Month: May 2022

2022-05-06T08:15:29

(BPT) – If you’re a fan of everything Kentucky Derby, or you just love any excuse to throw a fun, unique party, get ready for this year’s “run for the roses” in style. The Kentucky Derby is not just the premier horse race in the country, but an opportunity to show off your fanciest spring fashions, enjoy a mint julep and cheer on your favorites.

With these tips — and help from a few Instagram influencers — you can throw a spectacular Kentucky Derby party right at home.

1. Create a legendary menu

Derby Day is the ideal opportunity to learn some Southern classics to serve your guests, so look for recipe ideas on the Kentucky Derby website.

Atlanta-based pastor and father of three boys Marcus Tankard (@marcustankard) recommends, “No matter what happens (and something is bound to come up even with the best parties), feed your guests the finest foods — like my favorite Ferrero Golden Gallery Signature chocolates — to fuel interesting conversations (everyone hates small talk) and focus on the fun. Have fun and BE FUN, and the guests will follow suit.”

Beyond their unforgettable taste, the gold accents on the boxes of Golden Gallery Signature chocolates provide a memorable visual that fits right in with the official colors of the 2022 Kentucky Derby: red and gold. Use them to decorate your tables for a luxurious and festive atmosphere. Golden Gallery Signature chocolates are available in 12- or 24-count varieties, and each individual chocolate is a work of art presented in an elegant golden tray within a luxurious gift box.

2. Make a visual statement across the board

Use the Derby’s red and gold color palette to plan all your party decorations and tablescape, which should also include visual motifs such as horses, horseshoes and roses. Your invitations should encourage dressing up to fit the Derby theme, with colorful floral outfits — and of course, over-the-top hats.

3. Prep your starting gate

To welcome your guests as they first arrive, make sure to have refreshing cocktails (or mocktails) at the ready, like the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby: the mint julep.

“I always love to have a welcome drink when my guests arrive!” advises Anna Page (@annawpage), a New York City influencer who focuses on lifestyle, fashion and home decor. “It can be as complex as a custom cocktail or as simple as a lemonade mocktail, but it always ensures that your guests feel right at home when they walk in!” Anna looks forward to joining Golden Gallery Signature in Louisville for Derby weekend.

An obvious choice for your welcome drink is the iconic mint julep, the traditional drink of the Kentucky Derby.

You can further set the mood by creating a music playlist with Southern and country favorites, as well as horse-themed songs.

4. Create your own horse race

Give everyone a piece of the action by making “betting slips” so guests can predict the winners, and make sure to award prizes not only for win, place and show, but also consolation for the most spectacular losing bet.

You could also conduct a Kentucky Derby trivia game and present the winner with a garland of roses in the “winner’s circle.”

5. And down the stretch they come

When it’s time to say goodbye, make the finish line memorable by giving guests something to take home. Louisville-based influencer and mom of three Katie Rankin (@katie.rank) is sharing her excitement about attending the Derby with her followers this year, as well as her ideas for celebrating the day.

“My tip for hosting a Kentucky Derby party would be to always have an extra box of Golden Gallery Signature chocolates by the door with small bags so guests can take home some of their favorites at the end of the party!” says Rankin.

After your successful party, you may want to go for the Triple Crown, so plan ahead.

If you’re lucky enough to attend the 148th Kentucky Derby in person, stop by the Golden Gallery Signature tasting booth by the Finish Lines Suites. For more information on Golden Gallery Signature, visit FerreroRocher.com or follow Ferrero Rocher USA on Instagram.

2022-05-06T11:01:01

(BPT) – 4 tips from Yale OB/GYN Mary Jane Minkin, M.D.

With spring upon us and summer on the horizon, increasing temperatures, and time spent outside swimming, cycling, walking and running can all affect vaginal health. Sweat and moisture around the vulva, the outside skin surrounding the vagina, can create the perfect environment for an overgrowth of yeast and bacteria, throwing off the vagina’s natural pH balance, and in turn, cause irritation, itch, odor and overall discomfort.

Yeast and bacteria are naturally present in the vaginal environment and need to remain in balance to avoid infection. Yeast infections occur when there is an overgrowth of yeast. It’s very common — in fact, nearly 75% of adult women have had at least one yeast infection in their life, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and can be more common in the hot summer months. The good news is that you can take control of your vaginal health by simply understanding the early signs and symptoms and how to treat them.

