Book Club: Where to Begin

Looking for a fun way to satiate your love of books while meeting new people? Start a book club! To help guide you along on your new journey, keep reading to get helpful tips, easy guidelines, and some inspiration so you can have the best book club ever!

One of the best parts of being an aging senior is that you have a bit more time on your hands to arrange a book club, but more importantly, you have vast life experiences that will benefit the intellectual stimulus of the book club group.  But arranging your very own group requires you to have independent living abilities.  This can be a real page turner if living alone has you as nervous and worried. However, with Life Alert’s lightweight, waterproof medical alert emergency pendant you can begin writing your book of adventure, instead of a horror novel. Should you encounter protagonist, like a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, push the button on your pendant and summon an emergency medical response fast, 24/7.  Make sure your story ends happily ever after by getting Life Alert today!

Once you get your safety binded tightly with Life Alert, you can start getting reading for your own club.  Real Simple[1] is here to help you with everything you need to know when starting a book club. From picking a book, to finding the right place and food, you’ll get all your answers covered. Ready, set, book club!

-Know your audience

Every decision you make about your book club will be based on who’s in it. A book club for your friends at work will be very different than one you put together at your community center. To understand what your members may need or want out of a book club, think about their ages, schedules, and backgrounds. Getting input from your club members will be helpful, too.  Ask what each member wants to get from the book club (do they want more gossip time or to talk only about the book?) and what kinds of books they typically like to read.

- Choose a book

If you’re already friends with the people in your book club, you may have a good idea what they like. Maybe you were already talking about a popular book, and that’s how your book club got started. If you don’t already have a book idea, the best way to choose one is to take a vote. Have everyone in the club add a book to a list. Then, each club member should rank the books according to which one they want to read the most. Tally everyone’s favorites to get started. You can go back to this list when you need to choose your next book. If you don’t know your members well, classics and books on the bestseller list are safe bets to start.

- Compare schedules

Figuring out a time when everyone in your group is free is often harder than picking a book. For some book clubs, it’s helpful to share a list of nights that everyone can meet regularly (like the second Tuesday of every month). If your schedules don’t line up, plan to have your meeting date rotate from month to month. Maybe have it on the first Wednesday in November, but the first Thursday in December. Make sure everyone is on the same page about how often you want to meet. An online calendar tool like Doodle will make sharing schedules a breeze.

- Find a spot to meet

For groups of friends, meeting at someone’s house may be ideal. But if you’d rather plan a night out, find a local coffee shop or wine bar. Great conversation is a vital part of every book club, so try to find a place that is quiet enough to talk and big enough space for everyone to sit. If you’re planning for a larger group, schedule a space in your community center or library. Depending on where you live, you could meet in a park or at the beach, too.

- Plan food and drinks

Book clubs can be a fun excuse to get together and drink wine. If you’re with your friends, figure out who is bringing which foods and drinks ahead of time. You could decide to play host and create the whole spread yourself. Or you could do things pot-luck style and have your friends sign up for specific dishes. Themes can add some spice to your shindig. Partygoers can bring medieval-style fare if you’re reading a fantasy book. You can even have a contest to see whose dish best fits the theme. Just make sure everyone is included. To help guests with allergies, remind everyone bringing food to fill out an ingredient card to set with their dish.

- Decide on games and discussion

As the host, it’s up to you to start the discussion and plan any activities. An easy staring point: Some books come with book club guides printed in the back or online (authors may also provide them on their websites). Try these as conversation starters or bring them out if the discussion starts to slow down. You might also ask your guests to write down a few questions ahead of time. And don’t feel beholden to just talking about the book. Bring in some games. For example, you might decorate cookies, or create some book-related trivia.

- Have fun!

Even though a lot of planning goes into a successful book club, remember to enjoy yourself once it starts. Not everything will go perfectly. Some people might not ever read the book. Don’t sweat the little things, and you’ll have a great time.

