Category: Brandpoint Lifestyle

2022-12-15T11:27:00

(BPT) – Are you still looking for the perfect gift for the children in your life? This holiday season, give them the gift of color and creativity with Crayola!

From toddlers to teens and those in between, Crayola is creating a fun, colorful and unforgettable holiday season. Whether you have a little artist, scientist, painter or paleontologist, these five fun gifts will keep kids creative, engaged and excited!

1. Scribble Scrubbie Arctic Pets Snow Explorer

Does your little explorer love learning about new terrains and the animals that live there? Drive them toward new adventures and track through winter landscapes in style with this toy and activity set!

Your child can have fun coloring three artic pets, a walrus, penguin and polar bear. They’ll be amazed as they watch the three new pets magically change color from white to blue in cold temperatures. Just put the pets in the freezer or outdoors on a cold winter day and watch them transform. Take them indoors or give them a warm bath to change them back.

When finished, wash them clean and enjoy coloring and changing how each pet looks over and over again. Best of all, the real-working explorer vehicle can take these colorful pets on an arctic expedition and double as storage.

2. Scribble Scrubbie Pets Line

The fun continues for all pet lovers by gifting them one or multiple Scribble Scrubbie Pet sets. Each set includes at least two pets, ultra-clean washable markers, a scrub brush, and additional accessories. Scribble Scrubbie Pets are also available in 1 or 2 count collectible packs.

Scribble Scrubbie Pets keep kids busy during the holidays and beyond, and they will be amazed as they color, clean, and color their pets again and again!

3. Ultimate Light Board

Display your little artist’s masterpieces in lights with this light board. Kids can draw art directly on the light board’s surface, turn it on and watch their designs shine.

Using the Gel FX Markers, kids can see their drawings come to life as the bright LED lights built into the frame make the inks glow. When done, simply wipe the screen clean with a damp cloth and watch as your child unleashes unlimited creativity. Also, built in storage makes supplies portable.

4. Clay Sculpting Station

For a more hands-on project, gift your young sculptor this all-in-one air-dry clay kit. They can have fun building, sculpting and painting animal sculptures or mini clay pots!

The kit includes step-by-step instructions and a built-in kid-powered turntable, all washable paints, tools and clay. All materials pack away neatly into a storage case for easy cleanup, storage and portability, so your kids can create at home or on the go!

5. Tie-Dye Color Chemistry

If you have a young chemist in the making, they’re sure to enjoy this colorful tie-dye chemistry set! Packed with 50 science focused activities, kids can learn how colors travel, blend and transform. No two experiments are the same!

Each kit includes an easy-to-follow, educational and full-color instruction booklet. Budding scientists can set up their own laboratory and create exciting experiments, including drip-drop tie-dye, erupting tie-dye volcano, kaleidoscope creator, neon mosaic, tie-dye shockwave and more.

This holiday season, give the gift of Crayola with all new toys and activities to spread holiday cheer and add to their winter break itinerary! All five of these gifts are available for purchase at retailers nationwide. To learn more about these products and check out more colorful and creative holiday gifts, visit Crayola.com.

2022-12-15T09:49:00

(BPT) – Family life can get busy in a hurry, especially during the holiday season. However, with a little planning ahead and the right resources, busy parents can find efficient and creative ways to tackle their to-do lists with ease and more time to do things they really love, like spending time with friends and family.

Here are a few tips to help you get all your errands done, prep family meals and shop conveniently and smartly — with time and energy to spare.

Always go for one-stop shopping when possible

Nothing wastes more time than running from store to store to get the items you need each week. Whether it’s groceries or household necessities, shopping for everything in one location is a game-changer for busy parents.

Fortunately, you can shop at BJ’s Wholesale Club, a one-stop shopping destination for unbeatable savings on everything you need for your family. BJ’s is committed to providing the best quality, value and assortment through exclusive Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen brands — meaning you can get high quality and unmatched value on everyday groceries you need for meals as well as all the household items that keep everything running smoothly.

BJ’s provides a large selection of delicious fresh food and groceries with their exclusive Wellsley Farms brand, and Berkley Jensen offers a wide assortment of household products, including necessary paper goods, apparel, diapers and formula, health and beauty products and more.

