(NewsUSA) - In the past few weeks, it has become clear that social distancing and quarantining are the new normal. This is an overwhelming time as we attempt to adjust our mindsets and schedules - between working from home, watching after the kids, keeping up with the news, and maintaining sanity, it can be a challenge to prioritize your physical and mental health. Here are some tips on how to stay active in these strange and unprecedented times. <br /> <br /> Make a plan<br /> <br /> It's always easier to commit to a healthy habit if you make it part of your routine. At the beginning of each week, take a look at your schedule and find those windows where you could realistically squeeze in a workout. Set a reminder on your phone or even add the workout to your calendar to keep yourself accountable. <br /> <br /> Try a meal delivery service<br /> <br /> It may be difficult to cook healthy meals every day, especially if you can't get what you need from the grocery store. Having healthy food delivered safely to your door can alleviate the stress and hassle of cooking, plus having healthy options in the house will keep you from overeating and reaching for junk food. South Beach Diet, for example, offers fully nutritionally balanced, prepared meals and snacks that make it easy to keep your diet on track. <br /> <br /> Take breaks from work<br /> <br /> It can be tempting to sit around all day while you're working from home, but don't let yourself stay sedentary for too long. Get away from your workspace and move around every hour or so to get your blood flowing. This will help you to stay sharp and healthy during social isolation. If you're taking a phone call, stand up and allow yourself to pace around. Try to get up every hour and take a few steps around the house, stretch, or even do a few jumping jacks. <br /> <br /> Stream, stream, stream<br /> <br /> As gyms and workout studios are necessarily closed for the moment, many fitness brands and instructors are using Instagram live to hold virtual classes. If you have a favorite local studio or a favorite instructor, check out their website or social media to see if they are hosting any online classes. Many fitness brands are also offering extended free trials to access their libraries of workout videos. <br /> <br /> Go for a walk or run<br /> <br /> Of course, we are all limiting our trips outside to the grocery store, gas station, or anywhere else we might come in close contact with others. But if you are able to safely run or walk while keeping distance from your neighbors, those are great options for staying active, clearing your mind, and getting some fresh air.<br /> <br /> "It's so important to find those moments of joy outdoors while we're all social distancing," says Jessie James Decker, mother of three and South Beach Diet brand ambassador. "Whatever that means for you - whether it's a stroll around the neighborhood with the kids or a long run to clear your head - you'll feel so much better if you make the time for it." <br /> <br /> Keep your mind active<br /> <br /> Just as our bodies need physical activity to stay healthy, our minds need stimulation (beyond reality TV binge sessions) to stay sharp as well. Group activities such as board games or puzzles are a great option for keeping your mind sharp while clocking some quality time with your family or roommates.<br /> <br /> For more tips on how to stay healthy and active while social distancing, check out <a target='_blank' href="https://palm.southbeachdiet.com.">https://palm.southbeachdiet.com.</a><br /> <br /> Ref: How To - in Blogs

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(NewsUSA) - Sponsored News -Whether you are in a hotel room, at your desk, in an RV, or by a campfire, it can be difficult to get a good cup of coffee away from home. With the holiday travel season in full swing, travelers are wondering how best to enjoy their morning java while on the go.<br /> <br /> Most away-from-home coffee options have major drawbacks. Hotel room coffee makers are convenient and cheap, but the coffee they brew means a major compromise on taste. Local cafes often offer good coffee, but the cost of all those to-go cups can really add up. Existing travel coffee presses offer a way to brew while on the go, but they typically brew slowly and therefore brew a bitter and very acidic cup.<br /> <br /> Travelers benefit from being able to brew delicious coffee quickly and easily wherever they are. Luckily there is a perfect way to do just that. The AeroPress Go travel coffee press brews up to three cups of delicious hot or cold brew coffee that is richer, smoother, and lower in acidity than coffee brewed by other travel presses. Simply add ground coffee and water, stir briskly, press, and enjoy a cup of hot or cold brew coffee in just a minute or two.<br /> <br /> The AeroPress Go travels self- contained in its own mug with a lid, making it easy to fit in a suitcase, in a desk, with camping gear, in an RV or in a backpack. It is compact, lightweight, and durable, making it easy to transport. And it cleans up in just a few seconds with a quick rinse.