Cut Down Your Alcohol Intake With These Alternative Drink Ideas

I'm not opposed to drinking alcohol. I have a few drinks myself on a semi regular basis. However, there are many people who are unable to drink alcohol or want to stop, but finding an alternative to alcohol that feels like more than just drinking water can be difficult. Here are some alternative ideas to drink.

Like many people in January, your resolution for the year is to cut down on alcohol consumption. It’s something you’ve been telling yourself to do for many years, but you’re finally going to do it. As you begin your journey, you notice why you’ve never managed to do this before; it’s harder than it seems.

Now, you don’t have to be addicted to alcohol to struggle to cut it out of your life. Lots of people drink for social reasons, meaning you only have a few beverages a week - but it all adds up. Wanting to reduce your alcohol intake doesn’t necessarily mean you need to start checking into alcohol rehab! Perhaps you have started noticing some negative health effects that you blame on alcohol - such as weight gain - and that’s why you’re keen to cut down. Or, maybe you want to cut down before you start to see any of the consequences of too much alcohol.

Whatever the reason, you’ve made a positive choice to cut down. With that in mind, how can you reduce your alcohol intake and still have a good time? In all honestly, it comes down to finding alternative things to drink. No, this doesn’t mean drinking water (though you should drink as much water as you can every day!) it’s more about finding ways to replicate the feeling of drinking alcohol, minus the alcohol. Here are some ideas:

Basic Pet Care Tips for New Pet Owners

Getting a dog has been such a wonderful change for our family, but that doesn't mean it is always the easiest. There is a lot of information new pet owners need to know. Here are some things from a reader to help you learn how to take care of your new pet.

Whether you’re thinking about getting a pet or already adopted one, you must prepare well beforehand so you won’t feel too overwhelmed and shocked. Pets are a great responsibility as they require a lot of care whether it’s about vet visits, walks, food, or anything else. If you’ve never owned a pet before know that it’s one of life’s greatest joys but it can also be quite intimidating.

You may find yourself having anxiety attacks thinking whether you can continue taking care of it, or if it will pee all over the house, but remember that those are things that pass quickly once they learn how to behave. Below we’ll break down a few simple tips on how to take care of your new furry friend.

How Can You Save Money by Doing Family Financial Budgeting?

Budgeting is important. Here is how you can save money while budgeting. 

Budgeting for yourself is usually easy. Sometimes you don't even need a budget to be okay until your next payday when you know your exact desires and needs. On the other hand, Family Budget is a completely different game. The main reason is to have others take care of you. If you can't make ends meet, you will not only starve to death.

It can be difficult because it forces you and your entire family to consider your finances. What do I have to do and what do I have to maintain? These tips will help.

How to Make the Perfect Sticky Rice and Sushi Rice- Without a Hassle

I love rice. So do my kids. Sushi rice, by far, is the absolute favorite here. Even if not made into sushi rice, sticky rice is something everyone asks for. 

The thing is, sushi rice isn't easy. And while I love rice, the food I pretty much hate most in the world is rice done badly. (Chicken breast done badly and soggy cereal are the only other foods I can think of that I really care so much about how they're prepared and their texture.) I've written before about how to make the perfect sushi rice, but it is a lot of work, taking many steps, and I generally don't have the energy or the time it takes for all those steps. I've also written about how to make cheater sushi rice, which is much easier, but while it's ok for sushi, it isn't that perfect sushi rice that I really want, it's slightly pasty.

I was trying to find the balance between imperfect yet easy cheater sushi rice and complicated daunting perfect sushi rice, and I was told by my friends that I should just use the Asian mother's method of cooking rice- fill a pot with well-washed rice and cover with water so the water level is pinky knuckle height above the rice. I tried multiple times and it never was enough water, tried using a different knuckle, and still never enough. The rice was hard and uncooked once all the water was gone- exactly the type of rice that I detest. Finally, a friend of mine from Japan who lives locally told me that fresh rice from Japan or China still has moisture in it and therefore can be done with that method, but the rice we have in the rest of the world is older and dryer and therefore needs more water, which is why I was failing with that "tried and true" method. I tried using the same method and just using between my first two knuckles in height, and finally it worked. Then I figured out how much water that actually is. For a kilogram of rice (5 cups) I use a full electric kettle of boiling water- my kettle holding 1.7 liters or about 7 1/4 cups boiling water. Perfection each time now.

Then I wanted to have a better ratio of vinegar, sugar, and salt in my recipe to make it into sushi rice, and my friend David gave me his recipe, meant for 3 cups of rice, which I then modified to work with my full kilogram.

And now I have it. Perfect sushi rice. Not complicated. Not a headache. Quick to make, start to finish. And not pasty at all. And the sauce makes it even better.

