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September 2019

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Family

The Lives of A Parent

The pre-parent life

The life of a parent is difficult, they have to adjust to a whole different lifestyle. Most parents in a nuclear family only have to take care of a couple of things. Depending on the relationship of the parents, one of them goes to work and the other one stays at the home. They may both choose to work and be professionals.

Prior to becoming parents the couple will have goals of their own for their professional and personal lives. They will have time to eat, sleep, go to parties, do yoga and follow their other hobbies as well.

Then the respective parents of the couple get involved. They might inquire about the notion of the grandchildren. They might go as far as to suggest the possibility of looking into that option sooner than later.

Before you know it, a couple of conversations are had. Different events take place and lives change forever.

The post parent life

The young couple becomes parents. Everyone is happy with their sweet bundle of joy.

Then the real fun begins.  The couple has to adjust their lives to take care of the baby, especially in its early stages. They must make sure that they are caring for the child to the best of their ability.

They say goodbye to sleep, and they say hello to more expenses or investments into the life of the child. Some estimates state that there might be more than a million dollars worth of value that is spent on a child.

Parents understand that they are helping to invest in the next generation. They can help their child to be the best that they can be. So they read up on the best tips to rear a child, they buy their children the best food, the best children’s clothes and the best toys and appliances that money can buy. They do whatever they can to be the best that they can be as parents to create a great environment for their new child.

Their life becomes less about them and more about this blessing. They sacrifice and go to work to make sure that their child lives a great life.

They do all of this because they are now seeking to do the best for their sweet child. The best for this part of them that will be a part of their legacy. A part of them that will represent them and their past for the next century or so.

Here’s to parents everywhere who help to create a better world for both their children and for others as well.

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Business

Planning to Run a Family Friendly Business in Fairfax Here’s Why a Snapology Franchise Would Work for You

Running your own business is no mean feat.

It gets even more demanding when you run a family-themed operation, since that means that you do not only have to provide top of the line services but of such kind that you would actually be comfortable in offering them to your own kids – because if you do not want your own family to avail the type of services that you are providing, then they might not constitute to being family friendly after all.

That is why, whether you already run a family-centric business or are planning on starting one, being worried about what you would add to the community while also making enough profits to make ends meet is an understandable concern that stems out of one’s sense of responsibility and family values.

Keeping this in mind, starting a Snapology franchise is one of the best business decisions that you could make not just from a parental and family-friendly perspective but also from a commercial standpoint, as the company does not only offer educational and recreational programs that let children thrive positively, but also provides a viable and sustainable source of income to the owner of its franchise.

What is Snapology?

Founded in 2011 by the sister-duo of Laura and Lisa Coe, Snapology is a family-owned business itself which is currently searching all over the country to find likeminded people who would be able to represent the company’s values of making learning fun for kids.

Instead of sticking its name on existing operations for the sake of being “present” in local communities, Snapology is working with locals to help them build their own franchise business which embodies the company’s signature characteristics of propagating for education through things as fun as Lego blocks, while also helping the respective business owner find their own commercial identity in their area, with Fairfax, Virginia being one of them.

Snapology works on a model of utilizing Lego blocks and creative themes to allow children to explore their creative, logical and analytical sides, which educates them in a broader perspective in the fields of arts, math, and even science without ever letting them feel bored.

The company has various programs that are spread across the areas of educational classes, summer camps, and birthday parties in order to encourage kids to tangibly build their ideas, which also adds to the imperative skills of development and communication on a broader range. These programs and parties are designed to cater to kids starting from those in preschool to those up to the age of 14.

Why Owning a Snapology Franchise Makes Sense from a Business Perspective

Needless to say, the company has a business model that is family friendly and adds value to building qualities that everyone wants to see in their kids in order for them to succeed in life, since the whole notion of putting hard work to build something and the sense of accomplishment that comes from it is reason enough for anyone to support programs which supplement this growth in the younger generation.

And when that building comes from something as popular and as effective as Lego blocks, then you know that you are onto something. The Danish toymaker started manufacturing its revolutionary line of building blocks in 1949, and since then, it has become a household name due to its effectiveness in building creative and cognitive skills in children of all ages.

While Lego had always been popular, it reached all new heights of success with the release of The Lego Movie in 2014, which shattered box office expectations and tripled the company’s sales as compared to its business in its recent past at the time.

The increase in demand that followed by kids and parents to buy Lego toys was actually applauded by experts since it alluded towards the fact that children were interested in activities that were bound to enhance their learning experiences.

