Decorating the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve is the most fun part of the festival for manyespecially kids. It is the central character of the whole celebrations, so it is only right to spend a considerable time deciding its decorations and then decorating it accordingly. There are many ways you can decorate your Christmas treewith simple balls, tinsels and stars, with snowflakes and white doves, with animal figurines, or something personalized like photographs and handmade trinkets. Deciding the topper of the tree is very important as it acts as the crown of the whole tree. Many people use a star while some others use snowman figurines or an angel topper for Christmas tree.
Santa Claus decorations is a popular theme for Christmas tree and thus also a tree topper. Here are some tips if you are deciding to go for a Santa tree topper.
Keep it in tone with the rest of the decorations
While choosing your Santa tree topper, consider what decorations you have done for the tree itself. If it is something like simple balls, tinsels, and Christmas bells, it is better to keep the topper a star. It looks bold and bright and matches yet stand out among the rest of the decoration at the same time.
However, if you have gone for an otherwise Santa decoration with tiny sleds, reindeer antlers, and socks, you might as well top the tree with Santa Claus figurines to go with the rest of the tree.
Maintain the color code
If you have gone white for your Christmas tree, there is no need to break it with Santa Claus topper, but rather use a dove or a snowflake or snowman figurines to bedeck the crown of the tree. However, in case your tree has red and white socks, mittens, and candy canes of the same color combination, go with Santa tree toppereither a Santa Claus figurine or a Santa cap in red and white to wrap up the decorations.
Think of the people invited
If you have kids or there are going to be many kids among the people invited to your house, do not hesitate to choose a Santa over an angel or snowman tree topper. Santa Claus is the favorite thing about Christmas for most kids, and so you can make it fun for them by giving a Santa Claus-y twist to the entire party. You might as well hire a Santa Claus or ask one of your family members or friends to dress up like Santa and distribute the Christmas gifts to the kids.
The right Christmas tree toppers can give the right finish your Christmas tree needs and also set the mood for the party, so choose it wisely and make it fun!
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Popular Bed Bug Sprays to Choose From
Read moreBed bugs have become an epidemic in the country today. Bed bugs are pests that feed on the human blood. Be it clothing stores, hotels, movie halls, schools, or daycares, bed bugs have wreaked havoc almost everywhere. According to a survey by the National Pest Management Association, the number of cities affected by bed bugs in the country in this decade has gone up by 10% as compared to the earlier decade. Some of the cities with a high number of cases of bed bug infestation include Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Chicago, Illinois, Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles, Columbus, Raleigh-Durham, Detroit, Richmond-Petersburg, Philadelphia, San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, Indianapolis, Buffalo, Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Norfolk-Portsmouth-Newport, and Houston. Bed bugs spread at a very rapid rate and using one of the best bed bug sprays is one of the best ways to get rid of them. Here’s a list of some of the best bed bugs sprays that you can consider using.
- Bed Bug Killer By Eco Defense – All Natural Organic Formula
- Bed Bug Killer by EcoRaider, 100% Fast Kill and Extended Protection, Green and Non-toxic
- Bed Bug Killer Patrol
- Ortho Home Defense Dual-Action Bed Bug Killer Aerosol Spray
- Harris Bed Bug Killer
- Temprid Sc Insecticide
- Harris Toughest Bed Bug Killer
- Chapin Sprayer
- Zoecon Precor 2000 Plus Premise Spray
- Temprid Ready Spray
Benefits of using some of the best bed bug sprays
- Sprays are inexpensive and a bottle may generally cost $20–60
- The bottle is easy to use
- Sprays are generally effective in killing bugs on contact in a short period of time
- Many different product options
If you are wondering about the best bed bug sprays that can help in getting rid of an infestation in your home, then you can have a look at the list below and choose the best one for you.