Being a part of a club can feel great; not only do you have the comradery of friends who have a similar interest; you also have goals to attain and something to look forward to!  But when the book club is all over and you’re all alone, it is time to participate in a different club; the personal protection by Life Alert club! While wearing their emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter what life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast 24/7. When it comes to your at-home safety, read between the lines and get Life Alert today!  Call 1-800-513-2934 for your very own Life Alert book(let) – also known as a brochure – so you can learn all about our exciting lifesaving services for your adventurous reading.

Works Cited:

1.       Renner, Rebecca. “How to Start a Book Club That Will Take Off.” Real Simple. 24 September 2018. <https://www.realsimple.com/work-life/how-to-start-a-book-club >.

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2018 Halloween Trends

The spookiest of holidays is just around the corner. If you are feeling scared and unprepared for Halloween this year, worry no more. Get inspiration from Halloween experts on how you can throw a rockin’ party, while wearing the best costume and handing out the coolest candy.

Goblins, ghouls and ghosts are scary, but nothing is truly more terrifying than experiencing a life threatening emergency while living independently. If you are currently living solo with no form of personal protection, it may be in your best interest to keep reading. Should you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, you could find yourself in grave danger.  Life Alert is as pivotal to your safety as silver bullets are when hunting werewolves.  Under the safety of Life Alert and their emergency pendant you can summon an emergency medical help fast with just one touch of a button.

Better yet, Life Alert’s medical alert pendant is so lightweight and waterproof that you can hide it underneath your costume or any outfit for that matter, so you can still be trendy and safe on Halloween. For more fun ideas, read what Real Simple1 has to say about Halloween tips that are scary cool.

1.       Girl Power Costumes: Etsy has seen more than 170,000 searches for "girl power" in the past year alone. To continue the trend, expect to see lots of costumes inspired by badass woman, from real-life ones to comic book heroes.

2.       Friends Costumes are the New Couples Costumes: Sure, couples costumes are fun, but best friends costumes are even better. For Halloween 2018, grab your BFF and get dressed up in your best matching ensembles. A coven of witches, your favorite sports team, or the cast of Mean Girls is all fair game.

3.       Industrial Chic is the New Modern Farmhouse: While the modern farmhouse look may show no signs of stopping (thanks, Joanna Gaines), the trend experts at Etsy predict that chic industrial style has the power to replace it. For Halloween decor, this means lots of concrete, cool neutral tones, and clean lines.

4.       Concrete Skull Planters: Some years unicorns are in style, other years pineapples are trendy. Well for 2018, skulls are in vogue. From concrete skull planters, to skull pumpkin carving designs, you'll see this creepy-cool motif showing up everywhere.

5.       Seeing the Future: So far in 2018, Etsy has seen over 250,000 searches for "tarot cards," and… the trend is sure to pick up in popularity as Halloween draws near. To incorporate the trend into your Halloween party, invest in a set of cards, some tarot-inspired wall art, or a palmistry-themed candle. 

6.       True Crime: If your Netflix queue is all about true crime dramas, then this Halloween trend is for you. Order some caution tape, fake blood, and magnifying glasses—and set the scene at your Halloween party by decorating a crime scene.

Use the few tricks above to help treat your friends and family to a Halloween bash they will never forget this year! And while you’re at it, why not stay super trendy this year and get yourself the world’s most sophisticated, yet easy to use personal protection system? While under the safety of Life Alert Protection, no monster can scare you because while wearing their medical alert pendant you can summon an emergency help fast with just one touch of a button! No matter what life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. Halloween may dole out some good scares, but Life Alert wants to help protect you from them. Get yours today! For a free brochure on all of Life Alert’s lifesaving and monster scaring services call 1-800-513-2934.

Works Cited:

1.       Holdefehr, Katie. “These Will Be the Biggest Halloween Trends for 2018, According to Etsy.” Real Simple. 17 September 2018. <https://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/halloween-trends >.

