History of My Sun Spots

Before we jump into the nitty-gritty of the laser treatment, let me briefly inform you of my sun spots. Those blemishes were from my sun-drenched adventures, reminding me of all the fun times I had camping, fishing, swimming… I was using sunscreens, but I wish I had reapplied sunscreens more diligently throughout those days. As time passed, more and more sunspots showed up all over my face 🙁 Thankfully, most of them are not dark, but they are not easy to cover without a heavy foundation.

The Search for Solutions

I initially experimented with various over-the-counter products, hoping they’d be a quick fix. Sadly, they didn’t do much… So I continued on searching for more solutions. One day, I was looking through spa deals on Groupon and found this place that performs laser facials. The moment I saw this deal, I knew I had to give it a shot.

The Sun Spot Removal Laser Experience

As I walked into the spa, my excitement mingled with a dash of nervousness. The team of friendly professionals put me at ease and explained the entire process. The laser procedure, non-invasive and gentle, targets the melanin in the sun spots, causing them to break down over time. The treated area may feel warm and appear pink like a mild sunburn for the rest of the day. The individual sun spots usually become darker within a day, and they will slowly flake off over the next week or two.

Zapping Away Spots

The actual treatment was not so painful with just some sensations of being slapped by rubber bands. If anyone has experienced laser hair removal, it is the same sensation. Once the sun spots were zapped, I felt lingering burning sensations similar to sunburn but nothing intolerable.

The entire session was relatively short (about 15 min) and I was told the number of sessions required depending on the intensity of the sun spots. Darker spots take more sessions to remove. For me, I was recommended to have 2 – 3 sessions total to remove all the spots completely.

The Result of the Sun Spot Removal Laser

The time I noticed my sun spots fading away, I couldn’t stop smiling with astonishment! Just about 24 hours after the laser treatment, one of my sun spots became crusty and flaked off. The area was still red, but the sun spot was no longer there. As more time passed, up to a week, more and more sun spots flaked off.

Also, not only did the laser treatment fade those pesky spots, but it also improved my skin’s overall texture and tone. 

Some sun spots were not completely removed as I was warned at the beginning, but they were significantly lighter. 

If I knew I could see this excellent result, I would have gotten this sun spot removal laser treatment much sooner. I mean, what’s the point of purchasing a high-brand skin care treatment that promises sun spot fading months later of usage when you can get the result in just about a week!?

The Price

Considering the result, the price is pretty reasonable. The spa I went to charged me $250 for the entire face. They also offered the option to remove each sun spot for $30.

Tips for a Smooth Laser Journey

• Consult a certified dermatologist or licensed practitioner before opting for laser treatment
• Apply sunscreen diligently post-treatment to protect your rejuvenated skin from future sun damage
• DO NOT tan
• DO NOT apply any makeup on the treated area for 24 hours
• DO NOT scrub or pick at the treated areas during the healing process
• The healing process will take about 2 weeks* so don’t get this treatment done if you will have a special occasion within 2 weeks
• Ice the treated area for the first 4-6 hours. The ice should be wrapped in a soft cloth and applied for 10-15 minutes each.
• Showering is fine, but no prolonged bathing in hot water
• Acetaminophen is ok for pain relief, but not aspirin during the first 7 days
• Hydrate and nourish your skin with a good skincare routine to maintain the results.

*Everyone heals differently depending on how your skin reacts to the laser.

Conclusion

If you’re seeking an effective way to say goodbye to those stubborn sun spots, laser treatment might be your golden ticket. My journey to clearer skin was nothing short of remarkable, and I’m glad I took that leap of faith. Remember, your skin is unique, and what works for me might not work or work wonders for you too! 

If you’re ready to kickstart your own laser adventure and experience the wonders of “sun spot removal,” go ahead and consult a qualified professional. Let’s embrace our skin’s transformation together!

If you like this sun spot removal laser article, you may also like the following:

• My Braces Experience – Do Braces Hurt?
• My Adult Braces Experience – The Cost and The Options
• Drinking Hot Water Every Day – Benefits Are Tested!

The post Goodbye, Sun Spots! My Laser Journey to Clearer Skin appeared first on Simply A Homebody.

What food is New Orleans famous for?

