Ten is a great age for a child. Their confidence levels are starting to grow, so joining clubs and experiencing new activities without their parents is something they can enjoy. Plus, they do not yet face any of the challenges that teenagers do. Ten is an age at which a child is still free to enjoy exploring the world through play.

Selecting the best toys for 10 year old girls is well worth taking a bit of time over. Choosing wisely will help your daughter, niece, sister, or granddaughter to become more confident and learn new skills. Something that will stand them in good stead as they get older

Here are some of the things you might want to consider when buying toys for a 10-year-old girl. Along with a few tips and suggestions to help you with your decision.

Will They Be Interested In The Toy?

There is no point in buying a little girl a doll if she does not like playing with them. It is far better to think about their interests, hobbies, and their toy preferences and buy accordingly. As you can see from this study every child has their own idea of what a great toy is.

Will The Toy Help Them To Learn A New Skill?

Toys that help your child to learn a new skill or enhance the ones they already have are a great idea. At 10, most children enjoy expressing their creative side. Arts and crafts toys are great for enabling them to do this. As are modelling kits and builder toys like Meccano. They are an especially good choice for a girl who is interested in going into engineering. At 10, many girls also enjoy playing with STEM toys.

Is The Toy Fun?

Play needs to be fun as well as educational. Studies show that children who play often and have fun develop faster. So be sure your 10-year-old daughter or granddaughter has access to toys that enable her to let off some steam, laugh, and just enjoy being a kid.

Outdoor toys are especially good for this. They are also a great way of encouraging little girls to stay active.

Toys That Enable Girls To Try Out Different Looks

At 10, children start to become far more conscious of the way they look. This is natural, but you don’t want them to become too worried about it. Play is a safe way for them to explore and develop their own sense of style. Having a dress-up box is great for this. Kids have a lot of fun turning themselves and their friends into someone else.

Toys That Encourage Group Play

At 10, most children start to want to spend more time with their friends than their families. They want to have people around to play and for sleepovers. So, it is worth buying toys that encourage group play. Board games can be a good option, especially for rainy days. Usually, five or six can play at the same time.

Dress-up and beauty toys such as nail kits are another example of a toy that a group of friends could enjoy together.

In conclusion

The above suggestions are just a starting point. If you still don’t feel inspired just go to somewhere like Amazon and check out their list of best-selling toys.

This article was originally published by artofhealthyliving.com. Read the original article here.

When you’re a single parent, you wear many hats. From driving your kids around to preparing meals and from doing laundry to helping with homework, life can feel a little overwhelming at times. That’s true for two-parent households. But, when you’re doing it on your own, it’s easy to get weighed down by stress.

Unfortunately, that stress can become even heavier if you’re trying to buy a house on your own. Almost a quarter of children in the U.S. live in a household with a single parent. So, you’re not alone in your feelings. Because single parenthood is so prominent, there are also tips and resources you can use to your advantage when buying a home.

With that in mind, let’s look at a few ways you should be prepared when buying a house. When you feel more confident in the process, you’ll be able to enjoy the excitement that comes with it, rather than the anxiety and stress.

Plan Ahead As Much As Possible

If you don’t want to feel like you’re in over your head while buying a house, planning ahead is crucial. The first thing you should do is create a budget. That will give you a starting point for what you can afford and where you should be looking. It will also give you an idea of where you might be able to cut back if you’re trying to save money for other things.

As you look at your budget, add a mortgage into the equation, and everything else that goes with home buying. That could include downpayment costs, insurance, and property taxes.

If the financial side of buying a home seems overwhelming, use the many resources available to you. If you’re a veteran, you might qualify for a VA loan. If not, talk to a HUD counselor or look into homeownership vouchers. If this is your first time buying a home, you might even qualify for certain tax credits that can help offset the costs.

Dealing with financial issues can be one of the biggest stressors when it comes to buying a house. The more you dive into your budget and know what you can afford ahead of time, the easier finding a home that works for your family will be.

Prepare Your Kids

If moving is stressful for you, think about how stressful it can be for your kids. That’s especially true if you’re moving to a new town where they have to make friends or go to a different school. Making sure they’re prepared will make the process easier on all of you. But, how can you do that?

First, discuss the move with them. Use age-appropriate language and methods to make sure they understand why you’re moving and how it will benefit everyone. Some ideas that might make the transition easier, especially for younger kids, include:

• Visiting the new house before officially moving in
• Keeping your child’s bedroom furniture for the new place
• Avoiding other big changes during the move
• Listening to their concerns and addressing them appropriately

Does all of this ensure that the move will be completely smooth for your kids? No. It’s a good rule of thumb to keep checking in with them, even after you move into your new place. Talk to them about how they’re handling things and what they need. Offer as much support as possible, and let them know their feelings are valid. It might take some time, but once they start to adapt and make friends, it will get easier.

