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The temperatures this year have been some of the hottest on record. That means that being out in the heat in New Orleans and elsewhere is a safety issue.
Heat stroke is a major threat to people right now, regardless of their age. To help you beat the heat, this article will show you how to keep cool amid New Orleans’ hot temperatures.
How Can I Overcome The Heat This Season?
If you have elderly neighbors or loved ones, check on them frequently to make sure they are staying out of the heat. Now let’s get started.
1. Stay Hydrated
Jopwell / Pexels
Make sure you drink plenty of water. When you’re outside in the heat, your body will sweat. This fluid needs to be replenished by taking in water. Humid conditions will make you perspire even more. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep a water bottle or jug with you at all times.
How Much Water Should You Drink In Summer?
Regardless of the season, a person should drink about eight 8oz glasses of water a day on average. This will also keep you hydrated when it’s hot and humid.
One way you can always stay hydrated is to keep a water bottle on you.
Pictured: Aquafit 1-Gallon Water Bottle
Here are some excellent water bottles you can use to stay hydrated:
How Much Water Should You Drink In Summer?
Regardless of the season, a person should drink about eight 8oz glasses of water a day on average. This will also keep you hydrated when it’s hot and humid.
2. Wear Loose-Fitting Clothing
Another way you can stay cool in the hot weather is by wearing clothing that doesn’t stick to your arms, legs and torso. The body’s temperature has a tendency to increase when clothing is form-fitting.Opt for loose clothing in the warmer months like halter tops and cotton garments.Casual Halter Tank Top Sleeveless ShirtPleated And Sleeveless Tank Top Halter Top -
Who doesn’t enjoy a nice, aromatic cup of streaming hot coffee in the morning or evening? The good news is you don’t have to go to Starbucks. Making a perfect cup of coffee at home can be easy and enjoyable with the right techniques and tools.
Here are some steps to help you make perfect coffee at home:
Choose High-Quality Coffee Beans
Start with fresh, high-quality coffee beans that are roasted to your liking. Look for beans that are recently roasted and have a strong, distinct aroma. Some of the best coffee beans are Blue Mountain and similar brands.
Grind the Coffee Beans
Grind the coffee beans just before brewing to ensure maximum flavor. For best results, take advantage of a mortar and pestle. A burr grinder is ideal, as it produces consistent, uniform grounds.
Measure The Coffee And Water
The next very important step: Getting the coffee and water right. For accuracy, use a scale to measure the coffee and water. A general rule of thumb is to use 1 to 2 tablespoons of coffee grounds per 6 ounces of water.
Heat The Water To The Right Temperature
Heat the water to the appropriate temperature for the brewing method you are using. For drip coffee, the water should be between 195°F and 205°F.
Use The Right Brewing Method
Choose a brewing method that suits your taste preferences. Drip coffee makers are easy and convenient, while pour-over methods such as the Chemex or Hario V60 offer more control over the brewing process.
Brew The Coffee
Now comes the good part: brewing the coffee. Typically, you’ll want to use 6 ounces of water with 1-2 tablespoons of ground coffee, depending on your taste.
After following those steps, you’ll have some great ground coffee in your cup!
Final Word
Pour the coffee into a mug and enjoy! You can add milk, cream, sugar, or other flavorings to suit your taste preferences.
By following these steps, you can create a delicious, perfectly brewed cup of coffee at home that rivals the quality of your favorite coffee shop.
Hmmm, wonder what goes with coffee. How about some beignets?
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Do you want to work out but can’t find the time to go to the gym? You don’t have to. Getting buff at home is possible with the right mindset and approach. Here are some tips to help you get started:
So in this article, we’ll go over some ways you can get buffed at home.
How To Get Buff From Working Out In Your Home Gym
If you want to get buff really fast, you need to do some serious strength training. When you see those bodybuilders in the competitions with the sculpted physiques and the bulging muscles, that’s what they’ve done over a period of time.
Many people thing you need to workout in a public gym or other facility: hogwash. You can get buff in your own gym — if you have the equipment.
But you do need to have an understanding of how to get buff, if you’re going to be successful. The way to win is with strength training.
What Is Strength Training?
