Hebe is an evergreen plant, meaning it stays green all year round, and it can handle cooler weather down to -3°C. There are many varieties, colors, and sizes of Hebe, so it’s easy to find one that fits your style, whether you like a modern look or a more classic garden feel.
It needs plenty of water to keep growing. If it’s planted in the ground, you won’t need to water it as often because it can draw moisture from the soil. To keep it blooming all season, make sure to remove the dead flowers.
Hebe can grow to a height and width of about 10 to 50 cm, and it takes 5 to 10 years to reach its full size. It grows well in a range of soils, as long as they are well-drained and slightly moist. It prefers full sunlight or partial shade, and it likes to be in a sheltered spot, protected from strong winds.
Hebe plants are quite hardy and can survive in many parts of the UK, even during cold winters. However, in very severe winters, it may need some protection. You can easily grow new Hebe plants by taking cuttings in late summer or autumn, but remember this plant is protected by Plant Breeders' Rights, so you can only propagate it for personal use.
Hebe is a great low-maintenance plant for wildlife gardens, city spaces, or coastal areas. Just keep an eye out for pests like aphids and diseases such as mildew or root rot. Overall, Hebe is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to add color and life to their garden!
Sighthill is a neighborhood located in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Positioned north of the River Clyde, it forms part of the larger Springburn area in the northern part of the city.
This neighborhood is still under development, so there’s a lot of open space. It's rarely crowded, making it the perfect spot to sit back, relax, and watch the birds or ducks at the nearby ponds. It’s just a stone’s throw away from Pinkston Water Park, and the two spots complement each other beautifully.
What I Love About Sighthill
Sighthill is peaceful and calm, with plenty of outdoor space that feels perfect for both kids and adults. I’m not sure what the future holds for the remaining open areas – whether they’ll be developed into more housing – but I personally hope they keep some of the natural beauty that makes this place feel so special.
The ponds here add a perfect touch of nature to the neighborhood, creating a balanced blend of modern living and outdoor tranquility. And because they’re set a little away from the housing areas, they offer a quiet retreat without feeling too far from home.
There’s a school and a church nearby, and I’ve noticed they’re selling houses in the area. One thing I’ve observed is that the front yards are quite small, almost right on the street, but even so, the overall feel of the neighborhood remains green, quiet, and inviting.
I’d love to hear your thoughts! What do you think of this neighborhood? Could you imagine yourself living in a place like this?
When we think about toxic chemicals and pollution, cancer or neurological issues often come to mind. However, these hazardous substances also play a role in the leading cause of death: cardiovascular disease.
“Recognizing that chemical pollutants can contribute to heart disease is a recent development, but it’s very real,” says Dr. Philip Landrigan, an adjunct professor of environmental health at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He explains that the risk from environmental pollution has often been overshadowed by other classic heart disease risk factors.
“Cardiologists have made great strides in identifying and addressing these risks. Heart disease deaths are much lower now than in the 1950s. But with fewer people smoking and better control of cholesterol and blood pressure, environmental exposures are getting more attention,” he says.
Pollution Sources
Chemical pollutants include toxins in the air, water, and soil. Among these, air pollution is the biggest threat to heart health, according to Dr. Landrigan. Other concerning contaminants include heavy metals like lead, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and pesticides, as noted in an article from Circulation Research.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that some men can be a bit slow—and I mean this in the nicest way. That's why, most times, when you say something to them, they think you're either stressed or just having a moment.
A few days later, a woman was stabbed to death in her apartment on the same street.
The wife started feeling like someone was following her. Even when she went to the supermarket, someone followed her until she got so frightened and ran off. She told her husband, and they went back to the supermarket to check the security footage. She saw the person's face, but not very clearly, so she took a photo of the CCTV screen. They called the police, who asked if she could identify the person. She said it seemed like the person from the window, so her husband and the officer went to that building. When her husband came back, he told her the man was just taking care of his sick father and she should get over herself.
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During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, you might experience red, rough, raw, and itchy skin because of low humidity both outside and inside. The outer layer of your skin reflects the humidity around it. Luckily, there are many simple and inexpensive ways to relieve winter dry skin, also known as winter itch.