Since I've figured this out I've been making this at least once a week, and sometimes even 2 kilograms at a time (two different pots) since 1 kilogram runs out too quickly for us. I use it for poke bowls, bibimbap, sushi, and sticky rice bowls (something my friend Phoebe taught is made in her hometown of Guiyang, China). 

Now that I've perfected this, I wanted to share it with you.

How to Make the Perfect Sticky Rice and Sushi Rice- Without a Hassle

Car Accident Injuries Don’t Need to Affect Your Finances

Car accidents suck in so many ways, but one of the biggest ways you generally feel the repercussions of a car accident is in the financial aspect. Here are some things you can do to make sure that your car accident doesn't cause your family a large financial toll.

Getting involved in a car accident can be costly, whether you are at fault or not. All of a sudden, you have to start thinking about car repairs, legal procedures, talking to insurance companies, and defending your claim for compensation. All while you may be unable to work, but the bills never stop coming.

Personal injury lawyers can help you by explaining the options available, as well as guide you through the claims process. They can examine the details of your incident, gather evidence to support your claim, and negotiate your settlement with the liable party. Since such attorneys have helped countless individuals in your same position, they understand your needs and the best way to meet them.

Home Cleaning Services – Are They Worth the Investment?

I used to work doing cleaning for people, but needed to stop because of health issues I was having. After I stopped working for one family they switched to using a cleaning service and overall were happy with it. They had another pro and con that I'd to this list. Con is you don't know who you will be sent before they send you someone. However, since it is through a service if you have a bad experience you have recourse. Here are some other thoughts on whether or not hiring a cleaning service is worthwhile.

We all wish that we had a little more help around the house. Unfortunately, some days that mess seems to get the best of us, and it can seem impossible to keep on top of it all.

Hiring a cleaning service is something that you might have considered. However, it’s normal to have some concerns - Are they really worth the investment?

Below, we will take a look at some different pros and cons of cleaning companies so that you can determine if they are right for you.

Sound interesting? Then keep on reading!

Easy 20 Minute Start to Finish Stir Fry Recipe- Gluten Free, Frugal

I can't eat gluten. I can't eat eggs. So when I'm hungry and the kids are clamoring for food because I'm already running behind, I can just cook up some eggs and toast for the kids, but then I have nothing for myself to eat, or I can cook a whole meal for the family that I can also eat, but that usually takes time.

 Recently, I was trying to figure out if I could make something really quickly, and then had this idea to make a beef and vegetable stir fry with rice noodles. I knew I could make it quickly, from start to finish, even with the meat and greenbeans still frozen and everything raw. I put on a timer and got to work. 

Originally I thought it would take me 15 minutes to do it, but I kept readjusting the sauce to try to get the flavor right, because I was making it up on the fly, and I also needed to find the ingredients for the sauce and get them out of my stockpile, so it ended up taking me 22 minutes to make, start to finish.

 Then I tried making it again, already knowing what to put in it, and despite needing to wash a cereal bowl for my daughter and find where the sugar went because the kids took it, and even with my kids opening the dishwasher while I was cooking which made me not be able to work at the counter, it still took me only 20 and a half minutes, so I feel comfortable saying this is a 20 minute recipe provided you have mise en place and don't have kids calling you to do other things while you're at it. And even with kids interrupting, it still is a fast recipe.

This meal is pretty cheap to make, providing you buy the minute steak on sale like I do, and it is gluten free providing you use gluten free soy sauce. It is also conveniently a meal in one, so need for a bunch of sides.

And did I mention that it tastes absolutely divine?

This recipe makes 6-8 servings, depending on how big your servings are.

Easy 20 Minute Start to Finish Stir Fry Recipe- Gluten Free, Frugal

How Scientists Are Improving Instant Formula Milk

I breastfed all my children and stopped nursing them between 19 months and 38 months. However, if I would ever have another child, I definitely would choose to formula feed, as breastfeeding now is a mental health trigger for me. I highly support every mother's decision how she wants to feed her baby. Fortunately, unlike the original baby formula that was made with cow milk, wheat flour and malt flour, the available formulas today are improved so much to the extent that they are a decent alternative to breastmilk.

WHO or the World Health Organization has repeatedly stressed the importance of breastfeeding during the first six months in the life of a child. Not just WHO, even the American Academy of Pediatrics or AAP has also asked the new moms to breastfeed the infants until the age of 6 months. WHO has also recommended that the mom should continue to breastfeed up to 2 years, and sometimes, even beyond this.

However, according to many pediatricians, it is not always possible for new mothers to breastfeed their infants. There are various reasons for this. She could be on some medicines or might have to return to work after a prolonged absence, for example. The mom may even have problems in producing an adequate quantity of milk. Or, the infant may also face problems in sucking the milk out.

