The Evolution of the Ugly Christmas Sweater
The Evolution of the Ugly Christmas Sweater

For anyone who has been noticing it, the fact that ugly Christmas sweaters have become a trend is probably a cause for no small hilarity. These garments, for ages considered an eyesore, are now making an appearance in wardrobes as a fashion apparel. No longer can one associate them with one’s great aunt or their second grade teacher. With Christmas symbolisms depicted in a manner nothing less than cartoonish, the snowman, reindeer or elf Christmas sweater, with felt appliqus and pompoms for the added amusement of the observer, is taking the country by storm during the holiday season.

Though the ugly Christmas sweater has been in existence from way before the 20th century, people sat up and took notice of its hideousness only in the last few decades. One of the first few people responsible for making it trendy is probably Bill Cosby. He is, in fact, looked up to as an ugly sweater icon. But in the beginning of the ’90s, these Christmas jumpers lost popularity.

However, in the last decade, these cheap Christmas sweaters is back again. There were books published on this even. The Ugly Christmas Sweater Party Book: The Definitive Guide to Getting Your Ugly On, for one, thanks to which, around the year 2001, these sweaters came into the limelight in a huge way. Now the sweaters are bigger, louder and trendier than ever before with even high-end fashion shops like H&M showcasing them.

With people of all ages wanting to get in on the fashion train with the cheap ugly holiday sweaters, sweater themed parties have become the most popular during the Christmas season, with Christmas suits, and Christmas pajamas as viable alternatives for themed Christmas party wear. The sweaters are embellished with bows and frills and various form of decorations in an attempt to increases its tackiness. It has become so popular that the late night talk show host, Jimmy Fallon formed a segment around the theme called “The 12 Days of Christmas Sweaters.”

They are now trending in pop culture, fashion runways, and MTV documentaries. And this is not just limited to the United States alone. Thanks to Coin Firth and his cringe-worthy Christmas sweater from Bridget Jones’ Diary, the ugly holiday sweater has risen in popularity in the United Kingdom too.

Naturally, more than it looks, what the cheap ugly Christmas sweater has going for – is the warm, fuzzy feeling along with the fun memories of Christmas which makes it all worthy.

  • Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar Diet

    Staying fit is a necessity in today’s age where people often tend to ignore their health owing to the fast-paced life. The number of unhealthy food items in the market has increased greatly. However, there are certain healthy food products that can help provide relief from a plethora of ailments. Apple cider vinegar is one of them; it has been used as a health tonic for several hundred years. This tonic has many health benefits and aids in lowering blood sugar levels as well. An apple cider vinegar diet is generally recommended for obese and diabetic patients. Moreover, using apple vinegar for weight loss is a fantastic option as it would not have any adverse effects. Read on to know how you can incorporate apple cider vinegar into your diet and its benefits.

    Taking one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar on a daily basis is highly beneficial. If you spread this across two to three doses and consume it before meals, the benefits will only increase. According to several studies, the results of apple cider vinegar weight loss tips have been fantastic as it helps you lose up to 2 kg in around 3 months! While this may seem like a small amount, but if controlling the weight is a necessity, then regular exercise along with a healthy diet can go a long way.

    Here are a few of the effects the apple cider vinegar diet has on the body.

    • Lowers blood sugar and insulin – It helps lowers blood sugar levels when consumed with a high-carb meal.
    • Improves insulin sensitivity – Adding apple cider vinegar to a high-carb meal improves insulin sensitivity by up to 34%.
    • Lowers fasting blood sugar – In people with type 2 diabetes, apple cider vinegar with a high-protein evening snack decreases fasting blood sugar by around twice the normal amount.
    • Improves the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) – A small study shows that around 57% of women who took apple cider vinegar resumed ovulation in around 90–110 days.
    • Decreases cholesterol levels – It reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
    • Lowers blood pressure – Apple cider vinegar helps in reducing blood pressure levels.
    • Kills harmful bacteria and viruses – Apple cider vinegar fights the bacteria that causes food poisoning and reduces their numbers by up to 90%. It also reduces harmful viruses by up to 95%.

