Month: April 2019

2019-04-10T10:59:00

(BPT) – These days, health care can seem more complicated than ever. With rising premiums and different levels of coverage, it can be confusing to know what you can afford when it comes to wellness visits, urgent care and prescriptions.

Here are some simple ideas that could help you save on health care.

1. Get informed. If you have health insurance, make sure you understand what’s covered, especially if you are diagnosed with a chronic condition such as diabetes, high cholesterol or hypertension. If something is not clear or you are unsure about what’s covered, call your insurance carrier and make sure they provide you with the answers you need.

2. Save on your prescriptions. If you are uninsured, or your insurance doesn’t cover certain prescription medications, an Inside Rx card may be an option for you. The card is not insurance, but is a free discount prescription card that provides an average savings of 40 percent off select brand prescription medications and 80 percent off of generic medications for eligible users. There’s even a card for your pet’s prescriptions. Next time you’re picking up a prescription, just download the card on your phone — no app required — and show it to your pharmacist to see if you can benefit and how much you could save. Eligibility requirements and a complete list of the medications offered through the program can be found at InsideRx.com.

3. Shop around. Inside Rx can also help you find the best deal for your specific medication at a pharmacy close to you, if you are using the discount card. With just a few clicks, you can see the pharmacy that offers the best deal in your area. Also, discuss with your doctor if switching to a generic medication is an option for you; this could save you money when purchasing your medications.

4. Utilize your provider’s online platform. If your healthcare provider offers an online medical records system, log in and check to make sure you are up to date on vaccines, boosters, wellness visits and screenings. Check your insurance coverage before scheduling, but don’t delay on any of these, as the cost to your wallet and your health could be greater if issues are left untreated. Identifying problems early keeps you healthy and saves you money down the road.

5. Take advantage of wellness plans. If your employer offers a wellness plan, participate! You may get perks such as partial coverage of gym memberships with some employers’ plans. Talk to your employer’s human resources office about health savings or other plans that may be available to save you out-of-pocket costs. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to make sure you understand how the plans work.

6. Don’t delay treatment. If you’ve been diagnosed with a condition that requires treatment or medication, don’t put off starting your treatment. Talk with your doctor about any financial concerns and see if you could save with a prescription savings card.

7. Plan for medical bills. Just as you would ask a mechanic to estimate the cost of service on your car ahead of time, don’t be afraid to ask providers what services will cost. Many providers will work with you to arrange a payment plan when a medical bill is not covered by your insurance, or if you are uninsured or have a high deductible. Don’t be afraid to negotiate!

Rather than waiting for issues to arise, take charge of your health and plan ahead for your health care related costs. While you can’t prepare for everything, you can give yourself every advantage by being informed, using the resources available and asking questions.

2019-04-10T09:27:00

(BPT) – Oftentimes the joy and excitement of pregnancy is matched with feelings of uncertainty and doubt, especially when it comes to managing health issues during pregnancy. Between their own mothers, their friends and, at times, obtrusive strangers, women are frequently bombarded with conflicting advice, prompting soon-to-be moms to question what is accurate, relevant and safe for their own pregnancy. According to a recent Monistat survey, 84 percent of women who have been or are currently pregnant admit to experiencing doubts regarding the health choices they made during pregnancy.

To help moms-to-be fight the confusion, Dr. Alyssa Dweck, OB-GYN, author, expert on women’s health and Monistat spokesperson, shares a few tips to help expecting mothers make healthy choices for themselves and their little ones’ well-being.

1) Do your research.

While certainly well-meaning, the advice women receive from friends or loved ones may not necessarily be the most accurate or up to date. With advancements in medical research each year, health guidelines for pregnancy are often changing and that can lead to confusion for mom, especially when decades of great mothers before her likely weren’t privy to the latest guidance. Especially when it comes to health choices, it’s best to cross-examine pregnancy advice or recommendations from mothers, relatives and close friends with input from a medical healthcare professional or trusted medical website.

2) Take caution in how you treat common pregnancy symptoms.

