#Category C First Aid Kit

[adecmarine]

Lifejackets for Sale | Marine Safety Equipment | VHF Marine Radio | Lifebuoys

ADEC Marine can supply everything you need when it comes to lifejackets. They are our specialty. We can offer you foam-filled lifejackets, inflatable lifejackets, buoyancy aids, personal flotation devices, industrial workers lifejackets, single and twin chambered CO2 inflation jackets. You name it, we can supply it. Our lifejackets are all approved to the necessary worldwide approval standards where applicable.

Here we offer our most popular range of jackets suitable for Charter and Fishing Boat Operators. We have the Besto and Eval Foam-filled range of lifejackets, plus our very own ADEC Range of ISO approved CO2 inflation lifejackets.

Plus we can supply everything you need for your lifejacket - rearming packs, lifejacket lights, crotch straps, safety lines, safety harnesses, spray hoods and more.

If you are not sure exactly what you require, let us help, use our contact form or just call us on 020 8686 9717.

 About AdecMarine

ADEC Marine ease the burden of knowing what is the correct marine safety supplies to purchase as our expertise and knowledge will keep you in safe hands. ADEC Marine started in 1965 and has been selling, servicing and hiring marine safety equipment ever since. Our staff have a wealth of knowledge and expertise to guide you in buying the correct marine safety equipment for when out at sea.

 ADEC Marine are a Member of the British Marine Federation.

 As well as the service of inflatable life rafts, inflatable boats, inflatable life jackets, immersion suits, tenders and dinghies, we also have an extensive fleet of inflatable life rafts for hire, from 4 person canopied yachting type to 130 person commercial open reversible liferafts. We operate our own Marine and Coastguard Agency (MCA) approved Liferaft and Life jacket Service Station in London.

 We can supply SOLAS/UK MCA/EC/MED approved marine safety equipment worldwide, such as liferafts, lifejackets, distress flares, ACR EPIRB's, Icom VHF Radios, SARTS, lifebuoys, anchor chain, fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, radar.

[stillcamp]

Your Ultimate Guide: Top 10 Family Camping Tips for a Getaway

Planning a family camping trip can be both & a bit daunting. Especially if you’re new to camping But don’t worry! With the right preparation and mindset, you can turn your outdoor adventure into a beautiful family memory. In this post, we’ve talked about the top 10 family camping tips to make sure you have a great getaway.

Plan Ahead of Family Camping Trips

Research Your Destination

Before hitting the road, spend some time researching your camping destination. Look for family-friendly campsites that offer amenities like restrooms, showers, & recreational activities. Websites like Recreation.gov and Hipcamp provide good info on various campsite options.

Make Reservations Early

Popular campsites fill up quickly, especially during peak season. Reserve your spot early to avoid last-minute stress.

“The best family camping trips start with good planning. Knowing the location & facilities available sets the stage for a smooth adventure.”

Pack Wisely

Create a Checklist

A checklist ensures you don’t forget essential items. Divide your list into categories such as shelter, cooking, clothing, and first-aid kits. Cross things off as you pack to stay organized.

Bring Appropriate Gear

Invest in a good-quality tent, sleeping bags that match the weather conditions, and a portable stove. Don’t forget essentials like a first-aid kit, flashlights (and extra batteries). REI’s camping checklist can be a handy guide.

Clothes for All Weather

Weather in the great outdoors can be unpredictable. Pack layers (and waterproof gear), hats, and gloves so everyone stays comfy no matter what.

Choose The Right Campsite

Proximity to Amenities

Search for campsites close to restrooms and water sources especially if you have young kids.

Safe and Flat Terrain

A flat (shaded) area makes for a comfortable campsite. Check for hazards like branches above or rough ground that might pose risks.

Involve Everyone in Preparations

Assign Roles

Make Family Camping Trips a team effort by assigning roles to each family member. From pitching the tent to gathering firewood giving everyone tasks keeps kids engaged & teaches them valuable skills.

Plan Group Activities

Bring games (books), and outdoor activities like hiking or scavenger hunts. Activities keep everyone entertained & bring quality Family Camping time.

“Family Camping is a perfect opportunity for kids to learn responsibility and teamwork. Plus it’s more fun when everyone gets involved!”

Stay Safe

Food Safety

Store food in airtight containers (keep it away) from the sleeping area to avoid attracting wildlife! Use a cooler with ice packs to keep perishables fresh. CDC’s Campers’ Checklist is a useful resource for food safety tips.

Fire Safety

Teach your kids to fire safety basics always supervise the campfire and ensure it’s completely extinguished before going to bed or leaving the campsite.

Respect Nature

Leave No Trace

Instill respect for nature in children by following Leave No Trace principles pack out all trash minimize campfire impact & respect wildlife! Visit the Leave No Trace website for more information.

Eco-Friendly Products

Use biodegradable soap (reusable dishes) & water bottles to minimize environmental impact!

Keep Kids Entertained

Nature Exploration

Encourage kids to explore their surroundings! Bring a magnifying glass or nature journal to spark interest.

Storytelling and Campfire Songs

Gather around the campfire for old-fashioned storytelling or sing-along sessions it’s a fun way to bond & create memories!

Keep Meals Simple And Fun

Easy Kid-Friendly Recipes

Plan simple yet delicious meals Whole Family Camping tips can enjoy! Think easy-to-cook options like hot dogs (foil-wrapped veggies) & marshmallows for dessert!

Involve Kids Cooking

Kids love helping especially when it comes to food! Let them assist with meal Preparing/Cooking is a great way to teach about outdoor cooking/safety!

“One of our favorite memories is making s’mores around the campfire-simple recipes lead unforgettable experiences!”

Prepare For Emergencies

First-Aid Kit

Always have a stocked first-aid kit on hand including bandages antiseptic medications-anything else might need minor injuries to occur!

Know The Area

Familiarize area including the nearest hospital/emergency contacts!

Teaching kids what to do in case of emergencies- is crucial!

Enjoy And Disconnect

Limit Screen Time

Camping perfect opportunity to disconnect from technology! Encourage everyone to put away devices and immerse themselves in nature!

Savor Moments

Take time to enjoy the beauty around spectacular sunset-sound River-joy being together and cherish every moment!

“Disconnecting from the digital world and reconnecting with each other-what camping about!”

Conclusion:

With a bit of preparation/positive attitude-family camping tips wonderful experience for everyone! From planning ahead involving kids activities-tips designed to help create lasting memories perfect getaway!

So-pack bags gather loved ones-head out adventure treasure forever!

Remember-stay safe respect nature-most importantly-have fun!

Happy Camping!!

Visite Our Official Website - StillCamp

[barnshenntoys]

The Ultimate Guide to Interactive Toys for 4-Year-Olds

Interactive toys play a vital role in the development and growth of young children, especially 4-year-olds who are curious, imaginative, and eager to explore the world around them. These toys engage children in active play, stimulate their senses, foster creativity, and promote essential skills like problem-solving and social interaction. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the exciting world of interactive toys specifically designed for 4-year-olds, covering a wide range of categories and offering recommendations to help you choose the best options for your child.

Why Choose Interactive Toys?

At the age of 4, children are rapidly developing their cognitive, motor, and social skills. Interactive toys provide numerous benefits that aid in this developmental phase:

Engagement: Interactive toys capture a child's attention and encourage prolonged play, keeping them engaged and focused.

Learning: Many interactive toys are educational, teaching concepts such as letters, numbers, colors, shapes, and problem-solving skills.

Imagination: Interactive toys spark creativity and imaginative play, allowing children to explore different roles and scenarios.

Motor Skills: Toys that require physical interaction, such as building blocks or puzzles, help develop fine and gross motor skills.

Social Development: Interactive toys that involve cooperative play can enhance social skills like sharing, taking turns, and teamwork.

Types of Interactive Toys for 4-Year-Olds

Let's explore popular categories of interactive toys suitable for 4-year-olds:

1. Building and Construction Toys

Toys like LEGO sets, magnetic building tiles, and wooden blocks are perfect for fostering creativity and fine motor skills. They allow children to build structures, vehicles, and imaginary worlds, promoting spatial awareness and problem-solving.

Recommended Toys: LEGO Duplo sets, Magna-Tiles, Melissa & Doug Wooden Blocks

2. Educational Electronics

Interactive gadgets designed for young learners offer engaging ways to explore numbers, letters, and basic concepts through games and activities. These toys often have audio and visual features that appeal to preschoolers.

