5 Easy Valentine's Day Gifts

 Valentine's Day is the perfect time to show a little more love to everyone in your life. My favorite method is with small, thoughtful, handmade gifts. Today I'm sharing 5 simple yet thoughtful Valentine's Day gifts that you can create using self-adhesive vinyl and inexpensive blanks.

 1. Monogrammed Trinket Dish

A piece of jewelry makes a great gift for the trendy ladies in your life. Whether it's your mom or your beast, every woman needs a place to drop her earrings at the end of the day.

To create this monogrammed jewelry bowl I used Cartable Metallic Gold Chrome Glue Vinyl. The chrome vinyl is thicker than standard vinyl. When you cut it, set the blade pressure to "more" to ensure a clean cut.

The font used for the monogram is Magnolia Bold.

2. Custom Coffee Mug

Coffee cups are always at the top of my DIY gift list. They're a breeze and can be customized to say what you'd like. And who doesn't love coffee? For a full tutorial on making coffee mugs with self-adhesive vinyl, check out this post on the Cartable.

3. Personalized Gift Pail

A little personalization contributes significantly to this gift idea. In minutes, you can take a $ 1.00 metal bucket and turn it into a boutique style gift with just a sheet of permanent vinyl. Add some shredded paper and a few small gifts to complete the look!

4. Key Chain

This easy DIY keychain idea is perfect for the new drivers in your life. The inexpensive acrylic blanks are available on Amazon and the only thing you need is colorful vinyl. Quick, easy, and a great reminder to see every time you pick up your keys.

5. Personalized Water Bottle

Help your obsessed beast stay hydrated at the gym with a personalized water bottle. All you need is a sheet of cartable vinyl and an empty water bottle. Combine it with a matching hair tie to create a coordinated gift set.

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15 Lovely Handmade Valentine Gift Ideas

 As a manufacturer, one of my favorite things to do is giving a handmade gift. It is so much fun thinking about the person as you make and deliver something that only you can give. However, it can be difficult to cross the line between handprint art, which you only delete when the gifted comes around, and something handmade that the recipient will actually enjoy. When giving away a handmade Valentine's Day gift, you want the five to feel the love, not feel like they preferred a gift card. So, here at PLG, we have compiled a list of our favorite handcrafted love day projects that are sure to celebrate your Valentine's Day, and you will have a lot of fun making them. Let's do this!

1. DIY Valentine’s Day Wall Hanging 

This Valentine's Day wall hanging is the perfect beginner embroidery project and the perfect handmade Valentine's Day gift. In fact, it was Sam's first embroidery project ever, which proves that you don't need any expertise to do something like this. It was easy (and therapeutic), and if we can, anyone can.

2. DIY Iron-On Valentine Sweatshirt

We already love to put hearts on everything every day of the year. So when Valentine's Day comes - a holiday that accepts this as the standard - we embrace it with all our hearts. This DIY iron-on Valentine sweatshirt is one of our original Valentine DIYs, but we love it just as much year after year.

3. DIY I Love You Mugs

These DIY I Love You mugs are perfect as a gift for Valentine's Day, Galentine or really every day of the year! Just a mug, some cut vinyl, and dishwasher safe Mod Podge and you have the cutest mugs for anyone who could use a little more love in their life!

4. DIY Valentine’s Clutch

The added sheen of foil heat transfer vinyl makes this DIY Valentine's Day clutch extra sassy and just right to give to the girls in your life! In this step-by-step tutorial on how to apply foil heat transfer vinyl to a patent leather clutch, we are going to give you all the tips on how to make it.

5. DIY Hand-Painted Clay Heart Necklaces

These DIY hand-painted DIY heart necklaces are the perfect DIY project! You can be whipping up some of these little heart charms in no time and using them on all kinds of Valentine's Day crafts!

6. DIY Vinyl Heart Candles

These DIY hand-painted DIY heart necklaces are the perfect DIY project! You can be whipping up some of these little heart charms in no time and using them on all kinds of Valentine's Day crafts!

