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What To Carry In Your Car Survival Kit

maybe you think that as long as you carry an extra cell phone battery in your glove compartment, you’ll be covered for any emergency you could encounter while driving.

But a working cell phone alone will not keep you prepared for disaster on the road. What if you’re in severe weather or you have an accident that renders your phone unusable? What if you’re traveling in a remote area with no phone reception and your car break down? At the very least, arm yourself with these must-haves so you’re prepared for the worst.

Here is everything you need to pack in a car survival kit.

Firesticks/starter, light sticks, candles and flashlights

Why all four? You never know when one will fail, and you don’t want to be stuck at night without a light to help you see or a fire to keep warm should you find yourself stranded while traveling.

Blankets, rain ponchos, coats, shoes, hats, gloves, socks and a change of clothes for every family member

If you’re traveling in the winter, keep clothes dry in waterproof containers. You’ll be able to stay warm by bundling up and not have to burn the car’s fuel reserves by running the heater. You also decrease the risk of harmful fumes.

A cell phone lighter adapter and charger

A battery-powered radio

Replace the batteries every few months with new ones

Extra batteries in a variety of sizes

Check and replace them every few months if you don’t use them. In this category also lies extra cell phone batteries.

A first-aid kit

Stock it with first-aid essentials, including allergy-relief meds as well as any prescription meds your family needs. Keep all prescriptions in their original prescription bottles.

Food and water

For example, you’ll want to include food like trail mix, energy bars, and dried fruit. Rotate food and water monthly to make sure it’s fresh. A general volume rule for water consumption is one gallon per person per day. If you’re traveling out into the wilderness, also remember to carry water purification tablets.

An aerosol tire inflator with hose such as Fix-a-Flat

A jack

A spare tire

If you haven’t checked your spare tire’s condition in a while, make sure it’s ready-to-use regularly.

Jumper cables

A five-foot square moving blanket or old carpet for traction if your car gets stuck in mud or snow

Tow chains

An ice scraper for your windows

A car escape tool to break windows in case your car becomes submerged underwater

You might think you’ll never need this, but the CBC reported that a Canadian family was saved by one of these car-escape gadgets in 2014 when an accident veered their SUV off-course into a pond. The ResQMe device fits on a keychain and also has a blade for cutting seatbelts.

Paper maps

Don’t solely rely on GPS. If you’re out of range, it won’t do you any good. Keep a map of your state and a country atlas handy.

A compass

In the event you find yourself without a working phone/GPS, you’ll need it if the sun isn’t shining.

Flares and distress flags

A folding shovel

You might need it to dig out sand, mud or ice; if you’re really traveling remotely, you might even need it to dig for water.

Metal cups for boiling water

Sanitary wipes

A wire saw that cuts through plastic and wood, in case you need shelter

Here are a few additional survival tips for car travel:

While it may be tempting to keep your car survival kit in the trunk, don’t. If the trunk gets frozen shut or if you’re in an accident, there’s no way to reach the kit.

Always let friends or family members know your route and expected arrival time if you are traveling long distances.

If your car is stuck in the mud or snow and won’t move, do not run the engine more than 10 minutes every hour and when you do, make sure the windows are open and that another passenger is awake and aware. This will not only save gas but also it will help to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

It’s also important to maintain your vehicle so it can transport you safely from Point A to Point B. Depending on your car’s condition, you should also consider a survival kit for it that could include:

Antifreeze

Belts

Brake fluid

Coolant

Fuses

Hoses

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20 Fun Facts That Will Make You Want To Travel

While many of us dream of taking off on an epic vacation, sometimes making those dreams a reality can seem almost impossible. But travel actually does a lot more for us besides getting us out of the house or to the beach.

Travel has both physical and emotional benefits, besides giving us a broader scope of the world. And with all the amazing things to see and explore on this planet, you may want to reconsider putting those vacation plans on the back burner.

Here are 20 fun facts that will make you want to travel.

1. Travel has been scientifically proven to improve stress

Studies have shown that travelers report feeling less anxious and more relaxed in as little as three days after they start a vacation.

2. Travel also helps with brain function and problem-solving skills

The neural pathways of our brains are affected by both environment and habit. Research indicates that those pathways can be positively affected when we take ourselves into new environments and disrupt the rut of daily life.           

3. Travel can improve your heart health

The Framingham Heart Study, conducted on residents of Framingham, Massachusetts, found that people who travel annually were less likely to develop heart disease.

4. Planes are still considered one of the safest modes of travel

Despite the media hype, the fact remains that air travel is still less risky than most other modes of travel. Statistically speaking, you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than die in a plane crash.

5. Vatican City is actually the smallest country in the world

Considered its own entity, it measures just 0.2 square miles.

6. Iceland is considered the friendliest nation on earth

A study conducted by the World Economic Forum cited Iceland as the friendliest country to foreign visitors.

7. Canada has the most lakes in the world

Out of all the lakes in the world, more than 50 percent of them are located in Canada.

8. The world’s biggest ball of twine is located in Cawker City, Kansas

This ball of twine weighs 5,000 pounds and is 8 feet high. Each August, the city holds a “twine-a-thon” where you can add twine to it yourself!

9. Bangkok is one of the most popular destinations

Bangkok, Thailand had more than 20 million international visitors in 2017, making it one of the most traveled destinations in the world.

With more than 40,000 temples, amazing food and affordable lodging, this vibrant city have consistently been at the top of the list for most popular destinations.

12. Dubai has the world’s tallest hotel

Dubai’s recently-opened Gevora Hotel is an unbelievable 365 meters (1,168 feet) tall.

11. The coast of California is approximately 840 miles long

Take a drive along California’s Highway 1 for some of the most scenic and beautiful coastlines in the world.

12. Alaska is home to the largest national park in the U.S.

Wrangell St. Elias Park is located in the heart of Alaska and encompasses more than 13.2 million acres.

13. Paris is the world’s most visited capital

Romantic, beautiful and full of history, who wouldn’t want to visit Paris?

14. Mongolia is the least populated country in the world

With less than five people per square mile, you can visit Mongolia and still get plenty of alone time.

15. Approximately half of the highways in Germany have no speed limits

If you feel the need for speed, this might be a great vacation destination for you.

16. Roswell, New Mexico is where an alien spacecraft reportedly crashed in 1947

A popular place to visit for anyone interested in what might be out there, you can go on UFO tours, see the crash site and learn about Area 51.

17. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is the only living structure that can be spotted from outer space

Located in the Coral Sea, the reef is the world’s biggest structure made from living organisms.

18. Denmark has twice as many bicycles as it does cars

You can easily rent a bike in Copenhagen and traverse the city.

19. Less than one percent of the world’s population has ever been to Antarctica

Tours and cruises can be pretty expensive, but what a great addition to your bucket list!

20. Research indicates that people who spend money on travel as opposed to material goods tend to be happier

As the saying goes, travel is the one thing you can buy that makes you richer.

