Waterfall-draped mountains encircle Hanalei National Wildlife…

Waterfall-draped mountains encircle Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge on the Hawaiian island of Kaua’i. The winding Hanalei River feeds wetlands that are home to five endangered water birds: the koloa maoli (Hawaiian duck), the ‘alae ke‘oke‘o (Hawaiian coot), the ‘alae‘ula (Hawaiian moorhen), the ae‘o (Hawaiian stilt), and the nēnē (Hawaiian goose). Photo by J. Waipa, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Revisiting What You Need To Know About Eye Health

Taking care of your eyesight has never been more important.

As we spend a lot of time in front of our computer, mobile phones, and other gadgets, the more we become at risk of having dry eyes, early macular degeneration, and other eye problems.

Although employing the 20-20-20 rule can help mitigate the negative effects of staring too long at your screens, it’s usually not enough. To help preserve your eye health for the rest of your life, here are some of the most important things you need to do.

You Only Get One Set Of Eyes

Full eye transplant is still, as of writing, unavailable in regular medical practice.This means you have to take care of your eyes so, that they can last your entire lifetime. And since you don’t know how long that will be, it’s especially important to do everything you can to protect your eyes.

You can prevent physical damage by always wearing UV protective sunglasses when you’re outside. If you are doing any woodwork or you are working with chemicals, make sure you have your protective goggles on.

See Also: Eye Safety In The Workplace: Effective Ways To Protect Your Vision

Eye Exams Can Save Your Eyes

Because eye problems, like macular degeneration, often occur gradually, you might not notice anything amiss until it is too late. This is why getting regular eye exams is crucial to maintaining your ocular health.

Common problems that are easier to treat if detected early include:

  • Cataracts – Caused by UV light exposure
  • Diabetic Retinopathy – Damage to blood vessels caused by poorly controlled diabetes
  • Glaucoma – Has multiple causes and can only be controlled with early detection
  • Macular Degeneration – Multiple causes, including blue light exposure and screen time

Most people are concerned about losing their vision but only 14% of people with existing eye problems go in for routine eye exams. If you want to avoid such problems, make sure to see your eye doctor regularly.

Proper Nutrition Can Help

proper nutrition for eyes

As the old saying goes: Garbage in, garbage out.

If you are eating poorly, it can affect several areas of your health. Diabetes and hypertension are two good examples of health problems caused by poor dietary choices. They also happen to be the two most common causes of eye problems.

To preserve your eyesight, try making better lifestyle and nutrition choices. You can start by adding the following foods to your diet:

  • Beta-Carotene– One serving per day helps your eyes absorb light energy and adjust to different light levels

Sources: Carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potato, pumpkin, and butternut squash

  • Zeaxanthin and Lutein– One serving every other day prevents macular degeneration and cataracts

Sources: Eggs, spinach, broccoli, corn, and kale

  • Zinc– Two servings a week improve liver function to protect against macular degeneration

Sources: Beef, poultry, oysters, and beans

  • Omega-3 fatty acids– Two servings a week reduce inflammation to protect against macular degeneration and dry eye

Sources: Tuna, mackerel, salmon, trout, and anchovies

  • Vitamin C– One serving daily prevents cataracts

Sources: Tomatoes, oranges, and red peppers

  • Resveratrol– Reasonable consumption can prevent problems with blood flow in the eyes

Sources: Red wine, peanuts, and blueberries

See Also: 7 Foods That Can Improve Your Eyesight

In Summary

Your eye health should never be taken lightly.

In addition to improving your diet, making lifestyle changes like quitting smoking and getting more exercise can help improve and preserve your eyesight in the long run. Remember to rest your eyes and see your eye doctor regularly to make sure problems are detected early.

To learn more about preventing eye diseases and lifestyle-related blindness, check out this infographic.

what is 20/20 Infographic

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Navalny, Anti-Rutabaga Candidate

In a recent post on his website, referring to Putin’s supposed approval polling, Aleksei Navalny, the charismatic anti-corruption crusader who has declared himself a candidate for the Russian presidency, commented: “The celebrated 86 percent rating [of Putin] exists in a political vacuum. It’s like asking someone who was fed only rutabaga all his life, how would you rate the edibility of rutabaga?” He was arrested in late September. The Kremlin is tearing its hair out over Navalny because of the prospect that a day will come when the Russian people realize they are sick of rutabaga and demand something else.