    Over 100 million people in the country suffer from pre-diabetes or diabetes while a number of them are obese. Maintaining a healthy diet is the need of the hour. Do not consume food items rich in sugar and processed food. An apple cider vinegar diet is highly recommended and should be taken in appropriate amounts on a daily basis. While weight loss is not easy, apple cider vinegar weight loss plans have proved to be highly effective. You can consult with your doctor or dietician to check for the appropriate amounts you can consume.

    Read more
  • Importance of a Healthy Diet for Managing Arthritis

    Arthritis refers to the inflammation of joints and the fibrous tissues around it and the resulting pain in those joints. Earlier referred to as rheumatism, inflammation causes stiffness and pain in those joints and restricts movement over time. Arthritis refers to about 100 types of joint diseases. It affects about 53 million adults and 300,000 children in the country every year. It might stay on for some and disappear in a few days but is degenerative in most. If it affects the knee joint, walking and climbing stairs are severely impaired. If it affects fingers, they can get wobbly and simple jobs like holding, kneading and writing can become overwhelming. Although most types of arthritis affect limbs and joints, some types of arthritis can also affect the eyes, heart, kidney, and lungs. Some types of arthritis and examples are

    • Degenerative – Osteoarthritis
    • Inflammatory – Rheumatoid and Psoriatic Arthritis
    • Infectious – Triggered by organisms Salmonella, Shigella or Hepatitis B, Lyme Disease
    • Metabolic arthritis – Gout

    Despite the high prevalence of arthritis worldwide, doctors and scientists have till date not been able to find the cause and hence a cure. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that there is no cure for most types of arthritis. Early diagnosis and constant management are the only ways of diminishing the impact of arthritis on a person’s life. Apart from medication to relieve inflammation and strengthen muscles, alternate therapies, devices that help improve mobility are all part of the treatment protocol. Change in diet patterns, lifestyle modification and physical therapy for affected joints can improve the quality of life of those affected.

    Connection between food and arthritis
    For more than 90 years, scientists are trying to establish a link between food and arthritis, given that it affects young and old, men and women. Except for the discovery that gluten could trigger inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, skin, and joints, no other arthritis has been linked to a particular food item or diet. With an increase in osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, and no trigger linked to their cause, treatment protocols are broad-based and goals are to reduce the pain and improve quality of life.

    Today science has been able to break down every single component of every single food item there is. We are more than ever aware of what each food is made of. Isolating all those food items that could potentially cause inflammation can help a little or even a lot to treat arthritis. Apart from being triggers that cause inflammation or reduce it, food also helps improve a person’s overall health. This is beneficial for a person who is affected by rheumatoid arthritis caused by a poor immune system.

    There is an increased flow of information about chemicals that cause disease or help treat it. Similar information is also available about the presence of these chemicals in naturally available foodstuff. Treating and managing arthritis with such food naturally, without resorting to lab- and factory-made chemicals is also gaining momentum. Thus, a person also avoids the side effects caused by long term use of anti-inflammatory medications and painkillers.

    Food recommended for common types of arthritis

    • Rheumatoid
      This is caused by inflammation and foods that cause such inflammation need to be avoided
    • Osteoarthritis
      Vegan and plant-based balanced diet works best to improve the calcium deficiency.
    • Gout
      Gout is a type of disease caused by the body’s inability to process uric acid which crystallizes in the joints causing inflammation. Avoid food that is high in purines which release uric acid has to be limited to manage gout naturally.
    • Osteoporosis
      Including calcium and Vitamin D rich food helps the damage caused to bones due to a calcium deficiency.

    Foods that can add to arthritis pain
    A person suffering from arthritis is highly prone to inflammation. Many triggers in food can cause inflammation and they should be avoided. They need to avoid any such food that increases the symptoms. Some common triggers are sugar, salt, Trans fat, gluten, refined carbs.

    Combined with physical activity, a positive attitude, healthy lifestyle, and timely medication, a person with arthritis can rest be assured that there will be a reduction in pain and more active use of the joints. There are many options to know about food choices today on the internet. However, before one decides what to include and give up, it is important to consult a doctor or a nutritionist. They will recommend a diet plan that is specific to your body’s needs and condition, particularly for those who have allergies or are sensitive to a particular food.