[todaystoriesclub]

12 Unusual Uses For Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil may be a staple in every kitchen, but its value far exceeds keeping food warm and catching grease.How thick is aluminum foil? When it's unrolled , it's extremely thin, about 2 millimeters. due to its thinness, aluminium foil is extremely flexible. This makes it perfect for any number of uses round the house and call at the planet .Here are 11 uses for aluminium foil you never would have thought of, but you ought to probably confine mind.image

1. Sharpen scissors with aluminium foil

There’s nothing more frustrating than dull scissors. Don’t worry, though: you don’t need a specialized sharpener and you don’t got to buy new scissors. Just take a square of aluminium foil and fold it up a minimum of 3 times . Then, simply traverse the square several times. Cutting on the metal will sharpen the blades up nicely.

2. Boost your home wifi signal with aluminium foil

This seems like a joke but it isn’t. within the old days before cable, people discovered that you simply can boost a tv-antenna with aluminium foil . Today, we will use an equivalent technique to spice up wifi signals. Because electric signals reflect off of metal, angling foil in certain areas will cause the signal to bounce. YouTube features a great tutorial on the way to do that below.

3. Fix a scratched mirror with aluminium foil

Mirrors lose a number of their reflective backings sometimes. Older mirrors often have noticeable gaps and scratches. But if you don’t want that distressed look, simply tape a bit of aluminium foil over the rear (with the shiny side toward the glass). this may patch the gap in such how that nobody will notice. It works so well you'll forget where the gap was, too.

4. Polish silver with aluminium foil

This trick works like magic! Put aluminium foil on rock bottom of a pan, then put your silverware (or silver jewelry) on top. Add 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda and a couple of teaspoons of salt. Then fill the pan with predicament . confirm the silver is submerged for five minutes. The bicarbonate of soda reacts with the aluminum to shine the silver with electrolytic action rather than harsh chemicals. Take it out, rinse it off, and there you go!

5. Clean outdoor grills with aluminium foil

Did you recognize that a ball of wadded up aluminium foil may be a perfect cleaning tool? it'll work on forged iron and outdoor grills also as or better than wire wool or a scrubbing brush . Simply roll a bit of aluminium foil up into a ball and scrub away. Here may be a great demonstration of how well this works:

6. Remove static from your laundry with aluminium foil

This won’t make your laundry smell fresh, but it'll keep it cling-free. Simply crumple up a ball of foil and put it within the dryer together with your clothing. This also works alright for people with sensitivities to perfume or chemicals. And don’t worry, the ball won't shock you once you take it out.

7. Iron clothes better with aluminium foil

Putting the foil under the duvet on the board will redirect the warmth and work faster than simply using the iron alone. Just remember that you simply don’t want to use this on delicate fabric, which can require a lower temperature. Plus, if you've got a drag with a sticky iron due to starch, you'll clean it off by simply ironing another piece of aluminium foil a couple of times.

8. Build a toy boat from aluminium foil

Kids love this because the foil is metal, yet it floats! All you would like may be a 4×6 inch piece of foil and you'll fold it during a very basic way, otherwise you are often extra fancy and roll in the hay origami style! attempt to float pennies in your boat. it'll hold a surprising number before it sinks. Here’s an excellent tutorial on making your own foil boat:

9. Protect your mastercard with aluminium foil

It seems like an equivalent thing as a tinfoil hat to stay your thoughts from being read, but it’s actually true. If you've got a wireless card, it’s possible that thieves can scan it remotely. While they can’t make purchases like this, thieves can collect your information. to stop this, wrapping your card with aluminium foil will protect your privacy. Don’t worry about your magnetic strip: aluminium foil isn't magnetic, so it'll not wipe your information.

10. Start a fireplace in an emergency with aluminium foil

If you discover yourself camping and wish to form a fireplace , this works far better than rubbing two sticks together. Cut a bit of aluminium foil around 4 inches long by ½ an in. wide. within the middle of the strip, cut the foil to form a skinny connecting strip about ¾ of an in. long. Wrap the skinny strip with cotton (the plant disease from an aspirin bottle works great). Then touch the 2 outer ends of the strip to either end of an AA battery. The cotton will ignite. Here’s an honest tutorial on this lifesaving tip:

11. Fix loose batteries with aluminium foil

Remember how well it worked to start out a fire? Well, you'll also use aluminium foil to repair a loose battery. Just put alittle piece of foil by the spring, which can help make the connection. don't under any circumstances put aluminium foil on both ends, because, again, which will start a fireplace .

12. the way to Polish aluminium foil

Into an ideal BallThis little bit of DIY wizardry originated in Japan and have become a viral sensation! Take a roll of aluminium foil and tear away a really long piece (or use the entire roll). the larger the roll, the larger the ball will end up to be. Scrunch the long piece of foil into a ball. Then grab a mallet and begin pounding the ball smoothly. you'll eventually want to modify to a hammer because the ball becomes smaller. Once you've got the ball as smooth as you'll catch on , take a bit of sandpaper or a sander, and sand the foil ball into a smooth, shiny, silver orb!This seems like a joke but it isn’t. within the old days before cable, people discovered that you simply can boost a tv-antenna with aluminium foil . Today, we will use an equivalent technique to spice up wifi signals. Because electric signals reflect off of metal, angling foil in certain areas will cause the signal to bounce. YouTube features a great tutorial on the way to do that below.3. Fix a scratched mirror with aluminium foil Mirrors lose a number of their reflective backings sometimes. Older mirrors often have noticeable gaps and scratches. But if you don’t want that distressed look, simply tape a bit of aluminium foil over the rear (with the shiny side toward the glass). this may patch the gap in such how that nobody will notice. It works so well you'll forget where the gap was, too.4. Polish silver with aluminium foil This trick works like magic! Put aluminium foil on rock bottom of a pan, then put your silverware (or silver jewelry) on top. Add 2 teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda and a couple of teaspoons of salt. Then fill the pan with predicament . confirm the silver is submerged for five minutes. The bicarbonate of soda reacts with the aluminum to shine the silver with electrolytic action rather than harsh chemicals. Take it out, rinse it off, and there you go!5. Clean outdoor grills with aluminium foil Did you recognize that a ball of wadded up aluminium foil may be a perfect cleaning tool? it'll work on forged iron and outdoor grills also as or better than wire wool or a scrubbing brush . Simply roll a bit of aluminium foil up into a ball and scrub away. Here may be a great demonstration of how well this works:6. Remove static from your laundry with aluminium foil This won’t make your laundry smell fresh, but it'll keep it cling-free. Simply crumple up a ball of foil and put it within the dryer together with your clothing. This also works alright for people with sensitivities to perfume or chemicals. And don’t worry, the ball won't shock you once you take it out.7. Iron clothes better with aluminium foil Putting the foil under the duvet on the board will redirect the warmth and work faster than simply using the iron alone. Just remember that you simply don’t want to use this on delicate fabric, which can require a lower temperature. Plus, if you've got a drag with a sticky iron due to starch, you'll clean it off by simply ironing another piece of aluminium foil a couple of times.