In addition, BJ’s offers items ranging from electronics and toys to furniture and appliances — plus exclusive member services including an optical center for eye exams and lenses, as well as a tire center.

Shop conveniently and smartly

To help members shop their way, BJ’s makes it even easier for members to shop and save, with its convenient, digital shopping options. As a member, you can shop in a variety of ways, including in-club shopping and shopping online at BJs.com, with same-day delivery, curbside pickup, and in-club pickup.

Batch-cook on the weekends

Another big-time saver during super busy weeks is to set aside time to cook extra meals ahead over the weekend. Whether you double up on a favorite recipe you’re making on Sunday or cook an extra casserole to pop in the fridge or freezer, making sure that you have a couple of extra meals already prepped and ready to heat up will be a huge help during those busy weekdays when you’re running between school and different activities.

Turn lunch-making into a fun activity

Involving kids in prepping their own lunches the night before can help save on time while also providing kids with valuable skills and knowledge about healthy food choices. A fun trend your children may enjoy using is a kids’ bento box, designed with separate compartments ready for filling up with their (parent-approved) selection of healthy proteins, fruits, veggies and snacks — which also helps to save on packaging waste. Set out the options for your kids to choose from on the table or counter each night and let kids fill up their own boxes (with a little guidance if needed).

Ready to shop conveniently while also finding unbeatable value and incredible savings on all your family’s everyday essentials? Join BJ’s Wholesale Club today.

2022-12-15T09:01:00

(BPT) – With the start of a new year just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to have a refreshed perspective on our health and well-being so we can continue to improve ourselves day by day. The new year brings new possibilities when it comes to our wellness routines, but sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. If you’re feeling unsure how to get started or which goals to set for the year, registered dietitian Maggie Michalczyk is sharing five expert tips on how to have a refreshed routine for the year that focuses on nutrition and health while incorporating her favorite snack, almonds.

Maggie Michalczyk believes that wellness starts from within, including fueling her body with the proper nutrition that makes her feel good. Maggie shares how to refresh your wellness routine while keeping nutrition top of mind for the new year, allowing you to live your best life.

1. Keep it simple

It’s easier said than done, but keep it simple! Eating healthy can feel daunting — do you change everything that you’re eating, do you follow the latest trends? One simple and realistic strategy I recommend is to start by adding more nutrition to the meals and snacks you’re already eating. Here are a few examples: top yogurt and oatmeal bowls with almonds, add a handful of greens to things like smoothies, stir frys and omelets, or add a side salad to go with any main dish.

2. Snack on healthy whole foods

There are so many options for snacks these days, but not all are created equal. Snacks that contain protein, fiber and healthy fat, and are low in sugar, will keep you satisfied and energized throughout the day. Almonds contain 6 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber along with 13 grams of “good” unsaturated fat and 1 gram of saturated fat per serving, making them a great well-rounded snack, plus there are many ways to enjoy them to keep things fun.

3. Nourish your skin from within

With so much emphasis on the perfect skincare routine, one thing often overlooked is supporting our skin from within with foods that contain essential skin-benefiting nutrients like almonds. A handful of almonds provides 50% of your recommended daily value of vitamin E in one serving, which helps protect skin cells from damaging effects of free radicals caused by pollution, UV rays, cigarette smoke and other factors.

4. Prioritize your magnesium intake

Most of us are not meeting the daily recommended amount of magnesium in our diets. The good news is almonds can help. Almonds are an excellent source of magnesium, which aids in the production of energy in the body as well as supports a healthy immune system. I add almond butter to my breakfast toast, topping my salad with almonds, or simply snack on them throughout the day to reap the benefits.

5. Challenge yourself

Pick up a plant food (think fruit, vegetables or nuts like almonds) at the grocery store or farmers market that you’ve never tried before and challenge yourself to try it. Not only does this help keep things fun and fresh in the kitchen, it also adds more nutrition to your diet, helps to improve gut health and can help improve your relationship with food.