Even if you live in a warm place, most people will deal with dry skin at some point. These tips can help keep your skin soft and healthy, whether you’re in chilly New England or sunny Hawaii.
Keeping Moisture in the Skin
Moisturizers are the first step in fighting dry skin. They rehydrate the top layer of skin cells and lock in moisture. There are three main types of ingredients in moisturizers:
Humectants: Attract moisture (e.g., ceramides, glycerin, sorbitol, hyaluronic acid, lecithin).
Occlusives: Seal in moisture (e.g., petrolatum, silicone, lanolin, mineral oil).
Emollients: Smooth skin by filling in spaces between cells (e.g., linoleic, linolenic, lauric acids)
Practicing self-care isn't just about your well-being—it's about your physical health, too.
Our post Physical Self-Care emphasizes that's especially crucial for women, who are often more pressured to follow societal beauty standards. That's why it's important to learn how to distinguish physical beauty from physical health. By nourishing your body, keeping it in good shape, and loving what it's capable of rather than what it looks like, you can better uplift both your physical and mental well-being.
Viewing physical self-care through this lens can be especially helpful for losing weight more sustainably. Shedding pounds for the sake of your long-term health rather than to look thinner can be especially vital given the increased risk of developing chronic diseases that comes with being overweight or obese. The above steps can help you start that journey. However, simply establishing a healthier lifestyle isn't a one-size-fits-all solution and won't work for everyone.
That's why demand for weight loss drugs, particularly Ozempic, is on the rise. Due to growing obesity rates worldwide, pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, which supplies Ozempic, sold over $21 billion of these weight loss drugs in 2023 alone. But can Ozempic really aid physical self-care—or is it just a way for people to take a "shortcut" when it comes to weight loss?
When does Ozempic promote sustainable weight loss?
Ozempic is considered a GLP-1 medication. Originally designed to treat diabetes, it works by regulating levels of naturally occurring hormones in the body. In doing so, it sends satiety signals to the brain, helping you feel full faster and managing your appetite so you eat less. You may have first heard of Ozempic as a "celebrity drug." Its widespread use by big names has led to what's dubbed Hollywood's Ozempic epidemic, something that experts say may influence ordinary consumers to take the medication even if they don't need to. Though that may make it seem like an unhealthy way to streamline the process of losing weight in line with social pressures, the truth is that it can significantly aid sustainable weight loss—when it's in the right hands.Because Ozempic can result in significant weight loss, healthcare professionals only prescribe it to a key population: individuals who are overweight or obese and find it challenging to lose weight due to medical factors. That includes people who are genetically predisposed to obesity—as well as women diagnosed with pre-existing medical conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS. In these cases, an Ozempic prescription can help when these medical issues negate healthy lifestyle efforts like eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
From this perspective, the weight loss drug can significantly promote physical self-care when your own biology hinders progress. That's especially true given the many health benefits Ozempic provides. Aside from helping prevent and manage conditions commonly associated with excess weight, like type 2 diabetes, it can reduce cell inflammation to significantly boost kidney and heart health. Ozempic can even prevent cognitive decline and lower your risk of developing conditions like depression and anxiety, meaning its benefits extend to your mental well-being.
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A positive outlook might help women slow down physical decline as they get older, according to a new study.
This research, led by Harvard and published in JAMA Psychiatry on March 20, 2024, looked at data from nearly 6,000 postmenopausal women, with an average age of 70, who were part of the Women’s Health Initiative. These women joined the study between 1993 and 1998 and were followed for six years. At the start, researchers measured their optimism using questionnaires. Their physical abilities were tested four times during the study, including grip strength, a timed walk, and how many times they could stand up from a chair in 15 seconds without using their hands.
The study found that women with higher optimism had better grip strength and could stand up from a chair more times compared to those with lower optimism. They also experienced slower declines in walking speed and chair stands over the six years. While the exact reason for this link is unclear, researchers think that optimistic people might be more active, social, and eat healthier.
If I told you how angry I was while taking these photos, you’d probably laugh. My partner was putting in his absolute best effort, trying to capture good shots, but I was so focused on the pictures not turning out how I imagined. I wanted to look chic, but somehow, I ended up looking more sexy, which was not the plan at all!