[todaystoriesclub]

The 10 Best & Worst U.S. Cities For Public Transportation

When it comes to public transportation, New York City is famous for its subways, San Francisco for its Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system and Los Angeles… for its crowded freeways. With cities large and small, public transport is crucial to moving commuters, shoppers, and residents back and forth with speed, accuracy, and affordability.

Quality of public transportation can be an important factor when choosing what city to move to.

Here are lists of the top 10 best and worst cities for public transportation in the U.S., according to Walk Score, which rated each city based on the accessibility of bike-sharing programs, buses, ferries, heavy rail, light rail, and subways.

San Francisco’s BART

Top 10 Best Cities For Public Transportation

1. New York City, New York

It’s a well-known fact that most New Yorkers don’t own cars, instead of relying on the city’s taxicabs, bike-share programs, buses, subway systems, and railroads. The city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority recently opened the 34th Street–Hudson Yards Station that extends its already far-reaching subway service even more.

2. San Francisco, California

When you mention San Francisco, most people immediately think of its quaint cable cars that traverse the city. Despite the fact that they’re tourist-friendly, these colorful trolleys serve as part of the transit network to shuttle commuters to work. The city is rife with affordable, accessible public transport that includes municipal buses, trains, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), subways and CalTrain rail lines. Ferries are also a part of the transit system to link San Francisco with Oakland and Sausalito.

3. Boston, Massachusetts

For as crowded as Boston is, the “T” or the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, is in charge of its buses, ferries, trains, and trolleys. As complicated as you’d think it would be to navigate all those travel options, fear not. Color-coded maps and schedules are available, and locals are always happy to help.

4. Washington, D.C.

Another city that’s rife with traffic gridlock is the nation’s capital. Not only is it the center of all things government, but it’s a tiny area (that covers 68 miles total) with nearly 700,000 residents and many more out-of-town commuters and 22 million annual tourists (in 2016 alone) of people trying to move around its streets. Metrorail and Metrobus are the two major options for avoiding vehicle traffic.

New Jersey’s PATH

5. Jersey City, New Jersey

Amtrak is big in Jersey City, and New Jersey’s second-largest city is walker-friendly. Transit buses and heavy-rail PATH (Port Authority Trans-Hudson) trains get movers and shakers to and from Newark and Manhattan in record time. New York Waterway ferries also dock in Jersey City.

6. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The City of Brotherly Love shows no shortage of public transportation options. Philadelphia’s public transit agency, SEPTA (Southeast Pennsylvania Transit Authority) operates the regional (commuter) rail trains, heavy rapid transit (subway/elevated) trains, light rail vehicles (trolleys), electric trolleybuses and motor buses. Also available in the city’s Indego bike-sharing transport system.

7. Chicago, Illinois

Chi-town tourists and commuters get around via “The L,” officially known as the Elevated Electric Train that’s run by the Chicago Transit Authority. Buses, taxis, water taxis, and the city’s bike-sharing program, Divvy, are all options to travel around this historic metropolis.

8. Miami, Florida

Traverse Miami proper via its buses, rail systems, and old-fashioned trolleys that transport you to the city’s hot spots and tourist venues. The Metromover Monorail is an elevated, electric train that circles downtown. The Metrorail is a nearly 25-mile long elevated train that takes visitors north and south of Miami and also connects to the Tri-Rail intercity commuter system.

9. Arlington, Virginia

Arlington, Virginia has its Arlington Transit bus system and a Metro system that transports travelers to and from Washington, D.C. It also has a bike-share program and commuter trains.

10. Baltimore, Maryland

Public transportation options in Baltimore included the bus, Light Rail, Metro subway and the MARC train commuter rail system. The Charm City Circulator is a free bus service that even partners with the Water Taxi Harbor Connector for free water routes!

Top 10 Worst Cities For Public Transportation

Now we count down the 10 worst cities in the U.S. for public transportation.

10. Fort Wayne, Indiana

9. Lubbock, Texas

8. Fort Worth, Texas

7. Virginia Beach, Virginia

6. Chandler, Arizona

5. Colorado Springs, Colorado

4. Plano, Texas

3. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

2. Gilbert, Arizona

1. Chesapeake, Virginia

Sorry, Chesapeake, you have the worst public transportation in the U.S.!

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9 Reasons To Travel Solo At Least Once In Your Life

For many of us, there’s nothing like traveling alone. Whether you’re driving to another part of your state or flying to another country, traveling solo can be a great time to enjoy some much-needed “me” time. You may love traveling with your family or friends, but you won’t know what you’re missing until you venture out alone.

Here are nine reasons why you can benefit from traveling solo.

Owning it

This trip is all on you. The choices are yours and all of the effort needed to make this trip a success is up to you. Embrace this challenge to fend for yourself on this solo excursion into the world. A solo trip is like a mini-lifetime you experience to learn new things about yourself.

Simplicity

With one person, the logistics of travel are simpler. As a single traveler, you’re more likely to get the flight you want. You’ll need to pack lighter because you’re going to be the one schlepping your bags.

There’s also a better chance of getting an upgrade for one person than for two, especially if you show consideration for how hard it is to work for an airline or hotel. Awareness of and empathy for others will be appreciated and sometimes open doors for you.

Freedom

All the choices are yours and there’s no push and pull on this trip. There’s nothing like being in a new city with the day in front of you and nobody to please but yourself. You can follow your day’s plans without having to drag anyone around or even cancel them all for a whim that strikes you. The world is yours. Where you originally had plans to go to a museum, you might find yourself sitting at an outdoor café reading your favorite book or people watching. You’ll learn the difference between really being in a place and not just traveling through it.

Real experiences

Solo travel allows you to see your trip differently. All that time you’d normally spend paying attention to a companion is now spent exploring your new environs, talking to people and allowing yourself to take opportunities you might not take with a companion in tow.

Leaving yourself behind

When you go to a place where no one knows you, you can be who you want to be. You are in a judgment-free zone. Be someone else, somewhere else. You are now free to be a person who makes new friends and tries new things. Compliment the locals you meet in their city, ask for help in finding interesting things to do that tourists wouldn’t know about and don’t dwell on your being away from home. Stay in the now.

Recharging

One very important thing you can get out of a solo trip is recharging your batteries. Pamper yourself with a favorite meal, a dessert you might not normally eat, or a buy present for yourself. Be your own best companion. Do what you need to get your favorite self back. Read, listen to music, or meditate. Reflect on the things that get you excited about life and promise yourself that they will play a bigger part in your life when you return home.

Adventures

Trying new things is perfect for solo trips. If you wanted to be held back you would have brought someone with you. Research local events or classes and blend in and mingle. Imagine what your life would be like if you actually lived in this new place.

Memories

You have a lifetime of memories you share with the people in your life. Make some that are just yours. Sure, you can tell stories about your adventures when you get home, but those memories will still be just yours and yours alone. And be sure to take pictures and ask random people to take some of you to document your solo adventures.

Returning home

The best part is, you can bring this newly energized person that you like most back home and share the new you with everyone you care for.

