3 Fun Ways To Celebrate St. Patrick's Day

 St Patrick's Day is a worldwide celebration of the color green, the drink Guinness, parades, and the symbol of the Shamrock. It is easy to get caught up in the festivities, but why is it celebrated all around the world?

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated annually on March 17th in honor of the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland, Saint Patrick. His father was kidnapped by Irish marauders and sold as a slave to care for sheep when he was a small boy in the 5th century in the British Isles. He was able to return to England, where he was given a vision from God, instructing him to return to Ireland and assist the people of the island nation.

In 432 AD, he returned to Ireland, where he took vows as a priest and changed his name to Patrick in order to aid in the spread of Christianity among the Irish. The Shamrock was used by him to explain the Holy Trinity to his disciples as he went about spreading Christian beliefs to the populace.

Saint Patrick died on the 17th of March in the year 461 AD, and his death is still commemorated to this day to memorialize him.

Here, we look at some fun ways to celebrate this Irish tradition.

Image via Unsplash

Wear a green outfit with a shamrock

In recognition of the Shamrock's close association with Saint Patrick and his teachings, it is now frequently used to symbolize Ireland. Wearing Shamrocks used to be a symbol of Irish Christian pride, but over time it evolved into wearing green to commemorate the holiday.

Despite the fact that shamrocks do not exist, they are closely associated with clovers because of their resemblance to the leaves; as a result, many people use clovers in decorations and face paint on St. Patrick's Day. You could also find a cute womens st patricks day shirt to wear. 

Cook and eat a traditional Irish meal

Traditionally, the traditional Irish supper on St Patrick's Day consisted of boiled bacon, potatoes, and soda bread, but nowadays there are many different foods that are consumed to commemorate the day! Because beef was far less expensive than bacon, Irish ex-pats in America noticed that beef was being substituted for bacon. They would marinate it with brine (corned beef) and slow boil it with cabbage for a couple of hours before serving. Remember a pint or two of Guinness to wash it all down. This Irish dry stout is brewed in Dublin and is often regarded as the national alcoholic beverage of the country. 

Go to a St Patrick's Day parade

The first St. Patrick's Day celebration in colonial America took place in Boston in 1737, according to historical records. Now, it is celebrated throughout the United States, with the 5th Avenue parade in New York City being the largest and most rowdy of them all! It has been going on for more than 250 years and is extremely popular, with between 150,000 and 250,000 marchers taking part!

Make Your Long Drive An Enjoyable & Safe One

 

A road trip can sound like great fun on the surface, but after seven hours of being in a vehicle non-stop, it doesn’t seem like such a good idea. If you are taking a long drive somewhere, it is important to be prepared so that your journey is as comfortable as possible. We have put together some tip tops for your next drive.

Don’t drive drowsy - One of the biggest mistakes you can make is driving while you feel sluggish or groggy, as any car accident lawyer will tell you. This is a sure fire way to find yourself in a car accident. If you start to feel drowsy, you should pull over for a break or, if possible, change driver. Of course, it is best if you can avoid feeling this way in the first place. There are a number of approaches you can take to combat drowsiness. Chew a strong mint, talk to your passengers to keep your brain working, open windows, or get some wipes and wipe your face and neck. Remember, being cool will wake you up, whereas being warm will send you to sleep. Avoid big meals as well, as they can make you tired. In fact, one effective yet unusual technique is to chew on ice if you feel tired. Of course, you can also get a coffee, and singing to music will help too. After taking all these precautions, there is still a chance an accident can occur, and it may not be your fault. Other drivers are on the road, of course, so they could cause you to crash if they are not paying attention or they are drowsy. If this does happen, there are dedicated personal injury lawyers who can help you with the aftermath of this so you aren't cast aside.

Be mindful of your posture - If you have the pleasure of driving, you need to pay careful attention to your posture. Make sure you do not have to stretch to reach the steering wheel while you are driving. If you slouch, you will experience achy muscles. You should also bring a small cushion with you to support your back if necessary.

Plan for comfort - It does not matter what you drive, you can’t expect your vehicle to provide optimal comfort, irrespective of how new or luxurious it is. You need to plan with this in mind too. When getting ready for your road trip, make sure you dress with comfort in mind. Opt for loose-fitting clothing. You also need to be prepared to deal with any uncomfortable weather. For example, handheld fans are great for driving during warm weather. If it is the middle of winter, pack some blankets. 