Practice Self-Care

This might seem like an unimportant tip when compared to the others. But, it might actually be the most crucial preparedness step of all. Single parents tend to be at a greater risk for mental health conditions. One study found that 30% of single mothers reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, compared with 14% of mothers with partners.

On top of the everyday pressures that come from raising a family on your own, home buying is stressful. It can cause symptoms of anxiety if you’re worried about finding the right place, how you’ll afford it, or just tackling everything on your own. Finding ways to take care of yourself – mentally and physically – will help to keep you from getting overwhelmed about the process.

If moving is stressing you out or you just need a break, try some of these self-care tips:

• Take your time and don’t rush the process
• Exercise each day
• Spend time outside
• Schedule time every day for yourself to relax
• Meditate
• Practice mindfulness

When you’re able to reduce stress, you’ll have an easier time balancing all areas of your life. Keep these self-care tips in mind while you’re buying a house to have a better handle on your career, your family, and your overall well-being.

Buying a house should be exciting, no matter how stressful it is. Consider this process the next chapter in your life, and be as prepared as possible to enjoy the experience at every turn.

This article was originally published by artofhealthyliving.com. Read the original article here.

I’ve been looking back through the photos on my phone in a bid to clear out some space (honestly there are way too many pictures of plates of food, my sweaty face, and my dog!) and one thing I noticed is that I’m still wearing some of the same running clothes as I was 2 years ago. Which in some respects is downright impressive for so many reasons, but has also got me thinking that I could probably do with a bit of a running wardrobe refresh (for the record, I don’t have a running wardrobe, but wouldn’t that be great!)

It’s time for a run kit glow up.

Now let me ask you a question… what would you buy if you had £200 to spend on Adidas running clothes? Because funnily enough I found myself faced with this first world predicament. And I tell you what, it’s actually harder than you think, as there is a tonne of amazing running clothes in their online store. But hey, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

I’d really like to try and inject a bit of colour into my running wardrobe, as I tend to stick with black, because well it’s safe isn’t it. So, with that in mind and with £200 at my disposal here’s how I got on:

HEAT.RDY Adidas Running T-Shirt

By my thinking, I reckon you can’t get much brighter than a t-shirt described as Vivid Red, which is exactly why I chose this HEAT.RDY Adidas Running T-Shirt first. And just like the colour description it is VIVID!

The t-shirt is made from a really lightweight material. This means it dries super quick, which pleases the mum in me, as it feels like I am continually at war with the bottomless laundry basket that I seem to have in my house. But it’s not just the quick drying factor that comes into play here, oh no, there are a whole heap of other benefits that come with this t-shirt.

You see it is made with Primegreen, a new recycled fabric that contains no newly created plastic. This is fantastic news from a sustainable point of view, but how does it perform? Well, the good news is it’s breathable (always a huge bonus in a running top) and it pulls moisture away from your skin, so when you start sweating this t-shirt has you covered.

I love the puncture hole detailing on the back and it looks great with a black sports bra underneath. I also like my run tops to be quite lengthy in the body – I’m a cover my bum as much as possible kind of girl and it also means you don’t have to worry about the dreaded camel toe situ.  This is my perfect length, sitting slightly lower at the back, and with a curved hem, it is super flattering and comfortable. Priced at £43, I went for the UK S 8/10 which was a slight risk as I’m probably more of a 10/12 up top, but this was the perfect fit, so I’d say it tends to veer ever so slightly more on the larger side. A great top and one I’ve no doubt will be in my running wardrobe for years to come.

Adidas Essentials Boyfriend Camouflage T-Shirt

This next one isn’t something that I would necessarily run in, purely because I prefer a more lightweight and breathable fabric, however when it popped up on my screen I couldn’t not buy this top. I love the soft casual camo look that’s somehow bold but not too out there if you know what I mean.

Boyfriend fit means it’s a bit looser and it looks great either with leggings for a slightly sportier look or with a pair of rolled up distressed boyfriend jeans for a bit more of an urban chic skater girl look. Available in 2 different colourways (green/dark brown/white or solid grey/clear pink/white) I went for the softer pastel tones to help lighten up my workout clothes. The t-shirt costs just £20, but at the moment it’s in the sale for £17 – gotta love a bargain!