    Read more
  • Choosing a plan and carrier with a no-contract phone

    What does an “Unlocked cellphone” mean?
    Most of the cellphones may come with an internal lock that limits its compatibility with certain carriers. This needs to be considered at the time of purchase to avoid expenses on features that may not be used or be usable. Although the DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) was passed in 1998 to control piracy of CDs, somehow unlocking of cellphones also has come under this law.

    An unlocked phone or a “no contract” phone means that the device is not restricted to any particular carrier and the consumer can use the services by any wireless carrier of his choice just by inserting a SIM card. Unlocking the phones without proper permissions is considered illegal and consumers trying to do so may have to pay fine and be sentenced to prison. However, range of pre-unlocked cellphones are available in the market today giving greater flexibility to consumers in terms of switching between cellphones based on newer launches, latest features, resale value, for using devices received as gifts, and the ability to jump to a carrier that meets his/her choice.

    How to use cellphones without contract with a prepaid plan?
    Prepaid plan means paying a defined amount in advance to the services offered by the carrier. The services cease to work either after the set data/service is consumed or after the time period for service expiry is crossed, whichever is earlier. The services have to be paid for once again to resume the usage which is commonly called as a top-up.

    A top-up can be done through various modes. There are walk-in vendors from where a suitable service plan can be activated or bought online through the carrier’s website using the PayPal, net banking, or debit or credit card options. Some carriers also offer the “Auto Pay” option in which the prefixed cost will automatically get deducted from the linked account to avoid undisturbed services if one forgets to get the top-up done on time.

    Factors to consider while choosing a carrier:
    If you are comfortable with any of the big carriers (T-mobile, Sprint, AT&T, Verizon), then you can check on the MVNOs that run using their networks which can provide similar service at a cheaper price. Although dying, CDMA is a commonly used network in the US but the GSM (offered by T-Mobile and AT&T in the US) standard is the most preferred internationally.
    If you are a frequent traveler, a GSM phone gives you flexibility in choosing the locally available network and thus help you to cut on your roaming fees. The LTE and HSPA platforms provide better speed if your usage is high on the browsing features.
    The compatibility between the phone and the carrier should be confirmed before buying as some features in the phone may not be supported. For example, voice and texts may work but with the internet running at reduced speeds.

    Read more
  • Garmin Golf GPS – an overview

    Garmin Golf GPS is a company that specializes in the manufacture of GPS aided devices. The company started from a discussion between a few engineers that they had way back in the year 1989. Thier idea was to form a company which will make innovative GPS-aided devices to enrich the lives of their customers. Their products span includes fields like aviation, automotive, fitness, outdoor recreation, marine and even wireless applications. The company designs, manufactures, market and sells their products all by themselves. The company that started with a handful of engineers today employs some 7,000 odd people. The company makes sure that all their products give purchaser gets more than their money’s worth with relevant information packed into each of their product.

    Automotive products include navigation devices. These have features like easy to use GPS navigator with 12.7cm dual orientation display, independent of cellular signals, preloaded maps with details and updated free for lifetime, easily search addresses and a large number of points of interest and navigate complex interchanges easily. Its HD camera CDR C320 is an easy to use driving recorder with 3-inch LCD display. It has a wide-angle lens that captures the entire road ahead. One can set the date and time so the footages show when the events happened. It records excellent images in low light too. The camera is mounted on the windshield. It allows playback of the footage later on the computer. There is a camera to aid reversing. The footage is shown on the GPS navigator (to be bought separately). Connect to constant power and easily toggle between camera and navigator. Rugged enough to stand the harsh weather.
    There are also other accessories like tire pressure gauge, sporting aides for running, golf, cycling, swimming, multi-sports, activity tracker and some apps to go with them.
    The Marine segment has equipment like charter sonar combo, cameras, fishfinders GPS combos, wind sensors etc.
    Maps include automotive, golf course, Marine charts, and maps. Cycling maps, etc.
    Outdoor Recreation segment has GPS-aided devices for hikers, campers, and geo-catchers.

    Aviation HSA devices to suit various segments like general aviation, helicopters, head up display for supermidsize, midsize and light business air crafts. The system incorporates crisp, clear view of all pertinent flight information within a single display unit. While a detailed description of all items is beyond the scope of this write-up, an attempt has been made to give details of items that are more relevant to commoners.