Map out potential stop points - You will need to take regular stops during long trips. It is a good idea to grab a map and determine some potential stop points before your trip. This is especially important if you have children. The last thing you want is for someone to be desperate for the toilet, yet there are no service stations in sight. 

Take healthy snacks with you - Last but not least, healthy snacks are a great way to ensure you don’t reach for junk food while on the road. Nutritious snacks will keep you fueled. If you eat a lot of sugar loaded snacks, your energy may spike for a short period of time, but after this, it will only come crashing down.

Creating Ageless Skin with the Right Skincare and Wellness Routine

Let's face it: as you grow older, your skin won't be as supple as it used to be. If you add all the time you've been in the sun, all the activity you've done in dirty or dusty environments, and all the hours that you've allowed your skin to go dry, then you shouldn't be surprised if wrinkles are beginning to appear. 

If you notice wrinkles and fine lines becoming more prominent despite your efforts, it’s high time to evaluate your current skincare routine. Rather than accept what you think is inevitable, it is recommend switching to the use of top-notch skincare products to slow down skin ageing.

The healthy glow

Top-notch skincare products like SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF contain nourishing ingredients that impart a revitalising effect to keep the skin  free from signs of skin ageing. Certain nutrients extracted from plants such as apple tree leaves and Manchurian apricots slow down the ageing process due to their potent antioxidant content. Natural plant extracts combined with skincare essential vitamins such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E boost collagen and elastin production resulting in silky smooth skin that glows from within.

Protects against the sun 

Aside from being an excellent antioxidant, vitamin C boosts the skin's defence against harmful UV rays. With daily use, it promises to keep your skin softer, smoother, and more supple. 

Minimises blemishes 

When applied externally, vitamin C-based skincare formulas are known to help repair skin imperfections, such as age spots, wrinkles, skin lesions, cuts, and wounds. This anti-wrinkle formula is designed to be easily absorbed so that it can hydrate and reinvigorate your skin from the inside out. Other anti-ageing ingredients such as vitamin E, retinol, and ferulic acid are potent antioxidants that help diminish signs of skin fatigue brought about by exposure to harsh external elements. 

Eliminates free radicals 

Anti-ageing skincare products containing vitamin C are breakthrough products due to their high efficacy in neutralising free radical damage, perhaps more effectively than any other product available on the market. It features all three key ingredients at higher concentrations to deliver noticeable anti-ageing results faster. This skincare bestseller from SkinCeuticals also enhances your skin's protective qualities by infusing high doses of antioxidants that eliminate the free radicals that come with ageing. 

Hydrating the skin with the right ingredients

Anti-ageing ingredients like vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and phenols are added to enhance the absorption and efficacy vitamin C in diminishing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, crow’s feet, and other skin ageing signs. With its ability to stimulate faster skin cell turnover, vitamin C-infused skincare products will bring you a brighter, more luminous complexion. Lastly, vitamin C is also known for its  healing properties that allow your skin to rejuvenate from previous damage, such as permanent scars that tend to stay on your skin for years at a time. 

Final thoughts

Vitamin C is the ultimate anti-ageing skincare ingredient for those looking to slow down the hands of time. Before including vitamin C-based skincare products into your routine, it is recommended to first seek your dermatologist's advice to determine whether you are allergic to their ingredients or not.

Image:  https://unsplash.com/photos/87InWldRhgs

How To Uplevel Your Life

 

(Image Source)

Making yourself feel amazing is not dependent upon going out and treating yourself to an abundance of expensive items. It is about the little things. 

There are many ways, which are fun and easy, that upgrade your life and bring about big changes, without you needing to go and remortgage your house or break the bank. 

Plus, if you have heard about ‘the law of attraction, you will know that when you start making these changes and treating yourself kindly, and drawing positivity around you, you are sending a bold statement to the universe and stating that you are ready to step into this new and improved life. Here’s how this is possible.

Surround Yourself With Positive People

When you were young you will have learned social skills. Now is the time to use them. If you want to go about and make changes you need to have people in your corner cheering you on and celebrating each step you take. Whether that is finally taking the step and using a medical malpractice attorney for previous negligence. Or making a change to your career, hair, goals, finances, it really doesn’t matter what your goal is. You need to have people there acknowledging the changes and supporting you along your journey. 