New Orleans is famous for its vibrant food culture. Some of the famous New Orleans foods are:

1. Gumbo – a rich stew made with roux, vegetables, and meat or seafood, served with rice.
2. Jambalaya – a dish made with rice, vegetables, meat or seafood, and various spices.
3. Po’boys – a sandwich made with French bread, filled with fried seafood or roast beef, and dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, and mayo.
4. Beignets – a sweet treat that’s a cross between a donut and a fritter, made with deep-fried choux pastry and covered in powdered sugar.
5. Red beans and rice – a hearty dish made with red beans, rice, and sausage or ham.
6. Crawfish étouffée – a dish made with crawfish, vegetables, and a roux-based sauce, served over rice.
7. Bread pudding – a dessert made with day-old bread, eggs, milk, and sugar, often served with a rum or bourbon sauce.

These are just some examples of the many delicious and unique dishes you can find in New Orleans. The city’s food scene is rich and diverse, and there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Restaurant with Good New Orleans Food

Restaurant #1 – Morrow’s

This is where great food & dope vibes collide! Experience classic New Orleans cuisine & Korean dishes while enjoying a trendy, urban ambiance^[1].

I couldn’t have eaten enough at this restaurant LOL. There were so many options that my brain wanted me to try, but my stomach didn’t have enough capacity. I enjoyed all of the food we ordered at this amazing restaurant.

BBQ Shrimp – Classic gulf shrimp sautéed in spiked butter sauce

BBQ shrimp is a popular New Orleans dish that is made with large Gulf shrimp that are cooked in a tangy, buttery sauce. The dish was served with French bread, which was used to soak up the flavorful juices. The flavor was so bold and savory with a combination of tangy, salty, and spicy notes 🙂 The spices added complexity to the dish, without overwhelming the delicate flavor of the shrimp. Overall, Morrow’s BBQ shrimp was a delicious and flavorful dish that is a must-try for anyone visiting New Orleans.

Cajun Crawfish Pasta – Louisiana crawfish & linguini pasta in a Cajun topped with two pieces of fried Louisiana Catfish

Cajun Crawfish Pasta is a classic Louisiana dish that combines the flavors of spicy Cajun seasoning, rich and creamy Alfredo sauce, and tender crawfish tails.

The Cajun seasoning in the dish added a bold flavor that compliments the richness of the Alfredo sauce. The Alfredo sauce was creamy and decadent, adding a rich and indulgent flavor to the dish. The combination of the Cajun seasoning and the creamy Alfredo sauce created a perfect balance of flavors.

Morrow’s Cajun Crawfish Pasta was a rich and flavorful dish that showcased the unique flavors and culinary traditions of Louisiana.

Bulgogi – Thinly sliced Ribeye sautéed in a Korean teriyaki sauce, served with steamed rice and salad

Bulgogi is a popular Korean dish made with marinated beef that is cooked on a grill or in a pan. The word “bulgogi” means “fire meat” in Korean, which reflects the dish’s spicy and savory flavor profile.

The thinly sliced beef was tender and juicy, bursting with flavor and aroma. It had a caramelized, slightly sweet flavor that was complemented by the savory umami taste of the beef. 

It is a great choice for anyone looking to explore rich Korean cuisine.
They also had the best gumbo during our trip (Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures…) Our Uber driver said Morrow’s had the BEST gumbo and she was right 🙂

Lenora’s Hawaiian Bread Pudding + Ice Cream (extra charge)

Lenora’s Hawaiian Bread Pudding was sweet, decadent, and I must say, huge! Usually, I’m not a big fan of bread pudding, but this one was exceptional in a very good way.

It was served warm and topped with vanilla ice cream we added at an extra charge (highly recommended). It was creamy with a slight tanginess from pineapple chunks that perfectly complemented the sweet bread pudding.

Overall, Lenora’s Hawaiian Bread Pudding was delicious and perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Restaurant #2 – Cafe Du Monde

Café Du Monde is a world-famous coffee shop located in the French Quarter of New Orleans. It has been a landmark and cultural icon in the city since its founding in 1862.

The café is best known for its café au lait and beignets, a traditional New Orleans pastry that is deep-fried and dusted with powdered sugar. The flavor of beignets was rich, sweet, and doughy. The dough had a slightly crispy exterior, while the interior was light, fluffy, and almost cloud-like in texture. The powdered sugar on top added a subtle sweetness, balancing out the flavors of the dough. Beignets were served hot and fresh, making them a comforting treat.

The café au lait is made with chicory coffee and steamed milk, creating a rich, bold flavor that pairs perfectly with the sweet, fluffy beignets.

The café is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and features both indoor and outdoor seating. 