Bed Bug Patrol
Active ingredients: Clove Oil (0.003%), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (1.3%), and Peppermint Oil (1%)
This spray performed well during a research conducted. Yes, Bed Bug Patrol is believed to cause a 92% mortality rate. Owing to its natural composition, it is safe for children and pets. The spray is an inexpensive and effective way to get rid of bed bugs. However, the spray kills the bugs only when it comes in contact with it and has a strong, unpleasant odor.JT Eaton’s Solution
Active ingredients: Permethrin (.30%), Piperonyl butoxide (.75%), and Pyrethrins (.15%)
The spray was tested in a research and showed 100% mortality after 8 days. JT Eaton spray was found to perform better than most of the sprays that were evaluated. In short, the spray is very effective by providing residual protection. However, the spray has an unpleasant smell and is not natural.EcoRaider Bed Bug Killer
Active ingredients: Cedar Extract (1%), Geraniol (1%), and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (2%)
A research study conducted on 13 natural and synthetic pesticides by Rutgers University revealed that EcoRaider Bed Bug Killer Spray performed the best and killed 100% of the bed bugs within 10 days. In addition to this, the spray has a pleasant smell, is affordable, highly effective, and is all natural. It is safe to be used near kids and pets. However, like most of the sprays, Eco Raider Bed Bug Killer Spray kills bugs only when it comes in contact with them.After doing a proper research and checking for ingredients that you could be allergic to, you should check the reviews of the sprays you have shortlisted. You can choose the one that suits your needs best.
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Understanding skin aging
Read moreChanges in the skin are one of the biggest signs that the body is aging. But how the aging of skin takes place depends on a lot of factors such as our diet, lifestyle habits, stress levels, and the like. For example, if you smoke regularly, it can lead to the production of free radicals, which damage healthy skin cells and cause wrinkles.
So, let’s dig a little deeper into skin aging so that you can diagnose it and prevent it for as long as possible.
Stages of skin aging
As you age, you will start noticing changes in your skin. These changes take place in phases or stages. Learning about these phases can allow you to take better care of your skin and stay away from everything that can prove to be harmful to it. So, these stages of skin aging are:- Stage I – Between 25 and 35 years
This is the time when your skin will look extremely voluminous to you. But, this is also the time when the early signs of aging will start to appear. Therefore, it is important that you follow a good skincare regime. Some wrinkles can start appearing on the forehead. Lines can also start to appear on the face when you make normal expressions such as laughing, smiling, or frowning. The skin will also start to lose its elasticity with time. - Stage II – Between 35 and 50 years
At this stage, fine lines start to appear on the forehead and on the area around the eyes. You can also start to notice nasolabial folds more prominently at this stage. Eye bags can also start to develop. Cheeks begin to lose volume and start sagging. - Stage III – Between 50 and 60 years
Wrinkles and fine lines start to appear all over the face at this age. Under-eye bags appear and the skin around the eyes becomes loose. The skin on the face starts to appear thinner and more transparent. The process of skin aging accelerates at this stage and it is very visible. - Stage IV – 70 years and above
Extremely visible wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes are found at this stage. The skin on the upper and lower eyelids becomes loose and the signs of aging become more prominent. Sun damage on the skin is visible as well.
Diagnosis
As the signs of skin aging become visible, diagnosing the problem becomes easier. The most common signs that can help you identify aging skin include:- Spotting
- Sagginess in the skin
- Dullness in skin tone
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Dryness of the skin
- Skin thinning
Identifying these signs can help you and your dermatologist diagnose aging skin.
Prevention
There are certain skin changes that are inevitable, and they will come as we age. As the skin ages, it gets rougher, loses its elasticity, starts to appear transparent, becomes fragile, and can even get easily bruised.There are various ways that can help you reduce the aging of the skin. These include the following:
- Use sun protection whenever you step out in the sun
- Keep your skin moisturized at all times
- Keep your skin and body hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water daily
- Eat food rich in vitamins
- Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption
- Stage I – Between 25 and 35 years