It is good to remember, that moms who are nursing must themselves get 300 to 500 more calories in a day so that they can breastfeed. Also, many infants have medical issues, like a metabolic illness or sensitive stomach, where a special diet might be best. There could be so many hurdles.

Breastfeeding can be difficult, which is many moms have now shifted to infant formula milk products as the main source of nutrition, while others use it for supplementation. They have become very popular too throughout the world.

Breastfeeding is not just convenient, but it even the only option in many instances.

How Do Hackers Hack Your Social Media Account?

The concept of being hacked is incredibly scary, and paying someone to fix things for you after you've been hacked, or dealing with the repercussions of your being hacked can be quite expensive, not to mention stress inducing. But in order to stop that from happening, we first need to know how these types of hacks happen in the first place so that we can do our best to avoid them.

Your social media accounts are a treasure trove for hackers. They carry all types of valuable data for a cybercriminal to harvest and commit financial and identity crimes. Hackers can also use your hacked social media accounts to deceive your contacts into divulging sensitive information like banking or credit card data.

But how do hackers hack social media accounts like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok, with all the security measures in place? Here are some methods cybercriminals use.

DBT Techniques to Help Your Kids at Home

To say that I am a fan of DBT would be putting it mildly. DBT therapy is one of my favorite types of therapy, because it gives people constructive tools to use in their day to day life, in a way that talk therapy doesn't necessarily do. I've done rounds of DBT therapy and my therapist is qualified in DBT as well, and it has changed my life, and I use it regularly with my kids. Here are some ways that you can use DBT skills with your children, but these things also are quite helpful for adults as well.

DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) is a type of counseling that can help children and teenagers manage their strong emotions. It works by combining two different skills:

1. Using mindfulness to understand and accept their difficult feelings
2. Using CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to help them change their negative behavior and feelings

Children who often feel, think, and behave in extremes can be greatly helped through DBT. For example, children who believe everything is horrible can learn that not everything is bad, kids who act quickly without thinking can learn to consider the consequences of their actions, and teens who struggle to move on from negative feelings can learn to just let some things go.

How To Choose The Right Anniversary Gifts For Your Husband

Finding a gift for a partner can be challenging, because a gift for someone that often has different tastes than you do isn't always so simple. Here are some ideas on how you can find a great gift for your partner for your anniversary.

If your anniversary is approaching and you have no idea what to gift to your husband, then you must be at least a little bit frustrated about it. After all, this is the perfect opportunity for you to show your man just how much you love and appreciate him. Well, of course, you are probably showing that on a daily basis, but you still have to do something special for your anniversary, just like you are probably expecting to get something special for that day as well. Perhaps this could help you celebrate the right way.

Should You Consider Buying Crypto for Your Children?

I know nothing about investing and I know nothing about crypto but I know many are talking about crypto and investing in it, so I was happy to learn more from this reader who sent in this post about whether or not it is a good idea to invest in crypto for your children. 

When it comes to investing, we’re always taught that the sooner you start the more you have to gain (at least in a general sense) and with that, many parents tend to invest heavily for their children from birth, or their earlier years.

There’s a good chance that like many of us, your parents had some sort of college fund, life fund or even a trust set up in your name since your youngest years. And with years of hard work and commitment, that fund was raring and ready to go once you turned eighteen.

If you’re looking to follow suit with your own children, there is, of course, the traditional stocks and savings accounts to consider – however – the new kid on the block to watch is the cryptocurrencies and we will take a look at buying crypto for your children below.

Greek Spinach Rice Pilaf Recipe - Gluten Free, Vegan Option, Allergy Friendly

I'm having a lot of guests and made some rice, but my kids were hungry and had some first so I realized that there wouldn't be enough rice left from what I originally made and decided to make another batch. Only I wasn't sure that I wanted to make another batch of plain white rice, and when I passed the door to my backyard, I saw a large amount of wild swiss chard (officially called sea beet) growing there and decided to make my rice with that. 

I googled to get some ideas of how people made this type of dish, only I searched for spinach rice dishes since this tastes like spinach too, and can be used interchangeably, and found quite a few recipes. I loosely based my recipe on this one that I found for spanikorizo, a Greek spinach and rice dish, but they also have a version made with swiss chard, called seskoulorizo. However, this really reminds me of my friend Zhanna's Bukharian bakhsh plov recipe, an Uzbeki greens and rice dish, generally made with cilantro instead of spinach or swiss chard. But because bakhsh plov is made with beef, I decided to use chicken broth in my recipe instead of water, but water works just as well, and is how spanikorizo generally is made.

This dish is delicious and warm and comforting for the winter, and it is pretty cheap to make as well. Hope you enjoy it too!

Greek Spinach Rice Pilaf Recipe - Gluten Free, Vegan Option, Allergy Friendly