“It’s so important to me to start off every new year feeling refreshed and energized. For me, I like to look at how my snacks are benefiting my overall health. I’m all about keeping it simple, which is why one of my go-to snacks is almonds. They are the perfect snack to take while on-the-go, given their mix of protein, fiber and fat, keeping me energized throughout the day,” says Maggie.

Are you ready to upgrade your wellness routine in the new year? As Maggie states above, it’s all about starting small and knowing what you put in your body. Visit almonds.com for more information and follow @californiaalmonds for inspiration on how to nourish your well-being in 2023!

2022-12-14T09:05:00

(BPT) – Many people love to travel, celebrate and indulge in favorite foods during the winter months. However, overdoing it can have a big impact on your health, especially if you have a chronic condition like gout.

Think gout is uncommon? Think again. Gout is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis and is caused by an accumulation of uric acid crystals in the joints. Gout is extremely painful and tied to several other serious health conditions. During the winter months, it’s important to prioritize your health so gout and other conditions are properly managed.

“More than 9 million Americans have gout and the numbers are increasing,” said Dr. N. Lawrence Edwards, a rheumatologist and chairman of the Gout Education Society. “There are many misconceptions about gout, such as it is a condition that results from unhealthy diet. The truth is gout is a hereditary disease, meaning it runs in families.”

There is no cure for gout, but lifestyle changes and some medications can reduce and even eliminate the painful flares and reverse the damage gout has caused to joints and cartilage. Edwards suggests these five ways to manage gout and feel your best:

Visit your doctor every 6 months

Whether it’s the end of the year before health benefits expire or the beginning of the year as new benefits kick in, schedule a routine doctor’s appointment to either confirm a gout diagnosis or ensure a proper treatment plan.

Once a gout diagnosis is confirmed, uric acid levels should be tested every six months, with a goal of keeping levels to 6.0 mg/dL or lower, depending on what the doctor recommends. Most experts agree that lowering uric acid levels is the best way to prevent future gout flares, as well as other health conditions associated with gout, such as kidney stones or kidney disease, diabetes, heart attack, stroke and more.

Take medications as prescribed

Amid travel plans and gatherings with family and friends, be sure to take daily uric acid-lowering medications as prescribed by the doctor. These will help keep gout flares at bay so you can enjoy activities and make positive memories.

Keep in mind, while gout is a lifelong condition, it can be controlled by sticking with a proper treatment plan. Work with your doctor to determine the right medication, dietary guidelines and lifestyle modifications.

Follow a healthy diet

During the winter, it’s common to indulge in extra treats, including purine-rich foods like red meats and alcohol, sweets and other processed foods that have been known to trigger gout flares. While it’s okay to eat these foods in moderation — especially if uric acid levels are under control — sticking to a healthy diet can help stave off a gout flare.

While certain foods have been known to trigger gout flares, there is no regimented “gout diet.” However, some doctors have recommended the Mediterranean diet to help with managing gout or the DASH diet (which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) that focuses on fruits, vegetables and low-fat foods.

Stay hydrated

As you’re out and about celebrating, keep in mind alcoholic and caffeinated beverages can be dehydrating. What’s more, fruit juices and sodas are high in sugars, so remember to enjoy in moderation.

Your best option is to drink at least 64 ounces of water daily. Water helps the body transport nutrients and waste, regulates body temperature and cushions joints and tissues. Research also suggests that drinking adequate water might guard against kidney stones and constipation.

Keep up with latest news

Stay up to date with the latest in gout research and treatment in order to learn more about how best to manage the disease. GoutEducation.org is an unbiased resource for information and tools to help with gout management.

2022-12-14T14:15:00

(BPT) – You may have found yourself incredibly busy throughout the holiday season, so it’s understandable that gift buying may have slipped your mind. Right now, you may feel overwhelmed by the number of items on your holiday gift list.

If you’re worried you might run out of time to get all the gifts you need before the holidays arrive, you’re not alone. Many people put off holiday shopping as means to avoid the pressure of this deadline, including all the related decisions and costs. According to a 2020 study, half of the respondents bought a gift on Christmas Eve and 39% even made purchases on Christmas Day.

If you need help managing your last-minute holiday shopping without being stressed or breaking the bank, check out these three suggestions.

