TIPSHEET: HOW TO ASK FOR A RAISE

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Many people working today are undervaluing themselves and their potential and are underearning in their current position.

Self perception:

The first step is having a positive perception of yourself.  If you have a determined mindset, you will take action to push yourself toward better opportunities.  You need to reevaluate what you believe you are capable of and work to reach that potential.

If you undervalue yourself, you will likely be undervalued in your job.

"Steady Eddies" vs. "Strong Performers":

"Steady Eddies" are workers who consistently and reliably do what is expected of them.  They tend to be passed up for promotions.

"Strong Performers" are workers who are consistent and reliable and think strategically about their career path.  They always think about their career trajectory when making choices about what to take on in their job.  They often get the promotion because of their forward thinking attitude.

Think about what you want to achieve in your career and what your path will be to accomplish those goals.

Timing:

It's crucial to plan ahead when you're going to ask for a raise.  This gives you time to complete key tasks that will prove your motivation to your employer when you make your request.

If you are going to have a year end performance review, you should be working throughout the year to accumulate accomplishments that will push you toward the next step in your position.

Raise request amount:

The first step is understanding your value in the company. Then you want to ask yourself, "For the level I'm at, the industry I'm in, with the accomplishments I've achieved, what does that look like in the marketplace?" 

Instead of researching salaries for your position online, Linda recommends reaching out to recruiters to get an idea of what other people in the same job position are being payed. 

Always state a number and not a range. If you state you are looking to make between $50,000-$60,000, the company will always go with the lowest number you stated. Say you are looking to make the amount you want or above. 

Try to have this conversation in person. It should not be had over email cause this allows your boss or manager to think about a different offer or a way around it. 

If you do have an offer from a different company for the same or even a better position with higher pay, Linda says to have a conversation with your boss about it to see if they can match the offer. If you are valued in the company, it will want to keep you. But, don't threaten a different offer if you don't have one just to see if you can get a raise out of it. 

Most people are getting paid what the market is offering at that point in time. Over time, individuals should be looking to expand and grow in their positions as well as salary.

Linda has found a lot of people are afraid they won't get a raise if they ask for it. You have to be able to communicate your value and accomplishments to the company. Know your worth and communicate with your boss how you are valuable to the company and have reasons of why you deserve a raise or promotion. 

Show your worth to the company throughout the year and not just during performance reviews or at the end of the year. 

Your teeth have three layers: 

 1. Enamel layer - the very outside. This is the hardest substance on the tooth and it has the white appearance.

 2. Dentin layer - the second layer between the enamel and the nerve of the tooth. This layer is a lot softer than the enamel layer. There may be some sensitivity if it is exposed.

 3. Pulp layer - this is the inside of the tooth where the nerve is.

What causes teeth to turn yellow?

- Coffee, tea and red wine are all delicious things, but they can stain your teeth. As we age, the enamel layer gets thinner. The dentin layer is naturally more yellow. So the thinner the enamel layer gets, the more the dentin layer shows through.

- Cavities, silver fillings and antibiotics taken when you were a kid can definitely have an effect on teeth color. 

- Tetracycline taken while teeth are developing will put chemicals into the teeth and make them appear not as white.

- Medications or supplements that contain iron can also cause gray or blackish stains on the teeth.

- If you are consuming coffee, tea or red wine, Dr. Shao recommends to drink it in a short  period of time and rinse with water after you're finished. Also, drinking through a straw can help those substances bypass the teeth.

- If done properly, teeth whitening is pretty low risk. The biggest problems that arise are teeth sensitivity and irritation to the gums. 

How does whitening work?

- Most teeth whitening products work in the same way. The difference between different types of whitening is the vehicle that holds the chemical on the teeth and the type of chemical used.

- White strips use hydrogen peroxide to bleach your teeth. You put the strips on and let them sit on your teeth and the chemicals will get through the layers of the teeth and essentially get rid of some of the stains.

- Custom trays can be made to fit your teeth. You put the bleach in the trays and put them on your teeth, like a retainer. This is effective because it reduces the amount of chemicals that can potentially get on your gums and cause irritation.

- You need the chemicals to sit on your teeth for awhile in order for it to actually whiten. There is a whitening pen that has been advertised recently for a quick, on-the-go whitening. Dr. Shao said the limiting factor with this pen is once you paint it on your teeth, saliva flow will move the chemicals around and it could potentially get on your gums. 

- There is also a light method used for whitening. There is a mold that  you put whitening gel in and put it on your teeth. Then you can get a special light that shines through the tray and onto your teeth. This method doesn't have much proof to show the effectiveness of it.

- Once you whiten to a certain point, your teeth won't get any whiter. If you limit certain things that stain your teeth, you shouldn't have to whiten all the time.

What do you need to know about filling out the W-4 form?

- Starting this year in 2020, changes have been made to the W-4 form. In previous years, you'd tell your employer how many allowances you have. The new W-4 form wants to know how many allowances you have in terms of dollars and cents. It also wants to know if you have multiple jobs, does your spouse work, is there other income you have you want withholding applied to and if so, list that amount in dollars and cents. The new W-4 also does not have a place to mark that you are exempt from tax which is a substantial change. It will just take a new mindset to fill it out. 

Filing with your spouse

- Sometimes two people are married that want to file separately. One person may have some old issues in their tax closet. They may have back child support or back taxes they owe to the IRS. There may be issues in the past that can cause their refund to be garnished or taken by the IRS. So, sometimes filing together isn't always the best option. 

- Another reason some couples may not file together is one person may be self employed. The one that is not self employed may not want to be at risk for all the additional taxes and self employment taxes their spouse is liable for.

What triggers an audit?

- Things out of the ordinary can trigger an audit. The government tracks national statistics and averages on certain deductions tax payers have. When your return exceeds the national average, that can be a trigger for an audit. You always want to have documentation and backup for anything that is claimed on your return. 

- Sometimes a lottery audit can occur. That's when you get audited for no reason other than to update the IRS statistical database. 

- Brian recommends to keep records for the previous seven years. The IRS can go back and audit you for the last three years. If they find something in those three years that is substantially wrong, they can open up the three years before that. So having those records on hand will be helpful in the event that happens.

IRA and retirement fund

- Start saving for retirement! If you work for an employer that provides a 401k plan, set that up. If not, you can look into setting up a traditional IRA. 

- A Roth IRA is appealing for a younger person because they have a longer time until they retire. It allows a person to put money into their retirement fund, they don't take a deduction for it now but it grows, tax free, until they choose to pull the money out in retirement. The benefit from the Roth IRA is in retirement, it's not taxable then. 

- Which IRA you should put money into depends on what tax bracket you are in. 

Small business tax strategies

- Keep track of your expenses. 

- Set up a bank account, separate from your personal one, for all of your business expenses and earnings. If everything is going through one business account, it makes it very easy to know what the expenses were. If you have multiple accounts or you're just using your personal one, it can be difficult because transactions can disappear and it can be hard to differentiate between business and personal expenses.

Health Savings Account

- HSAs are becoming more popular. You take a certain amount of money and put it into an HSA to use for health related expenses. If you don't use it all in a year, it automatically rolls over into the next year. It allows an individual to reduce their taxable income.

Inheritance

- When someone passes away, the assets that person has that goes to another individual is inheritance.

- The general rule is most inheritance is tax free. An exception is if the thing being inherited is a retirement account, the person will pay taxes on those funds.

 Should you seek professional help with your taxes?

- Are you comfortable with the terminology of taxes - tax credits, tax deductions, what deductions are relevant for you? