Lisahh-Jayne

Over the years I’ve gone through phases with fitness. I either seem to be completely obsessed, or not at all, there’s no real in between for me. Last year I was completely obsessed with learning to run, I would run several times a week and I even took part in a 5K mud run later in the year. But alas I stopped running a few months after that as I hurt my back, and really it turned out I wasn’t very good at running. Since then I’ve been sticking to the gym and recently since I’ve had a car accident I’ve taken up pilates to help improve strength in my back, and improve on my core strength. 

While I’m not the fittest person or even someone who’s into fitness that much, I’ve learnt a few things about exercising along the way, and in particular why recovering properly is so important. I never realised that we needed rest after a work out to help the muscles grow, otherwise we’re depriving our muscles the opportunity to grow. A couple of months ago Simply Health shared this article on recovery and why it was so important after exercise. They’ve made some great points in this article, so I thought I’d also share a few of my own that I’ve learnt along the way.  

Make sure you stretch

I’m terrible at this, for years I used to finish my work out at the gym and just go home. No stretching, no cooling down. But really after a tough workout you need to have a good stretch, it really is the simplest and fastest way to help your muscles recover. 

Get plenty of sleep

I’m guilty of not sleeping enough, I’m terrible at staying awake all night looking at random things on the internet, or I just binge watch Netflix all night. But it turns out not getting enough sleep isn’t good for you and your muscle repair. While you sleep your body produces a growth hormone that is responsible for tissue growth and repair.

Eat healthy recovery foods

When I first started trying to lose a bit of weight a few years ago I used to go to the gym and have a crazy work out, and then not eat afterwards. I thought why should I burn off loads of calories just to put more in, but you should actually aim to eat within 60 minutes of the end of your workout for a good recovery. Of course you need to be eating the right thing, there’s no use heading to your nearest McDonalds, because that won’t help you. Instead aim to eat something with high-quality protein and a complex carbohydrate. 

Listen to your body

The most important thing you can do to recover properly is to listen to your body. If you’re tired, get some more rest or if you notice a decreased performance maybe take a rest from training for a while, and likewise if you’re feeling good and strong after a work out, then you don’t need to rest as much. Our bodies are great at telling us what they need, you just need to listen. 

Once upon a time you would always find me with a nose in a book forever reading. Then as I got older I fell out of love with reading a bit, particularly when I went to university when I had to read a lot of journals for my dissertation, reading for pleasure just wasn’t enjoyable anymore. Recently I’ve been trying to get back into reading again, particularly as I have a bookcase full of books that are just sitting waiting to be read, so I set myself a goal to read a book in September. Not only did I read one book, but I actually managed to read two, and something that helped was the Kobo Aura One. 

The Kobo Aura One is a revolutionary waterproof ereader, designed to help you enjoy a good book and relax. I’m terrible at staying up all night watching Netflix or looking at phone, and I’m sure as a result of this, I have problems sleeping. I’m not very good at taking time out to relax, so while I had the Kobo Aura One for a two week trial I made sure I spent my evenings reading rather than staying up all night looking at pictures of cats on the internet. 

The first thing I noticed about the Kobo Aura One is how nice it is to hold. I know that might sound a little strange, but it was really comfortable to hold so you know you’ll be comfortable sat reading away. It was also really easy to use, once you’ve unlocked the screen you’re greeted with a dashboard which shows you the books you’re reading, as well as a selection of related, and recommended books. What I liked is how it told me how far through a book I was, and how much time was left in the book, I just like to know these kind of things so this really pleased me! It would also give you awards as you went along reading, which for someone like me would definitely encourage me to read more! I used the Kobo Aura One with the default settings as these worked for me, but you could adjust the settings with over 50 font sizes and 11 font types. You’ve also got the option to bookmark certain pages that you want to go back to, and you can even share quotes and comments from the book onto your Facebook timeline which was pretty nifty.


What was nice to know as well was just how much storage the Kobo Aura One had available, 8GB to be exact, that’s around 6,000 books! I remember when I used to go on family holidays many moons ago and I used to pack a whole suitcase of books to get me through the holiday, imagine now only having to take away this small eReader instead! It’s also got a battery life of one month, and I used this quite a lot over the two week trial and the battery had only just made it past the half way point. 

One of the great features of the Kobo Aura One is that it includes an enhanced front-light technology, meaning you can stay up and read without the blue light of a screen affecting your sleep quality. You could set the light settings to your own preference, or what I liked to do is set a bedtime hour and the device would start to fade itself. This was great for reading just before I went to bed, as the light would dim on the Kobo Aura One it would help to make feel sleepy, helping me to drift off to sleep. 

I’m terrible that once I’ve finished a book, I don’t know what to read next. I can scroll through Amazon’s recommended lists for hours, but I can never settle on the next thing to read. The Kobo Aura One has a recommended for you feature, where it can recommend books to you based on other books you’ve read. There’s also the option for you to connect your Kobo Aura One with local public libraries and search through to borrow or buy new books. 

