3 Ways To Keep Your Teeth Healthy

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It’s recommended you visit the dentist every six months to undergo a deep cleaning, get X-rays done and see if anything has grown or developed in your mouth. However, that’s only twice a year. What do you do during the rest of the year when you’re not getting the full works at the dentist office from Brad Dixon, DMD? The time you spend on your teeth outside of the dentist office is actually what makes your appointments better and your mouth healthier. You have to follow a strict regimen of cleanliness and care to prevent issues, and taking small steps daily will lead to less severe problems in the long run. Hare are three preventative dental tips to keep your pearly whites in pristine condition.

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Deep Marriage Troubles

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If your marriage is like every marriage that has ever existed since the beginning of time, you and your spouse have experienced some rough patches. There are mountains and valleys to every relationship, but the marital bond seems to have be created only to be frequently tested by fire. There comes a time in many marriages when one or both partners comes to the difficult conclusion that the relationship no longer works as is and it needs more help than what a mere tweaking can accomplish. Continue reading “Deep Marriage Troubles”

How to Increase the Value of Your Home

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Increasing the value of your home is always a good idea. Even if you aren’t planning on selling it anytime soon (or ever), you never know when you might change your mind. And even if you never sell your home, increasing its value will add to the ambiance and comfort you feel there now. Future generations might also benefit from your home’s increased value if you plan to leave it with your children or grandchildren. Continue reading “How to Increase the Value of Your Home”

It Is Never Too Early to Start Bat Mitzvah Planning

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Religious rites of passage are significant life moments for those of deep faith. Some can occur at any life-stage, such as a baptism ritual, or for those of a certain age, such as the sacrament of confirmation. A Jewish boy’s bar mitzvah and a girl’s bat mitzvah ceremonies, where children assume the religious responsibilities of adulthood, take place when he reaches 13, and she 12 or 13.

The event may be a multifaceted one, with family gatherings before and party celebrations after the ceremony. As such, the weekend requires extensive preparation and planning. Even taking into account variations, some generalities can be applied. Using a bat mitzvah as an example, the following guidelines can help a family prepare for the big day.

Calendar

Three or four years before your child will be of age, reach out to representatives at your local place of worship. Because you may find that the calendar for your synagogue or temple fills more quickly than you had imagined, you must schedule the bat mitzvah well in advance. Welcome directions and guidance provided by the experienced service planners. You will learn not only about timelines and necessary tasks, but you will plan for your child’s intensive study period the year before the ceremony.

Budget

Before proceeding with planning, decide how much you want to spend. Bat mitzvah festivities can be as elaborate as a wedding’s, with costs commensurate with those of that affair. Try not to focus on competing with others; your bat mitzvah should be personal and reflective of your values. Preparing will be stressful enough without your spending far beyond your means.

Guest List

One of the more challenging and sensitive matters is that of narrowing the number of attendees. Create a tentative list that you can manipulate as you focus your planning. You have to decide how personal you want to make the event. Have your daughter provide input about peer invitees. It may make sense to invite her entire school grade if the class is small enough. You, the parent, decide on the list of relatives.

Party Plans

Once you have an idea of potential numbers, you will discover the importance of starting early. The time comes to contact a venue or an event planner to prepare for the party that follows; because the capacity of a building may dictate the number of guests, you may find it more practical to reverse the order and begin guest planning only after this step. Additionally, you will have to arrange accommodations by reserving hotel-room blocks, which could be challenging if hotels have scheduled other events at the time.

You will have to make entertainment and ambiance choices. Will you provide live music or a DJ? What will be your party theme? Will you offer special menus?

Ceremony Preparation

At some point, you will process the actual bat mitzvah with the rabbi. The tone, guidelines, and actual rules for the ceremony will depend on how liberal or conservative is the domination. While your child studies through the synagogue or school or both, family members will likely partake in education at the same time. You may find yourself delving into extensive readings or participating in a few classes.

Consider your options for documenting the ceremony, taking into account any institutional restrictions. While photography and videography are traditional enhancements, give consideration to the modern testament of live streaming a bat mitzvah, both to record the event and expand the reach to participants. Finally, plan for the distribution of programs, yarmulkes, or other enhancement items, especially for non-Jewish guests.

Every detail counts when planning a religious ceremony to mark a significant spiritual moment. A bat or bar mitzvah will embed memories that every participant will reference in years to come, in particular your child, the center-of-attention; more importantly, careful planning will ensure the event features the appropriate mixture of gravitas and joy that is called for.

Steps to Take When Preparing for a Divorce

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Relationships are complicated. While you might have gotten married thinking that you would be with your spouse until the end of your life, time and circumstances can change matters. If a divorce is on your horizon, there’s going to be a lot of thoughts and emotions swirling around inside of you that will act as distractions. To stay prepared for all that is in store, take a moment to consider these points on how to ready yourself for this big life change. Continue reading “Steps to Take When Preparing for a Divorce”

4 Things You Should Know Before Getting Acupuncture

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If you’ve been dealing with pain lately or are recovering from certain types of accidents like car accidents, you may have thought about booking an acupuncture session to get relief. Unlike other types of pain treatments, acupuncture takes a holistic approach to health and uses very thin needles on specific parts of your body to help you feel better. This may help stimulate blood flow and aid your body’s built-in painkillers to soothe you. If you’ve never had a treatment before, though, it can seem scary or intimidating at first. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way! Simply being prepared with a few key facts can help you decide whether acupuncture is right for you. Continue reading “4 Things You Should Know Before Getting Acupuncture”

Why Insulation is Important in Your Home

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A home should be a place you want to spend time in. Part of wanting to spend time somewhere is making it a comfortable space. People decorate to their tastes, include carpeting and plush blankets and pillows, set up entertainment systems and stock up on foods they like. What you might not think of as an integral part of home comfort is insulation. Insulation is a set of materials meant to maintain the temperature of your home throughout the year by reducing heat flow. Here’s what you need to know about the importance of insulation. Continue reading “Why Insulation is Important in Your Home”