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Emergency SOS: Foods to Stock Up On

Natural disasters may be rare, but when they hit, they can be devastating. With usually little to no warning, the best way to prepare is to be proactive; especially when it comes to your food. Stocking up now can help you weather just about any storm. Keep reading below to learn about what foods you should consider stocking your pantry with before it’s too late.

Wind, rain, sleet and snow; you can’t control the elements outside and, believe it or not, you can’t control the elements in your home, either. A slippery bathroom floor, a scrunched up rug or a misplaced cat toy can be the catalyst of your next major accident. If you are currently living independently and you have no form of personal protection, it may be time to make a big change. While wearing Life Alert Protection’s emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast. No matter what life threatening emergency you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team will send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7.

A personal emergency can strike with little warning, with Life Alert Protection by your side, you can weather any storm!  Moreover, floods, hurricanes and even blizzards can also hit with little to no warning; that is why stocking up right now on nonperishable foods is essential to being well-prepared. Real Simple[1] is here to help you get together a grocery store list to help you stockpile for any impending disaster. Check it all out below!

• Peanut butter

A great source of energy, peanut butter is chock-full of healthful fats and protein. Unless the jar indicates otherwise, you don’t have to refrigerate after opening. To get the most bang for your peanut butter buck, purchase a three-pack of Teddy’s Super Chunky, which comes in 26-ounce jars. The all-natural, gluten-free and vegan-friendly peanut butter is ideal for groups with different needs, and at just .25 cents an ounce, it’s an affordable choice too.

• Whole-wheat crackers

Crackers are a good replacement for bread and make a fine substitute when making sandwiches. Due to their higher fat content, whole-wheat or whole-grain crackers have a shorter shelf life than their plain counterparts (check the box for expiration dates), but the extra fiber pays off when you’re particularly hungry. Consider vacuum-packing your crackers to prolong their freshness. For added value, purchase a family-sized pack of 100 percent whole great Wheat Thins. The toasted crackers give a bit more of a healthful kick and are made without high-fructose corn syrup as well.

• Nuts and trail mixes

Stock up on these high-energy foods—they’re healthful and convenient for snacking. Look for vacuum-packed containers, which prevent the nuts from oxidizing and losing their freshness. For a quick, go-to mixed bag try Sweet Hunter Mix. The bag comes with honey-roasted peanuts, sesame sticks, roasted salted sunflower meats, almonds, cashews, and pepitas, which equates to high protein and carbs that will keep you satisfied.

• Cereal

Choose multigrain cereals that are individually packaged so they don’t become stale after opening. Life’s multigrain’s individual cereals are the perfect fit as they already come pre-measured for the ideal serving. And, with a 12-pack variety bundle, it will make you feel like you aren’t eating the same meal every single time.

• Granola bars and power bars

Healthy and filling, these portable snacks usually stay fresh for at least six months. Plus, they’re an excellent source of carbohydrates. “You can get more energy from carbohydrates without [eating] tons of food,” says Andress. Nature Valley’s Megapack will provide you with a full 36 individually-wrapped bars in both peanut butter and oats n’ honey flavors. And with 16 grams of whole grain, these bars will be more than enough to keep people full.

• Dried fruits, such as apricots and raisins

In the absence of fresh fruit, these healthy snacks offer potassium and dietary fiber. “Dried fruits provide you with a significant amount of nutrients and calories,” says Swanson. To get all that nutritional goodness, pick up a variety box of Crispy Fruit. Inside, you’ll find freeze-dried packs of apples, Asian pears, and tangerines. Each pack is simply pure fruit, meaning no preservatives, sweeteners, or additives at all.

• Canned tuna, salmon, chicken, or turkey

Generally lasting at least two years in the pantry, canned meats provide essential protein. Vacuum-packed pouches have a shorter shelf life but will last at least six months, says Diane Van, manager of the USDA meat and poultry hotline. Moreover, vacuum sealed packs may come in handy if you don’t have a can opener. For your pantry, purchase a 12-pack of Safe Catch Wild Tuna, which has the lowest mercury count of any brand on the market, making it a safer choice for kids and even pregnant women.