Whether you’re starting your day with a cup of coffee and a beignet, or taking a break from exploring the city to enjoy a late-night snack, Café Du Monde is a must-visit destination in New Orleans.

Restaurant #3 – Stuph’D

Wanna try different types of beignets? Try Stuph’D. You won’t regret it!

Stuph’D is a casual restaurant located at 3325 St Claude Ave in New Orleans. The restaurant specializes in a variety of beignets.

The atmosphere of the restaurant is relaxed and inviting, with a warm and welcoming vibe.

Some popular dishes include the “Creole Queen Beignet,” which are beignets stuffed with crabmeat, crawfish, and shrimp, and the “Sweet Potato Pie Sweet Beignets.”

I had the pleasure of trying “Creole Queen Beignet” myself, and it had such a rich and complex flavor!  I also tried “Cheesecake Beignet,” and it was no joke STUFFED with tons of tasty cream cheese cream 😉  I can honestly say this place had the best street food during my trip to New Orleans and will go back there for sure.

In addition to the beignets, Stuph’D also offers fries, burgers, wings, and brunch.

Overall, Stuph’D is a great choice for anyone looking for a tasty and creative meal in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. With its focus on beignets and bold flavors, this restaurant is a must-try for visitors to New Orleans.

Summary

If you are a foodie like me, you are in for a treat when it comes to experiencing the food scene in New Orleans. The city is known for its unique and flavorful cuisine, with a blend of Creole, Cajun, and French influences that create a delicious and diverse range of dishes. You will have the opportunity to try a variety of mouthwatering dishes that are unlike anything you have tasted before. New Orleans food is sure to be a positive experience for you, as you savor the rich flavors, aromas, and textures.

If you like this article about New Orleans food, you may also like:

• BBQ Pork Steamed Buns
• Ham and Cheese Pockets – Rilakkuma

The post Good New Orleans Food appeared first on Simply A Homebody.

• Getting Braces Attached on My Teeth
• First Day
• First Week
• Summary

Getting Braces Attached on My Teeth

The office visit for getting braces took about two hours. First, dental assistants took some pictures of me – two X-rays, my face from front and side, both with smiles and without smiles. Then, they moved onto polishing my teeth. After that, finally, the process of attaching brackets started.

Attaching brackets and wires took two people, my dentist, and one dental assistant. First, the dental assistant put sunglasses on my face. The sunglasses protected my eyes from UV lights used to cure the adhesive. Before putting the first bracket, my dentist put something really sour in the back of my mouth near my bottom right molar. The disgusting liquid kept leaking onto my tongue, and I couldn’t wait for the dental assistant to remove it.

After the sour liquid (whatever it was), my doctor attached a bracket on my back right molar on the bottom. When she approved the positioning of the bracket, the dental assistant held UV light over the molar and secured it to the position. They repeated the same procedure starting from the molar on the other side until all my bottom teeth had brackets.

After that, the dental assistant randomly asked me what color I wanted. I wasn’t sure what he was asking. It turned out that he was asking me what color of rubber bands I want on my brackets. I wanted to be as discrete as possible so I picked clear. Then they moved onto adding a U-shaped wire on my brackets with the rubber bands. The doctor carefully measured the length and attached it by using special devices. Once the wire was in place, I felt some pressure all over on my gums and teeth, but there was no pain from the braces.

They repeated exactly the same procedure on my top teeth from attaching the brackets to adding a wire. I felt no difference between getting metal braces versus ceramic braces. It took about an hour total to attach the brackets and wires. Once the whole process was done, the dentist showed me how to apply orthodontic wax on my braces. Then she sent me home with a care packet (a take-home instruction sheet, a mouth mirror, orthodontic wax, dental floss samples, a toothbrush, and a small hourglass).

Pain?

Overall there wasn’t too much pain associated with braces getting attached to my teeth, just some uncomfortableness. During the whole process, my lips got badly chapped. While the pictures were taken and the braces were attached, the doctor and the dental assistant literally pulled my lips to every direction you can think of, and it felt like my lips were splitting in half… The doctor applied lip balms several times during the visit, but I should’ve asked to apply it more often.

Also, some dental tools poked my gums, and it caused some sharp pains. I flagged my dentist every time it happened to minimize the pains.

First Day

How did the braces look?

The moment of truth. Was paying extra for getting white brackets worth it?