1. Plan a group gift

While most people appreciate getting a gift no matter the size or value, it can be easier and more meaningful for them to receive a large group gift. It’s also the best way to contribute a gift last-minute in case you ran out of time or forgot.

You and your siblings can easily split the cost of concert tickets for your older cousin, or your extended family can go in on a vacation package for Grandma and Grandpa. No matter what you give, the recipient will know that many people came together to give them something extra special for the holidays.

To make splitting the cost easier, use a digital payment method like PayPal or Venmo. Within minutes, you can send and receive payments from family and friends to fund group gifts for the ones you love.

2. Give the gift of choice

Sometimes, the best gift is the one they get to choose themselves. By adding gift cards for your recipients’ favorite brands to your shopping list, your friends and family get the chance to pick out exactly what they want this year.

With a large variety of top brands and merchants to choose from, the PayPal Digital Gift Store makes finding and paying for the perfect digital gift card quick and stress-free – even at the last minute. With just a few clicks, you can browse a wide selection of digital gift cards and deals, pay with your PayPal account, and add a festive, customized message. Your recipient receives the gift directly in their email inbox and can redeem it either online or in-store.

3. Send a cash gift

Whether you forgot to buy a gift for a loved one or they’re hard to shop for, you can still show them you care this holiday with a monetary gift, as money tops the holiday wish list for many people. According to a 2021 survey by Statista, 39% of people said a gift of money would make them happy.

By giving someone a cash gift, you’re giving them the freedom to save it or spend it exactly how they like. Keep your last-minute gifting simple and fast with PayPal and Venmo, and give your loved ones the gift they actually want. Add a gift wrap, animations, emojis and stickers to your payment note for a festive personal touch.

Besides these last-minute gift ideas, PayPal and Venmo also offer customers several quick and secure ways to pay for gifts throughout the holiday season, whether you’re purchasing from a local small business or from larger retailers in-app, online or in-store.

To get started with your last-minute holiday shopping, download the PayPal or Venmo apps today.

2022-12-14T08:01:00

(BPT) – This holiday season, turn cocktails on their head and create core memories with family and friends. Make the moments that matter memorable with these festive St-Rémy Signature cocktails, crafted by mixologists from all over the country.

2022-12-13T10:01:00

(BPT) – Your sense of smell is a powerful part of the human experience. Smell strongly influences how something tastes. Emotion can be influenced by certain smells. And if your sense of smell is minimized or you’ve lost it completely, it could be an early indicator of brain disease.

The nose knows

While temporary loss of smell may indicate you have a cold, COVID-19 or a respiratory virus, ongoing and progressive smell loss may be one of the most important signals of brain health, including risk for Parkinson’s disease.

According to a research study sponsored by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), up to 30% of people with enduring smell loss showed brain changes associated with Parkinson’s disease — a chronic, neurodegenerative disease that currently affects an estimated 6 million people worldwide.

Importantly, smell loss can happen years or even decades before the traditional motor Parkinson’s symptoms appear, such as tremors or difficulty with balance. But studies have shown it can be surprisingly difficult to know whether you have smell loss — 7 in 10 people living with it didn’t know until they were tested.

“From my role on a hospice team caring for others, I used to think Parkinson’s started with a tremor or other movement symptoms. Little did I know, I had lost my sense of smell years before noticing its impact on my work, daily life and connection to my own diagnosis,” says Reni Winter-Evans, 68, of West Point, Indiana, a medical social worker and former journalist who lives with Parkinson’s and is an active research volunteer.

The scratch-and-sniff test

While scientists don’t yet know why smell loss occurs in Parkinson’s, researchers are hard at work trying to uncover this link. It could be an important missing puzzle piece in understanding Parkinson’s, including who’s at risk for the disease, who gets it, who doesn’t and why.

Now, MJFF is using a simple screening tool to measure your risk for brain disease. It’s a free “scratch-and-sniff smell test” for people over age 60 living without Parkinson’s, developed by scientists at the University of Pennsylvania.