    Read more
  • Cure and prevention of bacterial infection

    Bacteria are microbes that exist all around us. They can thrive in varied environments, which may include extreme temperatures as well. They are excellent at evolving and adapting to changing environmental conditions and are highly resilient. Most of the bacteria do not harm us. In fact, there are several types which are helpful to us, such as the bacteria in our gut, which aids in numerous ways to maintain good health. Thy help digest food, fight against certain other disease-causing organisms and boost out immune system in general. But some of them are harmful to us, cause infections and are classified as pathogens.

    Bacterial Infection
    A bacterial infection can affect many parts of the body. Few among the many bacterial infections include tuberculosis, urinary tract infection and strep throat. Each of them is caused by a particular type of bacteria. For instance, a Streptococcus pneumonia bacteria can cause pneumonia, bacterium Mycobacterium can cause tuberculosis and so on. The bacteria are classified based on their genetic structure, the walls of their cells or their shape. When there is an infection, the underlying bacteria that caused the problem is detected, and treatment is provided accordingly.

    Cure for bacterial infection
    Antibiotics, as the word implies, is the treatment for bacterial infection. Medication is prescribed to counter the effect of bacterial infection when it is severe and is effective as a cure. But is not advisable in the case of mild infections, like the common cold, in which case, the body’s immune system will be able to remedy the condition. When the symptoms are severe, it is advisable to consult the doctor who would determine the nature of the infection. The doctor will carry out a physical examination, check your medical records and will recommend blood or urine test as appropriate to arrive at a diagnosis.

    Further, a biopsy might be recommended for obtaining a tissue sample to conduct the culture test. This is done in order to identify the bacteria and confirm the diagnosis so that the medication can be prescribed accordingly. But caution has to be exercised in prescribing antibiotics as overuse can render the bacteria resistant to the drug.

    Avoiding an infection
    Bacterial infection is highly contagious in most cases and can be transmitted from infected person or animals when they sneeze, cough or touch. Hence it is advisable to follow basic hygiene such as washing hands often to fend off infection. And if you are the infected person, cover while sneezing or coughing and avoid sharing food or drink so that you don’t spread the disease. Most importantly, eat right, sleep well and exercise regularly so that you maintain good health by boosting your immune system in general, which is the best way to prevent any sort of infection rather than suffering once you catch one.

    Read more
  • 5 home remedies for sinus congestion relief

    Do you often suffer from acute sinus congestion? then throbbing pains all over your face and head, tired eyes, stuffed nose, difficulty in breathing, and a constant feeling of fatigue are your regular companions when your nasal tissues get inflamed or are irritated. It is especially annoying when you have to wake up in the middle of the night with a bad attack of sinus congestion.

    Although, doctors recommend antibiotics for those who suffer from severe bouts of sinus congestion, there are certain natural remedies that will give you relief if your sinus problem is not very serious. Here are five home remedies for sinus congestion relief.

    1.Use a neti pot: Neti pots, made of copper or ceramic, are used to clear nasal cavities. Use a saline solution that is composed of half to one teaspoon of non-iodized salt for 16 ounces of warm water. Make sure to use sterilized and distilled water. To flush, lean over a sink or basin and tilt your head to about 45 degrees.
    Insert the spout of the pot in the upper nostril and gently pour the solution with dribbling. Make sure that you are breathing through your mouth while you do this. Few seconds later, the solution will come out from your other nostril. Repeat the process of the other side as well. Blow your nose gently to flush out the mucus.

    2.Steam: You can take a steam bath or shower by sprinkling a few drops of menthol or eucalyptus oil in the shower. Or you can pour warm steaming water in a bowl and keep your face over the bowl with a towel over your head. Breath in the steam through your nose. Be careful to not burn yourself. The hot steam will clear out your sinuses.

    3.Spicy diet: Hot spices open up your nasal cavity. If you are having an acute bout of sinus congestion, include spices such as curry, hot pepper, mustard, or wasabi in your food. The heat of the spices will clear your sinus congestion and give you relief.

    4.Stay hydrated: This is more of a preventive measure than curative. If you keep yourself sufficiently hydrated, your sinuses will remain moist. Avoid beverages that contain caffeine, as they tend to cause dehydration. Drink sufficient quantity of water and fruit juices.

    5.Warm and cold compress: You can use warm and cold compress alternatively to get relief from sinus congestion. This also helps to give relief from pains caused by sinus congestion. The alternate compress will help to keep the tissues of your nasal cavity moist.