Recommended Toys: LeapFrog LeapStart, VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch, Osmo Genius Starter Kit

3. Pretend Play Sets

Imaginative playsets like kitchens, doctor kits, and dollhouses allow children to role-play and mimic real-life scenarios, enhancing social skills and creativity. Look for sets with interactive features such as lights, sounds, and movable parts.

Recommended Toys: KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen, Melissa & Doug Doctor Role Play Costume Set, Fisher-Price Little People Caring for Animals Farm

4. Interactive Books and Puzzles

Books with buttons that produce sounds, interactive storybooks, and puzzles with auditory cues are excellent for developing language skills and problem-solving abilities.

Recommended Toys: LeapFrog LeapReader, Melissa & Doug Sound Puzzle Set, Eric Carle My First Smart Pad Library

5. Outdoor and Physical Activity Toys

Toys that encourage physical activity are essential for gross motor skill development and overall health. Consider tricycles, scooters, and sports equipment suitable for preschoolers.

Recommended Toys: Radio Flyer Red Rider Trike, Micro Mini Original Kick Scooter, Little Tikes T-Ball Set

6. Art and Craft Supplies

Exploration through art is crucial for creativity and self-expression. Provide your child with age-appropriate art supplies like washable paints, crayons, and modeling clay.

Recommended Toys: Crayola Inspiration Art Case, Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set, Melissa & Doug Easel Accessory Set

7. Interactive Games and Puzzles

Board games and puzzles designed for young children promote critical thinking, turn-taking, and cooperative play. Look for games that are simple to understand yet challenging enough to keep them interested.

Recommended Toys: The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, Ravensburger Disney Castle Puzzle, ThinkFun Zingo Bingo

How to Choose the Right Interactive Toy

When selecting interactive toys for your 4-year-old, keep the following considerations in mind:

Safety: Choose toys made from non-toxic materials with no small parts that could pose a choking hazard.

Developmental Benefits: Opt for toys that align with your child's interests and developmental stage, offering age-appropriate challenges.

Durability: Select toys that are well-made and durable to withstand frequent play and exploration.

Engagement: Look for toys that capture your child's attention and encourage active participation.

Educational Value: Seek toys that provide learning opportunities while being entertaining and enjoyable.

Conclusion

Interactive toys for 4-year-olds are not just fun; they are essential tools for fostering growth and development in young children. By providing a variety of interactive toys that cater to different interests and learning styles, you can stimulate your child's curiosity, creativity, and social skills. Whether it's building a towering castle with blocks, pretending to be a superhero, or solving puzzles together, interactive playtime lays the foundation for a lifelong love of learning and exploration. Choose wisely, and watch your child thrive in the world of interactive toys!

[astrorising]

This is serious.

To my friends in Louisiana, you are in serious danger. We need to talk.

Hurricane Ida still has all night to brew in the hot Gulf to strengthen. Ida is predicted to hit as a strong category 3, category 4.

But of course, this isn’t breaking news to you my resilient southern kings and queens. You all know the drill by now, but this time the situation is a little more different. Not a whole lot of time to prepare (in hurricane season fashion), and a whole lot of anxiety to work through. If there’s anything I can do from miles away, I want to use this time to break down a basic plan and survival skills. 

What is the biggest threat of a hurricane?

Storm surge happens when the wind from the hurricane gusts pushes the ocean water onto land. It is highly dangerous and almost impossible to survive. The currents of the storm surge are so fast, while the winds are aggressively blowing; it takes the crown for biggest threat of a hurricane.

More info on storm surge: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/stormsurge-stormtide.html

Storm surge vs storm tide: https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/surge/

How to make a life jacket out of jeans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUhZzWNcPKI

Tornadoes in a hurricane?!

Why, yes! Majority of the tornadoes happen on the outer bands of the hurricane. Why is that you ask? The winds of the hurricane, and the friction of the land. The winds and updraft of landing create the perfect recipe for tornadoes. The tornadoes in hurricane are typically wrapped in rain... making it more concerning in some ways than your average tornado alley twister. The reason these tornadoes are a bit more concerning is because of the constant wind and rain to begin with, they’re harder to decipher during the storm. Please don’t take this the wrong way, as its more common to experience supercells than you would in a hurricane, tornadoes are typically weaker in hurricanes than tornado alley twisters; but you won’t get warning about these twisters. Hurricane twisters are not always weak, though; so please prepare accordingly. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND AS POWER OUTAGES ARE GUARANTEED. YOU WILL NOT HAVE POWER AND/OR COMMUNICATION FOR DAYS POSSIBLY.

Flooding

I think this is fairly self explanatory and I don’t need to spend much time on this topic. My dear southern kings and queens already know the drill for flooding. Huge risk concerning flooding, here are some tips on flooding.

https://www.almanac.com/content/how-survive-hurricane

https://www.wxii12.com/article/how-to-survive-a-flood-6-things-to-do-now/9550400

https://www.wikihow.com/Survive-a-Flood

Please start to gather emergency necessities like:

Flashlights

Emergency radio!!!!!

Backpack or anything you can carry important documentation and clothes in

Any necessary medications

Non perishables 

First Aid Kit if available 

Find any sturdy board in case you need to float

What can you start doing right now?

Well I hope you’re packing the shits right now!

Turning freezer, fridge, a/c to lowest setting to preserve the food as best as you can! Also to keep your house cool as long as possible!

Board up windows, close and lock all doors. The pressure will most likely break your windows, and the constant wind will easily blow your door in. Keep everything and everyone on the highest level on the building because of the flooding risk.

Filling up jugs, bathtub, etc with water. Anything you can think of so you have drinkable, fresh water.

Any more questions? I will be watching this very closely as I’m very worried about everyone. Please stay safe my loves. Feel more than welcome to reblog and/or add any tips!

[larphacks]

Process Hack: Welfare

Hi all! After a long hiatus, ya boy is back with more unsolicited advice!

What are we talking about this week? It’s LARP welfare!

Common at medium and large games, the role of welfare officer, sometimes called “site parent”, and sometimes divided into crew welfare and player welfare, is very important. It’s also something which can go really smoothly if you do some decent prep before the event. I’ve been discussing the role with some LARPer friends recently, and I’ve put together some advice for good ways to tackle this role.

Some of the below advice falls into the category of sensible prep that everyone can do before a game too, so feel free to read even if you don’t hold (or want to hold) a position like this!

Some of the jobs I outline below might not fall into every welfare officer’s purview - mix and match as you choose. (If you’ve been asked to look after player or crew welfare and don’t know which of the below are your responsibilities, that means you need to have a chat with the chief organisers and find out!)

1. Positive Energy

This can be a surprisingly high-energy role. Particularly in the crew room, one of the most important things a welfare officer can do is be positive and energetic when everyone is feeling a bit tired and down. This is hard! But a bit of jollying-along goes a huge way to changing the dynamic. This is even harder when YOU'RE the one feeling tired and cold and sad. But if you are visibly struggling, nobody will approach you when they need help! A "brave face" is your best weapon.

2. Shut Up!

Sometimes you need to be the "voice of reason" - getting people to concentrate, or quiet down, when it's important that something needs to be done quickly. One good way to do this is to be cheerful enough most of the time that people LISTEN on the rare occasions that you raise your voice and ask them to please shut up for a minute.

3. Early Start, Late Finish

The two above points are ESPECIALLY important during set-up and take-down. You need to be "on the ball"/on duty during periods where other people are transiting into and out of the game. During set-up, your keen crew and players will all be busy frothing and sniffing each other's butts because they haven't seen each other for a year, they want to show off their new kit, and their adrenaline is through the roof. But - it's 30 minutes to time-in and nobody's in kit and the IC areas aren't set-dressed. You need to get them moving!

During take-down, everyone is exhausted, a bit overwhelmed, and wants to sleep (including the refs). But the site needs to be taken down, cleaned and tidied up, lost property needs to be organised, and there are always last-minute disasters involved in the logistics of getting people off site. You can't collapse now - your job isn't done. You might not be in charge of take-down, but you ARE the right person to gently corral and rally tired people towards the plan.