Below are 4 tips to keep in mind as temperatures start to heat up:

1. Ditch sweaty workout attire.

Leggings and biker shorts, while comfortable to work out in, can cause discomfort after exercising. Tight, nonbreathable clothing with fabrics like nylon or spandex, especially for long periods of time, can trap moisture down there and ultimately alter the vagina’s delicate pH. Try wearing only breathable, cotton underwear and shorts to allow a more comfortable workout and maintain a healthy vaginal flora. RepHresh Pro-B, which can be found at the drug or grocery store, contains strains of vaginal probiotic lactobacilli that specifically balance yeast and bacteria to help maintain vaginal flora daily in a normal, healthy range.

2. Be wary of scented tampons.

Menstrual blood elevates vaginal pH and causes odor, and while tampons are great to have on hand when swimming and enjoying other outdoor activities, it’s important to stay away from scented tampons. The vulvar and vaginal tissue are the most sensitive in the body to any irritants, and scented tampons contain ingredients to which many women may be allergic or have some sort of skin sensitivity. Instead of masking odor with scented tampons, make sure to use tampons without any irritants. RepHresh Gel can be used to eliminate odor and maintain a healthy pH balance.

3. Don’t sit around in a wet swimsuit.

Like workout attire, swimsuits are also known for trapping moisture down there and can cause friction, itch and irritation. Tight swimsuits and irritants like sand can also cause rashes and skin abrasions. RepHresh Cooling Relief Spray provides immediate relief with its soothing formula of aloe and chamomile and the cooling sensation of hydrocortisone.

4. More breathable ZZZZZ’s please!

It’s best to go commando and sleep with no panties or pajamas, especially if you have a yeast infection or are prone to them as discharge and sweat can create a breeding ground for bad bacteria that can cause infection. Alternatively, switch to loose-fitting cotton underwear or pajama bottoms to allow for breathing room. Note that cotton absorbs moisture, as opposed to silk or lace.

Common vaginal symptoms are treatable. Just remember, if something doesn’t seem normal, see your healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis and treatment to keep infections, irritation and discomfort away.

Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., is Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine.

2022-05-06T13:01:00

(BPT) – With the demands of work, school, home, and everything else on your family’s to-do list, you may wish you had more tools to streamline daily routines and keep kids on track. Fortunately, the latest technology offers easy-to-use, safe, and fun ways to empower kids to take ownership of their routines, from getting ready in the morning to bedtime — and everything in between.

How can you help kids get their homework done, answer their thousands of questions, and provide plenty of educational content and entertainment? Here are two great options that can not only make your life easier but put more control of your child’s world into their own hands (and voice).

Kids can ask Alexa

Echo Dot Kids is Amazon’s smart speaker with Alexa, made just for kids. And while the device is made with your little one in mind, it also comes with easy-to-use parental controls so you can set daily time limits, filter content, and review activity in the Amazon Parent Dashboard. The kid-friendly models come in a tiger or panda print and bring interactive games, homework help, assistance with daily routines, reminders, and more into your kids’ control with just their voice.

With features like Bedtime Stories, which allows kids to listen to narrated stories, this device can help make the nighttime routine even easier. When it’s time to get some shut eye, you can turn on Sleep Sounds to help them fall asleep faster too. In the morning, kids can even set their own alarm to get their day started and wake up entertained with character alarms from Disney, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network.

When it comes to homework, you can help children be independent with homework help on demand and can get time back by using Alexa for reminders to get ready for school or work on assignments. Kids can ask questions (“Alexa, how do you spell …?” or “How tall is Mount Everest?”), practice learning with Amazon Math, listen to jokes and fun facts, and even call approved friends or family members.

“These devices can make a huge difference in smoothing over family routines,” said Catherine Teitelbaum, Head of Amazon Family Trust. “With Alexa helping your kids to take more ownership of their homework independently, they are also learning to be more self-sufficient.”

A new feature, Reading Sidekick, can help kids build fluency and foster a love for reading. Simply say, “Alexa, let’s read,” and Alexa will take turns reading with your child, providing encouragement when they’re reading well and offering support when they struggle.

Show me the entertainment

Echo Show 5 Kids is an Alexa-enabled smart display designed just for kids. This device gives you all the great features of Echo Dot Kids, but also comes with an interactive display for even more functionality and fun. Built for entertainment, education, and connection, the all-new Echo Show 5 Kids comes in a fun Chameleon design that fits into the coolest of kids’ rooms. Kids can easily personalize the home screen with colorful, kid-friendly clock themes or make video calls to pre-approved contacts. Plus, similar to Echo Dot Kids, children can also ask Alexa for homework help and set alarms to wake up to the voice of their favorite character.