• Canned vegetables, such as green beans, carrots, and peas

When the real deal isn’t an option, canned varieties can provide you with essential nutrients. To pack in as many of those healthy vitamins and minerals as possible, order a case of mixed vegetable cans by Libby’s. Inside each can you’ll find peas, carrots, corn, lima beans, and green beans, giving you a well-balanced meal straight from the jar.

• Canned soups and chili

Soups and chili can be eaten straight out of the can and provide a variety of nutrients. Look for low-sodium options. To provide enough nutritional variety, buy an assorted pack of organic vegan ready-to-eat soups by Fawen. The pack included beet and cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower, and sweet potato and red lentil. Each one can be consumed cold, room temperature, or heated up.

• Bottled water

Try to stock at least a three-day supply—you need at least one gallon per person per day. “A normally active person should drink at least a half gallon of water each day,” says Andress. “The other half gallon is for adding to food and washing.” To ensure everyone stays hydrated, purchase a case of water that comes with essential minerals added to it. Essentia’s bottled water comes with added electrolytes to aid in hydration and improve taste.

• Sports drinks, such as Gatorade or Powerade

The electrolytes and carbohydrates in these drinks will help you rehydrate and replenish fluid when water is scarce. Just make sure your sports drink of choice doesn’t come with too many additives, such as sugar or artificial sweeteners. Instead, choose a product like Nooma, an organic electrolyte-enhanced drink made with coconut water and natural sea salt that comes in four different flavors.

• Powdered milk

Almost all dairy products require refrigeration, so stock this substitute for an excellent source of calcium and vitamin D when fresh milk isn’t an option. Opt for an organic, resealable option from NOW Foods. Its product is flash-pasteurized to give it a superior flavor and can last several months once opened if stored in a cool, dry place.

• Sugar, salt, and pepper

If you have access to a propane or charcoal stove, you may be doing some cooking. A basic supply of seasonings and sweeteners will improve the flavor of your food, both fresh and packaged. To make sure you have enough spices on hand to make just about anything, purchase the Dean & DeLuca Metropolitan Rack that comes with 12 spice tins. The spices include basil, cinnamon, pepper, ginger, lavender, nutmeg, and more.

• Multivitamins

Supplements will help replace the nutrients you would have consumed on a normal diet. But vitamins don’t have to be boring. Instead, go for a delicious fruity gummy from SmartyPants. The gummy comes with a complete day’s worth of vitamins and even contains omega 3s and folate for complete coverage.

Clear out the cupboard, it’s time to get prepared! There truly is no better feeling than being proactive, especially when it comes to your safety; which is why, in addition to stockpiling your cabinets, you need Life Alert Protection too! While wearing their lightweight, waterproof medical alert pendant, you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. Disaster, natural or just at home, can happen at any time; feed your need to get prepared by getting Life Alert Protection today! For a free Life Alert brochure call 1-800-513-2934.

Works Cited:

1.       DiMaggio, Vanessa and Stacey Leasca. “These Are the Best Foods to Stockpile for an Emergency.” Real Simple. <https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/emergency-foods >.

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Red Flag: Unexplained Weight Gain

Weight gain is such a bummer, but sudden weight gain, with no explanation is pretty much the worst! While you may be bummed that your favorite jeans don’t fit, it could be a major red flag that something is askew with your body. Keep reading below to learn about some possibilities to discuss further with your doctor.

Don’t you wish there was a simple way to gain great personal protection without having it weigh you down? If you are an aging senior looking to maintain your independence, but expand on your safety, then you need Life Alert Protection. While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant, you can summon a help fast with just one touch of a button. Should you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. Fear can weigh you down, but the right personal protection can help you lighten that load; let Life Alert Protection get you the safety you need today!