Adidas Own The Run Tank Top

OK, so can you tell I love tops yet!?! In summer, when the sun decides to come out, I much prefer to run in a vest. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything (well go on then) but I have a pretty nice toned back and shoulders, so wearing a vest top is a chance for me to show those bad boys off. This tank top is fab for this.

I went for the Vivid Red again because I love how bright it is and think it goes really well with my colouring, but it’s also available in 4 other colours (Rose/Ambient Blush/Black/Violet). I’ve always loved the classic three stripe Adidas branding and I love the detail of the reflective stripes on the back of this top.

This tank top, like the other red t-shirt above, is also made from the Primegreen high-performance material, and with a soft mesh feel it offers plenty of breathable movement on the run. At £25 you’ll find cheaper vests than this, but honestly you totally get what you pay for and the quality of the material is everything. If you want a running top that performs well, is comfortable, but that also looks stylish, then this is for you. Not gonna lie, I’m tempted to buy one in another colour.

Oh, and one other thing, red is a notoriously difficult colour to wash, however I’ve washed this a couple of times now and there was zero colour running and it retains its vivid red intensity. A staple bit of summer run kit.

Marimekko Tank Top

Right, let me start by explaining what Marimekko is, because before discovering it on the Adidas website it wasn’t even on my radar. Marimekko is a Finnish design house that creates distinctive bold prints to symbolise positivity and personal empowerment – a message that I am sure most of you know I am all for. Adidas have incorporated the bold Marimekko design into a range of different women’s clothing, ranging from dresses, trainers, leggings, shorts, swimsuits, and this tank top that I’m wearing.

As you can see I went for the Carbon/Black combo, but it’s also available in Magenta/Vivid Red. The training top is perfect both for workouts or running, as again it is made from Primegreen recycled materials and moisture-wicking AEROREADY. What I love most about this top is the shape of it, especially the v neck (something you don’t see that often in a training top) and the scooped hem (it’s a really flattering shape and feels less restrictive during movement). Plus, the racerback style back looks great with a bright coloured sports bra underneath.

This one will cost you £33 so a bit more than I’d personally normally pay for a tank top, but I think the design makes it look really luxe and it’s nice to have something a little bit different and dare I say it bouji to spice my workout training clothes up a little.

Own the Run Adidas Hooded Windbreaker

We all know just how unpredictable British weather is during the summer and that means a lightweight, waterproof jacket is an absolute must in any runners’ wardrobe. I own a ridiculous amount of black jackets, it’s my safety colour. And while they look great, it’s not exactly the most eye catching colour to be wearing, especially when road running. This Violet Tone hooded jacket is perfect for a more summery look and definitely way more eye catching without becoming part of the neon brigade (you totally know what I mean, right!?!)

Aside from looking totally beaut the jacket has loads of small detailing that really helped sell itself to me:

• Water repellent – a must in this country.
• Drawstring cord at the waist – to nip you in and keep the rain out.
• Discreet drawstring cord on top of the hood – there’s nothing worse than having a hood that keeps falling down, completely pointless. Snug fit for the win.
• 2 big side pockets – one with hidden inner zipped pocket that’s big enough to hold a phone or keys or other things you want to keep dry or extra secure.
• Cuffed sleeves – again to keep that rain out.
• Reflective stripes – 0ffering 360-degree visibility.

Priced at £45 I know for a fact that this will end up being the most worn item out of this whole haul simply because its practicality points are off the charts.

Designed To Move High-Rise 3-Stripes 7/8 Adidas Sport Tights

These are an absolute classic: black sports tights with the notorious three stripe Adidas design running down the leg, it’s an utter crime not to have a pair of these in your wardrobe somewhere. Now I’m going to be honest here, I ordered these thinking they’d make great run tights, but for me they’re more of a lounge around at home, pop to the shops, walk the dog kind of legging and I’ll explain why.

When I run I want to know that my leggings are going to stay put, that they’re not going to roll down, and that I’m not going to have to spend every other minute hoiking them up. So, what I really want is a drawstring waist, which these don’t have, and it’s totally my fault for not checking when I ordered them. That being said, this is not a regret buy, my goodness they are the comfiest leggings I have ever worn, so so soft and stretchy and the movement capacity of them is mega – there’s no chance of these bad boys splitting when you do your lunges that’s for sure.

Costing £33, they’re available in three colourways (black and white, dark grey heather and white, or wild teal, hazy green and white) and are again made with Primegreen. I love that it has a high waist and a hidden interior pocket, because as we all know… pockets are everything.