7. DIY Needle Felted Heart Shoes

This project combines three of our greatest loves – shoes, crafts, and hearts! These DIY Needle Felted Heart Shoes are really fun to make, come together in no time, and I mean, look at them! The cutest!

8. DIY Valentine Wreath with Paper Flowers

Everyone loves to hang a festive wreath on the door. What could be nicer than getting one as a handmade gift for Valentine's Day? This cute DIY Valentine's Day wreath with paper flowers can be whipped in an afternoon and is a beautiful piece of art for Valentine's Day.

9. Monogram DIY Valentine Mugs with Vinyl

We love making mugs and we love giving them away because they are so cute and useful. This version is a favorite that is super easy and inexpensive to make the perfect little personal Valentine's Day gift. 

10. DIY Heart-Patterned Pom Pom Beanie

This DIY heart pattern pom pom hat was another project launched to brighten up and survive January. Can you think of a better combination than hearts, bright colors and pompoms to add more joy to the darkest winter days?

11. Valentine’s Day Wall Banner

We love the personal touch hand-lettering gives to this DIY Valentine's Day Wall Banner, and the process of transforming hand-written wording into a cut file for vinyl is SUPER easy. Click to see how we did it!

12. DIY Heart Patterned Jeans

These heart-print jeans were inspired by a pair over at Anthropologie that were originally $198. They were so cute, but we knew we could recreate for MUCH less, and these DIY Heart Patterned Jeans were born. They were super quick to make (completed the whole process during nap time), and so cheap (under $8, including the jeans).

13. DIY Embroidered Photos

These DIY embroidered photos add so much personality to my house AND were the funniest ones I've worked on. Using simple stitches (I'm not a pro when it comes to embroidery) with fun colors brought these images to life!

14. DIY Stitched Notebooks

This project, originally created for back-to-school, would make the sweetest Valentine gift! We always love a good notebook, and the cuteness of these DIY Stitched Notebooks can't be beat.

15. DIY Hexagon Tile Heart Art

Next time you wander around the hardware store and stare at hexagon backsplash tiles, get some and do this project! The result was this adorable and easy DIY Hexagon Tile Heart Art that is so much fun and soooo cute!

Have you given or received a handmade Valentine gift that you loved? Share in the comments!

Happy gifting!

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What is the benefit of walking?

Daily walking is a very good habit. It helps your body stay in a healthy state. You carry your own body weight when you walk. This is known as a stress exercise. Some important benefits of walking are:

WALKING BENEFITS

Increased cardiovascular and pulmonary fitness (heart and lungs).

Reduced risk of heart disease and stroke.

Improved management of conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint and muscle pain or stiffness, and diabetes.

Stronger bones and improved balance.

Increased muscle strength and endurance.

Reduced body fat.

10 minute walk 1,000 steps:

Lowers blood sugar levels in diabetes patients. 

A 20 minute nature walk 2,000 steps: 

Can improve the concentration level of ADHD kids as much as medication. 

A 30 minute daily walk 3,000 steps: reduces heart disease risk by 20%.