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Tips To Look Younger: How To Pick The Best Makeup For Older Women

The fact that your skin is the largest organ of your body makes it crucial that you give it the attention it deserves. After all, your skin tells a lot about your youthfulness and health.

There are a number of ways you can keep your skin looking radiant and healthy. If you are considering using the best makeup for older women to achieve that, here’s a quick guide you can rely on.

Liquid Concealer

liquid concealer
Via llurebeautylounge

As you continue to age, there will be more blemishes and marks you’ll want to cover up. This makes it essential that you pick a concealer that offers good coverage, but won’t draw more attention to your wrinkles and fine lines.

This is where a liquid concealer fits in. It will allow you to hide circles, acne marks, and redness without making your problem areas more noticeable. Liquid concealers won’t seep into your fine lines like cream concealers do.

Foundation

For the best makeup for older women, you shouldn’t miss on investing in a good foundation. Pick one with a yellow undertone as that can give your skin a warmer look, making you appear more radiant and youthful. This applies to women with black and Asian skin tones.

Face powder

When doing your make up, go for a light diffusing or translucent powder. You should avoid tinted face powders as they can make you look ridiculous.

Before applying, make sure there’s enough light in your room. Go with natural lighting as that can give you a clearer idea of how a product looks on your skin. It will also give you a better view.

Tweezing

tweezing

The more you continue to age, the more your face becomes asymmetrical in shape. Don’t try to solve the issue by constantly reshaping the eyebrows. Regular tweezing will only make the brows thinner.

For those who pluck, consider doing a clean-up of just the most obvious stubborn hairs. If you require more shaping, then you should consider seeing a professional.

Lashes

Aging can leave your eyelashes straighter, making your eyes less lively and awake. So, if you are over 35 years old, make sure to curl your lashes regularly. Invest in an eyelash curler that fits your eye shape, so you can really lift every strand.

You can choose not to use mascara, but if you really want to open up those eyes, apply a light coat.

Lightweight mascara

Since aging makes lashes thinner, you should avoid using thickening mascaras as they will only make your lashes look flatter. As a substitute, find a lightweight mascara that has a thin wand. It will help you coat each strand of your lashes precisely.

Nude Lips

nude lips

Lips get smaller as you age, so it’s best to stick with shades that bring out the best of your natural lip color. Do not go for a creamy lipstick and instead find one that has a staining effect. This type of lip product will prevent the colors from bleeding. You can top it up with a clear gloss if you want hydrated and fuller lips.

Eye-shadow base

Patting some amount of primer or eye-shadow base on your lids ensures that your eyeshadow stays in place. This is crucial if your lids have wrinkles since fine lines can aggravate creasing.

In choosing the right product, avoid those with cream formulas as they will only make your eye makeup bleed and become a mess.

Conclusion

This list of the best make up for older women can help you keep a youthful complexion despite your age. Although they are guaranteed to work on your aging skin, you have to make sure that you only use products that are compatible with your skin type and needs.

You can ask your friends or family members about what products they trust. Their personal experience can give you a clearer idea on which ones to try. Of course, to ensure safety, always do a patch test to know how your skin will react.

Remember, a product that works well on another person might not offer the same benefits to you.

The post Tips To Look Younger: How To Pick The Best Makeup For Older Women appeared first on Dumb Little Man.

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The Layered Magic of New Zealand’s “Pancake Rocks” — Discover

In Punakaiki, New Zealand, blogger Ann-Christine captures the otherworldly beauty of the iconic Pancake Rocks, composed of layers-upon-layers of limestone and sandstone.

via The Layered Magic of New Zealand’s “Pancake Rocks” — Discover

Triumph Beyond Bounds: 8 Effective Ways To Pick Yourself Up And Take Charge Of Your Life

You’re reading Triumph Beyond Bounds: 8 Effective Ways To Pick Yourself Up And Take Charge Of Your Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Quite a lot of people have, at one time or another, found themselves at the last rung of the ladder.