Honestly, my heart sunk when I saw my teeth the first time. I didn’t expect to look cute with the braces, but the white brackets looked so huge on my top teeth (they felt huge, too). They were more visible than I hoped… The color blended well with my teeth but I didn’t know the size of the white brackets was larger than the metal ones. Another disappointment was that the metal brackets on the bottom teeth were more visible than I imagined. I thought they would never show but the shiny metal twinkled whenever I talked or smiled.

Braces Pain on the first day

When I first left my dentist’s office, I was totally fine. All I felt was a little pressure on my teeth. Unfortunately, it was just the beginning…

As time went by, I felt more and more pressure on my teeth. Three hours later, I felt sore in my entire mouth. If you ever experienced any pain from your wisdom teeth growing, imagine that pain is everywhere in your mouth.

Biting and chewing made the pain even worse. Every time I bit into anything, sharp pains shot through my teeth. I had planned to eat a small bowl of chicken salad, fried calamari, and chocolate pudding for the night. I should’ve planned softer food for the dinner, but I underestimated the amount of pain.

My front teeth were completely useless. To eat a piece of chicken, I used my front teeth just to hold it in place and used a fork to rip a small piece off. Biting off was not an option.

Back molars were a little less painful, but they were still too sore to chew hard. When I tried to eat a tiny piece of calamari, a wire in my back molar came off! The take-home instruction sheet from the dentist didn’t list calamari, and I thought the calamari was small and soft enough…

Thankfully, the instruction sheet mentioned “how to fix loose wire at home”, and I was able to put the loose wire back into the hole. After this incident, I was too paranoid to chew anything on the back molar. I only put tiny pieces of food in my mouth and just swallowed them whole. The only thing I was able to eat without problems was chocolate pudding. By the time I ate all my food for the night, almost two hours had passed.

First Week

Braces Pain on the First Week

The first week was definitely rough. The teeth pain I felt on the first day continued to bother me whenever I was awake.

On top of having the dull aches, the brackets agitated inside of my mouth. One of the brackets on my back molar had a hook. It was sharp enough to leave some cuts inside of my cheek. To relieve the pain, I put a small amount of orthodontic wax on the hook until the cuts healed.

I also put some orthodontic wax on my bottom brackets before I went to sleep. Without it, the brackets left painful indentations inside of my bottom lips during the night.

Eating was still the biggest challenge in my daily life. I got sharp pains all over in my mouth. I needed to make conscious choices about what to eat. Mac N’ cheese, soups, and oatmeals were all I could eat. I was frustrated with not being able to enjoy food like I used to. Naturally, the frequency of snacking decreased. In a matter of three days, I quickly dropped a few pounds off my body. 

The front teeth seemed slow to heal compared to the molars. When I wanted to chew anything, I moved the food to the back of my mouth. At least, the pain slowly faded as time went by. It took 10 days for me to feel somewhat normal.

Taking Care of Braces

I had to make habit of brushing my teeth every time I ate anything. Every time I ate, the food stuck everywhere I never imagined before the braces. I was embarrassed to smile or talk until brushing my teeth.

On top of brushing, I purchased a Waterpik and special floss for braces to deep clean my teeth at least once a day.

Summary

Overall, getting braces is relatively pain-free, but living with braces for the first week is whole another story. My very first week with braces was rougher than I imagined. I totally underestimated the uncomfortableness and the pains associated with the braces. I ate soft food for more than a week, and I’ve been deep cleaning my teeth every day after the braces.

If you are looking into getting braces yourself for the first time, I hope my experiences gave you some insight. Thank you for reading and good luck with your orthodontic journey! Please leave some comments below if you have any questions. I’d love to hear from you:)

The post My Braces Experience – Do Braces Hurt? appeared first on Simply A Homebody.

• My Dental Condition
• Types of Braces – Going To Consultations
• Cost of Adult Braces – Traditional Braces without Insurance
• How I Chose My Doctor for My Adult Braces
• Summary

My Dental Condition

The cost and the treatment options vary depending on personal dental conditions. Here is my condition and the brief history before starting the treatment.

I’ve considered getting braces over the last seven years ever since my previous dentist told me that my teeth were crowded. I’ve avoided braces not because I was scared of the dental work but because the cost seemed too high for some minor crowding issue. At that point, my misalignment wasn’t severe so I ignored this matter for as long as I could.

Now, after seven years of procrastinating, my teeth alignment is kind of a mess… One of my bottom teeth fell forward. Another tooth fell inward. Some of my front teeth are overlapping each other. They became very difficult to brush.