Granted, we are into a timeline that is 4 years later and well into the era of even more tablets and digital games, but the upcoming release of The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part has all the potential for history to repeat itself, which could once again see kids flocking towards Lego-powered activities and demanding for Lego themed birthday parties, creating a propitious opportunity for any Snapology franchise owner to provide the required solutions to these interested customers while also taking satisfaction from the fact that they are earning a living by making a positive difference in the world around them.

Since Snapology is actively looking for interested individuals to join its mission, all that anyone has to do to get on the path of being a franchisee is to contact the company through its website, with the Snapology team taking care of the rest of the communication process accordingly.

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Health

Mental Health Illness: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Mental health illness refers to a disease that results in mild to severe disturbances in a person’s behavior, moods, or thoughts leading to an inability to cope with ordinary routines and demands in life. Examples of mental health illnesses are anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression, addictive behaviors, and schizophrenia.

At one point or the other, a lot of people have various mental health concerns. However, a mental health concern may turn into a mental health disorder when the signs and symptoms cause regular stress and affect your day to day activities.

 Mental illness can interfere with your ability to function. It can also make you miserable. In most cases, the symptoms can be effectively managed with psychotherapy and medication.

Signs and Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of the different types of mental health disorders vary depending on the illness, circumstances, among other factors and they include:

  • Feeling down or sad
  • Excessive worries or fears
  • Feeling extremely guilty
  • Significant changes in eating habits
  • Excessive violence, hostility, or anger
  • Having extremely high or low moods
  • Drug or alcohol abuse
  • Trouble relating to people or situations
  • Reduced concentration levels or confused thinking
  • Hallucinations, paranoia, or being delusional
  • Inability to cope with stressful situations or daily problems
  • Sleep problems, excessive fatigue, and having low energy levels
  • Changes in your sex drive
  • Having suicidal thoughts

Treatment for Mental Health Illness

There are different types of treatment methods for mental health disorders and they are:

Medication

AFP6E1 Silhouette of a woman sitting by a window in a dim room and holding her head

Patients can either be treated in an outpatient or an inpatient mental health facility. Medication together with psychotherapy is used to treat certain disorders, depending on the type of mental health illness. Some of the medications used to treat mental health disorders include:

Anti-anxiety Medications: These types of medications are used for individuals who suffer from panic attacks, social anxiety, or generalized anxiety. Anti-anxiety meds are only prescribed for a short duration. If they are used for prolonged periods of time, they can lead to dependence or even addiction.

Antidepressants: They treat depression symptoms; however, in some cases, they are also prescribed for insomnia or anxiety.

Mood Stabilizers: They are prescribed for people struggling with bipolar disorders to stabilize their moods as well as prevent significant depression, mood swings, and mania.

Antipsychotics: These treat psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia.

Psychotherapy Treatment

This type of treatment for mental health illness is also referred to as talk therapy. It involves talking about your mental condition with a qualified therapist. In psychotherapy, you learn more about your disorder, your moods, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. With the knowledge and insight gained, you learn stress management and coping skills.

Psychotherapy uses various methods of treatment with each approach aimed at improving an individual’s mental well-being. In most cases, psychotherapy is successfully completed in only a couple of months, although, other cases may require long-term treatment. Psychotherapy may either be in an individual setting or a group setting.

Brain-Stimulation Treatment

This treatment is used for mental health disorders such as depression. Brain-stimulation is usually reserved for cases in which psychotherapy and medication haven’t worked. It includes transcranial magnetic stimulation, electroconvulsive therapy, vagus nerve stimulation, and deep brain stimulation.

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Fashion

Summer Dress Tips: How to Choose a Summer Dress

When the weather heats up and the sun is beating down, there’s nothing better than dressing up in a comfortable summer dress. Every woman needs this staple piece (or 10) in her wardrobe. However, not all summer dresses are created equal. Once you find a style that suits your body, you’ll be able to stock up easily, but where to begin?

With so many shapes, cuts, styles and fabrics to choose from, we’re here to walk you through some of the trendiest options so you can find that perfect summer dress. Before you consider the various fabrics and colors to choose from, take your body shape into account. As a general rule:

  • Apple-shaped bodies look best in loose cuts that show off the arms and legs without clinging to the midsection. Go for shift styles and don’t be afraid of short cuts.
  • Straight bodies look best in form-fitting illusion dresses that use color blocking or patterns to create curves.
  • Hourglass bodies look best in dresses with defined waists. Go for cuts that pull in at the middle at the slimmest point of the waist.
  • Pear-shaped bodies look best in sleeveless styles that pull in at the waist and balloon out with a full skirt.