<br /> <br /> The AeroPress Go's ability to make cold brew coffee is a big additional advantage because it can be used where there is no access to hot water. Wherever you go, there is almost always a source of water, but often no way to heat it. Use the AeroPress Go to join the hot new trend of drinking coffee that's an amazingly smooth, rich cold brew. With the AeroPress Go, it's easy to brew a cup of cold brew using unheated water in about two minutes.<br /> <br /> Visit <a target='_blank' href="https://aeropress.com/">https://aeropress.com/</a> for more information about how to brew great coffee on the road.<br /> <br /> Ref: Gadgets - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - Owning a home is a huge investment, and once they've owned long enough to build up equity, many homeowners opt to leverage the equity for other uses. But if you're on the fence about taking on another monthly loan payment, an option that may be right for you is co-investing.<br /> <br /> With a home equity loan, you borrow against the equity in your home and receive a lump sum of money that you have to pay back each month over a specified term - commonly 15 years. The interest rate is usually fixed, but is typically higher than your primary mortgage.<br /> <br /> Co-investing offers an alternative to traditional home equity loans. In a nutshell, the co-investing company pays the homeowner an upfront amount, with no repayments for a set number of years, or until the home is sold, whichever comes first. There may also be an option to buy the company out, after a minimum restriction period passes. This option can be ideal for a homeowner who wants access to cash without the added financial burden of monthly loan payments, who has lived in a home long enough to build up some equity, and plans to stay at least another five years.<br /> <br /> Unison, a San-Francisco-based real estate company, is a leader in the growing field of co-investment. Unison offers homeowners a cash payment of up to 17.5 percent of their home's current market value. When the house is sold or 30 years pass, the owner pays Unison an amount equal to the initial co-investment, plus (or minus) a percentage of the home's appreciated (or depreciated) value.<br /> <br /> Here's an example: A homeowner whose home is currently worth $500,000 and who needed $25,000 in cash (5 percent of the home's value) would repay an amount equal to $25,000 plus 25 percent* of the amount the house appreciates in value during the time of the co-investment. With a larger co-investment, the company receives a larger share of the appreciation in value.<br /> <br /> Homeowners can use their cash for anything, but Unison recommends something of long-term value, such as kids' college tuition, medical expenses, home remodeling, or investing in diverse stocks and bonds.<br /> <br /> Other benefits of co-investing: Keeping gains from remodeling work and keeping the equity built from prompt mortgage payments.<br /> <br /> Being a good candidate for homeowner co-investing is not so different from being a good homeowner generally. Unison requires that homeowners keep the home as their primary residence; stay current on payments for mortgages, property tax, and homeowners' insurance; keep the home well-maintained to retain and increase value; and keep Unison informed of issues, such as remodeling plans or emergencies, such as natural disasters, bankruptcy, or plans to sell the home.<br /> <br /> To find out how Unison can help you get the most out of homeownership, visit unison.com.<br /> <br /> *This is a possible percentage for illustrative purposes. The actual percentage varies based on the specific HomeOwner transaction.<br /> <br /> Ref: Housework - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - Is your dog bad to the bone? Does your sweet Jack Russel guard all doors from intruders -- friends and family included? Or is it your Boxer puppy that won't stop shredding socks and underwear? Some of the cutest pooches have the worst manners. Whether you're at work or just in another room, their mischievous play may lead to anything from home repairs to staggering vet bills.<br /> <br /> Pooches and owners alike can relate to this common problem, and getting the magical, behavioral transformation you've always fantasized about is closer than you think -- pet care authority Camp Bow Wow held a contest, "Bad to The Bone: Camp Bow Wow's Worst Behaved Dog Contest," to discover North America's most ill-mannered dog. The winning pooch received a full year of free services ($3,000 value) at a local Camp or Home Buddies (an in-home care service offered by Camp Bow Wow) of their choice. Most importantly, the winning dog also received free dog training to correct those bad habits.