After talking to some specialist, my case was classified as minor crowding on the top and moderate crowding on the bottom.

Types of Braces – Going To Consultations

I went to three different dental/orthodontic offices for consultations. All consultations were free.

I discussed four types of orthodontic treatment options during the consultations:

• Traditional metal braces
• White Ceramic Braces
• Lingual Braces
• Clear Aligner (Invisalign)

My first reaction was to consider Invisalign because I liked the idea of being discrete. But after talking to all three dental professionals, I became unsure of this option. They all told me that Invisalign is more expensive (about $1000 -$2000 more than the traditional metal/ceramic options), and takes longer to correct the alignment because it provides less control for the professionals to adjust the tooth movement.

Especially with my case, wearing rubber bands would be a must during the course of treatment. One of the orthodontist informed that it was possible to wear rubber bands with Invisalign but more difficult compared to the traditional options.

Next, I suggested another discrete option – lingual braces. Unfortunately, I was immediately shot down at my first consultation. The specialist told me that the space inside my mouth is already so small. If I got any braces back of my teeth, my tongue would have nowhere to go, and I would have terrible speech problems.

At that point, there are only two options – the metal braces and the white ceramic braces.

I wanted to avoid the metal braces option at all costs. I wouldn’t be able to pull off that look for even a second. (Katy Perry can, but not me – Remember “Last Friday Night” music video?)

Considering I wanted something discrete, the white ceramic braces became my best option. Even though people could see I have braces, the color blended much better with my natural teeth.

The cost of ceramic braces was a little pricier (about $1000 more) than the metal braces. The dental professionals recommended me to get ceramic braces on my top teeth and metal braces on the bottom so that I could reduce the cost. When I smiled, my bottom teeth didn’t show, so I decided to go with the half-and-half option in the end.

One thing good about the traditional braces was the shorter duration of treatment. I wanted to get this over FAST! Who wants some foreign objects in their mouth any longer than necessary? My treatment should last approximately 12 – 18 months. I’m hoping that’s accurate…

Cost of Adult Braces – traditional braces without insurance

After deciding to go with white ceramic option on top and metal braces on the bottom, I compared the cost of the adult braces with each dental/orthodontic offices:

• My primary dentist ($4200)
• Orthodontist A ($6500)
• Orthodontist B ($4500)

All prices are without insurance since I don’t have any orthodontic dental plan under my dental insurance. All offices had in-office payment plan and some provided more discounts if I paid all cost up front.

I also asked about dental discount plans at each office. Unfortunately, none of my selected offices accepted them.

How I Chose My Doctor for My Adult Braces

Now my treatment plan and all quotes were in, I had a decision to make. WHO DO I CHOOSE? Long story short, I decided to choose my primary dentist for my treatment. Some of them might question me “why didn’t you choose an orthodontist? they are the specialists!” I’ll be honest. I was hesitant to choose my dentist over the other orthodontists, who had extra educations and more experiences in treating mispositioned teeth and jaws. But I have my reasons, and here is why.

One of the Orthodontist (Orthodontist A) was great. In the office, I received complimentary X-rays, pictures, and exams, and the orthodontist A spent time going through treatment options in detail. I knew exactly which treatment options were better for me and what she was planning to do. Only concern with her was the cost. $6500 seemed pretty steep compared to other places…

The other orthodontist (Orthodontist B) presented much cheaper price, but I remembered how hard it was for me to communicate with him. During the consultation, he checked my mouth about 15 seconds and told me that he could give me braces cheaper than anywhere else in my neighborhood. I asked him if he would take X-rays to further examine my conditions. He responded that he would not take X-Rays unless I signed a contract (In their website, it stated the X-rays were included in the free consultation).

I was already discouraged at that point but kept asking different options of treatments that I was interested in. He kept mentioning the cost but wasn’t much of a help giving me any recommendations regarding which treatment options would benefit my alignment. I left office feeling somewhat disrespected. I felt he didn’t care about me as a patient but only cared about my money. Getting braces is a long term commitment. I couldn’t stand talking to him not even 30 minutes. I couldn’t imagine visiting his office every month for more than a year.

Unlike other orthodontists I visited, I had a long term relationship with my dentist. I have been visiting her office for past five years, and she’s always been easy to talk to. When I had my initial concerns with her orthodontic skills, I researched her past work online and saw she had some experiences in adult braces. I found some examples similar to mine and they looked great. That wasn’t the only reassuring fact. When I discussed braces with my dentist, her treatment plan was identical to Orthodontist A’s recommendation (the one with $6500 price tag). Then I thought to myself – why should I pay more for the same plan?