As you can see, it turns out it wasn’t so difficult for me to spend £200 at Adidas after all, in fact it’s kinda got me thinking that perhaps I should be glowing up my running wardrobe way more often, seeing as there’s so much gorgeous stuff out there. So, if you ever find yourself in need of some new run threads, I would deffo recommend spending time getting lost on the pages of the Adidas online store. Window shopping’s great, but online shopping’s even better!

*products gifted for review

This article was originally published by artofhealthyliving.com. Read the original article here.

If you’ve decided that you want to eat healthier and be healthier, buying a few healthy eating books may help you achieve that. However, getting the right books for your goals and lifestyle doesn’t seem to be a simple task these days, as there are so many out there. For this reason, I decided to put together some tips which will make it easier for you to choose the best healthy eating book for your needs. Here are some of the things you should consider:

What Is Your Intention?

Do you just want to cook more homemade meals which are healthy so that you can be healthier and get more nutrition from your food? Are you already eating quite healthily but getting bored of your current meals? Or do you want to lose weight by eating healthily? Maybe you want to eat more vegetarian meals? Think about your intention carefully, as this will determine the type of book you buy.

If you want to lose weight, some healthy eating books feature exercises in them, including workout plans. For example, one of the books like that on the market is The Bikini Body 28-Day Healthy Eating & Lifestyle Guide by Kayla Itsines. I had a quick look at this book in a supermarket and it seems to be really good – it’s a quite big book packed with lots of information about food, nutrition and a healthy lifestyle in general.

Another book including exercises is ‘Strong’ written by Zanna Van Dijk who is a qualified personal trainer and nutrition consultant. The focus of the book seems to be more on exercises, but there are also 40 recipes in there that are relatively quick to make and easy to structure around your lifestyle.

I also want to mention the range of healthy eating books by Joe Wicks (aka The Body Coach) who’s been labelled the 2nd most influential person in the food industry. Joe’s first book Lean in 15 features a hundred recipes for nutritious, quick-to-prepare meals and guides you through Joe’s signature HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) home workouts – revealing how to combine food and exercise to ignite intense fat-burning. Joe then went on to publish more books after the success of his first book, for example, Lean in 15 – The Shape Plan and Lean in 15 – The Sustain Plan. Most of his recipes do contain meat so they are not suitable for vegetarians, however Joe did publish a book suitable for vegetarians eventually and you can check it out here.

If you are after healthy vegetarian or vegan recipes, then you should also check out the following books: Deliciously Ella, Good + Simple (by Hemsley sisters) and Leon: Fast Vegetarian.

Introduction To Healthy Eating

If a book starts with a few chapters explaining things like what you need for healthy cooking, equipment needed and nutritional information about particular foods, then this is always a good thing. It just helps you to understand healthy eating a little bit more. Reading about the benefits of certain foods is great as it will motivate you to eat those foods more often.

How Much Time Do You Have For Cooking?

We all seem to have busy lives these days and for this reason, many of us prefer to buy a healthy eating book that contains quick and easy-to-make recipes. If that’s your priority then you should consider books from Joe Wicks (for those of you who eat meat) but if you don’t eat meat, then Leon: Fast Vegetarian would be more suitable for you. There are of course other books on the market full of quick and healthy recipes – just do a quick Google search to find them.

Ingredients

Do you like to stick to ingredients that you are familiar with or do you want to experiment with new ingredients? Some books require simple, well-known ingredients while others like to be more adventurous and will require you to visit your local whole foods store or do some food shopping on Amazon.

It’s really up to you what you want. Check what kind of ingredients feature in the book to make sure there are no surprises! The worst thing you can do is buy a healthy eating book that you hate because it has so many unfamiliar ingredients in it.

Equipment Required

Before buying a healthy eating book, see whether you need any special equipment to prepare the recipes. Do you need a blender, food processor or a slow cooker? If your kitchen is only basic, then you will need a healthy eating book that doesn’t require the use of any special equipment. Alternatively, if you are really up for making something different, it will be worth investing in a good food processor with a blender attachment.

Special Diet

If you are lactose intolerant or cannot eat gluten, you will need to pay special attention when buying a healthy eating book. Deliciously Ella is great for those who cannot consume gluten and so is Ready, Steady, Glow by nutritional health coach Madeleine Shaw.

Those of you avoiding dairy should consider Cook. Nourish. Glow by nutritional therapist Amelia Freer.

Reviews

Finally, before you buy anything make sure you read the reviews so that you know what to expect. These reviews will give you a good idea of what to expect and what people like and don’t like about the book.