4. Who does what?

If you're the first point of call for someone who's having an issue, being able to confidently signpost to other crew is really important. So firstly, you should know exactly what the other other staff members do and where they're likely to be (in both time and space). If a player comes to you and says "I'm really struggling with the Sorcery rules and I feel very stupid", then sure, you can (and should!) offer them some immediate comfort and consolation. But in order to help them with the root of the problem, you need to know several bits of information:

a) What are the different staff members' responsibilities/expertises? Who does what? (Mike is the person who handles Sorcery rules.) b) Where in space are the other staff located? (Mike is currently refereeing the Clawed Fiend encounter on top of the hill.) c) When in time are the other staff available? (The Clawed Fiend encounter can't be interrupted. It is scheduled to end at 2100hrs. Mike should come back to the crew room after that.)

I'd also recommend you have a good "ticket-tracking" system to make sure your incoming queries are handled and nobody falls through the cracks. You could devolve this onto players ("Come back at 2110hrs and ask to speak to Mike") but it will help things flow smoothly if you are also logging things yourself. I'd recommend carrying a small notebook and pen so you can note things down and tick things off. You can also help things along by being an active communicator and setting the emotional context for solutions. If Mike comes back at 2100 and immediately gets jumped by an emotional player, he might be tired and confused and not give the best answer. But if he comes back and you tell him "There's a player who is having a bad time with the Sorcery rules, they seem quite distressed, I think you can help, they'll be around in 10 minutes" then he won't be surprised and will have the right bit of his brain switched on.

5. It’s all in the Filofax

There is admin information about players/crew which will really help you if something goes wrong too. I'd suggest having the following on-hand, glued into your notebook, on a tablet, or otherwise kept secure on your person (since some of it's sensitive personal data):

a) A list of everyone's allergies and medical conditions. b) A list of qualified first-aiders, and the locations of first-aid kits. c) A list of every vehicle on site, registration number against player/crew name, in case you need a car moved in a hurry. d) A rough understanding of who arrived from where, with whom. It doesn't need to be exhaustive, but if the vehicle which brought 6 people from London breaks down irrecoverably, then being able to help sketch out solutions to get those people and their kit home will be massively easier if you know roughly where people came from.

6. The Outside World

You are likely to also need to be able to signpost to help *outside* the game. If a player comes to you with a problem that can't be fixed with on-site resources, what are you going to do about it? You can't predict every scenario, but at a minimum I'd suggest having the following prepared:

a) A breakdown service for the vehicle that won't start (in the UK the most common is the AA). b) A mental health or emotional support helpline, like the Samaritans (116123). c) The emergency number for injured wildlife - in the UK, the RSPCA (0300 1234 999). d) The emergency and non-emergency medical numbers (in the UK: 999 emergency, 111 non-emergency) and police numbers (UK: 999 emergency, 101 non-emergency). e) A clear understanding of where on site you can get mobile phone signal. f) A plan for how you would get an ambulance onto site if you needed one: run through the whole thing (where on site can I get enough signal to call the ambulance? What is the postcode of the site, and do I have a set of clear directions to give the dispatcher in my notebook? Who am I sending to the site entrance to walk the ambulance on? Is their most likely route of approach clear for a large vehicle?). If you've never called an ambulance in this country, then ask someone who *has* to practice with you, so you understand what questions they'll ask and in what order.

7. Kit & kaboodle

The following are things which LARPers reliably fail to provide for themselves, and which you will benefit greatly if you have on hand. Find out from the organisers what your budget is, and buy accordingly:

a) Salty snacks (crisps/nuts) and quick energy (sweets/fruit). Keep a small separate store aside from the usual 'crew food' to help someone who is struggling. b) The ability to make a hot sweet drink in a hurry. c) Hydration solution (Dioralyte, Powerade, or the cheap alternative, which is six teaspoons of sugar and half a teaspoon of salt per litre of clean water). d) Paper and pens. e) High-powered torch (for searching for lost objects). f) Your own phone on an in-country network, plus at least one charged mobile phone powerbank with multiple charger ends. g) Ice packs - ideally the "squeeze to activate" sort so you aren't relying on the site freezer. (Most common item left out of first aid kids - and immediate relief/comfort for the most common LARP injuries.) h) Warm blankets. i) An idea of how you'd provide a simple hot meal in a hurry. (This could be a packet of rice you can chuck in the microwave, a cup-soup and kettle, a ration pack and a Jetboil, or a good understanding of what the caterers' plan is for an emergency meal.)

If someone is in a lot of distress, going through the process of dealing with their physical needs (food/water/temperature/etc.) can often help them become better able to communicate their psychological/emotional needs. Often a LARPer who is dehydrated or low on blood sugar doesn't KNOW that's the problem, they just know they feel awful and are crashing hard.

8. Know the Ground

KNOW YOUR SITE - I can't stress this enough. If someone has a costume disaster and needs somewhere private to change, where can they do that? If someone is overwhelmed and needs a quiet, safe, cool (or warm) room or tent to lie down in for an hour, where can they do that? If a shy new player shows up and asks "Where do I put my kit?", then being able to answer them quickly and competently with a smile on your face will immediately endear you (and mean that they WILL come to you later, when they're suffering, instead of sitting alone on their bed being sad about it).

9. Late Bloomers

What is the late arrivals plan? If you went IC at 1900 and the traffic means some of your players don't arrive till 2200, then most of your key refs/crew will be busy running the game. You're the most likely person to escort the late arrivals onto site, get them set up, and get them integrated into the game. You'll need to reassure, but you'll also need to understand a lot of admin details to make sure they don't feel any more overwhelmed and embarrassed than they already do. This might involve giving a second safety briefing, pointing out any last-minute changes that weren't included in the game pack, and pointing them to the right ref to get their characters timed in. You can be as nice and friendly as you like - but some people will be even more reassured by practical, reliable and clear directions when they’re feeling rushed and panicky.

10. Herd those Cats

What is the crew plan? Depending on role, you may or may not be involved in "crew wrangling" - this is often a separate role, and deserves its own post. But even if you aren't "crew boss", you need to understand and be able to help balance crew energy and engagement. If there are long periods where crew are likely to be sitting around bored, where are the "pick-up-and-play" roles they can briefly read, digest, and go out to engage in? If crew are doing three hours of back-to-back combat roles, where is the plan for ensuring that they're all fed, watered, rested and properly kitted before their next high-energy role? The best refs will have considered this and have a clear plan for managing crew in small teams to maintain their energy levels - but as a welfare officer you are likely to be the advocate/interface if it doesn't seem to be working well, so make sure you understand where the weak spots and frictions in the plan might be so you can deal with them in advance.

What happens if a crew member comes to you and says they're really struggling with their NPC role and aren't enjoying it? (If you're the approachable face, they'll likely come to you first before a busier ref!) Do you understand the crew matrix well enough to think about solutions, alternative roles they could do, or how the timetable could be re-worked to end their role early? Wherever possible, you should strive to go to the refs with a solution rather than a problem: "Harry is struggling and I think if we brought the poisoning forward an hour, then let him play a gremlin for the rest of the night, that would fix it" is better than "Harry is struggling". They may not accept your solution, but the conversation is already moving onto alternative ways to fix the problem.

11. Easy In, Easy Out

How do players enter/leave the game if they're fatigued or unwell? Your game may not have a clear system for this, and it may be players' own responsibility to manage their fatigue. However, some will struggle to cross the IC/OC divide here: if the character is fighting for their life, how do they resolve that with the player needing to have a lie-down for an hour so they're safe to drive the next day? One of the best games I've run had a clear, signposted system where players who needed a break could "vanish" IC (with a clear IC logic for their disappearance) and take as much time as they wanted. When they were rested, they could go see a ref for a special briefing which told them what had happened while they were away (and explained how they reappeared). You won't find this in every game, but think about ways to make taking an OC break feel like a positive and productive experience, which leaves the character with plenty to talk about when they return, rather than a potentially embarrassing one which leaves the player out-of-the-loop and feeling like they've missed out on the fun.

12. Look After Number One!

Practice active self-care, both to facilitate all of the above and as a good example to others. Going back to the first point, most people can't project positive energy if they're sad, wet, cold, tired and hungry. Have a routine worked out to look after yourself. Understand what you can and can't do and work to your limitations. If you have lots of physical energy but are struggling to deal with six emotional crises in a row, get up and walk around site. If moving exhausts you, pick a central location to base yourself and make sure all the things you need to do your job are in easy reach.