“Research is becoming clearer that our sense of smell has the power to help scientists answer key questions around how Parkinson’s develops and when it begins,” says Maggie Kuhl, vice president of research engagement at MJFF. “In addition to helping further brain disease research, taking a test is a simple, free tool people can use to assess their own ability to smell.”

Getting started is easy — people aged 60 and up without a Parkinson’s diagnosis can request a free smell test at MySmellTest.org/GetStarted for delivery right to their door.

The 40 scratch-and-sniff multiple-choice questions are simple. You’ll be asked questions like, “Does this page smell like a rose, mint or coffee?” Then, you’ll submit your answers online and the results have the potential to change our understanding of brain disease, who gets it and why.

“It’s an opportunity to help people and families around the world living with this disease, and partner with leading scientists toward our joint goal of ending Parkinson’s for good. And, for many, the test is a fun and easy way to get involved,” says Kuhl.

The opportunity to further Parkinson’s prevention

Scientists will then analyze your smell test results and you may be asked to join MJFF’s landmark brain health study, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI), that seeks to enroll 100,000 participants with and without the disease in the hopes of better understanding and preventing it.

Currently underway across the United States and the world, both in-person and online, smell test participants will be able to join PPMI and contribute valuable insights into the link between smell loss and brain health.

“We can only find a cure for brain diseases if we volunteer for research and educate ourselves on what we can actively do today to boost our brain health. I wish I had known about smell loss and its connection to Parkinson’s earlier in my disease journey,” says Winter-Evans, who began participating in PPMI after noticing Parkinson’s symptoms. “Today, I participate in research because I feel a strong sense of duty to help in any way possible to provide a disease-free future for myself, my children and everyone else.”

Not everyone with smell loss will go on to develop brain disease. That said, everyone can play a valuable role in helping find better treatments, cures and even prevention of brain disease altogether.

If you’re over 60 and living without Parkinson’s, consider taking a few moments to put your nose to the test: MySmellTest.org/GetStarted.

2022-12-13T09:11:00

(BPT) – You’re an avid runner and cyclist. You eat well and don’t smoke. Overall, you’re doing all the right things when it comes to your health. Then you get diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. You know you’re not invincible, but lung cancer didn’t even seem like a possibility.

This scenario reflects Kirk Smith’s reality. In December 2013, he went out for a three-mile run from his office. As someone who races marathons and triathlons, this was supposed to be a breeze. He didn’t make it a mile before a sharp pain in the left side of his chest and very shallow breathing stopped him and forced him to walk back.

He decided to drive to the ER and was held overnight for a series of scans. Later that same month, he was diagnosed with stage IIIB lung cancer at 51 years old, meaning his cancer had spread into the lymph nodes of his chest.

“The whole experience was surreal,” said Kirk. “I lived a very active life. Lung cancer wasn’t even on my radar.”

Kirk doesn’t smoke, which is one of the reasons he was so shocked, but he quickly learned that this is a big misconception about the disease.

“If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer. Smoking is a risk factor, but there are many people with lung cancer who are nonsmokers,” said Kirk. “There is a terrible stigma around lung cancer that it’s the person’s fault. This is likely why lung cancer gets the least funding of all the major cancers, even though it kills the most people.”

A map to lung cancer treatments

Kirk decided to take an optimistic and pragmatic approach to treating his lung cancer, understanding that at this stage, it is unlikely to be cured. His treatment journey mirrors the giant leaps happening in lung cancer research and care over the last 10 years.

Kirk’s care team understood the importance of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP), or biomarker testing, and made sure to test him for actionable biomarkers at the start of his treatment journey. When he was positive for the ALK alteration, he started out on a targeted therapy that allowed him to race in a half-marathon less than two months after beginning treatment.

However, just like many people’s experiences treating lung cancer, Kirk has had to constantly monitor his condition and adjust. His treatments changed, for example, when his liver enzymes reached dangerous levels. Later, when tests revealed the cancer spread to his brain — known as brain metastases — he switched treatments again.

“I have a brilliant health care team and I’ve made it a point that they get to know me as a person as well as a patient,” said Kirk. “Find a doctor who you believe in that also believes in you.”