    If your sinus problem persists for more than a week and is accompanied by fever, consult your doctor immediately.

    Read more
  • Most popular paid email services for working professionals

    You already have Google and Microsoft offer fantastic email service for free. Why pay for one then? Well, if you are an occasional mailer you can get by with free service. If your living depends on it, you better pay for it. Paying for email service makes sense for those running a serious business. Paid services give you the liberty of sending emails through your own domain thereby enhancing your professional credibility. Here’s a list of five paid service providers that you can pick from for ease in client communication.

    MailGet Bolt
    An economically priced user friendly service, MailGet Bolt propagates clutter free and minimalist approach. The design is fresh and simple and allows its users features that are relevant and necessary for a successful email marketing campaign. Some distinct features like sign-up forms and clear statistics instrument makes life easy. The interface is not cramped with superfluous information which is a great plus if too much information bonks you down. With MailGet Bolt you get total value for money!

    MailGet
    Getting this service is by far the best deal that you can get. This service gives you maximum benefits for a very nominal price. It is believed to be one of the most economical and super affordable email marketing services. It has a stunning and easy to use email builder where you can create email, add contacts, drag and drop email builder and connect to multiple SMTP connections. It is a fully hosted service so you need not even worry about managing servers.

    Sendloop
    Sendloop makes growing business with email marketing very easy. You can create beautiful email campaigns and automate email marketing in minutes and so much with no prerequisite technical skills. Sendloop allows you to follow up leads and customers automatically. With Sendloop, it’s quick and easy to create beautiful, high-converting emails – even if you have zero programming experience.

    Get Response
    Get Response is another low-cost online service with easy to use features. They offer auto responders, email creator, A/B split testing, marketing automation and list management among other amazing features. Their web page boasts about being the most trusted email service by the biggest hospitality industries and fortune 500 companies.

    Constant Contact
    Constant Contact’s prime focus lies on simplicity and usability. They filter all the noise that is usually found on other email providers and are targeted towards inexperienced internet users. It is completely automated and requires users to merely import contacts from excel files or other storage and does the rest on its own. It’s auto responder helps send clients greeting on all special occasions. It also provides scheduled mailings that helps send letters within the set time period. This service is pretty much the most automated of them all.

    Confused!? Choosing a good service can be a daunting task but only once. Most of these services provide free trials for up to 15 to 60 days. You could avail any for these demo versions to get a feel of the tools and make up your mind. Make sure you choose wisely!

    Read more
  • Simple options for body hair removal

    We know that there are a number of body hair removal options available with varying processes and prices. But the question is whether or not to go for the body hair removal options. Let us look at some of the simple and popular body hair removal options that come at a cheaper cost.

    • Shaving: Shaving is one of the easiest ways of body hair removal and a lot faster than any other method. But it lasts from half a day to three days, depending upon the hair growth cycle.
    • Tweezing: If you are looking to target a more specific area like your brows or struggling with the random facial hair you can opt for tweezing. Tweezing can last anywhere from 2–8 weeks since you are yanking out your hair roots.
    • Wax: Many people choose to wax their faces, bikini lines, armpits, legs etc. It can give you freedom from unwanted hair for 2-8 weeks since you are pulling out hair from the roots.Though it might not be for you if you have sensitive skin or if you are taking any medicines that cause thinning of the skin.

    If you are a beginner, you can start with hard wax or you can choose ready-to-use wax strips for body hair removal. Waxing requires some practice for good results. You can also get it professionally done. Be careful of the temperature of the wax when applying on your body. But if you are looking to get rid of razor bumps, then you should either apply moisturizer or seek doctor’s consultation.

    • Depilatory creams: Depilatory creams are also an excellent option. You basically slather the stuff on, wait a few minutes and remove the cream from the applied area with a cotton wool and your hair comes off with it. But these creams are not ideal to use on sensitive skin.
    • Threading: Last but not the least, threading is best for smaller areas like eyebrows, forehead, upper lips, etc. It can be painful but it’s safe if done by a trained beautician.

    One can try these body hair removal options and whichever suits the specific preferences. It is also a good idea to apply a skin-soothing cream or ointment after removing the body hair.

    Read more