Strength training is the practice of lifting weights and doing exercising to increase your mobility, flexibility and durability. This can apply to certain muscles, areas of the body or the whole body overall.
Some examples of strength training are:
- Walking up inclines and stairs
- Lifting weights or other heavy things on a consistent ways
- working out with resistance bands
The best strength training program for the hardgainer is surprisingly a full body workout 3 times per week, or an upper/lower split each done 2 times per week. Why? With typical bodybuilding programs you need to use multiple exercises to induce hypertrophy in the muscle.
It’s not very hard to build your own home gym. You can actually create one for less than $60.
How To Build Muscle Mass
If you want to build muscle mass, it’s a multiple-pronged process that takes weeks and months before you see some results. With that being said, the changes begin way before that inside your body.
You’ll need to adopt a strict food regimen as well as incorporate some exercise. Physical activity is very important.
What Exercises Can I Do To Get Buff?
Let’s look at some exercises you can go to add muscle mass and maintain. This videos come from Instagram and show people who have dedicated their lives to working out for their physical fitness. Give them a follow to see how they go about exercising.
Hit The Bench
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Bench pressing is a great way to build your upper body strength including your deltoids, biceps and other muscles.
Work Your Booty
A booty workout is a great way to build your glutes. It’s not pretty to look at but doing squats can lead to some great butt-sculpting.
No matter if you’re using handheld weights or those attached to your ankle, just squatting up and down in a slow manner can make a big difference. Here’s how to do it.
Glute Activator
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Use bodyweight exercises: You don’t need a lot of equipment to get buff at home. Bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, lunges, and planks can help you build muscle and strength.
Jumping Squats
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Use resistance bands: Resistance bands are an affordable and versatile tool that you can use to perform a variety of exercises that target different muscle groups.
Barbell-Assisted Pullups
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Use weights: If you have weights at home, you can use them to perform exercises like dumbbell curls, bench press, and squats.
Final Word
Strength training is the key to getting buff. The larger the weights, typically the more muscle you can add, but it takes time.
If you need to drop some pounds soon, read how to get in shape quick.
New Orleans is one of those cities that you can get lost in once you take the time to explore it. As the former capital of Louisiana, New Orleans is one of the most eclectic and eccentric cities in the world.
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Adequate sleep is one of the best ways to take care of your health. One of the best ways to do that is to invest in a good mattress that allows you to rest well.
This article is going to show you some of the top mattresses on the market right now. All of these items are available to purchase online.
Here Are The Best Mattresses For Good Sleep
We will specifically discuss the following types of mattresses:
Mattresses are one of those items that customers have very little middle ground about. They either love them — meaning they got great sleep — or they hate them (they didn’t sleep at all).
Best Mattresses Overall
So, the following products we’ll showcase have features that many customers enjoy and have found to be valuable.
Ashley Furniture Memory Foam Mattress
Zinus 12-Inch Green Tea Memory Foam Mattress
Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress
Medium Firm Feel Mattress (10-Year Warranty)
Gem Memory Foam Bonus Pillow Mattress
Best Mattresses For Side Sleepers
According to a research study, sleep participants spent 54.1% in the side position. Side sleepers quite literally put themselves in an untenable position. Not only does the habit of sleeping on your side, but uneven strain on a mattress, but it just hurts the body after a while.
If you want a mattress that’s best for side sleepers, you need to consider those with contouring features.
- Leesa In a Box Mattress — $999
- Nectar Queen Mattress — $599
- Sweetnight Breeze Mattress — $425
- GhostBed With Memory Foam — $785
- Tuft & Needle Original Mattress — $595
Best Mattresses For Back Pain
If back pain is a problem of yours, many mattresses may contribute to the issue rather than it solve it, unfortunately. But there are some brands that work better than others.
Here are the best mattresses to relieve back pain.
- Lucid Hybrid Mattress — $412
- Casper Sleep Hybrid Mattress — $1,615
- Classic Brands Mercer Pillow Top Mattress — $361
Final Word
Although once you get to sleep, it’s been said that a good mattress is a dream, one thing we know for sure is that you pay for what you get.
Taking the time to research top mattresses, especially those that fit your particular condition whether it’s back pain or you’re a side sleeper, is worth it.