It sure sounds like a lot to expect out of one trip, but what the heck, it’s worth it. It probably won’t be long before you’re planning your next trip alone because now you’ve got the bug. Enjoy it.

[todaystoriesclub]

10 Things Women Do Only When They’re In Love

Men often feel like they have to be psychic to understand women, and sometimes that’s almost true. Women seem to be open about sharing, but at the same time, they’re vulnerable enough to keep a lot of their feelings to themselves. However, being in love not only makes them open up but blossom. We’ve already covered 10 Things Men Do Only When They’re In Love. Now, here are 10 things you see happen only when a woman truly loves a man.

1. She gives gifts that are tailored to you

This shows she pays attention to your likes and dislikes. She knows what bands you like and what sports teams you follow. She knows what size of clothes you wear and what colors you like (and dislike). The gifts she chooses are not generic: they are for you and you alone. Because she’s happy when you’re happy. 

2. She pays no attention to other men

She may know other guys and may have been dating them when you first came along. But as soon as she gets bitten by the love bug, the other guys fade into the background and she centers her attention on you and you alone. It’s like they no longer exist in her universe. You will know when this happens.

3. She acts like a ditz, in a good way

Is she endearingly clumsy? Does she giggle over the smallest things? Does she blush adorably? When a woman is in love she will channel her inner schoolgirl. She can’t help showing their happiness no matter how hard she tries to hide it. She can be serious when necessary but she is not afraid to have fun otherwise. Enjoy the frolic.

4. She gets self-conscious around you

The other side of the silly coin is self-consciousness. She’ll check her appearance more often, not because she’s vain, but because she wants to look perfect for you. She’ll agonize over small details because she wants to get it right. Your job is to make her feel comfortable, and to reassure her that she’s doing okay. 

5. She loves your quirks

You know that weird quirk everyone has, a thing they say or do that is unique to a person but sometimes annoys people? No matter if it’s a catch phrase or a physical act, it won’t annoy her. She loves your quirks and thinks they’re adorable. You can relax and be yourself around her because of this. Men hate it when women nag them about minor behaviors. When a woman loves you, she accepts it as part of the package.

6. She thinks about you all day long

Men don’t realize it but women think about their partners constantly. They’re always wondering what you will think of a certain thing or about an event. A woman in love can text or call frequently — but it’s not to check up on you, it’s to stay connected with you. If she can’t be near you, she’ll do the next best thing and keep you in her thoughts.

7. She uses the word ‘we’

Guys know it’s serious when they start hearing themselves referred to as part of a “we.” Dinner together is the norm, not the exception. Vacation plans are made around each other’s schedules. That doesn’t mean you can’t go and do other things separately. It’s just that from now on, it’s assumed you are a team by default.

8. She asks your advice

The other side of “we” is that when she speaks for the two of you, you are both in concert. You decide things together. She asks your opinion and sometimes even takes your counsel. Being part of a team means compromise and cohesion. Things may start going bad around you, but as long as you stand together, you feel like you can take on anything. And heaven helps the person who tries to put a wedge between you.

9. She does thoughtful things for you

Sometimes it feels like when a woman loves a man he suddenly has a personal assistant built-in. She’ll learn how to cook your favorite dishes. She’ll suddenly know all your close relatives’ birthdays and pick out cards for you to sign. And she may not share your hobbies but she will at least give them a good try. She wants to include you in her life and make herself useful in yours.

10. She says it out loud 

A woman in love is tentative about saying so until she’s sure about your feelings, but once you get on the same page she will plaster it all over social media. She’ll make sure people know she’s in a relationship. She will shout it to the skies if she gets a chance. When a woman is in love, the world will know it — and so will the man who loves her back.

[todaystoriesclub]

6 Amazing Facts You Never Knew About Mother’s Day

Every second Sunday in May we take some time out to celebrate the woman who brought us into the world: Mom. Mother’s Day has become an institution in just about every country around the world. But how did this holiday come into existence and how do we honor our moms? Here are six amazing facts you never knew about Mother’s Day.

The idea for Mother’s Day has been around longer than you thought

Who invented Mother’s Day? That depends on who you ask. Ancient Greeks and Romans both had festivals celebrating the celestial mother (and by extension, all the other ones) and many other civilizations used spring (or autumn) festivals to also celebrate motherhood. Also, some nations chose to honor mothers for having lots of children, usually in times of war: both WWII Germany and Napoleonic France gave out medals to mothers.

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe (the woman who wrote the lyrics to “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”) suggested a national day to honor mothers, celebrate peace, and protest the war, but it didn’t catch on. Credit for the modern holiday of Mother’s Day goes to a woman named Anna Jarvis. She celebrated the first Mother’s Day in 1908, holding a memorial service to honor all mothers (including her mother who had passed away three years earlier) at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia. Jarvis continued to champion her cause, writing copious correspondence to editors and politicians across the country, and Mother’s Day became officially recognized as a national holiday in 1914.

Anna Jarvis (Smithsonian)

The inventor of Mother’s Day became its loudest critic and ended up institutionalized

Jarvis was less than thrilled with the almost instant commercialization of the holiday so she tried — and failed — to have it rescinded in 1943. Among Jarvis’s targets for criticism was none other than Hallmark Cards. “A maudlin, insincere printed card printed card means nothing except that you are too lazy to write to the woman who has done more for you than anyone else in the world,” Jarvis is reported as saying. “And candy! You take a box to Mother — and then eat most of it yourself. A pretty sentiment.”

A fighter and rabble-rouser her entire life (she was once jailed for disturbing the peace at an American War Mothers rally), sadly in her 80s Jarvis ended up institutionalized at Marshall Square Sanitarium in Pennsylvania, where she remained until her death in 1948.

Mother’s Day never falls on Easter

In the U.K., Mother’s Day was originally Mothering Day, and was tied to the lunar calendar, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Lent. In the U.S., Mother’s Day is determined by the solar calendar, being the second Sunday in May. In both cases they occur on a Sunday on which Easter cannot fall, so the two days will never be celebrated together.

People love their moms more than their dads or sweethearts

Or at least, more floral sales and restaurant reservations are made on Mother’s Day than on Father’s Day or even Valentine’s Day. One-quarter of all yearly flower sales are sold for Mother’s Day. According to the National Restaurant Association, 80 million people eat at restaurants on Mother’s Day, versus 70 million on Valentine’s Day and 50 million on Father’s Day.

Pretty much the only consistent rule of food for Mother’s day is “plenty of it and she doesn’t cook it herself.” Shockingly enough, while brunch is very popular, it’s still not as popular as going out for dinner, so unless you make your reservations early, you may be stuck at home. If you’re hosting dinner at home take heart, there’s no “official” meal for the holiday so basically, the best thing to do is make whatever she wants.

On top of restaurant sales, there’s the jewelry sales, greeting card sales, and a huge boost in pampering — hairstyling appointments, spa days, nail salon visits. Mother’s Day is the third-biggest retail holiday of the year, with spending reaching $21 billion in the U.S. (Father’s Day trails behind with $12 billion — sorry, Dads).

Carnations are the official flower of Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day inventor Anna Jarvis chose her mother’s favorite flower, white carnations, as the official flower for the holiday. Explaining her choice, she once said, “Its whiteness is to symbolize the truth, purity, and broad charity of mother-love; its fragrance, her memory, and her prayers. The carnation does not drop its petals but hugs them to her heart as it dies, and so, too, mothers hug their children to their hearts, their mother love never dying. When I selected the flower, I was remembering my mother’s bed of white pinks.”

From the U.S. to Europe, Asia, and Australia, carnations are the symbol of the holiday. In some cultures they represent gentle strength; some Christian countries compare them to the tears of the Virgin Mary. Not only are carnations given to mothers, but children also wear them in her honor: red and pink ones if your mother is alive, and white carnations if she’s passed on.

In Australia, chrysanthemums are considered appropriate, since they’re called “mums.” In Thailand, jasmine is a popular floral gift. Carnations and roses are the two biggest sellers, but seriously, any kid knows that picking random flowers out of the yard and tying them together makes the best Mother’s Day arrangement of them all.

Phone calls peak on Mother’s Day

Did you remember to call your mom? Mother’s Day has the biggest phone call volume of any day in the year, bigger than any other holiday. Phone calls increase in almost every country in the world on Mother’s Day. In the U.S., phone calls increase by 11 percent on Mother’s Day. Call volume in South Africa goes up an astounding 91 percent on Mother’s Day!

In the era of texting and email, the one thing you have to do is call your mother on Mother’s Day if you’re not seeing her in person. Remember, even a short call is better than a long text, and if you can video call her, so much the better.

If you can’t call your mother because she has passed on, the day does not have to be a sad one for you. Remember, Mother’s Day was originally created by a woman who wanted to honor her mother who had passed away. See it as a chance to remember and celebrate your mother’s accomplishments and sacrifices. Do things she loved to do, see things she enjoyed to see, and pass on stories about her to your family and friends Even if she’s not there, you can break out the photo album and spend the day with Mom anyway. You know she’d love it.

[todaystoriesclub]

9 Best Rooftop Bars In The U.S.

One of the best ways to finish off a great evening out is with music, drinks and dancing at an amazing rooftop bar overlooking an electric skyline.

The view, the ambiance and the people all work together to make for a great experience. Here are some of the top-rated rooftop bars in the United States.

Westlight (Brooklyn, New York)

The revival of Brooklyn has turned it into a foodie capital and now a nightlife capital as well. Westlight presents a chic lounge with premier views of Manhattan from 22 floors up, while pairing Andrew Carmellini’s food with Anne Robinson’s intriguing original cocktails. Westlight is open all year, but it is at peak rooftop partying status during the warmer months.

P.O.V. Rooftop Lounge at the W (Washington, D.C.)

There is no better view of our nation’s landmarks without flying over the city. P.O.V. Rooftop Lounge is swanky and known for offering a chance to rub elbows with D.C.’s in-crowd. The bar features delicious seasonal drinks made with locally-sourced berries.

Cindy’s Rooftop (Chicago, Ilinois)

Cindy’s Rooftop bar is the place to be at happy hour. With views of Lake Michigan and Millennium Park, guests enjoy Cindy’s “Potions and Elixirs” such as “We’ll Always Have Paris” and “Grey Garden.” The most popular local brews, “Great Lakes, Edmund Fitzgerald Porter,” and “Off Color Tooth & Claw, Dry Hopped Lager,” are always a hit. Diners at Cindy’s Rooftop enjoy one of the best menus in Chicago.

Pearl’s Rooftop on the Sunset Strip (West Hollywood, California)

Los Angeles in the Roaring ’20s is alive again at Pearl’s Rooftop. Keep cozy near the fireplace while enjoying the stunning view of the Sunset Strip. A “Pink Pearl” cocktail is a tart, sweet mix of gin and Prosecco. Pearl’s menu features treats from half-pound burgers to ahi tuna-stuffed avocado. You never know which A-lister you’ll be hanging out with at Pearl’s.

Frolik Kitchen + Cocktails at Motif (Seattle, Washington)

Billed as the hippest rooftop bar in the northwest, Frolik Kitchen fills its 4,000 square foot space with roaring fireplaces, ping-pong tables and shuffleboard courts just a few feet from its posh, candle-lit bar overlooking the brilliance of Seattle’s downtown. Whether you go for one of the Pacific Northwest’s best local brews or accept the dare to try the specialty of the house cocktail, the “Troublemaker,” there’s nothing but great times for everyone at Frolik Kitchen.

Sugar at East (Miami, Florida)

There are few party towns like Miami, and Sugar at East is the place to hold your party in Miami. This Asian-influenced hotel has a 270-degree view of the city 40 floors up. Partiers love the garden décor and designer cocktails to match.

9 Mile Station (Atlanta, Georgia)

The rooftop of Atlanta’s old City Hall building is now a beer garden and much, much more. Enjoy 9 Mile Station‘s sumptuous menu offerings ranging from BBQ chicken to lamb Bolognese, whole fish, or silly sausages by the inch featuring bratwurst, merguez and kielbasa. Or treat your group of four to the 9 Mile picnic-basket at Skyline Park next door for carnival games and the best view of Atlanta’s shimmering cityscape.

Linger (Denver, Colorado)

Known for nightlife and its weekend Bears and Brunch, Linger is one of the liveliest bars in Denver. Well known for its eclectic fusion of gourmet global street foods, you’ll enjoy mixes of East Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin dishes. Don’t forget to taste their Mongolian barbecue duck buns or Yellowfin tuna tacos. Your drinks come from their Bar-V, which is a repurposed 1975 hippie RV. Their cocktails are as fun and funky as their food. There’s nowhere better to enjoy the Rocky Mountain high.

El Techo de Lolinda (San Francisco, California)

Nightlife with an Argentinian twist in the Mission District is all the rage. Take in the city while sipping your Bloody Maria or enjoying a pitcher of sangria with small plates of ceviche and empanadas. El Techo de Lolinda is popular from brunch bashes to a late night rendezvous.

Rooftop bars are hotter than ever and everyone can look forward to a great night out in just about any big city in the United States. Salut!

[todaystoriesclub]

Top 10 Airfare Tracker Apps To Save On Flights

There’s nothing quite like planning an epic vacation unless it’s planning an epic vacation while getting the best possible deals on airfare.

While it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on prices with your favorite air carrier, trying to keep up with fare discounts and specials can be challenging.

But nowadays, finding the best deal is as easy as picking up your smartphone, as there are some great apps out there for airfare tracking.

Here are the top 10 airfare tracker apps to save you money on your flight.

Hopper

One of the most popular and respected travel apps, Hopper allows you to plug in your travel dates and monitor airfare. You’ll receive notifications on when fares go down, as well as recommendations on whether or not you should buy your ticket now or wait for additional price drops.