At one point, I honestly felt like I had no photos that I could post, but he kept encouraging me the whole time. When we got home and relaxed, I ended up finding plenty of photos I liked. He looked at me and said, “If only you had let me take more shots and stopped frowning, I could’ve taken even better ones.” If you're a fashion blogger, you know the frustration of photos not coming out as planned. It can be draining because you want to look beautiful and have your outfit appear stylish, just like it does in real life... lol.
Halfway through the shoot, I realized that my shoe choice wasn’t the best, but honestly, it was still an okay option for the outfit.
So, how did this look come together? Well, I wanted something different to pair with my black stretchy slim round neck knit vest from Prepreworks. I didn’t want to go with pants, which would have been a more expected styling. I just wanted something unique.
What I love about the top is that it’s airy and slim-fitting. The material is lovely and has a great texture, not the usual fabric you see. Can you guess what I like most about the skirt? Definitely the length and the vintage prints! I’m a sucker for vintage prints because they always stand out in such a cool way. I paired the two pieces with my blue heels from River Island to finish the look.
What are you up to today? Got any weekend plans? I’m staying home all day, and I’m so happy about it because I’m watching Selling Sunset on Netflix!
The “fight or flight” response, also known as the stress response, is how our body prepares to face or avoid danger. While this response can help us tackle challenges, it becomes problematic when triggered by everyday issues like money problems, traffic, work stress, or relationship troubles.
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This constant stress can lead to health issues such as high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. It can also weaken the immune system, making us more prone to colds and other illnesses, and contribute to anxiety and depression. While we can’t avoid all stress, we can learn healthier ways to respond to it. One effective method is the relaxation response, a concept developed in the 1970s by Dr. Herbert Benson at Harvard Medical School. This state of deep rest can be achieved through techniques like meditation, yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation.
A key part of these techniques is breath focus, which involves learning to breathe deeply.
Benefits of Deep Breathing
Deep breathing, also known as diaphragmatic, abdominal, belly breathing, or paced respiration, involves taking air in through your nose until your lungs are full and your lower belly rises. Many people find deep breathing unnatural due to cultural pressures to maintain a flat stomach, which leads to shallow “chest breathing” and increased tension and anxiety.
Shallow breathing limits the diaphragm’s movement, reducing oxygen intake and causing shortness of breath and anxiety. Deep abdominal breathing promotes full oxygen exchange, which can slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure.
Practicing Breath Focus
Breath focus helps you concentrate on slow, deep breathing and distracts you from stressful thoughts. It’s especially useful if you tend to hold it in your stomach.
First Steps:
Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit or lie down.
Take a normal breath, then a deep breath: inhale slowly through your nose, letting your chest and lower belly rise as your lungs fill. Let your abdomen expand fully.
Exhale slowly through your mouth (or nose if that feels more natural).
Regular Practice:
Once you’re comfortable with the basics, practice controlled breathing regularly. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, combine deep breathing with calming imagery, and use a focus word or phrase to help you relax.
Social media and stores are full of products that promise perfect skin. These products are increasingly marketed not just to adults but also to teens and tweens. While many are harmless, some can cause skin irritation and be expensive. Even if they are harmless, do they promote unhealthy ideas about beauty?
From a medical perspective, most teens and tweens don’t need specialized skin products, especially expensive ones. But let’s discuss when they might be useful.
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When should teens and tweens use specialized skin products?
1. When a doctor recommends it. If your child has a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, over-the-counter products might help. For eczema, fragrance-free cleansers and moisturizers are usually recommended. Always ask your doctor which brands to use and how to use them.
2. If they have dry or sensitive skin, Fragrance-free cleansers and non-irritating moisturizers (creams and ointments are better than lotions) are good choices. If you have questions or the products aren’t helping, consult your doctor.
What about acne products?
It’s rare to go through adolescence without a pimple. If your child is bothered by pimples, acne products from the pharmacy might help. Mild cleansers are better than those with alcohol. Look for cleansers for dry skin or eczema. Over-the-counter acne treatments often contain benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, azelaic acid, or alpha-hydroxy acids. Adapalene can help with stubborn pimples. Avoid astringents or exfoliants,, as they can irritate the skin. Talk to your doctor about the best options, especially if over-the-counter products aren’t working. There are many prescription treatments available.