Summary

Overall, my hunt for the right orthodontic treatments went well. I visited multiple dental/orthodontic specialists and explored all options before deciding what was best for me. The cost of adult braces are not cheap without or even with insurance. Considering the cost is important but it is also important how comfortable I am with the specialist. Getting braces is a long term commitment after all. I need to be able to discuss any issues may come up during the course of treatment.

If you are looking to get braces as an adult like me, I hope sharing my experience can help your hunt for your orthodontic treatment. I will periodically post my treatment updates in the future if interested. Please feel free to leave comments if any questions for me!

The post My Adult Braces Experience – The Cost and The Options appeared first on Simply A Homebody.

Keep It Clean

This is a basic rule. Feminine products can cause vaginal pH imbalance so make sure to change them often and take showers or bathe.

Eat Dark Chocolate

Sounds too good to be true? It’s not! Dark chocolate can alleviate multiple period symptoms like bloating, fatigue, and irritability [1]. Just make sure to pick a good quality dark chocolate (at least 65% cacao).

Take It Easy

A period often makes us feel sluggish or sleepy. The time of our period is the time to pamper ourselves!. Try not to work too hard and avoid extreme dieting. Just focus on getting a good rest.

Let It Out

Our hormones drive us nuts. I feel like I’m drowning in my own emotions. I’m not the one to cry, but there’s a time my tears just come down uncontrollably without any significant reasons. If this happens to you too, just let it take its course. Crying has a relaxing effect, and don’t be ashamed of taking advantage of it.

Have A Relaxing Bath/Shower Time

Taking a warm bath not only helps you relax and improve your overall sleep quality but also promotes blood flow to ease cramps.

Painful cramping is caused by contraction of the uterus muscle [2]. Adding some Epsom salt in bath water can benefit you. The magnesium in Epsom salt helps to relax these uterine muscles.

Focus on What You Like

Try doing some activities that can take your attention away from the uncomfortable feeling of the menstruation. Listening to music, watching movies, reading books or anything that can break your negative thought train is good.

Stay Away from Caffeine and Alcohol

Whether you like a cup of joe to keep you going or a glass of margarita at the end of the day, they could worsen your period related symptoms. Caffeine in coffee can lead to tension, anxiety, trouble sleeping, and amplified exhaustion [3]. Alcohol dehydrates you like no other and the dehydration can make your cramps even worse [4]. Instead, try chamomile tea, ginger tea, hot chocolate or some mocktail.

Painkiller

There may be a time that painkillers are needed to get rid of the uncomfortable feelings. When you are already hurting a lot, painkillers do not work as well. So if you know the monthly pain is coming, take the pill early as a preventative measure.

Light Workout

I get it. The last thing we want to do during our menses is to exercise. But Light workout is proven to promote blood flow and eases cramps. Yoga is my favorite go-to workout. It’s easy on my body and makes me feel so much better afterwards.

Take Vitamin Pills

Certain vitamins ease annoying period symptoms. Omega-3s, B vitamins, and vitamin D are the ones most commonly needed [5]. Other vitamins like iron, magnesium, and calcium can also benefit some people depending on their health conditions. To simplify, I take one multi-vitamin pill a day to cover any missing vitamins needed in my body.

Summary

Period symptoms are seriously annoying for many women and I can definitely relate. These tips and tricks are to help you get through the time of your month and I hope these help. If you have your own trick to get through your awful period symptoms, please do share in the comment area. I’d love to hear about it!

The post How To Spend Time While You Are on Your Period appeared first on Simply A Homebody.

• What is Teladoc?
• My Experience
• Pros and Cons
• Price
• How to Sign Up
• Summary

What is Teladoc?

Teladoc is a telehealth provider that lets patients receive medical attention from real doctors via phone, video, or app. The service is not for medical emergency situations, but works great for non-urgent medical problems. Teladoc visit is currently available only in the US and Canada unless you have access to their Global Care Program. [1]

Teladoc provides medical service such as:

• Everyday Care – Speak with a family doctor or dermatologist
• Children & Family – Speak with a pediatrician
• Mental Health – Speak with a therapist or psychiatrist
• Medical Experts – Get an expert medical opinion
• Wellness & Prevention – Get health resources about nutrition, back care, and sexual health.