Your personal safety is no longer a worry with Life Alert, but if you’re worried about your waistline Women’s Health Magazine is here to shed some light on some possible reasons why your weight has changed rapidly. Read below and discuss with your doctor!

If you're also exhausted...it could be hypothyroidism: When a young woman walks into a doc’s office with unexplained weight gain, the thyroid is the first place most physicians will investigate, says Melina Jampolis, M.D., an internist and physician nutrition specialist. And for good reason: a whopping one in eight women will develop a thyroid disorder in her life, according to the American Thyroid Association. That butterfly-shaped gland in the neck is responsible for secreting a hormone that regulates the metabolism, and if you’ve got an under-active thyroid (called hypothyroidism) the metabolism may slow down, triggering weight gain. Women with hypothyroidism may also suffer from low energy levels or fatigue, dry skin, hair loss, hoarseness, or constipation, says Jampolis. Notice any of them and you should book a chat with your doc who can check on your thyroid with a simple blood test if necessary.

If your periods are also abnormal...it could be PCOS: Research shows that as many as one in five women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)—an endocrine disorder that throws off the balance of reproductive hormones estrogen and testosterone, and can trigger a number of unpleasant symptoms like wacky periods, facial hair growth, and migraines. PCOS can also muck up the way your body uses insulin (the hormone that helps turn sugars and starches into energy), which means (womp, womp) unexplained weight gain around the mid-section is common, says Jampolis. If your menstrual cycles are off, a gyno will likely take a peek at your hormones to diagnose this one.

If you're also super-stressed...it could be depression or anxiety: When you're chronically stressed, you're thrown into fight-or-flight mode and get a surge of adrenaline, along with a heavy dose of the hormone cortisol, which is supposed to help you restore energy reserves and store fat. Because, hello, you just sprinted three miles from a tiger—you're starving. The problem? Lots of us get stressed sitting at our desk, says Jampolis. If you’ve persistently felt down in the dumps or anxious, have trouble sleeping, feel fatigued, or you’ve lost interest in the stuff that used to make you tick, talk with an M.D. or mental-health pro who can make suggestions for getting back on track, which (bonus) should help you drop those extra pounds.

If you're also restless at night...it could be insomnia: There’s nothing like a busted night of sleep to make a girl crave sugar and fat (anything to survive at work the next day, right?). That's because missed shuteye does a number on your hunger hormones and metabolism: Sleeping too little raises ghrelin, the hormone that signals it’s time to eat, while lowering your levels of leptin, the hormone that conveys the “I’m full” feeling, says Jampolis. The result: a totally unsatisfying chow-fest the next day. Putting off sleep to watch just one more episode? That hour could be contributing to weight gain. A 2018 study in the journal Sleep found that people who slept just one hour more per week lost more fat than those who slept an hour less. The people who slept less lost less—even though everyone in the study ate the same number of calories, proportionate to their weight at the start of the study.

If you're constantly bloated...it could be SIBO: The gut relies on good bacteria to function well (probiotics, anyone?), but there’s also bad bacteria chilling in your digestive tract. When that balance of good to bad gets thrown off, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO, for short) can take place, triggering extra gas in your GI tract along with bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and—you guessed it—sudden weight gain. Docs aren’t entirely sure how SIBO may trigger those extra pounds, says Jampolis, but treatment for SIBO typically includes antibiotics to treat the bacterial overgrowth, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

If you're also in your 40s...it could be perimenopause: The transition period to menopause (a.k.a., perimenopause, which can start in women as early as their mid-thirties, but usually starts in your forties) triggers hormones like estrogen to rise and fall unevenly, which can cue weight gain in some women, says Jampolis. (Other signs of perimenopause include irregular periods, hot flashes, mood swings, and a change in your libido—symptoms your doc can usually suss out with her eyes closed.) Compound perimenopause with the other inevitable body changes that happen with age (like a loss of muscle mass and increase in body fat), and it may feel like the scale’s tipping fast. Talk to your doctor to manage "the change" in stride.