While women often modify what they eat and change the household cleaning supplies they use while pregnant, many aren’t aware that treatment options for common health issues can vary for pregnant women. For example, vaginal yeast infections are up to 10 times more likely to occur during pregnancy. However, according to a 2019 Canadian study, women who take any dose of fluconazole (the leading prescription pill to treat yeast infections) during pregnancy are at an increased miscarriage risk and there may be a link between high levels of fluconazole and increased risk of heart defects in the fetus. Instead, Dweck recommends Monistat 7 for her patients with vaginal yeast infections, as it meets CDC guidelines for treating yeast infections in pregnant women. Nevertheless, women should always check with their own healthcare providers before using any treatment during pregnancy.

3) Eat and exercise wisely.

A pregnant woman is eating for both herself and her baby and with that responsibility come changes to her diet and exercise plan that can aid in a healthy pregnancy. Eating a healthy diet filled with fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods low in saturated fat, as well as avoiding foods like raw meat, sushi and unpasteurized cheeses, can benefit mom and baby. Staying active while pregnant is key in controlling weight, and exercise can help reduce stress, improve circulation and mom’s overall well-being.

4) Sleep when you can.

As a woman’s body changes, her sleeping habits change too, with many often finding it difficult to either fall or stay asleep. However, sleep is crucial in helping moms-to-be feel their best. Dweck recommends women try to get at least seven hours of sleep by staying in bed a little longer, sleeping on their sides after 16 weeks, and taking smaller naps throughout the day to make up for any lost shuteye.

Though doubt and confusion can be present during pregnancy, trusted products and healthcare professionals can help expectant mothers determine what’s best for their own pregnancies. For more information on treating yeast infections during pregnancy, visit www.monistat7.com.

2019-04-09T07:01:00

(BPT) – While we often think of history as being so — yesterday, the truth is that the America of today wouldn’t be what it is without the events of the past that shaped our country. And there is no better way to connect with the roots of modern America than to return to Virginia, where so many of our vital institutions, traditions and movements first began.

1. The birthplace of America’s free enterprise system.

From its inception in 1607, the Virginia Colony, a private joint-stock trading company, was an expression of inventive and entrepreneurial thinking. To diversify its economy, the Virginia Company passed laws in 1619 allowing colonists to experiment with a variety of potentially profitable industries, including winemaking, cloth and silk production. With these innovative developments, Virginia became the vanguard of what has become America’s free enterprise system.

2. The seeds of American democracy were planted in Jamestown.

The first “General Assembly,” composed of 22 representatives from 11 Virginia “boroughs,” was the first representative legislative assembly in the New World. The General Assembly met in Jamestown for six days, from July 30 to Aug. 4, 1619. The group developed and passed laws that evolved Virginia’s colonial settlement beyond just being a commercial enterprise. The actions of Gov. Yeardley and the General Assembly marked Jamestown as the site of the first representative democratic institution in America. This earliest expression of America’s democratic ideals was the formative event in establishing the United States’ current system of representative government.

3. The power of women.

Virginia embodies a powerful legacy of women’s achievement over the course of its 400-year history. Having experienced great hardship in Jamestown since 1607, officials of the Virginia Company recognized that the presence of women would be crucial to developing a stable and productive society. In November 1619, 147 English women were recruited to join Jamestown’s male settlers, which led to the establishment of permanency in the Colony. Tenacity: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia, a special year-long exhibit at Jamestown Settlement, explores captivating and little-known personal stories of the English, Native American and African women in early Virginia, revealing their tenacious spirit and their vital and lasting impact on a fledgling society.

4. The first official English Thanksgiving in North America.

Virginia is the true location of America’s actual first English Thanksgiving. In December 1619, a group of English settlers arrived safely in Charles City, Virginia. They held a ceremony of thanksgiving, which was to be observed “annually and perpetually” thereafter. Before Europeans arrived in the New World, Native American peoples marked successful harvests with feasts and communal celebration at around the same time of year. While these events are reminiscent of America’s modern Thanksgiving, they were traditionally spontaneous affairs, as opposed to regularly scheduled celebrations. The more familiar Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, didn’t host their first Thanksgiving until 1620.