If you do a random sampling, you will find out that a lot of people have passed through this stage of life.

While some decided to resign to fate, others felt they must put in a fight to effect a change in their fortunes.

The fact is that we can fall at any point in our life but what makes the difference and what determines the type of stuff you are made of is whether or not you are able to pick yourself up, dust your butt, and tell yourself “I’m going to give it a resounding whack.”

If for any reason you are struggling to pick yourself up and take charge of your life, the following 8 effective ways come in handy as the magic wand you have been waiting for.

1. Avoid detractors

As someone striving to stand back on their feet, this is the very first thing you should do.

Detractors are the people who originally wanted you to be in that situation. They are a total bunch of no-gooders

They prefer to have you laze about with them. They practically have no goal in life and you will only end up being miserable in their midst.

2. People already walked the path, Pick a role model

Now that you have decided to take charge, it will make a very big step in the right direction if you have a role model. This is somebody you may like to fashion your life after.

Incidentally, there are thousands of people who have made it starting from the scratch. You may even discover that what you experienced was more of a stumble when you come across some of the successful individuals who call the shots today.

3. Don’t just work, Map out your goals

Goals and targets put a spirit of competition into all you do. You must have a yardstick to measure how far you are going about accomplishing what you have set out to do.

You will be charged up to do more once you realize that you are not meeting up with your target.

“Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.” – Tony Robbins

4. The word is ours, Explore it

You need to venture out of that hole you have encaved yourself in if you want to move forward.

The world is full of opportunities and the social media and internet as a whole has brought the world even closer to you.

If you cultivate the spirit of adventurism, you’ll discover opportunities hidden from the world at large — remember that the creation of the web browser, Chrome, has further led to the creation of successful businesses in the forms of Chrome Extensions and Apps, just as WordPress led to the creation of successful businesses from plugins, theme platforms, and more.

5. Give your gut feeling some credence

There is every reason for you to trust your gut feelings. What your guts tell you is actually the real stuff. You can’t be deceived by that.

You need to realize that nobody knows you better than yourself. People may assume what is best for you but you alone know for sure.

6. Charge up your optimism

You clearly need the go-getter attitude in your life. Stop seeing things from the negative side. Those heights you are thinking of are definitely very surmountable.

Once you cultivate a positive attitude towards life you will see things falling in place rather very quickly. You will even be surprised at the turn of events.

7. Go hard or go home

You can no longer afford to be lily-livered. You need to stand up to realities of life. Look problems at eyeball to eyeball. You must stop being queasy and don’t chicken out at every little difficulty.

Your audacity and courage speak volumes of you. People you come across and engage with in life rate you on your boldness. This determines how you run your business or even how your fellow staffers view you.

Wherever and whenever it is necessary, come out with both barrels blazing.

8. No mistakes, only stepping stones

You went down the first time but fortunately, you did not go out.

For all intents and purposes, you must have discovered what sent you to the dregs you’re trying to escape from.

It will be foolhardy if you don’t learn from your past mistakes with every determination to not fall a victim again.

On a parting note, you should be raring to go.

You’ve read Triumph Beyond Bounds: 8 Effective Ways To Pick Yourself Up And Take Charge Of Your Life, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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Pasta-Inspired Sterling Silver Necklaces That Help Feed the Hungry

Pasta Necklaces by Delicacies Jewelry

Do you remember those kindergarten classes spent making masterpieces out of pasta and glue? Pasta art just got a lot more sophisticated thanks to Delicacies Jewelry, who recently released a line of pasta-inspired sterling silver necklaces. The collection, entitled Al Dente—which is the Italian term for perfectly-cooked pasta that’s firm to the bite—was created in collaboration with Barilla. Each piece is based on your favorite pasta shapes, from a bowtie-shaped farfalle to the corkscrew-like Rotini.