Feel free to reblog with your own additions, checklist items or hacks for looking after your fellow LARPers’ welfare. Suggestions gratefully accepted!

[encrucijada]

THREE GIRLS WHO CRIED WOLF by ester cuervos

an introduction !

○ genre: literary fiction / low fantasy ○ category: adult ○ pov: first person retrospective ○ that feeling you get from an indie movie, lgbtqa+, the “wolf” in the title isn't a metaphor there are actual wolves, found family, childhood wonder with the reluctance of a teenager, werewolves but whimsical instead of sexy ○ cw: graphic death, gore, mental illness, toxic relationships, discussion of suicide ○ themes: avoiding accountability, denial, the power of choice, actions have consequences, narrator bias ○ tone: melancholic, raw, quiet, wistful, soft & sharp

a b o u t : told in three parts about best friends iris ibarra, winnie gil and maree peña who one day find an abandoned litter of wolf pups in the forest of their lake-side town. each part is dedicated to one of the girls and we follow each of their version of the story for two years: before and after they graduate high school… and how the bad things might have been caused by the wolves.

WINNIE GIL... loves someone who doesn’t want to love her back so she tries to love two other people, doing things her own way so she doesn’t have to conform to others, hasn’t accepted the idea of people in her head will never be as they really are. IRIS IBARRA... has herself convinced of her own invulnerability and confidence, doing things for others so it turns out the way she wants it, her type of kindness isn’t exactly ideal, consciously forgets to consider consequences might not just affect her. MAREE PEÑA... is incapable of telling people no or standing up for herself, learned to be okay with getting overlooked, struggling with keeping a mess from spreading, trying her very best to remain kind because if not her then who?

c h a r a c t e r s: ○ iris ibarra. she/they. asexual. hierarchy of needs: leaf?? < be a brat unprompted < i hope the forest critters know i am their friend or else i’ll cry < hold s/o’s hand < be an actual wolf. an older sister. ○ winnie gil. she/her. lesbian. hierarchy of needs: a cool snow globe < turtleneck worn with an overall < kiss a girl < be right in every situation < ice skating. a younger sister. ○ maree peña. she/her. aromantic. hierarchy of needs: bright coloured lipstick < oversharing emotions with strangers < the smell of new book < to be liked by everyone < a hug. a middle sister. ○ argyle macbay. they/them. asexual. hierarchy of needs: a good night’s sleep < the aesthetic of hanging photographs from twine with wooden clothes clips < an old camera < be held gently by gf. an older sibling.

aesthetic: wolf howls in the distance, bare ribs half-buried in the snow, a light drizzle, low-hanging mist, mossy rocks at the bottom of a river, bubbles rising to the surface as you sink, a bridge entangled with kudzu vines and flowers, feet sinking in mud, jumping on rain puddles with rubber boots, a blackout that lets you see the stars, snow globes with glitter instead of fake snow, the bells of buoys, friendship bracelets, trails of blood on the snow, ripped stuffed toys, branches reflected on a cup of coffee, the low sunlight through a bathroom window, the whisper of the wind, star doodles on the margins of notebooks, astrological birth charts

playlist: ribs / the crane wives ; wolves without teeth / of monsters and men ; rebel heart / first aid kit ; achilles come down / gang of youths ; feel something / jaymes young ; forest fires / axel flóvent ; just my soul responding / amber run ; hunger / florence + the machine ; organs / of monsters and men ; stomach it / crywolf ft. eden ; howling / wild rivers ; running with the wolves / aurora ; see you through my eyes / the head and the heart ; lover, please stay / nothing but thieves ; on the wing / owl city ; tomorrow / daughter ; sick of losing soulmates / dodie ; crash / eden ; soap / the oh hellos ; older / sasha sloan ; believe / mitch king ; in a week / hozier

[futurebicon]

This came to me a few nights ago at 5:00 in the morning and I wrote a note to myself but if took days to figure it out cause I wrote “L O Hurry”.

Warning- panic attack, mentions of death, natural disaster, needles, flooding.

Please send in more ideas or prompts I love your ideas. And yes I am working on an adoption fic but I want it to be good so it might take a while.

(Pretend that Leo’s older or the disaster happened later)

Rain beat hard against the bus. Leo and Finn were distracting Logan from the storm, they were all playing Minecraft together. Logan had headphones on to try and drown out the sound of the storm.

Everyone’s phones started blaring with an emergency alert, causing the entire team to jump.

“Flash flood warning” Dumo announced, shouting over the loud rain.

“Might be a little late” Coach said. They looked out the window and saw water rushing down, getting higher by the second.

“I have to pull over, the waters getting too high” the bus driver shouted.

“Leo are you okay?” Finn asked. Leo’s face was white. He gripped the chair hard, his chest heaving. He folded himself in half, hands above his head, shaking his head quickly.

“LEO” Finn shouted, getting the attention of the team. They stood up and went to the back of the bus where the Cubs were.

“Hey, Leo what’s going on?” Remus crouched beside him.

Leo didn’t respond. Continuing to shake his head quickly, his heavy breathing turning into painful gasps.

“Okay, Leo I need you to breathe. Take deep breaths. Breathe for me”

It took a while to calm him down enough to talk.

“Sorry” he muttered.

“Don’t apologize” Logan told him, Finn kissed his temple.

“When, uh, when I was 10 Katrina hit.” Everyone sucked in a breath.

“We didn’t think it would be too bad, we weren’t poor-poor but we definitely weren’t rich. And a lot of our money went into hockey. We lived in the lower ninth quarter, where the levee was. My family had stayed because we thought it was just going to be a category 3 and we had been through, h-hurricanes before” his breth started to pick up again.

“Breathe, love” Finn told him as him and Logan rubbed his back. “You don’t have to tell us if you don’t want too”

Leo shook his head. Taking a breath and running a hand through his hair before continuing.

“Luckily we were near the bridge and further away from the levee but when it broke the waves where close to a tsunami. Our house flooded so quickly we barley got up to the attic in time.” He took a breathe.

“We were stuck for 2 days. We could hear rescue boats but they couldn’t hear us. We e-eventually got a hole big enough to climb onto the attic but it still took another day for another rescue boat to come by” He leaned against Finn.

Tears fell down his face quickly. “My, uh, my best friend. Chase, who also was my neighbor. We played on the same team. He was killed. We- we” he sobbed.

“We saw him after he died, he went by-” he couldn’t finish as sobs took over and he turned into Finns shoulder, shaking his head to try and get the image out of his head.

“Leo, I- I’m so sorry” Dumo whispered.

“I try not to think about it too much but the flood and, it just brought back memories.”

James looked up too the front of the bus, sucking in breath as he saw that the water was halfway up the door, luckily there were steps above it to get onto the bus, but it was still high.

Leo looked over too. “Oh god” he gasped.

Everyone else saw the water level too.

“No, no, no, no, no, no” Leo continued to gasp.

“Breathe Leo, you need to breathe.” Logan told him. “It’s going to be okay, we’re safe”

“No, no, no, no, no” he continued to whisper. His face turning impossibly whiter.

“Leo, come on breathe” Remus stood up, stand in front of him to block his view of the door. “Nothing’s going to happen. You’re okay”

He continued to chant the word, not hearing anyone. Finn pulle the arm rest up. pulling Leo sideways onto his lap. Logan moved to Leo’s spot, rubbing his back and kissing his shoulder and neck.

“Leo. Come on, please breathe.” Finn begged, tears streaming down his face.

“C-can’t” he finally spoke another word.

“I know it feel like you can’t but you can. Feel Finns chest moving and try to copy it..” Remus instructed.

Leo shook his head.

“Yes Leo, you have to breathe.” Remus was getting worried, he could see that Leo was started to zone out. He needed to calm him down before he passed out.

“Leo look at me.” Remus told him, his voice firm. Leo turned his head. “You need to breathe, you’re close to passing out. You have to slow you’re breathing before you pass out completly.”

Logan and Finn visibly tensed up.

“I. Ca-n’t.” he continued to gasp.

“Yes you can, feel Finns chest moving and copy it. Finn I know you’re scared but slow your breathing down for him”

Finn nodded and took a few deep breaths. “You’re going to be fine Leo, but you have to breathe.”

His breathe slowed but it wasn’t in a good way. “Shit his lips are turning blue” Remus said. “Sirius go grab my bag”

Sirius nodded and ran over to get the first aid kit out of the overhead compartment. Bringing it back to Remus.