If you're also taking a new pill...it could be your meds: There's a laundry list of both prescription and over-the-counter meds that can trigger sudden weight gain or water retention that shows up on the scale as extra poundage. “Antidepressants—most commonly the selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Paxil, Lexapro and Prozac—may affect the appetite center in the brain,” says Rocío Salas-Whalen, M.D., an endocrinologist. Meanwhile, beta-blockers (meds that reduce blood pressure) can slow your metabolism, and certain steroids (like prednisone—an anti-inflammatory that causes water retention and an increase appetite) can add on pounds. Even OTC antihistamines like Benadryl, which can disrupt an enzyme in the brain that helps regulate food consumption, can trigger noticeable weight gain, says Salas-Whalen. A word to the wise: Don’t stop taking any pills cold-turkey—chat with your doctor, who may be able to find a more waist-friendly substitute.

If you're also noticing abnormal fatty deposits...it could be Cushing's disease: A super-rare condition called Cushing’s disease (only 10 to 15 people per million are affected, but 70 percent of those diagnosed are women) causes excess cortisol production and can trigger excessive weight gain just around the abdominal area (legs and arms usually stay lean) and the back of the neck, says Reshmi Srinath, M.D., assistant professor of diabetes, endocrinology, and bone disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “Cushing’s typically presents with significantly low energy and complications like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. But the telltale sign is very large, red stretch marks on their belly,” she says. If this sounds eerily familiar, talk to your doctor asap.

If you also feel extra bloated after eating...it could be dehydration: There’s a reason behind the bloat, and it may have just as much to do with the water you forgot to drink as the food that you ate. Kristen Neilan, R.D., a dietician.  She says most of us aren’t drinking nearly enough water. That’s because many of us mistake the feeling of thirst for the feeling of hunger. “Confusion, tiredness, and lightheadedness are all signs of even mild dehydration,” she says. Sounds a lot like how we feel when we’re hankering for a snack. Mixed signals aren’t the only only possible culprits behind your unexplained weight gain. “Adequate hydration increases mitochondrial function—what that basically means is that it increases your metabolism,” says Neilan. Without enough water, your cells can’t do their thing (namely, convert your food into energy) quickly and efficiently.

If it seems like your belly just won't budge...it could be an ovarian tumor: In rare cases, an expanding belly is the result of an ovarian tumor and fluid buildup associated with it, says Dr. Sanaz Memarzadeh, M.D., Ph.D., a gynecologic cancer surgeon.  “Patients come in with abdominal bloating, and their usual pants are not fitting,” she says. “Sometimes the tumor is so large, it can cause dissention of the abdomen,” says Memarzadeh. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with ovarian cancer after menopause. But it’s important for women at every age to look out for this symptom, as well as feeling full too quickly, pain in the lower stomach area, and extra pressure on the bladder. See your doc if the bloating persists, especially if your family has a history of ovarian cancer.

Weight may come in literal pounds, but weight can also be heavy in your heart, mind and soul. If you are currently living independently, but the fear of leaving the safety of your home has you feeling trapped, it’s time to get Life Alert Mobile with GPS. While traveling to the supermarket or anywhere in the US, Life Alert mobile can get you help fast with just one touch of a button. When the HELP button is pressed, Life Alert’s dispatch team is notified of your location via GPS and then they will send the proper authorities to you fast, 24/7. Don’t let fear weigh you down; instead, get out and get Life Alert today! For a free Life Alert brochure call 1-800-513-2934.

Works Cited:

1.       Breit, Carly and Kristin Dold and Ashley Mateo. “10 Times Your Weight Gain Might Signal A Big Health Problem.” Women’s Health Magazine. 30 August 2018. <https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19992956/unexplained-weight-gain/ >.