<br /> <br /> If you are a frustrated pet owner who doesn't have time to wait to win a contest like this, here are five dog-training tips straight from the Behavior Buddies experts at Camp Bow Wow to get you started:<br /> <br /> 1. Proper exercise is key! A majority of behavior issues stem from a lack of proper exercise. At least one 30-minute walk per day is sufficient for most dogs. Playing in the backyard or in the house does not count as exercise.<br /> <br /> 2. Buy a dog backpack for walks. This allows your dog to have a job and adds weight with objects like water bottles or hand weights so the dog expends more energy.<br /> <br /> 3. Challenge your dog with brain puzzles. A mentally tired dog will not spend time thinking about how to get in the garbage or waste breath yipping at neighbors.<br /> <br /> 4. Take a training class. Getting your dog to respect you is critical to having your dog listen to you.<br /> <br /> 5. Send your dog to Camp Bow Wow or hire a Home Buddies Care Giver to take Fido on a walk. A tired dog is a good dog!<br /> <br /> If your beloved Fido is still opening cabinets and devouring furniture, enter him or her in Camp Bow Wow.<br /> <br /> For more information, visit www.campbowwow.com to see the location finder for the nearest Camp Bow Wow or Home Buddies near you.<br /> <br /> Ref: Funny - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - Especially in stressful times, curling up with some positive TV programs can be a much-needed relaxing experience for the whole family.<br /> <br /> The UPtv slate of Easter programming, scheduled for April 4 through April 12, is ready to support family togetherness with two weekends of movies to celebrate the Easter season and encourage reflection and positive thinking.<br /> <br /> "As the home for uplifting programming, we can't think of a better time than now to celebrate feel-good films and inspiring biblical stories. In-Lawfully Yours is a perfect way to cap-off Easter Sunday with the entire family," says Hector Campos, vice president of content strategy for UPtv.<br /> <br /> In-Lawfully Yours features a clash of personalities when a fun-loving New Yorker played by Chelsey Crisp (Fresh Off the Boat) moves to a small town to help her recently widowed ex-mother-in-law, played by Marilu Henner (Taxi, L.A. Story). The locals may not approve, but sparks fly when she meets the church pastor.<br /> <br /> Want more love? Tune in on Saturday, April 4, for a marathon of romantic movies in the UPtv tradition. The event kicks off with Love Takes Wing at 3p.m. EST, in which newly minted doctor and new widow Belinda becomes a "Regional Doctor," traveling through small towns in turn-of-the-century America, finding love and discovering the joy of parenthood along the way. The series continues with Love Finds a Home, Love Begins, Love's Everlasting Courage, and Love's Christmas Journey, Parts I and II, airing consecutively. The movies are based on the popular books by Janette Oke.<br /> <br /> The Palm Sunday lineup takes a more faithful tone, with Courageous at 11:30 a.m., which follows the personal and professional lives of four sheriff's deputies in a small town in Georgia. Other Palm Sunday features include God's Not Dead, War Room, The Passion of the Christ, and a late-night Little House on the Prairie movie marathon.<br /> <br /> UPtv's Good Friday programming includes Noah's Ark at 7 p.m., followed by two showings of The Passion of the Christ at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday's schedule includes the inspirational football-themed movie, Facing the Giants, as well as two showings of Heaven is for Real, at noon and at 7 p.m.<br /> <br /> On Easter Sunday, tune in at noon for The Identical, an uplifting story of twin brothers separated at birth who share a love of music, followed by The Healer, the premiere of the UPtv original movie, Undercover Angel, and the premiere of In-Lawfully Yours.<br /> <br /> For more family-friendly Easter programming, tune in to UPtv's sister service, UP Faith and Family, which features Exodus; Pure Country 2: The Gift; The Left Behind Trilogy; Grace Unplugged; and Dial A Prayer during the month of April.<br /> <br /> Visit uptv.com for more information about these and other uplifting movies and series. Find them on DirecTV Channel 338, Dish Channel 188, Fios TV Channel 738, ATT TV NOW, Philo + Local Providers<br /> <br /> You can also visit uptv.com, or find UPtv on Facebook at <a target='_blank' href="https://www.facebook.com/Uptv,">https://www.facebook.com/Uptv,</a> on Twitter on @Uptv and on Instagram at UP_TV.<br /> <br /> Ref: God - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - The Bible is one of the most studied texts in existence, but a new book reveals a previously unrecognized encrypted message in the Old Testament that foresees the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.<br /> <br /> In the book, The Chamberlain Key: Unlocking the God Code to Reveal Divine Messages Hidden in the Bible, author Timothy Smith describes how he discovered the message by cracking a code in Genesis 30:20-24 in the oldest form of the Hebrew Old Testament.