Skyscanner

Founded in 2003, Skyscanner has become one of the premier free travel apps available today. It is very user-friendly, with easy flight searches on destinations all around the world.

The app will send out price alerts for saved searches, and you can narrow your search by flight times and duration, flight class, or the number of stops.

Jetradar

Cited as one of the top trending apps by Google Play, Jetradar compares fares between more than 1,000 airlines, including charter services and travel agencies.

A price map displays ticket prices for several destinations at once, and you can set up a personal profile for your favorite cities, flight history and flight statistics. 

Hipmunk

If you want to keep it simple with one-stop shopping, Hipmunk not only gathers up the best possible airfares, it also shows you the deals on hotels and car rentals too.

With an “agony” option that helps minimize long layovers or lots of stops, you’ll be able to get alerts on flights to your favorite cities, as well as check out new travel ideas based on your budget and personal style.

Fairness

For those with a bit of flexibility in their schedules, Fareness will search out both the least expensive travel dates and destinations all at once.

If you’re dreaming of Mexico but don’t care where in Mexico you go, it will provide you with the cheapest fares on travel to various places there, going as far as six months out and sorting by both dates of travel and length of vacation.

Kayak

In addition to offering the ability to look at several different travel sites at once for low fares, Kayak also has a search tool for special deals, where you can look for discounts on everything from airfare, to cars, to hotel packages, all without putting in a specific date. If your travel dates are at all flexible, this can be a great way to find the best deals.

Google Flights

Google Flights recently redesigned some of its search functions, making it even easier to find the best fares.

In addition to finding you the best deal on your planned trips, it also scouts out money-saving options such as choosing a different airport or time and tracks prices on trips you might be planning to take in the future.

TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor not only helps you find cheap prices on airfare, but it also provides actual traveler reviews and photos of hotels, restaurants, and activities. You can get first-hand experiences from real people, and make educated decisions on just where you want to go.

It has a built-in flight tracker to monitor the latest airfare and an interface that makes flight searches doable for even the most technologically-challenged.

Airfarewatchdog

Airfarewatchdog sorts through thousands of fares on various airlines, giving you the best possible price for your travel.

It has a stable of “deal hounds” who verify whether or not the fares found are good deals, and you can set up alerts for airfare, hotels, and vacation packages.

You can also set alerts for cheap fares from your home city and see what the best fares are for a wide range of destinations.

Priceline

An oldie but a goodie, Priceline is still a top app for booking flights, hotel packages, and rental cars.

Their airfare options include sorting by price and quickest flights, as well as prices on “early bird flights.”

They don’t offer the “name your price” tool for flights anymore, but you can still bid on hotels and cars. They also have affordable vacation bundles that combine hotel, flight, and car.

[todaystoriesclub]

Best Keto-Friendly Breakfast Ideas

The keto diet trend continues to sweep the nation. And it’s tough to beat this diet when it comes to quick ways of losing weight.

What is the keto diet? It’s a low-carb diet that triggers ketosis, a metabolic process where your body burns stored fat for energy instead of carbohydrates.

Because of this, the keto diet can lead to weight loss as well as reduced blood sugar and insulin levels. It can be the right diet and lifestyle choice for many who want to get healthy.

However, it is difficult finding good keto meal ideas, especially for breakfast. The good news is that we’re here to change that.

Below are our favorite keto breakfast ideas. With this list, you’ll be able to start each day off with a healthy low-carb bite!

Taco Breakfast Skillet

A good, hearty breakfast is a solid way to stave off hunger throughout the day. But it can be difficult to find a keto breakfast recipe that is yummy and filling at the same time.

The taco breakfast skillet is an exception to this particular rule. This deconstructed dish takes everything delicious about nachos and simply removes the chips. And the final result is a dish you’ll be happy to eat time and time again.

While this is a great keto breakfast, we’d also nominate it as a great lunch option when you want to pack a lot of flavor on the go.

Cabbage Hash Browns

Hashbrowns are another definitive breakfast item for millions of people. Served from the skillet or served alongside a McMuffin, this tasty dish is one of the best breakfast meals you can wake up to.

Of course, the potato of traditional hash browns is a big “no-no” in the world of keto. Keto vegetables are low in carbs. So, root vegetables like potatoes need to be avoided. Leafy vegetables like lettuce, spinach, and cabbage make great keto-friendly vegetable options. That’s why we love these cabbage hash browns so much.

While cabbage is the main component, you would never know it: the final result both looks and feels like the real deal. And once you serve this up alongside some eggs and bacon, you’ll have a breakfast plate that simply tastes too good to be “diet.”

Keto Cereal

For many of us, cereal is a true staple breakfast item. Unfortunately, most cereals are not keto-friendly at all. Instead of giving up on one of your favorite foods, you can start whipping up your batches of keto cereal.

This is a great item for chefs of every skill level. Even those who are in danger of burning water should have no problem heating this tasty dose of granola.

Your final result is something that tastes great for breakfast. But it can also be an addition to yummy dishes such as Keto ice cream or serve as an awesome Keto snacks option.

Pulled Pork Hash

Most of us didn’t like healthy food growing up because it had that healthy food taste. Let’s be honest: in a choice between barbecue and vegetables, there simply was no choice.

Being a grown-up is all about compromise. And that’s what this keto pulled pork hash recipe does: it finds the perfect balance between flavor and health.

You get a ton of bold breakfast flavor from all the pork and eggs. However, it also has surprisingly tasty additions of sprouts, turnip, and kale. This is a way of eating really healthy and still feeling like you’re getting away with something.

Keto Breakfast Pizza

You don’t have to be a hungover college student to enjoy pizza for breakfast. Sadly, delivery pizza and frozen pizza doesn’t mesh with the keto lifestyle.

The good news is that you can make your keto breakfast pizza quite easily. You end up with a blend of surprising flavors (including salmon, eggs, and avocado) on top of some tasty cauliflower bread.

Enjoy this with your morning coffee and don’t be surprised when you start craving the taste again later in the day. Like the very best pizza, this recipe will keep you coming back again and again.

Collagen Keto Bread and Jam

Want to hear an open secret among everyone on the keto diet? Here it is: we miss bread. We miss bread quite a bit, especially around breakfast time.

That’s one of the reasons we enjoy this collagen keto bread recipe so much. It’s yummy enough to eat all by itself (especially if you add some keto-friendly butter and jam). However, it’s also a low-carb way of bringing bread back into various breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes.

If you think the worst thing about the keto diet is the lack of bread, you’ll dig this recipe most of all.

Sausage Breakfast Sandwich

Sausage is a food many of us associate with breakfast. And the sausage sandwich is a special treat: whether you’re eating mama’s recipe or grabbing road trip fast food, a sausage sandwich is warm and filling.

The traditional sausage breakfast recipes are killers when it comes to carbs. That’s where this awesome keto sausage breakfast sandwich recipe comes in.

In about 15 minutes, you end up with tasty sandwiches that don’t skimp on flavor. And by turning the sausage or eggs into the “bread” of the sandwich, you end up doubling up on the best part of the whole meal.

