10 Best Spring and Summer Workouts

Though statistically we fail miserably at keeping our New Year’s Resolutions to get fit, there’s still hope around springtime. Study’s show that when you begin a few months after January, you’re not only more likely to keep your fitness goals, but it’s also easier to get motivated (due to better weather and the thought of fitting into a bathing suit during the warmer weather, I suppose).

This year, there are some very intriguing exercises that are perfect for getting uber-fit and toned with stronger and leaner muscles. The theme of this year’s best fitness workouts are based on one word, “FUN!” No one wants to do boring workouts anymore. People want something that will be fun and that keeps you motivated to go back and do it again and again.

These 10 workouts for spring and summer are just that – super fun, electrifying, challenging and will whip your body into shape in no time flat.

1. AntiGravity Fitness

Possibly the most visually mesmerizing form of exercise is AntiGravity. Think Cirque Du Soleil meets yoga. You’re basically hanging from a hammock like sheet that provides resistance and makes use of your body weight to strengthen muscles. It not only stretches and tones, but it’s also so much fun. Added bonus: hanging upside down makes you feel like a kid again and provides ample blood flow to the brain for enhanced cognitive function.

10 Beautiful Flowers You Really Need in Your Garden

“Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?” This is an old nursery rhyme but it asks a perennial question – no pun intended… What makes a garden original and special? The answer is as variable as the gardener herself.

Flowers always bring happiness to anyone who views them, but there are themes which enhance the overall effect and at the same time bring benefits to how the garden grows. These include having flowers that attract desired insects, that repel ones that are unwanted, and that provide medicinal and healing value.

Whether you have a large garden, a small plot on the side of the house, or pots of flowers on a deck or balcony, it can be both beneficial and fun to choose plants that provide that something extra.

Flowers That Attract Helpful Insects

Ecology and the environment are serious concerns. Most of us are interested in decreasing the use of pesticides, not only for our own benefit but to protect the ground soil and water table. Nature has her own warriors for this, and they happen to be fascinating little creatures at that.

Ladybugs are called a gardener’s best friend. Getting ladybugs to come to your garden is a marvelous way to get rid of mites and aphids, their favorite food, as well as mealybugs. To get ladybugs interested, have at least three of the following flowers available for them: Calendula, Marigold, and Angelica. The petals of these flowers have a level surface that ladybugs like, and they love the pollen.

Green Lacewing larvae are very keen for Borage, called the starflower. It is the larvae that are the consumers of aphids, red mites, moth caterpillars, and mealybugs. The lacewings will lay their eggs on the blue borage petals, ensuring a steady supply of garden protectors.

Parasitic wasps are superb for controlling a variety of invaders like mealybugs, aphids, whiteflies, cabbage worms, gypsy moth caterpillars, and Japanese beetles. They are drawn to Alyssum.

Assassin bugs and hoverflies provide benefit to the garden in late summer and early fall. These insects especially favor Goldenrod.

Ground Beetles are born predators that spend the nighttime hours looking for slugs and snails and pests that invade the soil where flowers have been planted. They like caterpillars, too. Perennial flowers draw their attention most of all.

Flowers That Repel Unwanted Insects

The Marigold stars again, this time as one of the best-known flowers for repelling bothersome insects. Depending on the type of marigold that is planted, it will keep away nematodes, cabbage maggots, aphids, and Mexican Bean Beetles. The marigolds that have scent do the best job.

Lavender, besides having a marvelous scent, repels whiteflies and moths and perhaps best of all, mosquitos.

Creativity Breeds Positivity: How to Stay Creative All Day Long

Whether creativity breeds positivity or positivity breeds creativity, it’s always beneficial to stay both creative and positive during the day. Perhaps, it’s easier said than done. We study a lot, work hard, and solve all those life problems that it seems we don’t have time to get those creative juices flowing. These fabulous ways to stay creative every day will hopefully help you bring much more creativity as well as positivity into your life.

1. Switch off your computer

One of the best ways to stay creative all day long is to step away from your computer or laptop and take a breather. If you are constantly sitting in front of your computer, writing emails or checking Twitter and Facebook, your creativity may diminish. You should get out and see all of the world’s beauty to be creative!

2. Practice makes perfect

I’ve heard this statement my entire life and I can say that it’s absolutely true. Practicing creativity can make everyone better at it. I’m sure most of us know this, but some of us are simply lazy. If you want to get better at your creativity or craft, you need to practice a lot every single day. It’s very hard work, but it’ll certainly pay off!

Read also – The Power of Positive Thinking: Can it Really Improve Your Life?

3. Make a list

Making a list of the things you’d like to accomplish is a great way to stay creative and positive during the day. I always write down the things I want to get done, and I know that I need to do it and do my best to accomplish them. Making to-do lists will keep you motivated as well as accountable for the things you need to do.