We hope that you’ve found a mattress that helps you to rest comfortably. Sleep tight.
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A scoop of goodness can make everything alright in the city. Yes, we’re talking about ice cream.
This article is going to show you some favorite places to get ice cream in New Orleans. We’ve included real-life comments from customers who know where to go.
Where To Get The Best Ice Cream In New Orleans
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The federal government is once again making it possible for millions of Americans to test themselves for COVID-19 at no cost.
No matter if you live in a large city like New Orleans, Louisiana, or a smaller place, you can get several free COVID tests to use at your convenience.
How To Get A Free COVID Test At Home
Most at-home COVID tests are of the antigen variety, according to the FDA. Although the at-home tests are not flawless, they are expedient and convenient for millions of Americans who want to know if they have been exposed to the virus.
Currently, U.S. households can receive a set of four free at-home tests sent by the Postal Service. Here’s what to know about the tests:
- Limit of one order per address
- Includes 4 individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests.
- Shipping started the week of December 19, 2022
- Order at covidtests.gov.
FDA-authorized over-the-counter (OTC) at-home COVID-19 tests for self-testing at home or other locations are a fast and convenient COVID-19 testing option.
The City of New Orleans has approved at-home COVID-19 tests for residents in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The city health department and fire departments have partnered to give out free COVID testing kits.
The tests are available while supplies last.
Home COVID Tests: What You Need To Know
Due to the enormous interest from the public for home COVID-19 test kits, New Orleans Health Department (NOHD) has distributed home COVID tests at select New Orleans Public Libraries (NOPL) branches.
Final Word
Home COVID tests are just one part of a multi-pronged strategy to combat the coronavirus raging in the city.
U.S. health officials have recommended that all Americans already vaccinated from either the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson shot get booster shots.
Here’s where to get a COVID booster shot.
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Flu season is upon us in New Orleans and elsewhere. You don’t have to go unprotected. There are several local retail pharmacies that are accepting walk-in and appointment immunizations.
Where Can I Get a Free Flu Shot In New Orleans?
For convenience and personalized service, the best place to get your free flu shot in New Orleans is at your doctor’s office, local clinic or other health care provider. Here are some resources to help you find flu immunizations near you.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that people 6 months old and older receive a flu shot annually.
It’s good to get a flu shot early in the autumn. It takes about two weeks after the shot before your body is fully immunized.
These New Orleans Pharmacies Have Flu Shots
- Costco—Immunizations and Vaccinations
- CVS—Flu Shots
- Rite Aid—Flu Shots
- Target—Flu Shots
- Vons—Flu Shots
- Walgreens—Immunization Services
- Walmart—Flu Shots and Immunizations
Do You Need a Flu Shot Every Year?
The flu shot lasts for several months, but after a while, it’s effects start to wane in the body. Also, different strains of influenza circulate annually. That’s why, U.S. health officials recommend that you be immunized once a year.
Last Word
Don’t get caught into thinking that you can only get the flu vaccine at a select few places. You can actually get the flu shot at several places, including your local health department, vaccination clinics, doctors’ offices, retail pharmacies, and some schools and workplaces.
Find vaccine programs near you at this government site. -
If you have the unfortunate task of planning a funeral for a loved one, it’s not for the faint of heart. Aside from the emotional toll, there will be quite a few monetary options to consider.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how much it costs for a funeral in Louisiana as well as other associated expenses.
Funeral Costs In Louisiana
In Louisiana, you can typically expect to pay between $6,000 and $10,000 for a funeral. Unlike other regions, in south Louisiana, specifically the New Orleans area, you could face an additional charge due to “jazz funerals” or “second line” processions in which brass bands are hired to perform in outdoor conditions.
You might wonder how the cost of a typical Louisiana funeral might compare to the rest of the nation. Here’s what we found:
How Much Does The Average Funeral Cost?
According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the average funeral costs $7,848. That includes a viewing and burial, which among other things, is always charged separately.
In Louisiana, you’ll find funeral costs that range between $6,000 to $13,000, depending on how elaborate the plans are and what material the casket is made of.
If you want to save money, it’s proven that the way to go is cremation.
How Much Does The Average Cremation Cost?