Cinnamon Sugar Donuts With Almond Flour

We know what you’re thinking. Donuts for breakfast — have we lost our minds? Traditional donuts aren’t just outside of the keto diet. They are also huge calorie sponges and among the least healthy things, you can consume.

This recipe for cinnamon sugar donuts changes all of that. Between the almond flour and cinnamon sugar, you get the sweet flavor you are seeing without the excessive calories. Substituting almond flour instead of wheat flour keeps these donuts low in carbs. The resulting keto donuts have a texture reminiscent of cake donuts.

The only problem with these keto donuts is that they are so good, you may want to keep them all for yourself!

[todaystoriesclub]

8 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Eat Eggs Everyday

Eggs are both tasty and versatile. With eggs, you can craft everything from a zesty breakfast to a quick lunch to a filling dinner.

It turns out that some interesting things happen to your body when you eat eggs every day. And you might be surprised at how a regular egg diet can make you feel happier and healthier.

Here are eight things that happen to your body when you eat eggs every day.

Eggs strengthen your immune system

Everyone knows the old saying that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But what if a few eggs could do the same trick?

First of all, eggs are a great source of minerals zinc and selenium. Together, these minerals help to boost your immunity to a wide variety of potential illnesses.

Secondly, eggs provide a great source of Vitamin D. This vitamin helps you avoid getting sick in the first place. And if you do get sick, this same vitamin helps speed up your recovery.

Throw in even more vitamins (like A and B-12), and you can see why eggs help you stave off illness.

Eggs can help reduce anxiety

Let’s be honest: it’s a really stressful world out there. Even if you didn’t have anxiety as a child, you are likely to develop anxiety later in life. That’s the bad news.

The good news is that eggs can help reduce that anxiety! Eggs are a solid source of lysine. In some studies, lysine was helpful in reducing both acute stress and longer-term anxiety. Lysine also helps in other ways. For example, it can lower blood pressure and even improve your digestion!

Eggs give you an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory boost

Does your body suffer from regular inflammation? A number of diseases and conditions can affect your body this way. And inflammation is a world of pain unto itself.

One of the best ways to fight inflammation is to eat a kind of anti-inflammatory diet. This includes seeds, veggies, nuts, fish, and fruits.

We typically don’t think of eggs as an anti-inflammatory. However, it turns out that egg yolks contain two amino acids, tryptophan and tyrosine, that have high antioxidant properties. Just how much? Raw eggs contain twice as many antioxidants as an apple!

Of course, we don’t recommend eating raw eggs. But don’t worry, cooked eggs still contain about as many antioxidants as an apple. Antioxidants help fight inflammation. And eggs also integrate nicely into your existing anti-inflammatory diet.

Eggs help improve brain health

We covered how the vitamins in eggs help keep you from getting sick and can even help you recover from illness. However, vitamin-rich eggs offer another surprising benefit: they can improve your overall brain health!

That is because of certain nutrients within the egg. Specifically, the nutrients choline, folate, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. Choline helps out with memory and mood while folate helps with both depression and dementia. And those B vitamins help create new brain chemicals and even slow down declining brain function as we age.

In other words, regularly eating eggs is literally the smart choice to make!

Eggs help your skin look young and healthy

Everybody wants beautiful and healthy-looking skin. That’s why there are countless creams and masks designed to improve skin health. But what if a regular diet of eggs could have the same effect?

The selenium in eggs helps ward off things like age spots and sun damage on your skin. And it even provides additional protection against skin cancer.

Furthermore, selenium gives your immune system a boost. And this helps you to literally look healthier than usual because it gives your skin a kind of “glow.”

Eggs help protect your heart and liver

When you’re trying to stay healthy, cholesterol is usually considered a bad thing. However, there are actually two kinds of cholesterol that you should monitor.

The “bad” cholesterol that everyone is familiar with is what leads to a variety of heart-related problems, including clogged arteries. Bad cholesterol is made up of low-density lipoproteins. But “good” cholesterol (made up of high-density-lipoproteins) helps with both liver health and overall cholesterol regulation.

Many people don’t get enough high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol in their diet. However, eggs are a great way to boost that good cholesterol. And because of that, they can actually help protect against future heart problems within your body.

Eggs help you lose weight

Eggs can make up an important part of a ketogenic diet. But beyond that, eating eggs can help you lose weight in a really simple way. It all comes down to how filling eggs are, thanks to their protein content.

A study by Saint Louis University found that people felt fuller when they ate an equal-weight amount of eggs versus bagels. The study concluded that eating eggs reduces short-term food intake.

And that’s the real trick to weight loss. If an egg breakfast keeps you from snacking all morning at work, you end up with fewer calories in your body at the end of the day.

Eggs give you an energy boost without an insulin spike

Speaking of the workplace, do you ever feel an afternoon “crash?”

The typical cause of such a crash is that workers are drinking coffee throughout the day. The caffeine in coffee gives you an energy boost, but it soon passes and leaves you feeling drained.

Eggs, however, provide a steady supply of energy — without causing a spike in insulin or blood sugar. This is due to the fact that the energy you get from eggs comes from protein, not sugar.

Eggs won’t take you through the roof like coffee, but eggs also won’t make you crash a few hours later. Thanks to the protein and amino acids within eggs, you get sustained energy throughout the day. Yet another reason to eat some eggs before heading to work!

[todaystoriesclub]

8 Things You Should Never Touch In A Hotel Room

Hotel rooms are magical places. They are our portals to another world — or, at the very least, a place to crash when you’re in the middle of an awesome vacation.

However, the hotel room may be a lot less awesome than the vacation. It may give you the worst kind of souvenir — like a nasty rhinovirus infection that sends you to the doctor!

Why are hotel rooms so dangerous to your health? They are a breeding ground for germs. In fact, in a study by the University of Houston, researchers found fecal bacteria present on 81 percent of all hotel room surfaces!

The only way to really play it safe is to understand what you should never touch inside the hotel room. Here are eight things you should avoid like the plague unless you want to become patient zero for a contagious infection.

Beware the Bedspread

Most travelers love to plop down in the hotel bed. It’s where the magic happens… even if the magic is just finally getting a good night’s sleep!

Sadly, though, the bedspread itself is quite dangerous. That’s because the bedspread isn’t washed as much as the rest of the sheets. Just how often do most hotel chains change the bedspread? Apparently, just four times a year.

Try to gently remove the bedspread and stick to the sheets to make your sleep a little safer.

Don’t Reach for the Remote

Depending on the hotel wifi, the TV may be your main source of entertainment. In that case, we have some bad news: you should really avoid touching the remote. Why? Because it’s the single most-contaminated object in the entire room!

Think about it. Everyone who doesn’t wash their hands after going to the bathroom or sneezes into their palm eventually touches that remote. And unlike the laundry, it’s not like this thing is ever really getting washed!

If you need to watch something, you may be better off finding the buttons on the TV itself. Or just stick with streaming things from your smartphone.