Author Bio

Petra Kravos is a health enthusiast who loves to read the latest research about health and nutrition. She is the founder of Proper Healthy Living where you will find lots of useful information that will help you lead a healthier lifestyle.

This article was originally published by artofhealthyliving.com. Read the original article here.

Buying the perfect home is an exciting endeavour! Making sure it has enough space, a great floor plan, and is within budget are the basics that most of us look for when house shopping. However, it’s also a good idea to make sure that your new property can accommodate a healthy lifestyle.

What options are important for buying a house with healthy living in mind? Here are some ideas to get you started.

Safety First

Before considering features that support a healthy lifestyle, potential home buyers need to make sure the property they are buying is safe. For example, older homes are often more affordable and appeal to our sense of simplicity; however, they are fraught with problems that modern homes do not have. They may even contain dangerous materials like asbestos, which can cause serious health problems, as well as mould or radon, and other toxins that are destructive to your health.

It’s a good idea to bring a house inspector with you before buying so that they can spot clues to these and other health hazards. You should learn the telltale clues of these hidden dangers for yourself as well. The more eyes scouting for potential problems, the better you can be sure your new home is safe.

Sustainability Features

Part of living a healthy lifestyle is making sure that your home is equipped with environmentally friendly features. Energy conserving appliances, water-conserving methods like low-flow taps and toilets, and even solar panels not only help you to live a greener life, they can save you money!

For a more sustainable home, use eco-friendly paint that is low in or free of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) or heavy dyes. VOCs can leak out toxins like formaldehyde or heavy metals long after the paint dries so the greener paint choice is also the healthy choice.

Outdoor Property Features

Next, you want to choose features that support a healthy lifestyle. One of the key things to look for when buying a house is its outdoor space. Front and back yards are two of the most attractive features of buying any home but especially valuable as a way to help your family get outside almost every day.

Yards also provide an excellent space for gardening. Whether you are interested in growing your food, planting serenity-inducing plants, or just having nearby nature as a way to refresh your mind, easy access to flora is excellent for your mental and physical health. We recommend growing a bee-friendly garden, which helps you avoid toxic gardening chemicals that are bad for the ecosystem and your health.

A backyard also provides an exclusive area for doing sports at home. Whether you are putting in a pool, setting up a trampoline, or just pinning up a volleyball net, your family can enjoy these activities without annual fees or distant travel. Choose a home with a yard that can accommodate the things you love to do.

You can even get inspired daily by creating an outdoor office. There are a few practicalities to consider: Does your wi-fi reach? Can you ensure you get protection from the sun’s rays? If you are in a climate with cold seasons, can you provide enough heat to work? Backyards provide endless opportunities to commune with nature!

Location, Location, Location!

The location of your new home can impact your health as well as the price. Getting away from urban centres means you can breathe free from pollutants and smog. You may also be closer to healthy places to visit, like hiking trails or bike paths, or even the local gym!

However, even if you choose a home in a suburban or rural setting, there can still be dangers to your health. Be sure to do your due diligence in any town or county you are considering by checking the following:

• What kind of water supply does the home have? How safe is it?
• Is the area downstream from any industrial suppliers that may have waste runoff?
• Is there a power plant nearby?
• Scour the local news over the last year for any stories of other pollution crises the town may have suffered that can still impact your home.

A little investigation can help prevent you from purchasing a health hazard you have no power to control.

A Healthy Indoor Environment

Your indoor tour of the home should be in person and should make you feel comfortable. Homes are often designed with “flow” in mind, that is, the layout just feels right and natural. Houses without flow feel awkward and may induce stress, as well as being difficult to furnish.

Be sure to carefully walk through the rooms that have the most hygiene problems, like kitchens and bathrooms. Look for telltale signs of bug infestations, mildew, decay, and damp spots. Check out the inside of all the appliances for dirt as well.

An important tool to use when house hunting is your sense of smell. You can smell dampness, pet odour, and household toxins, like ammonia, during your tour. These are also things your inspector should spot.

Finally, make sure that you have enough space so that you can relax in your home. Do you need a bedroom with a reading nook? Do you need a large bathtub for relaxing soaks? Is there a small room that can double a prayer closet or meditation room? Your home is your castle, and making sure there is room to unwind is just as important as having enough space for your family.

Buying a house is a deep investment. It should allow your health and wellness to flourish. Use these tips to select a home ideal for healthy living.

This article was originally published by artofhealthyliving.com. Read the original article here.