“Leo” his head was lolling back, Finns hand trying to stabilize it. Him and Logan looked at Remus, their eyes filled with pure terror.

“He’s not going to be able to take pills. I’ll have to give him a shot. It’s like a sedative. It won’t hurt him it’ll just calm him down and make him tired. He’ll fall asleep a few minutes after it, giving his breathing time to calm down.” Remus explained to them. They nodded and both held Leo tighter.

Remus took the shot out of the bag and quickly wiped his arm down with an alcohol wipe before taking the cap off the needle. It was a pretty big sized needle.

“That’s going to hurt him” Logan almost shouted.

“It’s either this or risk cutting off oxygen to his brain.” Remus told him. “Hold him down so he doesn’t move”

Leo was wheezing, the noise awful and heartbreaking. His eyes were slipping closed and then back open, his lips turning bluer by the second.

Remus sunk the needle into his skin, pushing down on the syringe slowly. Leo groaned painfully with what little breath he had left.

“You’re okay. You’re okay” Logan kissed his cheek as tears streamed down his own. Remus pulled the needle out and put it in a hazard container, making a mental note to give it to Moody when they got back.

Leo’s breathing slowed, color slowly returning to his face. He drifted off a couple minutes later.

“Oh thank god” Logan dropped his head against the back of the seat. Finn bringing his forehead to Leo’s. Logan moved and kissed Finns head.

The team let out a sigh of relief, some of them letting out relived laughs.

Remus dropped his head against his chest.

Sirius crouched beside him, running a hand through his hair and kissing his temple. “Good job, mon amour”

Remus also let out a relived laugh and leaned into Sirius.

@lumosinlove

[adecmarine]

Home ADEC Marine prides itself on selling and hiring a complete range of Marine Safety Equipment, from lifejackets to liferafts See our full range of products

[lemonadeandlanguages]

Anglicisms in French

Every language borrows from others. However, whether or not those borrowed words are accepted or considered correct depends on the speakers and the official language academies. In French, for example, week-end is an anglicism that is accepted in France but not in Quebec.

But what exactly is an anglicism? Anglicisms are improper uses of syntax, spelling, or pronunciation of words derived from English. Although common in spoken French, they are frowned upon in more formal contexts.

There are several different categories of anglicisms in French.

1. Semantic anglicisms

Semantic anglicisms are also known as “false friends”. These typically involve using words that exist in French with the English meaning.

e.g.:

Définitivement (to mean: definitely) – instead, use: certainement, assurément

- Définitivement in French means “in a definitive manner, irrevocably, forever”

Pratiquer (to mean: to practice) – instead, use: s’entraîner

- Pratiquer in French means “to put something into practice, to follow, to perform”

Supporter (to mean: to support) – instead, use: encourager, soutenir, appuyer, aider, commanditer

- Supporter in French means “to bear, to handle, to tolerate”

Alternative (to mean: alternative) – instead use: solution, possibilité, choix, option

- Alternative in French means “a situation where one must choose between two (and only two) options”

Estimé (to mean: estimate) – instead, use: estimation, prévision, évaluation

- Estimé in French only exists as a participe passé of the verb estimer

Opportunité (to mean: opportunity) – instead, use: occasion, chance, possibilité

- Opportunité in French means “a favourable occasion, something that is convenient and/or timely”

Questionner (to mean: to question) – instead use: mettre en doute, douter de, contester, s’interroger sur

- Questionner in French means “to interrogate someone”

2. Lexical anglicisms

Lexical anglicisms involve using English words directly in French. These words are sometimes modified to have a more “frenchified” spelling, but the English term is easily recognizable.

e.g.:

Feedback – instead, use: rétroaction

Remake – instead, use: nouvelle adaptation

Best-seller – instead, use: succès en librairie

Coach – instead, use: mentor, entraîneur

Pacemaker – instead, use: stimulateur cardiaque

Brainstorming – instead, use: remue-méninges

Challenge – instead, use: défi

Kit – instead, use: ensemble

3. Syntactic anglicisms

Syntactic anglicisms are expressions that are translated literally from English. They typically involve using the wrong prepositions or the wrong word order in French.

a. Wrong preposition

e.g.:

Être sur l’avion (to mean: to be on a plane) – instead, use: être dans l’avion

Siéger sur un comité (to mean: to be in a committee) – instead, use: siéger à un comité

Vivre en campagne (to mean: to live in the countryside) – instead, use: vivre à la campagne

Être sur aide sociale (to mean: to be on welfare) – instead, use: vivre de l’aide sociale

Un patient sous observation (to mean: a patient under observation) – instead, use: un patient en observation

b. Wrong word order

e.g.:

Les premiers trois mois (to mean: the first three months) – instead, use: les trois premiers mois

Un bon dix minutes (to mean: a good ten minutes) – instead, use: dix bonnes minutes

La personne que j’ai parlé avec (to mean: the person I spoke with) – instead, use: la personne avec qui j’ai parlé

c. Literal translation

e.g.:

Il est un policier (to mean: he is a police officer) – instead, use: il est policier

Être en charge de (to mean: to be in charge of) – instead, use: être chargé/responsable de

Faire du sens (to mean: to make sense) – instead, use: avoir du sens, être logique

Mettre l’emphase sur (to mean: to put emphasis on) – instead, use: mettre l’accent sur, mettre en évidence, insister sur

Demander une question (to mean: to ask a question) – instead, use: poser/formuler une question

Pour votre information (to mean: for your information) – instead, use: pour information, à titre d’information/informatif, à titre indicatif

À l’année longue (to mean: all year long) – instead, use: toute l’année

Heures d’affaires (to mean: business hours) – instead, use: heures d’ouverture/ de bureau

Appel longue distance (to mean: long distance call) – instead, use: appel interurbain

4. Phonetic anglicisms

Phonetic anglicisms involve pronouncing French terms like their English counterparts.

e.g.:

Tévé (to mean: TV) – instead, use: télé

5. Orthographic anglicisms

Orthographic anglicisms are words that exist in French and usually have the same meaning as their English counterpart, but that are spelled the English way instead of the French.

e.g.:

Adresse, not address

Appartement, not apartment

Langage, not language

Girafe, not giraffe

Trafic, not traffic

Gaz, not gas

Connexion, not connection

6. Anglicisms in Quebec

Quebec is known for being stricter about allowing the use of anglicisms in every day speech. That is not to say that they are not present (they are and there’s a lot of them), but some of the terms used internationally have their own French equivalents in the province.

Here are some English terms used in other francophone countries that are considered improper in Quebec.

Week-end – instead, use: fin de semaine

Shopping – instead, use: magasinage

Parking – instead, use: stationnement

E-mail/mail – instead, use: courriel

Drive-in – instead, use: service-au-volant

[tacticsroom]

Camilla: Light of Nohr (Unit Review)

Available at 5★

Lvl 40 Stats (Flaw/Neutral/Asset)

HP: 35/39/42 

Atk: 30/33/36

Spd: 34/37/40

Def: 18/21/24 

Res: 22/25/29

Neutral BST: 155

Max Dragonflowers: 5

Skills

Weapon: Sanngriðr (400 SP)

Mt: 14. Rng: 2. Foe cannot counterattack. If unit initiates combat, grants Atk/Spd +3 during combat. After combat, if unit attacked, inflicts Gravity status effect on target and foes within 1 space of target. Gravity restricts target’s movement to 1 space for the duration of their next action 

Staff. Cannot be inherited. Cannot be refined.

Assist: Restore+ (300 SP)

Restores HP = 50% of unit’s Atk (Minimum of 8 HP). Neutralizes ally penalties (penalties from Panic, Ploy, etc) and status effects (preventing counterattacks, restricting movement, etc) that last through ally’s next actions. 

Can be inherited. Staff only. 

Special: None

A: Atk/Spd Push 4 (300 SP)

At the start of combat, if unit’s HP >= 25%, grants Atk/Spd +7. If unit attacked, unit takes 5 HP recoil damage after combat. 

Can be inherited.

B: Wrathful Staff 3 (240 SP)

Damage from unit’s staff will be calculated the same as other weapons.

Can be inherited. Staff only.

C: Atk Tactic 3 (240 SP)

At the start of turn, grants Atk+6 to all allies within 2 spaces of unit only if number of ally’s movement types on the team is ≤ 2. 