<br /> <br /> Smith, an appraiser and restorer of fine art and antiquities, was researching his family history and became intrigued by the Torah after learning that his matriarchal ancestors were in fact Sephardic Jews, and early Christians of Jewish decent. He said in a statement that he was drawn to the specific passages in Genesis because of parallels between descriptions of the family of Jacob, known as the father of the House of Israel, and his own family.<br /> <br /> Smith assessed the passages using an equidistant letter skip decryption method inspired by the Hebrew spelling of his name (the nine-letter Timotheus). He discovered not only his own name, but also biographical information that reflected other members of his family<br /> <br /> As he reviewed the passage in Genesis using the code, Smith found details about the birth, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus. He also identified references to religious images, including the Rocio Madonna, clues to the location of the contents of the Ark of the Covenant, and warnings of the spread of anti-Semitism, hate, and violence.<br /> <br /> Smith's research methods and conclusions have been reviewed by experts, including Dr. Robert Jahn, dean emeritus of engineering at Princeton University, and Dr. Eugene Ulrich, chief editor of the Biblical Dead Sea Scrolls and professor of Hebrew Scripture and Theology at University of Notre Dame.<br /> <br /> "Never before have so many high-level language and scientific experts agreed that the encrypted structures we have detected in this section of the Hebrew text, and the other structures logically predicted from this key code, are a very deliberate attempt by the Author of the pre-Christian text to make 'contact.' No other published 'Bible code' discoveries impress us in this way," Smith says.<br /> <br /> The Chamberlain Key takes readers through Smith's journey of discovery, including his personal account of the spiritual experiences that inspired him to pursue his research into the Torah.<br /> <br /> In addition, a history documentary series about the book and Smith's story are in production and scheduled to air within the year.<br /> <br /> For more information, visit <a target='_blank' href="http://chamberlainkey.com.">http://chamberlainkey.com.</a> <br /> <br /> Ref: God - in Blogs

(NewsUSA) - Janie Bryant, the Emmy Award-winning costume designer for AMC TV's "Mad Men," knows what it takes to make clothes look great.<br /> <br /> Not only does she contribute to the visual representation of the entire cast, she brings a 1960s glamour to the period show that makes real people scour vintage shops to look like Joan Holloway and Don Draper.<br /> <br /> Sure, audiences love the characters and their drama, but the beautifully authentic wardrobe stole the spotlight from the start. In her role, Bryant sketches, designs and fits the costumes for each character, which includes custom-made items and rebuilt vintage gems.<br /> <br /> "One thing I've always been passionate about is how important presentation is to having great style. Looking pressed and polished is often just as important as what you're actually wearing," says Bryant, which explains why she released a fabric care guide of useful clothing advice.<br /> <br /> "The best way to pull off that look is to know how to take great care of your clothing. [The Mad Men] era is all about being wrinkle-free and permanently pressed."<br /> <br /> Take a look at some of Bryant's fabric care advice:<br /> <br /> * Some fabrics are vulnerable to water spotting -- like acetate, silk and suede -- so be careful when applying perfume or body spray. Delicate garments like these tend to require dry cleaning, or hand-washing, and low-heat settings.<br /> <br /> * Beware of "pilly" clothing that looks worn out, such as nylon and acrylic. If fabric is susceptible to pills, it's best to launder, dry and iron at low heat. You may consider laying these items out to dry, especially sweaters.<br /> <br /> * Although cotton remains the world's most popular fabric, it is prone to wrinkling. The majority of cotton clothing can be machine-washed, but items with embellishments or accents should be turned inside out or put in a delicates bag.<br /> <br /> * If wrinkles attack, use a fail-safe. Bryant trusts Downy Wrinkle Releaser so much that she advises you to have a bottle at home, in the office and in any overnight bag. Just spritz clothing, shake and gently pull to release stubborn kinks.<br /> <br /> "On or off the set, the clothes that I work with and wear always need to look their best," Bryant says. "Not only does Downy Wrinkle Releaser work well on the vintage fabrics I work with during the day, but all the modern fabrics found in stores today. It's a must-have for people who need to look neat and pressed and those who need to be out the door in a flash."<br /> <br /> For more information, visit www.downywrinklereleaser.com. <br /> <br /> Ref: Fashion Men - in Blogs