Before making any treatment decisions, such as moving to a different targeted therapy, Kirk’s oncologist ordered CGP to understand how his cancer had changed. Since 2017, he has benefitted from Guardant Health’s Guardant360^® blood tests for CGP, which have provided actionable insights and allowed him to get access to newly approved targeted therapies.

“Biomarker testing has been the difference between life and death for me and has allowed me to maintain my quality of life. It’s like a map that guides my treatment at every stage. Everyone who has been diagnosed with late-stage cancer should ask their doctors about these tests,” Smith says.

Kirk’s life today

It has been 9 years since Kirk received his late-stage cancer diagnosis. He is a passionate supporter of cancer research and currently serves as the president of the patient advocacy group ALK Positive. He believes that being able to continue his active lifestyle and preserve his quality of life is a testament to the advancements and progress made in lung cancer research.

“Through breakthroughs in research, targeted therapies and biomarker testing, I believe this disease can no longer be a death sentence and instead be a manageable disease,” he said.

2022-12-13T09:01:00

(BPT) – The kitchen isn’t just a place where you cook food to nourish your body. It’s a place where you gather with friends and family to connect and make memories. Because it’s the heart of the home and facilitates so many activities, it’s important to consider how your kitchen design can enhance the meaningful moments enjoyed within the space.

With this in mind, many people desire to upgrade their kitchen in 2023. If you’re one of them, consider the top trends in kitchen design and how they can enhance your space:

Trend: Focus on functionality

The kitchen space is significant from an investment point of view, as well as an aesthetic one. Beyond the monetary and cosmetic aspects, it’s important to keep in mind the kitchen is also the hardest-working space in the home. The products you select should be beautiful yet durable, and the materials used are as important as the design itself.

As you begin a project, seek options that enhance work areas, ease of operation and convenience. Consider a chef’s sink that fits your personal needs, a faucet that provides multiple water pressures to conserve output or a separate filter faucet to cut down on bottled water consumption. When researching, look for materials that can withstand the rigors of daily use while maintaining their luster and depth of color.

Trend: Designer collections

Upscale collections remove guesswork, resulting in a kitchen that is classic and stylish with products that have the strength and durability to withstand the test of time. These attributes are the goals of expert designer Mick De Giulio, who partnered to create collections with KALLISTA starting in 2011 with the introduction of the Multiere and the Soltiere chef-inspired kitchen sinks and accessories, and the Bacifiore entertainment sink, with the addition of the apron front Bacifiore sink in 2019.

With a career that has spanned over four decades, De Giulio approached his KALLISTA faucet designs as he does all his work, with the eye of an artist, the deft hand of a craftsman and the practicality of an engineer. Aptly named Juxtapose to reference the collection’s intriguing mixed metal finish combinations, the faucets’ slim profiles and chic details were designed to “bring the soul back into performance products,” explained De Giulio.

Trend: Minimalist designs

Expect to see more minimalist designs in upscale kitchen products in 2023 and beyond. Remember, minimalist doesn’t mean minimal functionality. The best products pair superior function to suit modern life with minimalist designs that please the eye and offer understated elegance to a room.

For example, the KALLISTA cold-water Contemporary Filter Faucet features a slim, minimalist design that pairs beautifully with the Juxtapose series. The faucet has a 360-degree swivel spout and requires a water filtration system, such as the KOHLER Aquifer Water Filtration System. This faucet is available in polished chrome, polished nickel, brushed nickel, unlacquered brass, matte black and stainless finishes.

Trend: Thoughtful details

Like the jewelry that makes an outfit, thoughtfully selected details elevate the kitchen. Many people are putting in coffee/espresso stations that they use every day and distinguish the space by using expensive tile to define that one small area and set it apart. Complementing products also serve to complete the look, such as finish-matched soap dispensers or handcrafted cabinet hardware.

Intricate tile backsplashes, a statement-making feature wall, updated lighting, fun bar stools, vintage-style table and chairs, and new appliances in a finish appropriate to your fixture and faucet choices will also elevate your kitchen design. An insider note: Expect Mid-century modern aesthetics to continue to be big in 2023 because they tend to embrace minimalist design while maintaining an enduring warmth. This can help guide you when determining the kitchen details.