According to the NFDA, the average cremation costs about $2,550.
In Louisiana, you’ll find similar prices for cremation here. Here’s a breakdown provided by the NFDA that shows how much you’ll pay for added funeral services.
advance charges, such as for flowers or an obituary.
Item 2021 2016 % Change Nondeclinable basic services fee $2,300 $2,100 9.5% Removal/transfer of remains to funeral home $350 $325 7.7% Embalming $775 $725 6.9% Other preparation of the body $275 $250 10.0% Use of facilities/staff for viewing $450 $425 5.9% Use of facilities/staff for funeral ceremony $515 $500 3.0% Hearse $350 $325 7.7% Service car/van $150 $150 0.0% Printed materials (basic memorial package) $183 $160 14.1% Metal burial casket $2,500 $2,400 4.2% Median Cost of a Funeral with Viewing and Burial $7,848 $7,360 6.6%* Vault $1,572 $1,395 12.7% Total with vault $9,420 $8,775 7.6% How To Save Money On A Funeral
To save cash, consider the following steps:
- Forego embalming. Many families opt for the embalming process even though they have chosen to have a closed-casket funeral! Why?
- Skip the fancy caskets: Funeral directors may try to sell you on a “gasketed casket,” which slows decomposition. Decline it. If you’re burying the body within a week or two, it won’t decompose that much.
- Decline the extras: Turn down the carriage funeral, as well as the jazz funeral, as this will significantly add to the bill.
Last Word
Funeral expenses shouldn’t be so burdensome that the survivors of the deceased are plunged into poverty. Taking the steps now to plan the funeral of your loved one will ensure that you save money and still carry out a dignified funeral.
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Months after the city lifted its mask mandate, the N.O. Health Department has come out with new recommendations after a continued rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in the city, Nolafi.com has learned.
While stopping short of issuing a mandate, the Health Department advises that people wear masks and face coverings while indoors.
Nola Health Officials: No Mandate, But Mask Up
Dr. Jennifer Avegno said in a livestream that reported coronavirus cases in the New Orleans area have shot up five times what they were in April 2022.
“We’re not surprised at a summer surge. This is the third year in a row,” Avegno said. “But none of us want to have the surge we did last year.”
How To Protect Yourself From COVID In 2022
As a result, Avegno said that to protect yourself, you should do three things:
- If you haven’t already, get tested for COVID.
- New Orleans residents and visitors should mask up in indoor public spaces.
- If you show symptoms, get treated and isolate yourself from others.
“We think we have time at this point to get ahead of it” Avegno said. “So we’re going back to the basics — testing, masking, vaccination and now treatment, which is something new.”
According to the CDC,, the fight against COVID-19 continues. Here is where to get a booster shot in New Orleans.
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The City of New Orleans has announced that it has lifted the indoor mask mandate which went into effect two years ago. The city says that you do not have to wear a mask indoors at public facilities. The mandate went into effect Thursday, March 3, 2022.
In 2020, the mask mandate became necessary due to the rapid case increase of New Orleans residents infected with the Omicron variant in the city.
Do I Have To Wear A Mask In New Orleans?
You do not have to wear a mask in New Orleans, however, there are exceptions: Children ages 2 and older on public transportation, and in healthcare facilities and long-term care settings must continue to wear a mask.
What Was New Orleans’ Mask Mandate?
The New Orleans mask mandate said that people who attended indoor or outdoor events of more than 500 individuals were strongly recommended to wear masks, according to the city. The masks were to be worn through the duration of the event. The only exception was when someone is actively eating or drinking.
The mask mandate was a part of the New Orleans COVID restrictions instituted by the Mayor’s Office.
The city remains in a modified Phase 3 protocol, which means the reinstatement of the indoor mask mandate as well as proof of vaccine or negative test required for some activities.
CDC’s independent advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, continue to meet about the use of COVID-19 vaccines.
You can expect further recommendations on the use of boosters for the public.
Final Word
New Orleans health officials say that proof of vaccination or negative tests will be required at all indoor social gatherings at establishments like restaurants and bar.
According to the CDC,, the fight against COVID-19 continues. Here is where to get a booster shot in New Orleans.
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