5. The birthplace of student civil rights.

The student civil rights movement in the United States during the 20th century began in Farmville, Virginia. In the late 1950s, African American students frustrated with the boundaries of segregation mobilized to draw attention to the injustice they faced in their schools. Over 400 African American students at Robert Russa Moton High School became pioneers of civil rights. They organized a strike to protest the lack of resources that prevented them from obtaining an education equal to that of their Caucasian counterparts. Students in Prince Edward County became plaintiffs in the Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka case during the late 1950s. They were unable to receive an education for four or more years while the administrators closed schools to resist integration. Seventy-five percent of the student plaintiffs in the historic case attended school in Virginia.

Understanding where we are today and what our country really means often requires a trip back into our past. Knowing where we came from lends so much more insight into the concerns and issues in modern America. A journey to Virginia is a journey into the evolution of America.

2019-04-08T21:01:00

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2019-04-08T09:07:00

(BPT) – How badly do LGBTQ travelers want to attend Pride this year? A recent survey by Orbitz found that 80 percent of LGBTQ travelers would give up their cell phone during Pride in exchange for free tickets, meals and hotel accommodations for the weekend. And nearly half (42 percent) of respondents said they plan to travel more than 50 miles to Pride events this year.

Vacationers planning a trip to celebrate Pride with friends and family in 2019, which marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, are in luck. It’s easy to research and book travel this summer to pride hotspots across the U.S. For help deciding where to go for the best Pride celebration ever, here are some tips:

Pick a trending hot spot

Well-known LGBTQ-friendly cities include San Francisco, New York City and Chicago. However, based on hotel inventory, recent flight prices and travel searches, Orbitz finds that the top 10 Pride-friendly destinations for 2019 are:

1. Provincetown, Massachusetts
2. St. Petersburg, Florida
3. Atlanta, Georgia
4. Long Beach, California
5. New York City, New York
6. Minneapolis, Minnesota
7. Columbus, Ohio
8. Miami, Florida
9. Houston, Texas
10. San Francisco, California

Some of these may come as a surprise, but not to those who know them well.

“My summers in Provincetown are always the highlight of my year, so naturally I love that P-Town is ranked as the number one Pride-friendly place to travel!” said Miss Richfield 1981, a drag personality for Orbitz. “I encourage my fans and queer community to get out and plan a weekend getaway to celebrate Pride with friends, loved ones and fellow LGBTQ travelers.”

Find Pride-friendly accommodations

Locating a top hotel for your trip is even better when you know it’s certified LGBTQ-friendly by the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA). Nearly three out of four Pride travelers say that knowing whether a place is LGBTQ-friendly impacts their decision to travel there.

Go where the celebrities go

Ellen DeGeneres topped the list of celebrities that travelers would most like to see (31 percent) at Pride events, followed by Lady Gaga (24 percent). The cast of Netflix’s “Queer Eye” and the Obamas tied at 15 percent. When asked who they want as Grand Marshal of this year’s Pride Parade, Ellen DeGeneres, Ru Paul, Barack Obama and Janelle Monae were selected by nearly half the respondents. Top cities for celebrity sightings in years past include New York City, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Travel together

Nearly 80 percent of LGBTQ travelers will attend this year’s Pride with a group, with slightly more wanting to attend with their best friend (81 percent). Perhaps not surprisingly, nearly half (47 percent) of LGBTQ travelers expressed that their ex is the companion they would least want to go with to Pride!

Book now for more rewards

More than half of LGBTQ travelers have already heard about Pride events on social media, and searches for Pride travel and events are up 50 percent in 2019 on Orbitz.com. Booking an LGBTQ-friendly hotel on Orbitz is easy with their new Pride Travel Guide, and you can earn perks like room upgrades, free checked bags or Orbucks — aka travel dollars — every time you travel via their rewards program.

Orbitz was the first online travel company to launch a microsite dedicated to gay and lesbian travel and has been a proponent of LGBTQ+ travel for more than a decade. Travel experts with the company say now is the perfect time to book hotels, flights and vacation packages around Pride festivities, which are recognized internationally throughout June.