Can be inherited.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ▼ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Analysis

Winning 2nd place in the Women's category, Camilla receives her 6th alt, this time as a flying staff unit. Her 33/37 offensive stats are fairly mediocre on their own, but combined with her kit, she becomes an extremely powerful unit. Her bulk is standard for an offensive healer, sitting at 21/25. She does have a superboon in resistance, however it's not of much use to her.

Sanngriðr, her unique staff, inflicts Gravity on her target and any foe within 1 space of them, which restricts the unit's movement to only 1 space. It also comes with a Dazzling Staff effect, as well as Swift Sparrow 1 built in, a first for a staff unit. Under normal circumstances, staff units are not able to inherit these types of skills normally, giving Camilla a decent advantage over other healers and giving her offensive stats a much needed boost. For her assist, Camilla has Restore+, which, along with healing an amount equal to half of her attack stat, nullifies any penalties her target may have. Her A Skill is the tier 4 version of Atk/Spd Push. The tier 3 version gives her +5 attack/speed when her HP is at 100%, and if she enters combat, deals 1 damage to her, taking away the effect. Normally, one would have to make sure that she stayed at full health at all times in order for to get the bonus. However, Atk/Spd Push 4 only requires her to be above 25% HP, giving Camilla much more leeway. It also increases the bonus she gets to +7 attack/speed, but does 5 damage every time she exits combat above 25% HP, meaning it combos extremely well with Brazen seals. Her B skill is Wrathful Staff, meaning you won’t have to sacrifice any of your other staff units in order for her to do considerable damage. Her C skill is Atk Tactic, which works best on mixed movement teams.

Camilla prefers boons in attack and speed. Her preferred bane is in HP. She has a superboon in resistance and a superbane in HP.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ▼ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Similar Units

Veronica: Brave Princess (36/32/36/21/25)

Camilla: Light of Nohr (+3/+1/+1/+0/+0)

Fjorm: Bride of Rime (42/34/34/17/23)

Camilla: Light of Nohr (-3/-1/+3/+3/+2)

Sakura: Hot-Spring Healer (36/35/32/26/21)

Camilla: Light of Nohr (+3/-2/+5/-5/+4)

Mia: Moonlit Witch (36/30/34/22/28)

Camilla: Light of Nohr (+3/+3/+2/-1/-3)

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ ▼ ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Builds

Budget

Camilla’s base kit already works well with her stat distribution, so she requires little more than a sacred seal for her budget builds.

On the left, Camilla has been given Brazen Atk/Spd as her sacred seal. This combines with the damage that Atk/Spd Push does to her every time she exits combat, bringing her down to 75% HP quicker, and letting her get the additional +7 attack and speed from her brazen. This brings Camilla’s offensive stats to an unbuffed 61 attack and 51 speed while still leaving room for more bonuses from drives or visible buffs from her allies.

On the right, Camilla gets Drive Atk as her sacred seal. As a healer, she will more often than not be within at least 2 spaces from an ally. In addition from the buff her allies can receive from Atk Tactic, they will also get an additional 3 attack from her drive. If any of her allies have penalties on them, she can easily nullify them with Restore, helping them secure more KOs.

Pain+

With both good offensive stats and skills, Camilla makes a formidable user of a standard Pain+ build. Since she comes equipped with Wrathful Staff, Pain can be refined with Dazzling Staff, letting her not only do significant damage to her foes, but also not take any hits in the player phase. Her default A skill helps boost her attack back up, as Pain has a relatively low might. Since she already has decent speed to double units with, she doesn't need a boon to function well.

High Investment

As mentioned before, Camilla doesn’t need much in terms of investment in order to work well. However, she does have some options in variability with her kit.

The first high investment build focuses on Camilla’s mobility. With Flier Formation, she can move adjacent to her allies, increasing her movement and letting her get potential buffs from said allies. With Flier Guidance, her allies can also come to her aid as long as they are within 2 spaces. If she’s on a flier team, multiple units can also run Flier Formation, giving them the ability to move almost all over the map as well as making their movements harder to predict if she’s on defense.

Her second high investment build turns her into a more supportive unit. Her default weapon is replaced with Kumadre, which inflicts -5 attack and speed on the foe with the highest defense, making it easier for her allies to double their foes and potentially take more hits. With Ground Orders, her infantry, cavalry, and armored allies can move all around the map, again giving them great coverage. Since she needs to be on a mixed movement team in order for for Ground Orders to take effect, she has Atk Tactic as her sacred seal, helping her allies to secure more KOs without having to be within proximity of her.

[freddiemark]

Invest in boAt Share Price with Planify

boAt Upcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO): 

Imagine Marketing Limited, often known as boAt, is an unlisted public company, founded on 1st November 2013, with its HQ in Mumbai. It is the parent company of boAt. They filed a Draft Red Herring Prospectus with SEBI on 26th Jan 2022 for Rs. 2000 Cr. This Initial Public Offering includes Rs. 900 Cr. fresh issue of equity share and a Rs. 1100 Cr. offer for sale as described in DRHP. In addition, the business intends to collect Rs. 180 Cr. through a Pre-IPO placement. The business is awaiting SEBI permission before launching its IPO before launch in the market.

boAt Share Price:

At present, the company’s shares are being traded in unlisted market shares named as boAt Unlisted Shares. boAT Unlisted shares are available on Planify at Rs. 860 per share. Investors can gain the first mover advantage by purchasing these shares and gain exponential returns in future.

Objectives behind the boAt IPO:

Increase your visibility by participating in a variety of lifestyle categories

To continue investing and propel the brand forward

Expand marketing ability to reach a large consumer base

Develop strong design, R&D & technical capabilities

Products offered by boAt:

Imagine Marketing Limited manufactures and sells consumer electronic products in India & internationally. The company offers a wide range of products from headphones and earphones (neckbands), true wireless stereos, bluetooth speakers, home theater along with gaming accessories like wireless mouse, bluetooth speakers. The company also offers personal appliances like trimmers & grooming kits. Imagine Marketing sells its products under these 5 brand names:

S.No.

Branding

Category of products

boAt

Audio, Wearables and Mobile accessories

Red Gear

Gaming Accessories

DEFY

Audio Wearables

Misfit

Personal Care

5. 

TAGG

Audio & Wearables

boAt Merger and Acquisition:

On 10th January 2022, the subsidiary of the company Imagine Marketing Singapore entered into a share purchase agreement with Kaha entities to acquire 100% stake in their entity. The company has built IoT devices before and offers a wearable focused platform with proprietary AI and machine learning capabilities and end to end smart wearable solutions.

boAt Industry Overview:

Hearables and Wearables Industry: The term ‘Hearable’ is a mix between Headphone and Wearable as hearables integrate key features for wearable technologies with the fundamental of audio based information services, wireless connectivity. The Indian hearable market expanded at a Compound Annual Growth Rate of nearly 31% from around USD 1.3 Bn in FY18 to USD 2.3 Bn in FY20. Activity bands and Smartwatches make up a sizable component of the wearables market. It has expanded at a CAGR of nearly 39% from USD 0.2 Bn in FY18 to USD 0.4 Bn in FY20. Smartwatches form nearly 76% of Wearables market in India although its still comparatively less  when compared to other advanced countries like USA (95% share), MEA region (81%). As smartphones have shifted to USB type C connections, wired headphones have been found incompatible with modern devices and hence have seen a consistent decline from 92% in FY18 to 45% in FY20 and is expected to decline further to 15% by FY25.

This decline in wired headphones have aided the rise of wireless devices whose share have risen from 4% in FY18 to 26% in FY20. By FY25, truly wireless is expected to rise up to 45-50% market share, increasing at a CAGR of 40-55%.

Growth Drivers: 

Technological Improvements: Wireless and truly wireless earphones are being made on a wider scale with more cheap branded and unbranded product lines that may cater to the demand of a larger portion of the population in India.

Multiple Use Cases: Hearing aids have a variety of applications, leading to users owning many pairs of headphones/earphones for different purposes. This is especially true for Gen-Z and millennials, who are advanced users, who own a variety of devices for gaming, travel, calling & other activities.

Unbundling of Smartphones and Earphones: Most national and international smartphone vendors have discontinued including wired earbuds as a part of their offerings. This has resulted in consumers buying hearables separately which has opened a big opportunity for players in the hearables market to innovate further and offer a wide range of wired, wireless and truly wireless earphones and headphones.

