new job, or asking to shift into a new team can all help. Ultimately you are in the driver’s seat and your stress levels rest with the decisions you make each day to take control of your life. Do more of what makes you happy—don’t just “like” the Instagram post, put it into action!
And Finally… Don’t Be Trapped
Because you have the power. Be honest with yourself and have the courage to change direction if you’ve created a path that will intrinsically make you unhappy—be it a business opportunity, partnership, or project. Never stick with something that doesn’t feel like it’s part of your lifelong purpose or passion, because that is when you’ll be incredibly unhappy, watching the clock at work, hanging out for a Friday, and desperate to escape your everyday life. Your gut will know the way.
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