Working with charitable organizations such as Food Bank for New York City, Share Our Strength, No Kid Hungry, and New York’s City Harvest, this is a carb you won’t feel guilty about. Every purchase provides 20 meals to help feed the hungry.

When describing their motif, the brand goes deep into a passionate pasta-mythos that even borders on the spiritual. The Rotini necklace is said to promote “passion, happiness, and renewal” while the Penne Rigate piece promotes “passion, focus, and creativity”. Collectively, the pasta pendants are “a reminder of what it means to be human.” Delicacies go on to explain how “Pasta is a cross-cultural phenomenon; a food of communal, familial suppers and quiet comfort evenings. Pasta embodies the bond of human history and commonality. Wear it to remember ages past, and to draw on that history when you feel the world coming unraveled.”

Head over to the Delicacies Jewelry website where you can even take a quiz to discover your “spirit ingredient.”

Check out these sterling silver necklaces inspired by pasta shapes.

Pasta Necklaces by Delicacies Jewelry
Pasta Necklaces by Delicacies Jewelry
Pasta Necklaces by Delicacies Jewelry

With every purchase, 20 meals are provided to help feed the hungry.

 

Pasta Necklaces by Delicacies Jewelry
Pasta Necklaces by Delicacies Jewelry
Pasta Necklaces by Delicacies Jewelry

Delicacies Jewelry: Website | FacebookInstagram
h/t: [Hello Giggles]

All images via Delicacies Jewelry.

Related Articles:

Cleverly Designed Packaging Makes Pasta Look Like Gorgeous Hair

Charming 3D Printed Jewelry Pieces Feature Playfully Hidden Stories

Children’s Drawings Turned Into Jewelry Capture Memories as Timeless Keepsakes

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Innovative Floating Tent Makes the World Your Waterbed to Sleep Under the Stars

Floating Water Tent

You can’t walk on water, but you can now sleep on it thanks to the Shoal Tent from Smithfly. The first of its kind, this floating raft is equipped with a tent topper that allows you to stay dry while you sleep under the stars. “The world is your waterbed,” the company writes, and they encourage you to set up camp on the likes of a tranquil farm pond or gentle spring creek. You’ll be lulled into slumber in no time when you take in the soothing flow of the water underneath you.

So, how does this floating tent work? Devoid of poles, the inflatable waterproof structure is sturdy and can stand up to high winds; there are three air chambers in the raft body with two in the lower tube and one in structure. The six-inch drop floor doubles as your air mattress, making this all you need for a unique camping experience.

When assembled, the Shoal Tent measures 8 ft x 8 ft with an interior space allowance for people who are up to 6 feet, 3 inches tall. But if you’re bigger than that, you can lay diagonally for even more room.

The floating house comes equipped with everything you’ll need for setup. One kit includes a storage bag, patch set, and manual foot pump. Smithfly is now taking pre-orders for this product to be delivered in December 2017 or January 2018.

Smithfly has created a floating water tent that makes the world your waterbed.

Floating Water Tent
Floating Water Tent

The inflatable structure can stand up to heavy winds with the floor doubling as an air mattress.

Floating Tent Smithfly
Floating Water Tent

All you need is to find a tranquil pond or creek to sleep on!

Floating Tent Smithfly
Floating Tent Smithfly

Smithfly: Website | Facebook | Instagram
h/t: [NOTCOT, Inhabitat]

All images via Smithfly. 

Related Articles:

New Models of Suspended Tents Offer More Versatility for Sleeping Among Trees

Breathtaking Morning Landscapes Seen from the Inside of a Tent

Innovative Suspended Tent Means You Can Sleep in the Trees

Suspended Moon-Shaped Tent Sleeps You Closer to the Stars

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How to Combine Drawing and Writing into Deeply Personal Art Journals

Art Journal Ideas

Creative Passport
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You might have heard that keeping a journal is a great way to record your thoughts and understand your emotions. Typical journaling involves only writing—but for those who are more visually inclined, an art journal is a great alternative.

What is an art journal?

An art journal is a visual diary; it combines elements of writing, drawing, painting, collage, and even printmaking to express yourself. This includes your everyday life, as well as your bigger hopes, dreams, and fears. A single page will often fuse words and illustrations to offer a look at what’s going on inside your head.