Now that you know which shapes to look out for, let’s explore the various fabrics, lengths, colors and sleeve styles that are on-trend for the warm-weather season.

Fabrics That Keep You Cool

With natural fibers that allow air to circulate through the fabric, cotton is always the ideal choice for summer wear. Some other comfortable contenders include linen, chambray, rayon and blended fabrics.

Browse the broad range of options at JJsHouse, where you can find a wide selection of summer dresses in the coolest fabrics for the season.

Wear it High or Low

The cool thing about dresses for hot weather is that they come in every length imaginable. From mini-skirts to fun and flowy knee-length dresses to maxis that reach down to the floor, it’s really all about your body type and comfort level when it comes to choosing a length for your summer dress. Curvy bodies look best in styles that pull in at the waist and flow out into a knee-length skirt, while straight and tall bodies do well in long, form-fitting maxis.

The summer dress collection at VeryVoga includes the trendiest dresses in every length. Browse their collection for everything from mini lengths to floor-length maxis.

All the Colors of the Rainbow

The most important rule for choosing summer dress colors is to stay away from dark shades. Not only do they not embody the spirit of the season, they attract the heat from the sun and will make you feel much hotter. That being said, go as bold or neutral as you like. Choose bright colors like orange and magenta, play it pale with peach and lavender or choose neutral shades like beige and nude.

Sleeves or No Sleeves? That is the Question

Many summer dresses are sleeveless, but if you have reservations about letting your arms show, there are some super-stylish looks with short sleeves and 3/4-length sleeves. If you’re looking for a dress with sleeves, make sure they’re loose to allow air to flow through them so you don’t feel overheated.

Now that you know what to look for this summer season, upgrade your wardrobe by stocking up on this hot-weather essential.

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Health

5 Benefits of Telehealth Counseling

The current generation, no doubt, values mobility and technology. Computers, smartphones, and telecommuting jobs have brought a major change in the work environment. People no longer have to be physically present in order for communication to take place. This has made it possible for people to work from basically any location in the world.

One of the biggest advantages of technology is flexibility. The psychological world has not been left behind with this new advent. Therapists are increasingly embracing telehealth counseling. This type of counseling involves therapy sessions being conducted through video conference. Patients can choose to either go for individual or group counseling. The video sessions can be conducted anywhere and at any time that fits the schedules of both the client and therapist.

There are many benefits of online counseling. Already, there are several studies that show that when internet counseling is combined with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), it’s very effective on various clinical issues. Other benefits include:

1.Accessibility

Telehealth counseling is easily available to anyone who wishes to use it. Web counseling overcomes barriers that may discourage others from seeking therapy. For instance, people living in remote or rural areas where counseling services are not easily accessible will benefit greatly from online counseling.

Individuals with disabilities or people who are unable to leave their homes are able to access telehealth counseling with minimal inconvenience.

2. Anonymity

Telehealth counseling eliminates the need for attending therapy sessions physically. This helps clients communicate more freely and openly without concerns for age, race, size, physical appearance, or gender. In turn, this may result in increased levels of honesty and, thus, higher validity in self-disclosure cases. After all, the internet can provide a level of anonymity that is seen by many as non-threatening allowing some form of invisibility that’s to a certain extent disinhibiting.

3. Convenience

Both the client and the therapist have the convenience of conducting therapy sessions at different times that best suit them. This style of therapy makes it possible for therapists to easily provide services to clients as they can potentially schedule appointments within 24 hours. Also, therapists can extend their services over a larger geographical area.

 

For individuals who may find it uncomfortable to attend therapy physically or who are suffering from anxiety disorders, agoraphobia, or social phobias, telehealth counseling will be a better and a more preferred option for them.

4. Affordability

Web counseling has shown to be very economical for the client as well as the therapist. Compared to traditional counseling services, therapists save on commercial space and rent money, therefore, lowering the overhead costs of property, and capital. Clients save on commuting expenses.

5. Fewer missed sessions

Although therapy is regarded as important, there are times when things get in the way of people keeping their appointments. For example, an end of day meeting may run late or there may be a lot of traffic. Such unexpected occurrences may cause missed appointments. As a result, this may lead to negative effects on your mental health. Having telehealth counseling sessions gives you the power to have your therapy sessions anywhere. 

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