“More travelers than ever before will be celebrating love and equality in some of the most gay-friendly cities across the country this year,” said Carey Malloy, director of brand marketing for Orbitz. “With this being a milestone year for Pride, our message to travelers is now is the time to plan your trip.”

Browse hotels, booking tips and itineraries using the new Orbitz Pride Travel Guide at Orbitz.com/pride.

2019-04-08T15:01:01

(BPT) – Parents of middle school girls have long worried about the influences in their daughter’s lives, from the games she plays, the music she buys and the shows she watches to the friends she makes. The closer she inches to becoming a teenager, all of those influences can either work to improve or diminish her confidence level.

Playing video games is not simply entertainment or an escape; playing video games can be a confidence booster. The best games offer intellectual challenges, social interaction and a creative outlet. Playing games provides opportunities for young women to problem solve, be part of a group, express themselves and find their voice.

“For many tween/teen girls, gaming can be a star with many points,” says Taina Malén of Star Stable, an online multi-player PC game designed for today’s Gen Z girl. “For some, a game can be about storytelling and adventure; for some, it’s about caretaking; for some, it’s about hobbies; for some, it’s about sport and competition; for some, it’s about socializing. For all, it’s about self-expression — about simultaneously fitting in and standing out.”

Here are five features and characteristics to consider when choosing video games for a tween or teen girl:

1) Find games that challenge her to think.

Games involving problem-solving help girls feel a sense of accomplishment. When she analyzes a problem and resolves it successfully, it boosts her confidence. Many games today incorporate problem-solving as part of the adventure, such as multi-player games where girls work together to solve quests or challenges.

2) Look for games that require collaboration and teamwork.

Games that encourage or even require girls to work together help players to hone their collaboration and communication skills, while creating a sense of community. In-game friendships (sometimes with players many states away) can expand the world around them. Games rooted in a positive, shared social experience and teamwork encourage collaboration and friendship.

3) Choose games that mirror her interests.

Today’s tween girls have many varied interests, and there are games that support virtually every pursuit — art, music, sports or animals. In addition to immersing themselves in a game subject they love, they are likely to find their “tribe” here, too — other girls with the same passion to “nerd out” about horses or soccer or fantastical worlds.

4) Research games that encourage self-expression.

Today’s girl gamers tend to prefer open world or sandbox games that let them be creators, where they are customizing characters, building worlds or directing the plot. Girls at this age are in a constant battle to both fit in and stand out. Games that allow them to customize their experience will not only give them a sense of control and decisiveness, but will also let them put their own unique stamp on their game experience — which can be very empowering.

5) Select games that are rich in storytelling and music.

Just like a favorite movie, today’s games must also include a clever and interesting story, rich characters and original music. Tween/teen girls are sophisticated consumers, and games with an evolving story line and fresh music are markers for a game that is worthy of its cost. In many cases, game play can spill over to socializing, where girls talk plot and how it will unfold, the location of hidden gems or why they love a new song. A game like Star Stable can be the springboard for turning a gamer into a creator, where girls are inspired to make music videos, write poetry or produce artwork.

These days, gaming is so much more than a simple pastime. It can be a place where girls connect with people with similar interests, grow friendships and express themselves. Helping them find the right game can reinforce their favorite interests and increase their self-confidence, and maybe — just maybe — make those tween and teen years a tiny bit easier, and more fun.

2019-04-08T10:11:01

(BPT) – From paver patios and fire pits to LED lights and Wi-Fi entertainment systems, there are countless ways homeowners can upgrade their backyard these days. However, few additions can enrich the natural landscape of your backyard and complement the exterior look of a home like a decorative concrete path. It’s also an affordable do-it-yourself project that offers real function to a backyard.

While materials like brick and stone are attractive and durable, they can be expensive and challenging to install. An easy and affordable alternative is to build a path yourself using a plastic form and pre­mixed packaged concrete like Quikrete Crack Resistant Concrete. Taking this approach is easy, affordable and allows each individual homeowner to dictate the color and style of the finished concrete path.

It starts with selecting the style of path, which can range from a natural-looking country stone pattern to a more standard running bond brick pattern. The Quikrete Walkmaker forms are 2 foot by 2 foot and conveniently hold one 80­-pound bag of concrete, so homeowners can work on the path at their own pace.