The focus on self-expression is where an art journal differs from a sketchbook. In a sketchbook, it can have elements of art journaling, particularly when it comes to drawing or painting. But a sketchbook doesn’t have to include imagery that corresponds to your inner thoughts.

Why keep an art journal?

If you are someone who journals, you already understand the benefits of getting your thoughts on paper. Doing so offers a way to de-stress and to sort through complicated emotions. As a result, you gain self-awareness and feel empowered.

Art Journal 8 pages 142-144//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

Above all, art journaling is a way to practice self care. It encourages you to take a little time for yourself—even if it’s just for 15 minutes a day. When you look back at what you’ve written, drawn, or stamped, you can gain valuable insight into the challenges in your life.

Art Journal 6 pages 105-106//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js

The point of art journaling is not to make every page a masterpiece. You’re simply supposed to enjoy the act of creating something without worrying about who is going to see it—or if it even looks good. Remember, it’s just for you!

How to Start an Art Journal

Art journaling is completely customizable depending on your skills and interests. Many people choose to use mixed media and adorn their pages with drawing and painting materials. The most important thing when beginning your art journal, however, is selecting the right book.

There are many considerations when it comes to picking your journal. Size is one. If you enjoy making large drawings, for instance, then a bigger book might be best. Art journals look great when you fill the page, so whatever the size you choose, make sure it complements the way you like to work. Another characteristic to think about is the type of pages that are in the book. Since it’s a good chance you’ll be using mixed media, select a journal whose paper can handle both drawing and painting—and lots of it.

These supplies are a great for art journaling:

Try these 10 art journal ideas!

Creating an art journal is all about you, but sometimes you need some help to get started.

  • Introduce yourself! Draw or paint a self portrait.
  • Draw some of the items you bought recently.
  • Create a map of you favorite place, real or imagined.
  • Draw a favorite childhood memory.
  • Go for a nature walk and collect flowers or leaves. Write about your walk and why you gathered these items.
  • Paste old photos and doodle on top of them using marker.
  • Fill a page with geometric shapes.
  • Illustrate what’s in your bag.
  • Draw your favorite pet.
  • Hand letter an inspiring quote or personal mantra.

Looking for more? Pinterest is also full of great art journal prompts.

Take your art journal techniques further with online art classes.

Art Journal Ideas

Introduction to Art Journaling, CreativeLive: If you’re looking for a crash course in art journaling, Andrea Chebeleu will educate you on the basics on composition and design elements.

Simply Stunning Art Journals, Craftsy: Once you understand the building blocks of art journaling, instructor Vicky Papaioannou will show you how to create highly textured backgrounds for your words and images to shine.

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The B&N Podcast: Dan Brown

Every author has a story beyond the one that they put down on paper. The Barnes & Noble Podcast goes between the lines with today’s most interesting writers, exploring what inspires them, what confounds them, and what they were thinking when they wrote the books we’re talking about.

There’s no place better place to meet up with a voracious reader than in a bookstore, and if there’s one thing we learned from Dan Brown, it’s that he never stops reading. So we decided to get out of the studio and out among the shelves at a nearby Manhattan Barnes & Noble, where we met up with the author whose breakout book — remember The Da Vinci Code? — took on the impossible task of making the most famous painting in the world seem even more mysterious and fascinating. In no particular order, Dan Brown talked with Bill Tipper about the following: Charles Darwin, modern art, musical inspiration, and Brown’s latest Robert Langdon thriller, Origin. Spoiler alert: there are no spoilers.

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In keeping with his trademark style, Dan Brown, author of The Da Vinci Code and Inferno, interweaves codes, science, religion, history, art, and architecture into this new novel. Origin thrusts Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon into the dangerous intersection of humankind’s two most enduring questions, and the earthshaking discovery that will answer them.

Click here to see all books by Dan Brown.

Like this podcast? Subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher to discover intriguing new conversations every week.

Author photo of Dan Brown (c) Dan Courter.

 

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