4. Read a page of the dictionary

Well, I haven’t tried this yet, but it’s on my list of the things I’d like to do. Perhaps I’ll even try to incorporate it into my everyday routine. In fact, reading a page of the dictionary can help any person’s creativity blossom, especially if you are a writer. It can also help you improve your vocabulary. You’ll need just 15-20 minutes to read one page of the dictionary. It’s a great way to spend a little time simply bettering yourself.

5. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes

Mistakes actually teach you what you are doing wrong. Whether it’s too much paint on that brushstroke or a typo in an article you are writing, it’s a part of learning and becoming better at something. So don’t be afraid to make mistakes, because if you don’t make them, you can’t pick yourself back up, start again and do better.

Read also – 8 Ways to Become Strong in Spirit in a Week

6. Have fun

You will never stay creative if you are unhappy and not having fun. You need to feel happy and fulfilled to produce something awesome. Whether it’s baking, learning a foreign language, or just writing your journal, the happiness you get from it will make even the hardest work feel worth it.

7. Go somewhere new

When I go somewhere new, I get this amazing rush where I want to do something wonderful! I think exploring new places is awesome! You see different aspects of life and learn some new things about yourself. This is one of the best ways to stay creative all day long. Choose a place, hop in the car or get on a plane and allow your creative juices to start flowing! If you can’t afford to go anywhere, why not explore a new park in your city or visit some new museums?

8. Keep your workspace clean and organized

I don’t understand people who work in a dirty workspace. They say that it’s okay because they are creative people, but it actually puts a damper on creativity. A clean workspace looks tidy and makes you want to start a new project or finish an old one. Moreover, a clean workspace lets your positive energy flow and improves your mood.

9. Get enough rest

Getting enough rest is good for your health and for your creativity as well. Often we try to do a project or something creative, but don’t finish it because we are too tired. Getting enough sleep is important to getting everything done. Remember, ‘Early to bed and early to rise makes a woman healthy, wealthy and wise?’

Stay positive during the day and you will never experience any writer’s blocks. Creativity makes your life interesting and fulfilling. Cultivate and nourish your creativity on a daily basis to reap all its benefits. Do you have any secrets of high creativity levels? Share ‘em, please.

7 Best Spring-Summer Fruits You Should Be Eating More

Spring has finally arrived and it’s time to think of the fruits to add to your healthy diet now. From rhubarb, mangoes to honeydew melon, there are many delicious and incredibly healthy spring-summer fruits to consume more to be healthy and full of energy. Take a look at the list of some of the best spring-summer fruits and start adding them to your diet day by day. These fruits are easy to store, easy to eat, and generally have plenty of health benefits.

1. Strawberries

Spring is the right time for sweet red berries everybody knows. Between April and June you can find strawberries at local farmers’ markets. Sure, you can buy them now, but I don’t recommend eating strawberries right now since they are less healthy. You can use strawberries in almost every meal. Personally, I like to add strawberries to my grilled chicken salad anв smoothies. Strawberries are a great source of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6, vitamin A, vitamin K, and vitamin E.

2. Apricots

This bright orange fruit is another delight of spring and summer. It tastes as if it was made for making pies. If you don’t like cherry pie, I suggest that you try an apricot one. Put some cream on top of it and you will get the food of the gods. You can dry some apricots as well to save some lumps of summer sun for winter days. Apricots are high in fiber, vitamin C, potassium, water, calcium, iron and antioxidants.

3. Honeydew Melon

Honeydew melon has a very long growing season from May to October. So you will have a bit of spring, the whole summer and autumn to try all the tastiest recipes with this sweet-scented and colorful season fruit. If you don’t like bananas you can eat honeydew melon, instead, as it is a great source of potassium. But better try to mix the both in a salad or smoothie in order to get the best from both. Bon appétit!

4. Mangoes

A delicious fruit that you can use in all kinds of spring recipes. Mango is highly popular fruit in spring. It comes from warmer, tropical climates and is ripe from March to June. Mango is rich in essential vitamins and minerals that help to improve your brain function and immune system, keep your digestive system healthy and fight cancer. It tastes perfect in fruit salads, as trimmings, and as it is. A great choice for an outdoor spring parties!

Read also – 10 Fabulous Reasons to Fall in Love with Mangoes

5. Blueberries

Blueberries are healthy and delicious and you can start buying them from May to August, and if you go in for gardening, you can even try to grow them in your own garden. You can add blueberries to your yogurt and fruit salads and enjoy a proper spring taste combined with benefits for your health. Blueberries help to improve memory function, reduce inflammation, prevent urinary tract infection, reduce belly fat, and are good for your eyes, skin and hair.

6. Cherries

Cherries have incredible health benefits. They can help you boost your energy levels, relieve pain, prevent muscle cramps, improve your brain function, improve your sleep and prevent cancer. Moreover, they have high anti-inflammatory properties and are good for your digestive system, eyes, and heart. You may use them in a pie, smoothies, salads, or gelato. In fact, there are many recipes to choose from. Unfortunately, the growing season of cherries is only from May to June. It’s so hard to wait till the next spring to eat cherries under the bright warm spring sun.