Echo Show 5 Kids and Echo Dot Kids include a one-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, giving families access to thousands of ad-free apps, books, games, videos, Audible books, and songs, across compatible devices. With Echo Show 5 Kids, the subscription even provides access to kid-friendly educational content, movies, and shows. Children can have dance parties to their favorite music, learn while having fun with Alexa Skills like Lemonade Stand, Name that Animal, and more. Some of the most popular content across Kids Echo devices from Amazon Kids+ includes: Disney Stories, Animal Workout, Would You Rather for Kids, Amazon Math, Travel Quest, and Freeze Dancers.

And for parents who already have an Echo device in their home, setting up Alexa voice profiles for kids ensures Alexa will always answer in a kid-friendly way. When Alexa hears a child’s voice, she’ll automatically shift to the kids profile, extending the children’s experience and parental controls to any Echo device in the home.

This new line-up of Echo devices:

• Feature new designs, enhanced audio, and more powerful hardware and experiences to make Alexa even smarter, more engaging, and more helpful
• Are built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a mic/camera off button and a built-in camera shutter
• Are Climate Pledge Friendly, built with recycled materials and will support Low Power Mode for energy savings
• Includes a 2-year worry-free device guarantee—if it breaks, return it and we’ll replace it for free

Learn more at Amazon.com.

2022-05-06T09:01:00

(BPT) – The start of warmer months means everyone is ramping up their schedules. Between work, kids, social lives, family and more, prioritizing your own mental, emotional and physical health can easily fall down the daily to-do list. It’s not always easy to put yourself first, but addressing aspects of your health and practicing self-care can involve simple, everyday actions that only take minutes — which is especially important when you’re busy.

May is Women’s Health Month and an ideal time to create a self-care routine that supports you in feeling your best. Entrepreneur and lifestyle influencer Brandirell shares her top tips to empower women and improve their overall well-being.

Get at least 6 hours of sleep

The coveted eight hours of sleep a night is ideal, but sometimes it’s just not possible. However, sleep is essential for mental clarity and physical wellness, so when you’re extra busy, shift your focus and strive to get at least six hours of sleep. This way you can still feel refreshed and ready to take on the day like the incredible woman you are.

Wake up with positive affirmations

Every morning, look in the mirror and say at least one positive thing about yourself, whether that’s reminding yourself you’re a supermom, you love every inch of yourself or you are a strong, intelligent woman who can accomplish anything. The power of positive thinking is real and starting the day off on a good note will help boost your mornings so you can achieve whatever it is you desire.

Make time to prioritize your physical health

Physical, mental and emotional health go hand in hand, so as you say your daily affirmations, be sure to also make time to prioritize your physical health. This could be anything from spending 30 minutes doing your favorite workout (yes, a brisk walk counts!), scheduling that dentist appointment you’ve been putting off or following up with your OB/GYN for your routine checkup. Be an advocate for yourself and your body by taking the time you need to prioritize yourself and be on top of your overall health.

Take time to unwind

Some days are busy, while others are just downright hard. Build a nighttime routine and take an uninterrupted shower, so you can properly decompress no matter what the day holds. Try Vagisil’s Healthy Detox wash for an all-over gentle cleansing right before bed to wash away the day, or the pH Balance wash that supports a healthy intimate microbiome. Additionally, the Odor Block wash is the perfect way to hit refresh after an evening sweat session. They’re all clinically tested and made with hypoallergenic ingredients, and with almost 50 years of expertise, Vagisil brings advanced skincare technologies to address women’s intimate self-care needs. Find your favorite at Vagisil.com.

Set aside time to disconnect

When you’re feeling drained or overwhelmed, put your phone down and detach from social media. So many voices, perspectives and lives flashing from your screen can become physically and mentally draining, so take time away from technology and use that time to do something you enjoy. Read a book. Deep condition your hair. Go on a run. Sleep. Whatever it is, make you and your health a top priority.

2022-05-05T13:31:00

(BPT) – Timing matters when you are considering your Medicare options. When you turn 65 or otherwise become eligible for Medicare, enrollment windows open. Some close quickly and you could face penalties if you wait too long to make a decision. After you’ve registered for the first time, there are a few periods when you can change your Medicare coverage. Learn more below.