• Gross motor development : walking outdoors every day develops essential gross motor skills in under fives.
• Classroom concentration : children who walk to school concentrate better for the first four hours of the day compared with those that drive.
• Activity levels : children who walk are more active when they arrive at their destination and so continue to enjoy the benefits of increased activity levels even after the walk is over.
• Self esteem : just 5 to 10 minutes activity, including walking, in a green space improves self esteem.
• Mood : and again just 5 to 10 minutes walking in a natural environment improves mood.
• Creative thinking : walking outside increases creativity levels by over 80%.
• ADHD : a 20 minute walk in the park improves concentration levels in ADHD kids as much as medication.
• Community connection : children who walk daily feel more connected to their community which significantly improves mental health in adolescence.
• Chronic stress : a 20 minute walk reduces cortisol levels and chronic stress in adolescents.
• Back pain : walking one to two miles, two to three times a week is as good as specialist exercises for lower back pain.
• Depression : walking just one mile daily protects against depression in all ages and eases depression in those suffering.
• Anxiety : a 10 minute walk can relieve anxiety as much as a 45 minute workout and the benefits kick in after 5 minutes.
• Blood pressure : a 30 minute walk in the morning can lower blood pressure as much as medication.
• Diabetes : a 10 minute walk after each meal significantly reduces blood glucose levels, especially in the evening.
• Cholesterol : walking one to two miles a day cuts bad cholesterol levels by 20%.
• Weight loss : walking a mile every day burns 700 calories a week.
• Breast cancer : walking 2 to 3 miles a day reduces breast cancer risk.
• Colon cancer : walking for 20 minutes – a mile or so – daily reduces risk of colon cancer by up to 50%.
• Heart disease : walking half an hour daily cuts heart disease risk by 20%.
• Respiratory disease : walking 2 to 3 miles a day reduces hospital admissions in COPD patients.
• Eyesight : walking three times a week lowers intraocular pressure and cuts the risk of glaucoma by 25%.
• Protects muscles : hamstrings and glutes are shortened from prolonged sitting, walking daily prevents this.
• Arthritis : walking 10 to 40 minutes a days, most days eases joint pain in arthritis patients.
• Stroke risk : walking to work most days cuts risk of death from stroke by 30%.
• Alzheimers : walking one mile a day slows the progress of Alzheimers.

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Five health tips you always remember, and follow regularly?

Five health tips you always remember, and follow regularly?

1. Drink a glass of water first thing in the morning and last thing in the night.
2. Meditate for 10 minutes whenever feeling stressed.
3. Exercise for at least 4 hours in a week.
4. Get at least 7 hours of sleep.
5. Pick up a sport and play it regularly.

Many factors play a role in staying healthy. In turn, good health can reduce the risk of developing certain medical conditions. These include heart disease, stroke, some cancers, and injuries. Find out what you can do to keep your and your family's health healthy.

Way to better health

Eating healthy.

What you eat is closely related to your health. A balanced diet has many advantages. By choosing healthier foods, you can prevent or treat certain medical conditions. These include heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Eating a healthy diet can help you lose weight and lower your cholesterol levels.

Get regular exercise.

Exercise can help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and colon cancer. It can help treat depression, osteoporosis, and high blood pressure. People who play sports are also less likely to get injured. Exercise routine can make you feel better and keep your weight under control. Try to be active for 30 to 60 minutes about 5 times a week. Remember, any amount of exercise is better than none.

Lose weight if you are overweight.

Many Americans are overweight. Carrying too much weight increases your risk for various health conditions. These include:

high blood pressure

high cholesterol

Type 2 diabetes

Heart disease

stroke

some cancers

Gallbladder disease

Obesity can also lead to weight-related injuries. A common problem is arthritis in the stressful joints such as the spine, hips or knees. There are several different things that you can try to lose weight and keep it off.

Protect your skin.

Sun exposure has been linked to skin cancer. This is the most common type of cancer in the United States. It is best to limit your time in the sun. Be sure to wear protective clothing and hats when you are outside. Use sunscreen on exposed skin such as your face and hands year round. It protects your skin and prevents skin cancer. Choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. It should be at least a sun protection factor of 15. Do not sunbathe or use tanning booths.

Practice safe sex.

Safe sex is good for your emotional and physical health. The safest form of sex is between 2 people who only have sex with each other. Use protection to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Condoms are the most effective form of prevention. Talk to your doctor if you need to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

Do not smoke or use tobacco.

Smoking and tobacco use are harmful habits. They can cause heart disease and cancer of the mouth, throat, or lung. They are also major contributors to emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The sooner you stop, the better.

Things to consider

In addition to the factors listed above, you should also take time to focus on overall body health. Visit your doctors for regular checkups. This includes your family doctor as well as your dentist and ophthalmologist. Let your health benefits and prevention services work for you. Make sure you know what your health insurance covers. Preventive measures can detect or prevent diseases before they start. This includes certain doctor visits and checkups.