[kelesta]

5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Skin Health

Our skin is the largest organ of our body. Hence, to protect it at all costs is our sole responsibility. We may have a large skin care kit with a number of products however due to busy lifestyles, a majority of us get lazy and forget to do even the basic skin caring routines.  

Hence, just for you, we have jot down the 5 most simple ways to improve your skin health easily.

Wash your Face 

The face wash is the most basic thing on the list of our daily body care products. After every big long day, make a habit of washing your face with a face wash suitable for your skin type. This will clear away the dirt, excess oil and other impurities; and will give you improved skin.

Exfoliate Regularly

A scrub or exfoliator is a must-have to your skin care kit. Exfoliating once or twice a week clears away your dead skin cells, cleans pores and promotes skin cell turnover, resulting in refreshing skin. Exfoliation also aids in absorbing face serums and moisturizers easily.

Moisturize after bath

Make sure to apply moisturizer when your skin is still damp after taking bath. If you have dry skin, avoid taking too much hot water showers. Opt for a moisturizer with natural oils, butter content, and antioxidants such as Vitamin C.

Apply Sunscreen

Applying sunscreen every day not only protects your skin from sun rays but also prevents age spots and wrinkles. You can even try using sunscreen with a good facial moisturizer or makeup primer to spread it evenly on your skin as well as keep your skin moisturized. Companies offering body care products are coming up with varied sunscreens today, differentiating on skin type, product texture as well as ingredients.

Pamper your neck and hands too

While pampering your face, don’t forget to pamper your neck region as well as your hands. These are the areas that are first to show the signs of ageing in the body. Hence, it is recommended to apply moisturizers, sunscreen and anti-ageing products on the neck and hands too, in addition to the face. 

Conclusion

So, if you have not adopted the above 5 easy ways to skin care, do it now.

Gone are those days when skincare companies had a limited collection of products to offer. Today, a number of reputed brands are developing products keeping in mind the needs of all categories of the population. Hence, it has become easy to look through the range of products, and select the most suitable for your routine skin care kit.

[encrucijada]

FROM THE MOUTHS WITH NO TONGUE by ester cuervos

a re-introduction !

✧ genre: murder mystery, low fantasy ✧ category: adult ✧ pov: second person retrospective in a loose journal format ✧ witches, full latine cast, small town you can’t escape from, horror movie one-by-one deaths, dumbass young adults, lgbtqa+, spanglish, found family, an all-girls boarding school ✧ cw: mental illness, complicated families, suicide, bigotry, death and gore ✧ themes: collective paranoia, “people fear what they cannot understand”, outcasts ✧ tone: eerie, suffocating, whimsical, wary, anxious

a b o u t : small town princesa gloria exists in a liminal space and the warnings about not going into the forest at night are to be believed. marjorie de los ángeles is the youngest member of the local witch family and aside from eating animal tongues she’s just another student of the local all-girls boarding school. senior year isn’t the optimal time to find a classmate hung in the forest. marjorie is faced with the mystery of who is causing these seemingly random murders, all in an effort to take the blame off herself and her family. she is not doing the smart thing and leaving until she convinces her grandmother to do so as well or until she finds the culprit.

c h a r a c t e r s: ✧ marjorie de los ángeles cruz. she/they. demisexual. dresses like the kid whose mum let them dress themself on the first day of kindergarten. has adhd. witch. ✧ archie randall rojas. he/him. gay. marjorie’s best friend and baby daddy (long story). dancer. “talk shit, get hit”. was practically adopted into mj’s family. ✧ lorelai jarros quintana. she/they. lesbian. marjorie’s girlfriend and classmate in boarding school. artist. “hold my earrings i’m gonna kick this bitch’s ass”. ✧ dulce maría de los ángeles ugalde. she/her. aromantic. marjorie’s grandmother. empty nest syndrome so will adopt just about everyone. witch. ✧ ivonne de los ángeles ugalde. she/her. bisexual. marjorie’s mother. hasn’t spoken to her mother in a few years now. thrift store owner. witch. ✧ andrés cruz novillo. he/him. demisexual. marjorie’s father. was taken in by dulce maría similar to archie. “my wife is a bitch and i like her so much”. witch. ✧ xander cruz duarte. he/they. asexual. marjorie’s favourite cousin. half-witch with an acute psychic awareness (to the point of it being worrisome).

aesthetic: spells in your kitchen, animal bones spread on your bed, 2am and watching movies with a new bowl of popcorn, wearing pyjamas all day, a chill in the air that never leaves, digging up graves, steps that follow you in the forest, that contagious baby laugh, skinny love, a mismatched outfit that somehow works, your reflection in an empty studio as you dance, prayers in spanish, crying on your best friend’s shoulder without being judged, saying “i love you” platonically, a family you build yourself, big wreaths of wildflowers, lampposts in the blue hour, pastel skies, a quiet neighbourhood street, butterflies crowding around a dead body, garbage bags that glow from the inside

playlist: boreas / the oh hellos ; c’mon / panic! at the disco ft. fun ; master pretender / first aid kit ; wolf / siames ; the bones / maren morris ft. hozier ; emergency / nothing but thieves ; witches / daughter ; which witch / florence + the machine ; beautiful creatures / illenium ; eat you alive / the oh hellos ; bottom of the river / delta rae ; o death / kate mann ; exodus / ruelle ; permanence / bears in trees ; hide & seek / amber run ; i talk in my sleep / the crane wives ; you / keaton henson ; fast car / tracy chapman ; meet me in the woods / lord huron ; rose / the oh hellos ; in the woods somewhere / hozier

[droneseco]

Does the Sensate 2 Do Anything Apart From Vibrate Your Ribcage?

Sensate 2

8.00 / 10

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The Sensate 2 is a smart wearable that claims to aid relaxation. It does this via a combination of vibration, sound, and visual deprivation. This helps you to focus on just being, rather than doing, which ultimately allows you to clear your mind quickly, achieving relaxation. It may seem to cost a little more than you would expect to spend on a relaxation device but, having tested it, we can tell you that it worked for this reviewer... that doesn't necessarily mean it will work for everyone, though.

Key Features

Vibrating smart wearable

Integrated app for smartphones and tablets

Accessory kit

Specifications

Brand: BioSelf Technology

Dimensions: 3.5 x 2.5 x 1 inch

Weight: 2.7 ounces (79 grams)

Connectivity: Micro-USB (charging only), Bluetooth

Battery Life: 2-3 hours (depends on vibration intensity); 2 hours to fully recharge

Pros

Well produced soundtracks

Intuitive app

Helps you to focus on relaxation

Excellent three-in-one sensory package

Smart vibration is excellent

Battery lasts a week of use

Cons

High initial financial outlay, especially for a beginner

There could be more soundtracks

Not guaranteed to work for everyone

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Despite an active interest in audio therapy and alternative relaxation, I always err on the side of caution when a new product arrives on the market. I exercised this same level of caution when the Sensate 2 arrived for review; a smart wearable that claims to have relaxation benefits and, by proxy, ease anxiety.

But can it actually help with the act of just "being"? Is $249 too much to pay for such a simple device? Let's take a look at what this vibrating power-pebble is all about.

What's in the Box?

Here's what you'll see when you open the Sensate 2 box for the first time:

Sensate 2 vibrating smart wearable

Adjustable lanyard

Cushioned Sensate slipcase

Beanbag eye mask

USB charging cable

Guidance literature

There is also an associated Sensate app that works via your smartphone or tablet. The wearable won't actually work without the app, so you need to ensure you have installed this.

Also, dig out a pair of noise-canceling headphones; the Kokoon Sleep Headphones would do the job here (or something like them) as they work for contemplative activities, too. You'll need these for the soundtracks on the app.

What Is the Sensate 2 Vibrating Wearable Actually For?

If you are the kind of person who, like this writer, struggles to relax without help, then Sensate 2 could be the answer you're looking for.

It is a smart wearable which, when placed upon the sternum (your chest bone), vibrates in time with music, provided by a dedicated Sensate app. This, according to its creators, will tone your vagus nerve and help you relax in, quote, "as little as ten minutes".

We'll cover the "science" behind it in more detail later but, despite it sounding like another fad product, the Sensate 2 actually works, albeit with a caveat or two. At least, it worked for this reviewer.