Teladoc doctors are located across all 50 states. You’ll be connected to your local doctors who understand weather and illness common to your area.

My Experience

Overall I had great experiences with it. My most recent occasion was when I had awful rashes all over on my legs! The itchiness was getting worse starting on Friday, and I didn’t want to wait to see a doctor till Monday. I knew a kind of baby oil I used had to be the reason for this skin condition. I went to my Teladoc account from my computer and made sure my medical record was up-to-date. Then I moved onto setting up a virtual visit with a doctor.

If you are setting an appointment on your computer, the website will ask:

• Your location (State)
• Visit type
• Reason for visit
• Visit method (phone or video)
• Notification preference
• Your phone numbers
• Add a document / image
• Pregnancy related questions
• Consent to send your visit information to your primary care doctor
• Desired pharmacy location

I added a picture of my leg with rashes and picked the phone as my visit method. In less than 30 minutes after setting up my appointment, my phone rang (Make sure to take a call from a restricted number when expecting a call through Teladoc.) I explained my symptoms and mentioned the baby oil as the cause of this condition. He was a great listener and understood what I needed. He prescribed me an oral steroid to calm down the rashes faster and recommended me to visit my primary doctor if the symptom did not improve after 3 days. After the virtual visit, I picked up my prescription on the same day from my local pharmacy. My rashes started to heal after a few days as the doctor mentioned during the visit.

Overall, there was no hustle throughout the process from setting up an appointment to receiving my prescription.

Pros and Cons

There are several pros and cons to Teladoc:

Price

Check your health insurance first. Maybe Teladoc is already part of your health insurance plan. I get Teladoc through my employer, and my fee is 100% covered!

If you want to confirm your price prior to your appointment, you can call 1-800-Teladoc.

If Teladoc isn’t covered by your benefit, the charge will vary depending on which medical service you receive:

• Everyday Care visits cost $75 per visit
• Dermatology (for skin concerns/issues) online reviews cost $95 per review

• Mental Health visits cost:
  • Therapist visits cost $99 per visit (the price will be the same for ongoing visits with the same therapist)
  • Psychiatrist visits cost $229 for the first visit and $119 for ongoing visits

Teladoc accepts all major credit cards and PayPal. Teladoc has the ability to change pricing at any time for any reason. [3]

How to sign up

You can confirm your coverage and set up your account online here.

If you do not have courage from your health plan or employer, you can set up an account here.

Summary

Teladoc is a great service when you need to see a doctor after hours or want to avoid urgent care for not-so-urgent conditions. Plus the option of seeing a doctor at your own home cannot get any more convenient! There are minor drawbacks I found, but the overall user experiences are positive. I personally think the service is worth a try when the situation calls for it. I hope this Teladoc review helps your decision making.

*I’m not affiliated with Teladoc. I just wanted to share my experiences and some information.

The post Teladoc Review – See a doctor from the comfort of your home appeared first on Simply A Homebody.

Gingers have a lot of health benefits such as:

• Antioxidant
• Anti-inflammation
• PMS Remedy
• Nausea Relief
• Pain Relief
• Boost Blood Circulation

Just to name a few. ^[1][2]

Ever since I found that ginger is not only a delicious spice but also a super healthy addition to our diet, I’ve been trying to consume them more in my diet by spicing up my water with ginger.

In this guide, I will walk you through the easy steps to dehydrate ginger in the food dehydrator or in the oven, ensuring you achieve perfectly preserved flavor every time.

Why Dehydrate Ginger?

Longer Shelf Life

By dehydrating ginger, they last so much longer than their original form. When dehydrated gingers are preserved in an airtight container, they will last up to 6 months! Any leftovers will never go to waste this way.

Portable

Dehydrated ginger slices are so portable and perfect for using them on-the-go. I bring my homemade dehydrated ginger slices to my work in a ziplock bag, so I can have a fresh cup of ginger tea any time of my day. Can you imagine me pulling out a ginger root and starting to peel it at work? That’ll be too much work! So this works perfectly.

How to Dehydrate Ginger

There are several ways to dehydrate ginger. I like dehydrating it in the dehydrator, but if you do not own it, no worries. You can also dehydrate it in the oven.

Preparation

1. Wash ginger roots carefully and peel them.
2. Cut ginger root into ⅛ inch slices. (I use a mandoline slicer for this step.)