Remember when working with cementitious products, always wear eye protection and gloves.

Steps for laying a path

* Remove the sod and soil to the desired width, shape and length of path, keeping it as flat and level as possible.

* Thoroughly mix the concrete and water in a wheelbarrow with a garden hoe, shovel or in a concrete mixer according to the directions on the bag.

* Lay the form at the beginning of the path and fill with concrete mix, being sure to press the concrete firmly into the corners with a trowel.

* Promptly remove the form and smooth the edges of the path with a trowel before the concrete mix hardens. For a nonslip finish, brush the surface with a stiff broom.

* Continue by rotating the form a quarter turn and placing against the completed section of the path. Then fill with the concrete mix, remove the form and smooth the surface. Repeat the process until the path is complete.

* To create a curved walkway, after removing the form from the freshly poured section of path, reposition the form in the direction of the curve and press down to slice off the corner. Use a trowel to consolidate and smooth cut-off edges.

The path can be further customized by incorporating liquid colors, stains, and/or embedding gravel or other small aggregates into the concrete.

For more tips on laying a concrete path using forms and pre­mixed packaged concrete, visit www.quikrete.com or look for QUIKRETE on Facebook.

2019-04-06T00:01:00

(BPT) – Every spring, the changing season brings a desire for renewal. It’s a time of growth, transition and revitalization. The latest trend in home cleaning popularized by Marie Kondo reveals what many of us yearn for — not just decluttering, but a fresh start, a clean slate. We dream of an open, airy, bright home where everyone can thrive and be their best selves. But how do we get there, when our houses are filled with stuff — not to mention the accumulated dust and stale air of winter?

Here are three ways you can re-energize your home and yourself this spring.

Take a tour of your home

Whether mentally or literally, tour your home with a notebook or tablet and jot down the areas causing you the most tension or stress when you look at them. Is it the laundry pile that never seems to go away in the bedroom? The kitchen cabinet that’s so overstuffed that something falls out every time you open it?

Prioritize the ones that bother you the most. Take a good look at each problem and prepare for a radical declutter.

Maybe the laundry pile exists because your closets and dresser drawers are overfull. When was the last time you assessed your pajamas or jeans collection? As recommended by the Kondo technique, take out the entire contents of the pajama drawer, hold and look at each item. Which ones do you really love to wear? You’ll be able to fit them back in your drawer more neatly when you have fewer items. For the others, if you don’t love them, it’s time to let them go. If you would love them “if only” they didn’t have a button missing, but you haven’t had the interest in replacing the button in over a year, it’s time to move on.

Same thing with your kitchen cabinet — take out all the pots and pans and examine which ones are taking up space, but you never use. For items you only use once a year, like a roasting pan big enough for a turkey, store them elsewhere.

Do the deep clean

Once you’ve tackled a couple of the biggest trouble spots, you’ll start to feel lighter and less stressed every time you enter that room or area of the house. You can now accomplish the cleaning and dusting under and around the problem area that you couldn’t manage before.

For each area you declutter, clean thoroughly before putting back the items you’re keeping. If it’s a drawer, wipe out the dust and grime and make sure it’s dry before replacing items. For a closet or room in the house, dust and wipe down from top to bottom, removing dirt from ceiling to floor.

Refresh your rooms

Typical cleaning products won’t have the desired effect of leaving your room not only looking good, but smelling and feeling good every time you enter it.

Take the time to clear, refresh and revive your space and your mind with aromatherapy. Using essential oils from Aura Cacia will result in not only refreshing the entire environment of your home, but will invigorate and energize your spirit. Try the Springtime Forest Diffusion Blend, which uses 8 drops of Aura Cacia’s Sandalwood Essential Oil, 5 drops of Vetiver Essential Oil and 5 drops of Lemon Essential Oil to infuse your rooms with the fresh, natural aromas and a feeling of spring. See auracacia.com for more ideas to not just clean, but refresh your entire home — and spirit.

Spring cleaning gives you the chance for renewal — and inspires a sense of new purpose as you enjoy the changing season. Let your home become a vital part of your re-energized attitude this spring.