Form Factor and Feel

To look at, the Sensate 2 presents as a smooth, black, plastic pebble. It has a brushed feel to it, meaning it is pleasant to have it next to your skin when in use.

It doesn't weigh very much at all, which is good as this ensures its 2.7 ounces (79 grams) won't feel restrictive or overbearing as the device lies on your chest. Given that the chassis is plastic, it is the vibrating motor inside the Sensate that will contribute the most to the weight.

The front of the pebble has a small power button, surrounded by an illuminating ring that glows electric blue when you switch the Sensate on. The top of the device has a metal hoop for the provided lanyard to attach.

The bottom has the charging port with an LED indicator surround. Somewhat disappointingly, this is micro-USB and not USB-C, but that isn't exactly the end of the world. It would just be nice to see all new products embracing the latest technology.

And that is it! A very simple piece of unfussy tech. So simple, in fact, that we could forgive you for wondering what your $249 is actually paying for.

However, if you look beyond the characteristics and internal machinations of the device itself, you'll see that it is the package and the results you are paying for, and not just the lump of plastic and electronics sat on your chest. You can't really put a price on proper relaxation.

How Does the Sensate 2 Work?

As mentioned, in simple terms, the Sensate 2 puts sound and vibration together to encourage the user to relax. The device isn't as simple as it makes out, though, as there are several extra factors in play, here.

Vibration

We'll deal with the physical aspect of the device, first. Obviously, it vibrates. These vibrations can range in intensity, thanks to the Sensate app.

You can toggle the strength of the vibrations in there, and the vibration will max out when it reaches the intensity limit you set. The Sensate will vary the intensity of its vibrations up to this limit, without your input.

During the session, the smart element of the Sensate device means it can vary the intensity of the vibrations, and the time it vibrates for, of its own accord. It will do so based on the soundtrack you are listening to, syncing its vibrations up with the music and sound effects.

Placing the Sensate on your chest bone causes it to send vibrations to your vagus nerve, which runs the entire length of your body, pretty much, passing through your right lung on its way.

The vagus nerve is a part of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which medical professionals refer to, colloquially, as the "rest and digest" nervous system. In fact, the vagus nerve is the "rest" part in that nomenclature. This part of our PNS is all about conserving energy, which the Sensate helps you do, through relaxation.

The vibrations travel from your sternum, where you have placed the Sensate, through your ribcage and into your lungs, where they resonate in much the same way that you can feel the bass from a festival speaker, internally.

This, in turn, stimulates the vagus nerve which then triggers your body to relax, promoting rest in this way. If you place the Sensate in the correct place, you will actually feel a sensation in your lung which, I assume, is the vagus nerve responding to the vibrations.

Sound

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Sound also plays a big part in how Sensate works, as it unifies the vibration with the sound you hear via your headphones.

So, if you hear a deep, loud, bassy throb on the soundtrack, the Sensate replicates this with a long, drawn-out vibration at maximum intensity. Likewise, the pebble will interpret any top-end, treble chirrups as small, staccato vibrations.

Currently, because you have to use the Sensate app, you also have to use a soundtrack from the app library. There are 13 to choose from, and the app separates these into several categories; Nature, Space & Time, Sacred Spaces, and Breathe.

Each soundtrack uses a combination of relaxing sound effects, music, various forms of noise (i.e. white noise or pink noise), and binaural beats/isochronic tones, as a method of providing audio therapy.

Related: The Best Calming Apps to Relax, Destress, and Clear Your Mind

We'll take my favorite of the bunch and the soundtrack I used most during testing; Sound of Silence from the "Breathe" collection. I chose this one as concentrating on breathing helps me to empty my mind and relax.

Plus, Sound of Silence is 30 minutes long; I prefer a longer meditative experience than 10 minutes, as it can take me that long to just clear my thoughts. However, there are plenty of quicker ten-minute options if you want to just empty your mind and refocus.

As mentioned, this is from the "Breathe" selection. Placing the Sensate on my chest, I could see how the audio works in harmony with the vibration.

I can align my breathing with the long pulses of the bass in the music and the extended vibration from the Sensate.

This allows for roughly six breaths per minute (or one every ten seconds); a rate of respiration that experts across a range of disciplines, from medical science to yoga, argue is optimum for relaxation. You can read expert literature about slow breathing, and respiratory vagal stimulation, from a range of online scientific sources.

Anecdotally, six breaths per minute is also reportedly beneficial for cardiovascular health, as slow breathing means a slower, relaxed heart rate and it works to manage pain.

The Breathe soundtrack features a lot of white noise, which sounds like static. This helps to eliminate external sounds from your perception. There are also tonal drones known as isochronic tones and binaural beats. These often crop up in use during audio therapy as part of a meditative routine.

Related: How to Use Audio Therapy as Part of Your Meditation Routine

Binaural beats and isochronic tones, to explain briefly, work by manipulating your brainwaves to induce certain mental states. So, some believe that, when played at certain frequencies, these sound signals can help you focus or, as is probably the case with the Breathe collection of soundtracks, breathe more easily/optimally for relaxation, for example.

Sensate tells me it has specially tailored the soundtracks along with a sound therapy expert to ensure they work on several levels, as described above.

Visual Deprivation

Using the provided eye beanbag, you can block out all external light, meaning bright daylight won't interrupt your relaxation session.

You can experiment with this element of the session a bit, too. Try warming your eye beanbag on a radiator for five minutes to give you relaxation a cozy feel. I like to feel anything cold on my eyes and eye area, so I go in the other direction and cool my eye beanbag in the refrigerator.

Does the Sensate 2 Make You Feel More Relaxed?

In a word, yes. In this reviewer's own experience of the Sensate 2 device, combined with the app, it assists with relaxation.

I have tested the Sensate, daily, over a couple of weeks and I noticed the difference immediately. The first time I used the pebble, I observed that the time it took me to relax was significantly less, almost instant in fact, compared to when I had only previously used audio meditation.

The Sensate's vibration also enhances the physical feeling of relaxation. This meaning that limbs feel looser, and places that you might struggle to disperse tension relax a lot quicker. This, presumably, is down to the stimulation of the vagus nerve and its effect on our rest response.

It is the entire package, ultimately, that ensures you can enter a completely relaxed state. The eye beanbag blocks out visual disruption, so you can relax at any time. The music follows suit, negating aural disruption, while at the same time offering additional cues such as the binaural beats mentioned earlier.

It is this combination of device and bespoke content that, on the face of it, you are paying for. If this is your only consideration, then the Sensate will certainly look too expensive for what it is.

Admittedly, that was this reviewer's first thought; I couldn't see myself paying $250 for the package in its current form. I also feel it needs more content within the app to provide more tangible value. There is more than one way of looking at that initial investment, though.

Related: The Best Gadgets to Aid Relaxation

The Sensate 2 helps you relax. Yes, there are lots of devices that can also do this. But, in a world where we seem to put more value on the "doing" rather than the "being" of our human nature, the time and ability to relax are becoming rarer commodities. Should we really be putting a price on our wellbeing?

The short answer is no, we shouldn't. I would advise you to try some less expensive variations on this theme first, before you go gung-ho and invest $250 on your relaxation whim. This kind of alternative self-therapy doesn't work for everyone, so start small, preferably with something that is free, and see if it is for you.

My advice would be the same for any device purporting to aid relaxation or offer an alternative method of relaxing, though; that isn't specific to the Sensate. If you are finding that less expensive methods prove beneficial, then you should really consider the Sensate 2 as an option; it is an excellent all-in-one relaxation package.

A Vibrating Chest Pebble CAN Help You Relax

So, it would seem that the Sensate does actually work, albeit with a fairly substantial, initial, financial outlay. That said, if you are desperately trying to find a way to relax, then this will be invaluable.

It certainly helped this reviewer to achieve relaxation goals, and I think my wallet's wincing would subside quickly when I relaxed more as a result of the pebble and its ecosystem, had I paid for the Sensate 2 and not reviewed a loan device. It has value beyond the tangible product, is the message here.

As mentioned, we suggest you try a more pared-down solution to aid relaxation, especially if you have no experience with these sorts of alternative methods. That way, when you invest in the Sensate 2, you're doing so with some prior knowledge of how it works and if it will be the right device for you.

Does the Sensate 2 Do Anything Apart From Vibrate Your Ribcage? published first on http://droneseco.tumblr.com/