In the food dehydrator

1. Lay the ginger slices on a dehydrator tray. Make sure all the slices are separated.
2. Set the dehydrating machine to 135°F and dehydrate for 2.5 – 3 hours.
3. Check ginger slices. If they break easily, they are done! Let them cool on the rack.

In the oven

1. Lay the ginger slices on a baking sheet. Make sure all the slices are separated.
2. Set the oven to 200°F, no preheating. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes. Check ginger slices and if moisture is left, keep baking in 10 minute increments until ginger slices become brittle.

Summary

Ginger is one of the superfoods that is widely available. Dehydrating ginger is not only a practical technique but also an exciting and rewarding experience. The dehydrating process is pretty straightforward, and I hope you try this steps out and get super benefits of ginger!

The post How To Make Dehydrated Ginger – Simple and Easy appeared first on Simply A Homebody.

Benefits of Drinking Hot Water

Drinking hot water turns out to have a lot more benefits than I ever imagined.

Relieve coldness in body

Someone who is always cold (like me), this is a great benefit. 

Consuming too much cold food and/or too much stress can cause coldness in our bodies. Hot water can relieve this symptom by boosting metabolism and blood circulation.

I definitely get relief from being cold by drinking hot water, but unfortunately it is just a temporary effect. To stay warm, I need to drink hot water quite often throughout the day.

Relieve aches

This benefit is related to the previous one. When our bodies are cold, our blood flow tends to slow down. This could lead to some unwanted body aches. Heat from hot water can help.

I tend to get shoulder ache from sitting at my desk for a long time. My muscle tenses up and even spasms sometimes. I know I feel shoulder pain when my work area is cold… By warming myself up by drinking hot water, my muscles feel less tense.

Relieve constipation / detoxing

Hot water aids digestion and helps our body eliminate waste. I feel I’ve been flushing out excess water ever since I started this experiment. I used to gain 2-3 pounds of water weight during my PMS. Now, I barely hold any water retention during my PMS.

Weight loss

Hot water may help with weight loss. By heating up our digestive systems, our basal metabolism goes up to burn more calories. Drinking hot water also stimulates blood and lymph flow, which lead to eliminating excess water from the body.

As I already mentioned, I’m doing so good with water retention! For actual weight loss though, and I mean fat loss, I can’t say for certain. I did lose a few pounds but this could be just water weight or could be from reduced appetite because I feel fuller from drinking a lot of hot water throughout the day.

Improving skin condition

By eliminating waste from the body, skin condition could improve.

On this one, I haven’t seen any noticeable results, yet… My skin feels the same as I always did.

Improving immune system

Here is one last benefit that is related to coldness in the body. When our bodies are cold, we are more susceptible to viruses. Staying warm keeps the doctor away.

I haven’t gotten sick at all during this test, but I never get sick anyways, haha! So I’m not a good testing subject for this benefit.

As you can see, I got quite a bit of positive effects by just drinking hot water every day. On top of the benefits I talked about above, I also like how drinking hot water makes me feel. The warmness of the water makes me feel cozy and definitely encourages me to drink more water compared to drinking cold water.

How I Make Hot Water

Making plain hot water is no brainer. I boil water in a kettle, in a microwave, or get hot water from a water dispenser.

Please be careful not to burn yourself. Let the water cool until it is between 120F to 140F and sip it slowly.

Drinking plain hot water every day can get boring. So I added a few more ingredients in a water from time to time.

1. Ginger – I make dried ginger slices and steep them in the hot water (Check how I make dehydrated ginger here)
2. With Lemon & honey for a little sweetness

Timing

According to what I found, it is recommended to drink hot water first thing in the morning. But some days, skipping morning caffeine is too hard… On those days I drink coffee first thing in the morning and keep drinking hot water the rest of the day as my source of hydration.

On average, I drink 6-8 cups of hot water daily.

I also want to mention that I’m not forcing myself to drink hot water when I feel hot. After my workout or being in the sun, I drink cold water and get back to hot water once I feel normal or cold.

Summary

Overall I find drinking hot water daily has lots of health and beauty benefits. From relieving my pain to losing water retention, there aren’t any downsides that I can think of. Making hot water isn’t really hard at all. If plain hot water isn’t your thing, try adding some natural flavors. I highly recommend anyone to experience this method themselves. If you do, don’t worry about when and how many cups of hot water to drink. Just sip it throughout the day whenever you can every day and keep going. Consistency is the key here. I hope you see good results like I did!

The post Drinking Hot Water Every Day – Benefits Are Tested! appeared first on Simply A Homebody.