Make the Phone ‘Hands-Free’

Speaking of phones, the in-room telephone is still a hotel staple. Even though almost everyone brings their cell phones to the hotel, the staff would like people to have an easy way to ring for the front desk or for room service.

However, you should avoid the room telephone for the same reason you should avoid the remote: everyone touches it and it’s almost never wiped down. That turns the phone into a bacterial bomb that is waiting to explode as soon as you touch it!

Keep That Bucket ‘On Ice’

Sooner or later, guests always make their way for the ice bucket in the room. It’s a great way to keep champagne on ice or even just cool down your soda on a hot day.

Sadly, the ice bucket is dangerous for a couple of different reasons. The bucket itself is unsafe because the buckets are very rarely sanitized. That means that you could be drinking down the germs of countless guests when you use the ice!

“But what about the bucket liner, you say?” Even if you keep the ice from touching the bucket, the ice itself is often contaminated by dirty machines. You’re much better off getting a room with a fridge and letting your favorite drinks cool down inside!

Bring Your Own Cups

Speaking of drinks, most hotels provide glasses for guests to use. These glasses are meant for water, soda, spirits… pretty much whatever you want to put in them.

But you really shouldn’t be putting anything in them. That’s because more hotels than you imagine fail to properly clean and sanitize the glasses. And while it’s bad enough drinking from a dirty glass at home, you can imagine how much worse it is when you’re drinking a dirty glass that has been used by hundreds of people.

Problematic Pillowcases

Remember when we said you should avoid the bedspread? While you’re at it, you should also avoid contact with the pillowcases.

Why? Simple: pillowcases are often re-used instead of being washed with the rest of the sheets. Putting your head on such a case is a surefire way to feel dirty. From bed bugs to head lice, you never know what problems previous guests will share with you via the pillows.

How to solve this problem? Ask for fresh pillowcases from the front desk, or bring your own from home.

Toilet Troubles

You know how some people hate to use public bathrooms because they are nasty and dangerous? The sad truth is that this also applies to hotel toilets. Even if the toilet looks relatively clean, it could be hiding an invisible army of bacteria. And every flush helps spread those bacteria throughout the entire bathroom.

Obviously, you can’t avoid using the bathroom the entire time you’re in a hotel. But you should play it safe by sanitizing all of the surfaces that will come in contact with your body. Bring a can of Lysol with you and spray both sides of the toilet seat to be safe.

Bacterial Bath

It’s a rookie mistake to think the hotel bathtub is clean. Even though it is constantly filled with soap and hot water, the tub surface never really gets clean. That’s because the surface eventually develops a nasty film that is hiding dangerous bacteria.

While a bath sounds relaxing after a long day, you’re better off sticking with a shower. If you let the water heat up before hopping in, you’re likely to remove any annoying bacteria from the showerhead before it can come in contact with your body. And wear a pair of shower shoes before you step in the tub.

[todaystoriesclub]

10 Compelling Reasons Why You Should Never Get A Tattoo

Tattoos are a lot of things besides trendy. They can show the world the things you care about the most because you’ve immortalized them on your skin. They can memorialize loved ones or bear inspirational messages with you always. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take them seriously, or consider all the pros and cons before deciding whether or not to get one. Whatever your considerations for getting inked, keep in mind these 10 reasons why a tattoo might not be right for you.

You’re looking for a job

Not all employers look down on tattoos, but there are some industries, especially in the business and legal sectors, where a visible tattoo is a big no-no, especially if it’s on your neck, hands, face, or any other place you can’t readily cover-up. If you have one on your arm you may need to wear a long-sleeved shirt every day. Unfortunately, though they’re seemingly common, tattoos are considered as unwelcome as weird hairstyles, multiple piercings, or other forms of body art. 

You don’t know exactly what you want

If you just want a tattoo to have one, that may not be the best reason. Remember you’re stuck with it for life. Do you want to explain to your grandchildren why you have a meme on your leg and what it means? Pop culture is fleeting, but tattoos are permanent. Don’t rush into a decision.

If you’re female, consider the pregnancy problem

Tattoos may be permanent but they’re also changeable. As you age, the skin around the tattoo behaves differently and the ink fades or blurs a bit. But if you’re pregnant, any tattoos you have may stretch and shrink along with you. And stretch marks will mar the appearance of tattoos already on it. And you should never get a tattoo while you’re pregnant, because…

There’s a risk of infection or worse

Applying a tattoo is stabbing your skin to put ink through underneath it. Because it punctures the skin, if the needle is not sterile it can introduce infection or diseases like Hepatitis C or even HIV. Even if the needle is properly sterilized and all precautions are taken, there’s no guarantee you won’t react to the ink itself. You could have an allergic reaction, or the ink could dissipate into your system leaving you with scarred skin that would need to be inked over again. 

If you’re at risk for skin cancer

If you’ve had it or have a family history of melanoma, there’s a small chance you could activate cancer from the placement of tattoo ink. This only applies if you have a risk of skin cancer; it does not mean that tattoos cause cancer. But by introducing metals and dyes into your system through the ink, there’s a chance that your immune system’s reaction will lead to the formation of unhealthy cells. 

What you don’t know about your artist and their work

The sad thing is that unless you research your artist well you may end up with a terrible tattoo. The internet is full of pictures of poorly executed art and it’s mostly because of the inexperience of the artist. No matter how cool their sample art looks on the wall, you don’t know if they drew them. And drawing on paper and tattooing on the skin are not the same. And of course, there are no erasing tattoos from the skin, at least not to the point of looking new again. Because…

Tattoo removal is not easy

There are only four real choices when it comes to an unwanted tattoo: you can cover it up with makeup, you can have a coverup tattoo placed over it, or you can go the laser surgery route. Tattoo removal is not like a giant eraser, however; it will lighten the ink but it will never fully destroy all the ink particles in your skin. The fourth choice is surgical removal, which is the most extreme choice and should be the absolute last resort.

Tattoos cost money

Of course, they cost money, it’s an industry. But keep in mind the amount of money involved. And if your tattoo is complex or needs more than one session to complete, tattoos can run into the hundreds if not thousands of dollars. It’s a major cash investment, just like people who buy art to put it on their walls. But you can always take the art down off the wall and put something else up instead. With your skin, you don’t have that option.

If you want someone’s name, think again

Even when they’re done beautifully, having a tattoo with your ex’s name on it is just opening up hurt every time you look at it. Numerous celebrities have been documented with regretful tattoo choices when the love of their life suddenly decides to skip out. Memorial portraits are also really tricky because realistic drawing on the skin is extremely difficult to get right. You could get stuck with an unintentionally funny face.

Social considerations

There are social consequences to tattoos. People can and will judge you for them, especially if they’re ironic, edgy, or controversial. The trend may become unpopular again; it’s only in the past 30 years that tattoos gained some acceptability. You might change to the extent that the tattoos no longer represent who you are as a person.

There are many reasons not to get a tattoo. It’s all a matter of risk versus reward. Decide with all the information so if you choose to sit in that tattoo parlor chair, you do it with a clear understanding of what you’re getting yourself into.