7. Rhubarb

It may surprise you as it did surprise me, but rhubarb is a fruit too! Well, you may call it whatever you like, but the main thing about it is its popularity and amazing taste. Rhubarb is one of the first spring fruits that you can enjoy right now. You can try rhubarb in pies, tarts, jams, and even soufflés. Any recipe that needs fruits in it will taste great with this funny little plant! Rhubarb is wonderful source of Vitamin C that helps to maintain a healthier immune system. Due to its low sodium and saturated fat contents, rhubarb helps to prevent heart related diseases.

It’s always a great idea to consume fruits year round, but when it comes to spring and summer, the options are endless. Fruits are fortified with powerful nutrients that help you feel better and look better. What are your favorite spring/summer fruits?

7 Surprising Health Benefits of Dandelion

Many people think dandelion is only a humble garden weed, because they don’t know about these important health benefits of dandelion. Its leaves and flowers have healing and nutritional properties. Dandelion is found all over the world, so everybody can enjoy the beauty and health benefits of dandelion leaves. Dandelion is often used in salads and has more protein per serving than spinach. Its leaves are rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and manganese and vitamins A, C, E, K, B1, B2, and B6. Its root contains calcium, iron, potassium, sulphur, silicon, magnesium, chlorophyll and phosphorus. Read on to learn some of the most wonderful health benefits of dandelion.

1. Helps to treat skin conditions

Skin diseases caused by fungal or microbial infections can be treated with dandelion sap (dandelion milk). The sap has germicidal, insecticidal, and fungicidal properties and it’s also highly alkaline. All these make dandelion a good treat for ringworm, eczema and other itchy complaints.

2. Good for diabetes

Another great health benefit of dandelion is that it stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin. Since dandelion is a natural diuretic it causes more frequent urination, which helps remove excess sugar from the body and lower sugar build up in the kidneys, preventing renal disease that most diabetics are susceptible to.

3. Helps to fight cancer

The world’s ancient traditional medicine systems, including the Native American, Arabian and Chinese, have long known about the health benefits of dandelion. One of the most important benefits is that dandelion has anti-cancer effects; it helps to fight breast and prostate cancers. Studies show that its root has a great impact on cancer cells (melanoma) that are resistant to chemotherapy, without harming the healthy cells.

4. Good for your bone health

Dandelion is rich in calcium, which is essential for the growth and strength of bones. It also has a high concentration of antioxidants such as Vitamin C and Luteolin, which protect bones from toxic free radicals that can cause general bone weakening, loss of density and premature aging.

5. Improves the function of the liver

Dandelion improves the function of the liver by stimulating the liver naturally and promoting digestion. The chemicals in dandelion eliminate toxins from the body and help to rebalance electrolytes and reestablish hydration. You don’t need to eat dandelion flowers or leaves, though. You can add some leaves to your green smoothie or vegetable salad. This way, you won’t notice its taste, but will reap all its benefits.

Read also – 8 Easy Ways to Make Your Spring Salad Fun

6. Improves your overall digestive health

Dandelion is a mild appetite stimulant, so if you are trying to lose weight, perhaps, it’s better to avoid it. But if you want to improve your digestive health, dandelion is something you need! The inulin and mucilage in the plant have soothing effects on the digestive tract and powerful antioxidants help with the absorption of the toxins from food and encourage the growth of friendly gut bacteria, and inhibit and discourage unfriendly gut bacteria and flora.

7. Promotes good urinary health

Due to its diuretic properties, dandelion promotes good urinary health. Yes, that’s true! The detoxification cleanses your kidneys as well as urinary tract, while microbiological growths in the entire urinary system are inhibited by the disinfectant properties of dandelion.

If you’re going to take advantage of these amazing properties, be sure to make a small research and learn how to use it. There are many different dandelion products available in drug stores and health food stores, but it’s better to harvest your own. Ask your doctor if you can incorporate dandelion into your diet to make sure you can eat it. Do you use dandelion in your diet? Do you know any other important health benefits of this fantastic plant? Please comment below and thanks for reading!

15 Hilarious Responses To Wrong Number Texts.

Girls give guys wrong numbers all the time because sometimes we just feel way too bad to outright reject them…that, or the club is too loud so we just tap some numbers into their phone and hope they go away.

Yeah, I get that it isn’t an ethical way to reject somebody, but hey, things happen and whatever; they’ll get over it almost immediately when they realize they were duped. These poor people somehow texted the wrong numbers, but the responses they got from the recipients are too funny…for outsiders (not for the blue-balled dude who thought he was going to get some). Not all of these are texts to evil women who gave them the wrong number…some just happen to be the wrong number, and it’s still funny as all hell!

Check it out:

1. I really don’t think that was the picture he was hoping to receive…
Source: http://funchoke.com