Change Your Mindset

To uplevel your life, you need to have faith in your ability to move from where you are now and reach this destination goal. Consider how you speak to yourself. When you have an idea, if the voice of doubt is speaking up? Challenge how you are speaking to yourself and consider if this was your friend having the same conversation, how would you respond. The likelihood is you would be much kinder and more supportive to them! Therefore, there is no reason not to use the same kind and supportive mindset with yourself. Once you start changing how you think, you will see the changes and the ‘good’ will start. 

Have A Goal

Writing down a goal and having a clear and definable target in mind, will keep you engaged, motivated, and willing to keep persevering. This goal needs to be aligned with this ‘up-leveled’ version of yourself. Then at those moments of weakness or when obstacles arise, you will be able to go back and look at this goal and remember why you want to make these changes. 

Having A Morning Routine

You know what you want, it is now about making that possible. The best way to do that is to make a commitment to yourself and create habits that will support you on up levelling. By waking up each day,  setting your intentions and daily goals you will be able to keep your mind on track and keep motivated. 

Have Personal Boundaries

When it comes to making changes, it is important that you balance pushing this change and success with personal self-care. When you throw yourself into a new project you run the risk of burning yourself out. Have clear boundaries and guidelines on what you will do and set timings to ensure you keep a balance of health and progress. 

In addition to this, it's also best to take good care of your body. A balanced diet paired with regular exercise should already do the trick. This trustworthy dentist in Vancouver WA also adds that routine doctor visits are recommended.

Computers And Tech For Kids – How To Raise A Child Who Can Code

 

Teaching kids how to code can be a challenge, especially for parents like us who do not have any technical background in computer science. But, thanks to new learning materials, apps, and software, we do not need to have extensive knowledge in the subject in order to guide our kids in their learning journey.

Nowadays, online learning tools and programs are becoming more and more accessible for everyone. On top of that, many parents are now starting to realize the importance of coding in today’s digital age.

With that said, we have created this guide to help you raise and guide your kids towards their learning journey to coding and programming.

 

Provide Access to Different Learning Tools

Gone are the days when kids have to learn coding by memorizing blocks of code just to print “Hello! World.” When you look at the modules or course syllabus for many coding programs these days, you would find that they no longer rely on the traditional method of teaching. Rather than read off of textbooks, beginners are now being introduced to the world of coding through programs and software like Scratch, Blockly, Swift, and so on.

That said, it would be a big help if you would help your kids gain access to the learning tools that they need. Doing this would not only make the learning process a lot easier but it would also give your kids an impression that you are supportive of their learning journey as well.

 

Make it Fun

Many parents often support their kids' interest in coding by enrolling them in different learning programs.

But before you enroll your kids in any coding for kids programs, you have to make sure that the learning program is good enough to sustain their interest in the long run. One of the many reasons why kids often quit halfway is because they start to get bored with the lesson and start to lose interest in coding.

So to avoid this, you have to make sure that the learning program is fun and enjoyable. Thankfully, several online coding programs are a lot more fun these days because they make use of games for educational purposes like Roblox, Minecraft, and many more.

 

Let them Explore on their Own

Given that coding is more of a trial and error process, it mainly teaches kids soft skills like perseverance and patience. But, other than that, coding also enables your kid to be more creative, curious, and independent.

Remember that coding is a complex subject and there are lots of areas to explore. For instance, they can learn different coding languages like Python, C, Java, Lua, Ruby, and many more.

Once your kids finally learn the fundamentals of coding and programming, you should start to introduce them to other areas that they might be interested in. Even if they are still undecided which coding language or subject areas they want to learn, it is still a great idea to keep their option open and let them know that there might be other topics that are more suitable for them.

 

Encourage them to Share Their Projects

The great thing about learning how to code these days is that there are tons of kids who are interested in coding as well. That said, the community around beginners and kid coders is vibrant and very encouraging.

So to boost your kids' confidence, you can encourage them to share their projects for other people to play or use. Doing so would not only boost their confidence, but it might also motivate other kids to learn to code as well. Other than that, other coders might also recommend a few tweaks that might make their project even better.

That said, sharing your kids' projects online is a win-win situation for everyone. It would boost your kids’ confidence, make them learn from other coders, and even motivate other kids to start learning how to code as well.

On that note, we, as parents, still have a big part to play in our kids’ learning journey to being a coder. Because no matter how interested they are in the subject, it is still up to us to keep their motivations up so that they can successfully learn.