I really enjoyed my two week trial of the Kobo Aura One eReader, especially as it got me back into reading again. I got through two books in two weeks, when that’s probably all I’ve read for the last year! It retails for £189.99 which is slightly more on the pricey scale of eReaders, but I can say after using it for 2 weeks I thought it was worth that price. It has many great features, and is even waterproof so you could escape and read in the bath for ultimate relaxation. I’d certainly recommend this if you were looking to buy a new eReader, I’ve even stuck mine on my Christmas wishlist to hint to the boyfriend! 

* I was sent the Kobo Aura One for a 2 week trial, views are all my own

Kittens are vulnerable to a range of
illnesses that can affect them more severely than they do adult cats. You can
help to keep them safe by making sure they get all their vaccinations, have
regular veterinary check-ups and are well looked after at home. Neutering will
protect them from a range of long-term risks and a healthy diet will keep their
immune systems strong. One thing it can be difficult to protect against,
however, is a flea infestation. This means you will need to groom your kittens
frequently and check for problems so you can start prompt treatment if
required.

The
trouble with fleas

Although they’re small, fleas can consume a
surprising amount of blood. With kittens, this can lead to anaemia, which can
make them lethargic and can even be fatal. Fleas also carry diseases, and their
bites alone can cause itching and distress; fleas need to be taken seriously
and dealt with as soon as they appear, but you can’t safely use some adult cat
flea treatments on kittens, so you will need to make sure you use the correct
product. It’s a good idea to talk to your vet before a problem develops so you
have a flea treatment plan at the ready.

Flea
care tips

You can reduce the risk your kittens face
from fleas by taking the following steps:

• Learn to
  identify fleas – use a fine-toothed flea comb to groom your cat over a
  plain white surface. Flea faeces look like dark specks and will turn
  reddish-brown on cotton wool.
• Focus on the
  mother first – you can use stronger treatments on adult cats and keep
  fleas from spreading, but be careful not to leave residue on her fur where
  the kittens may lick it.
• Remove kitten
  fleas directly – submerging a kitten up to the neck in warm water with
  mild detergent will loosen the fleas’ grip so they can be combed out
  before you towel the kitten dry.
• Use age
  appropriate flea treatments – check with your vet to find out what’s right
  for your kittens. The Bob Martin Clear
  range includes products suitable for different age groups.
• Beware of
  natural remedies – these can be just as dangerous to kittens as brand name
  products designed for adult cats, so ask your vet for advice before you
  consider using them.
• Treat the
  environment – talk to your vet about safe anti-flea sprays to use on
  bedding, soft furnishings and other places – including outdoors – where
  your kittens like to hide.
• Check your other
  pets – although cat fleas prefer cats they can also live on dogs, rabbits
  and smaller pets. Make sure you use an appropriate treatment in each case.

Keeping your kittens flea-free requires
ongoing care and attention, but it’s one of the best ways you can show your
love for them. It will help to ensure that they grow up into the happy,
healthy, beautiful cats they’re meant to be.

Wedding rings are symbolic of the connection between a married couple. Traditional wedding vows state: “With this ring, I thee wed.” The vows and the rings are optional, but the majority of couples choose to wear wedding bands after they are married, to signify to the wider world they are ‘taken’, and to show their love for each other.  

There are hundreds of different wedding rings to choose from, including vintage rings and designer platinum bands set with diamonds (click here for more information on diamond rings). However, if you are shopping on a budget, you need to find rings that look fantastic, without a big price tag. 

What’s Your Budget? 

Budget is a personal thing. One couple might consider $10,000 a limited budget whereas another couple may only have a $100 to spend. Since you will be spending money on other things, not least a reception venue and dress, it is essential that you work out how much of the overall budget you can afford to spend on rings. 

You should allocate around 3% of your total wedding budget on rings. However, if you are planning to buy rings with added extras like engravings or diamonds, the cost will soon begin to rise. 

Different Styles of Ring 

Simple wedding bands free from embellishments are cheaper than a more decorative band. For some couples, this type of wedding band is perfect. If you have a physical job or you are an exercise freak, you should probably avoid anything too decorative, as there is a strong possibility your ring will end up damaged or lost. The same applies if you are uncomfortable with a showy ring – stick to something simple that will feel right when you wear it every day. 

Shop Online 

Online prices for rings are often cheaper than anything you will see in a local jeweler’s store. As long as you know your ring size, buying wedding rings online is easier than shopping in a store. The only real disadvantage is that you can’t try the rings on before you buy.  

Mix and Match 

If budget is restricting your choice, make a pact that one of you has a more decorative ring. There is no reason why both rings have to be identical. You can pick a design trait you like, or have bands made in the same metal that are quite different in style. 

Look for rings you both love, that are available at the right price, and then make sure at least one aspect joins the two rings together. A simple inscription personal to you both will work perfectly in this regard. 

Choose Together 

Since you are working within a budget, it is sensible to choose the rings together. That way there will be no arguments over how much the rings cost.  

Take your time when choosing wedding bands. You will be wearing them every day for many years to come, so it is essential that the rings are comfortable as well as appropriate for your budget. 

*Guest Post