Start a garden: Simple steps

Spring is here and around April-May is a good time to start your very own vegetable garden. You have never gardened before? No worries,  we all start somewhere. The point is to have the desire, and just start. Here are simple steps to get your garden from an idea into action:

1) Choose a spot of where you would like to have your garden.

• Try to pick a spot that will have good sunlight.

2) Rake the area and remove all shrubs, weeds, rocks etc.

3)Take a round point shovel and use it to dig in, lift, and then turn the soil, so as to expose the soil from underneath. Then use the back of the shovel, a hoe, or your hands to break down the soil even more.

• If your soil is more clay-like you can buy and add peat moss, sand, ashes, or cut grass to the soil to help provide it more minerals. Consult your local gardening store for more ideas.

4) Choose what you want to plant

• I chose tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, beans (bush beans, garden beans), beets, green onions, dill, and different types of squash (butternut, zucchini etc.)
• Cucumbers, beans, and zuchini tend to grow easily and harvest in 2 months. 
• Start with these if you can't decide. 

5) Follow the planting directions on the seed package to know how deep, and how far apart to plant your seeds.

• Don't let the planting directions overwhelm you. Just start. Focus on planting one plant seed at a time until your entire garden is planted. 
• You can also plant flowers (ex. Zinnias, sunflowers, wildflowers) to attract pollinators to help increase your harvest. 

6) Water your seeds and patiently watch them grow.

• Its important to keep the ground moist as they germinate, and have some sun to keep them warm. A good rule of thumb is to water it every 2 days depending on the moisture of the soil. 
• Depending on what you planted, you will see things sprout/germinate within 1-2 weeks.

What type of vegetables do you want to grow?

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Organizing your closet

Having outfits that make you look and feel put together takes time. Yet, having an organized closet takes you to that level much quicker. Putting in the extra time to sort through your closet and designating  specific spots for your clothes takes time, yet it can help bring your closet to a much more functional state. As you start cleaning out your closet think about wardrobe essentials, solid colors, neutral pallet, and quality over quantity.

The following are simple steps to cleaning out your closet:

1) Declutter and Donate

• Start removing anything that is too small, large, worn out, out of date, and not your style into a bag to be given to a nearby donations store like, Good Will. Remember you want quality not quantity.

2) Sort your clothes by season

• Remove the out of season clothes into a bag to store away, that way your only dealing with the clothes you can wear during the current season.

3) Remove the remaining clothes from the closet onto the bed.

4) Start a wardrobe capsule

• Pick a base color for your wardrobe clothes (either Black or Blue), and hang those clothes.
• Then, pick an essential coordinating color (either Gray, White, or Beige), and hang those clothes.
• Finally, hang the remainder of your clothes your still wanting to keep corresponding to their color.

5) Personalize your closet

• Buy hangers that are matching. It looks much more organized and pristine. 
• I hung my clothes on white hangers based on color, with a separate section for dresses.
• Fold and designate a specific section for your shirts, pants, shorts etc.

How do you like to keep your closet organized?

***Picture Source: MM.LaFleur
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Understanding your Dental Insurance

Its nice when people smile. Its a pleasant and kind contagious gesture that often spreads a more positive emotional state.

Are you noticing that your trying to hold back your smile due to dental plaque, stains, yellowness, or cavities? If you are, its an evident sign that its time for a dental check up.

Don't let the barrier of not understanding your dental insurance be a reason to put off scheduling a dentist appointment. Its important that you see your dentist at least twice a year. The following are simple steps to understanding your dental insurance and finally making that dentist appointment:

1)  Terms to know

• Maximum Dental benefit: The maximum amount of money that your dental insurance will cover per year.
• Deductible: How much you will have to pay out-of-pocket until the dental insurance starts paying. 
• Co-pay: The amount of money you have to pay for your office visit.

2) Contact the Customer service number for your dental insurance

• Ask for the dollar amount attached to the above terms, and any other questions you may have about your insurance.
• For example: Do they cover preventative services?
• Request the  'Dental Summary of Benefits and Coverage' booklet for you to refer to for more complex or specific dental situations. 

3) Find a dentist that is in your insurance network.

• Usually, there is an online website you can go to and see who is in your insurance network.
• If you have a hard time choosing a dentist. Search by your area code, and then work your way out.

4) Call your chosen dental office, and schedule that DENTAL appointment!



What barriers keep you from scheduling a dentist appointment?


***Picture source: Exquisite-smiles.com
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Self-Care: Shower Routine

What a difference a shower routine can make on your day.  A simple routine such as this can give you the gift of a new mood, a new perspective, a new day. Your bored/sad/upset? Take a shower. Just let the old rinse away as you scrub in the new and bring in a more positive perspective to your day. 

Here is a simple self care shower routine I like to use to help bring more of a "feel good" vibe to my day:

1) Brush/floss your teeth.

• I find electrical toothbrushes do a more thorough job in getting all the nooks and crannies in your teeth, so don't be afraid to invest in one. 
• If you notice any plaque or stains, its time to schedule a dentist appointment.

2) Shower methodically

• Start with wetting your hair and washing it with shampoo. 
• Afterwards shave your armpits, legs etc.
• Wash your body by lathering your sponge with your favorite body wash.
• Finally, rinse and twirl your hair up in a towel while you do the next steps.

3) Cut your toenails and fingernails

• Cut your nails straight across
• Cut any dry skin around your nails with a cuticle trimmer and add cuticle cream to keep it moist.
• If your up for it, you can even put on a fresh coat of nail polish. Otherwise, make sure you remove any old nail polish.

4) Dry the rest of your hair

• While its still damp, add an oil elixir to the ends to prevent split ends, as well as volumizing mouse before drying.
• If your up for it, you can even straighten your hair and moisturize your face if its too dry.

5) Put on a nice dress and Voila. Soak in the goodness as you enjoy your freshly self.



What self-care routine do you find best brings out your freshly self?


***Picture Source: Mamavation.com
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