You need to take time to care about breast health. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women. Men can also develop breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about when to start the mammogram. You may need to start screening early if you have risk factors such as a family history. One way to detect breast cancer is to do a monthly self-exam.

Women should also get routine Pap smears. Women aged 21 to 65 should be tested every 3 years. This may be different if you have certain conditions or have your cervix removed.

Ask your doctor about other cancer screenings. Adults should be screened for colon cancer from the age of 50. Your doctor may want to check for other types of cancer. This will depend on your risk factors and your family history.

Keep a list of the current medications you are taking. You should also stay up to date on any vaccinations, including an annual flu shot. Adults need a Td booster every 10 years. Your doctor can replace it with Tdap. This also protects against whooping cough (pertussis). Pregnant women need the Tdap vaccine. People who are in close contact with babies should also have it.

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7 Dogs of Instagram that You Need to Meet

 What did we do to deserve dogs? Our furry little friends are sources of endless joy and affection and we can’t seem to get enough of them! As you probably already know, there are some very famous dogs on Instagram that have accounts dedicated to their cuteness and fabulousness. These cunning canines are always there for you on a rainy day and provide the comfort and wholesomeness our eyeballs crave after an endless scrolling session on social media.

1. Ralph

Corgis are a divine gift and Ralph and George are living proof! We have never wanted to be friends with an animal more than when we see these little guys on a walk. They are just everything.

2. Jiffpom

One of the biggest names in celebrity mammals, Jiffpom is a stunning little Pomeranian with over 10 million fans a gram. Jiff travels the world and his loving parents find him in some of the cutest costumes ever made for pets.

3. Cavalier 

Our esteemed Kingsley puppy is from Australia and knows a thing or two about how to look adorable. This dachshund is everything! He's such a big deal that he has his own agent. Because Australia is Australia, Kingsley is friends with kangaroos and other wild creatures. We can't seem to get enough of this little pup and his adventures down under.

4. Marutaro 

Say "Kon'nichiwa" to Maru, a Shiba from Japan. This stunning dog is actually your new best friend! Maru is a fabulous friend who always takes the time to stop and smell the roses. Just look at this exquisite shape! What a winner. We are in love with this Shiba and would follow him to the end of the world.

5. Pug

We introduce you to Doug the Pug. Doug is a culturally relevant "public figure" who has nearly 4 million fans on Instagram. This adorable little pug is all we ever wanted and all we ever needed. Doug is essentially the human form of us and he loves ice and sunshine. Doug is a hero and an icon, and he's even good friends with Shakira.

6. Vegas

Meet Vegas. Vegas is based in Istanbul, Turkey, and according to its parents, Vegas is the only Blue Merle Pomeranian in the world. Vegas has deep blue eyes that will melt your cold, cold heart. This precious puppy is a bundle of joy and we wouldn't know where we would be without him. Vegas recently made the transition to TikTok and it is also trying this platform out. We think he wins in life.

7. Coco

Say hello to Coco, the Maltese dog. This furry white haired Maltese is an absolute delight to envy online. Coco is the star, but her sister CiCi also performs. The beauty. The size. Have you ever seen such elegance? These cute dogs are both registered therapy dogs and we know they do a lot of work for our serotonin. We could argue about it, but Coco's nearly 300,000 supporters would agree with us.

These famous dogs of Instagram are worth the follow. A fur baby will never let you down! If you’re considering adopting or rescuing a dog, now is an excellent time to do so! While many of the shelters have been emptied because of a surge in adoptions, there are still ways you can help. The Humane Society has tons of resources available for potential pet parents!

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Top Five Classic hairstyle For Men

Have you got the same adventurous trim at the hairdresser's for a few years now and feel like you're caught in a kind of tonsorial rut? Don't worry, you are not alone.

For men who don't want to follow the latest hair trends, it can be all too easy to agree on a basic style and wear it to boredom and beyond. The solution: improve your game by picking a new classic cut that will refresh your look but won't make you shy away from old photos 10 years later.

These are the classic men's hairstyles you need to know and why you should consider them for yourself. 

#01: The Buzz Cut

As for the haircuts, very few (if any) boast of the simplicity of the buzz cut. This military hairstyle has been around for as long as there have been clippers, and has the added benefit of being able to be done at home with a little practice.

The hair is cut to the same length with a hair clipper. Typically this ranges from grade 0 to grade 4. If you're longer, you're in an area with fluffy tennis balls. Which for a style-conscious Ghent is never a good place to find yourself.

#02: The Crew Cut

Another classic whose roots are firmly anchored in the armed forces is the crew cut. At its core, the crew cut is what your local alley hairdresser might call the "short back and sides". A solid option for men who are looking for something that is easy to style and maintain, but aren't ready for a full buzz cut just yet.

The hair is very short on the sides and at the back of the head. At the top it goes into a little longer hair. The front of the hair is often left a little longer and swept back into a neat, extra-short frolic.

#03: The French Crop

It's one of the most popular embellishments out there, but it's by no means a boring choice. The French crop is another shorter style that keeps things tidy in the back and sides, and offers a little more room for maneuver at the top. Often confused with a Caesar cut, the main difference here is the edge, which stays noticeably longer.

It has been hacked, modified, and updated over the years and is now often combined with an undercut or taper to keep things clean and contemporary.

#04: Short Dreads

Dreadlocks don't always have to be the waist-length versions preferred by seasoned Rastafarians. When worn a little shorter, they make for a sharp, timeless style for anyone with afro hair. This timely option has been made to great impact by everyone from the world's top musicians to A-list movie stars. So, if you decide to take them on yourself, you can be sure that you are in good company.

While some blindly swear that the dreadlocks can be made at home, if you want them to look elegant and uniform, you should consult a professional. There are a number of specialist hairdressers across the UK to assist you in your search. So before you take out the toothpaste and try it yourself, it's best to have a chat.

#05: Mid-Length Mop

Timothee Chalamet, Dev Patel and Justin Bieber all helped make medium length locks one of the biggest hair trends of the year. And it won't fall out of favor anytime soon. That's because loose, medium-length hair is not only one of the hottest haircuts of the moment, but it's also a time-honored classic. A great option for those who don't want things to be cut so neatly.

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IMPORTANCE OF GOOD CLOTHING.

 First impressions are apt to be permanent; it is therefore of importance that they should be favorable. The dress of an individual is that circumstance from which you first form your opinion of him. It is even more prominent than manner, It is indeed the only thing which is remarked in a casual encounter, or during the first interview. It, therefore, should be the first care. 

What style is to our thoughts, dress is to our persons. It may supply the place of more solid  qualities, and without it the most solid are of little avail. Numbers have owed their elevation to their attention to the toilet. Place, fortune, marriage have all been lost by neglecting it. 

Your dress should always be consistent with your age and your natural exterior. That which looks outr, on one man, will be agreeable on another. As success in this respect depends almost entirely upon particular circumstances and personal peculiarities, it is impossible to give general directions of much importance. We can only point out the field for study and research; it belongs to each one's own genius and industry to deduce the results. However ugly you may be, rest assured that there is some style of habiliment which will make you passable. 

If, for example, you have a stain upon your cheek which rivals in brilliancy the best Chateau-Margot; or, are afflicted with a nose whose luster dims the ruby, you may employ such hues of dress, that the eye, instead of being shocked by the strangeness of the defect, will be charmed by the graceful harmony of the colors. Every one cannot indeed be an Adonis, but it is his own fault if he is an Espoo. 

Almost every defect of face may be concealed by a judicious use and arrangement of hair. Take care, however, that your hair be not of one color and your whiskers of another; and let your wig be large enough to cover the whole of your red or white hair. It is evident, therefore, that though a man may be ugly, there is no necessity for his being shocking.  

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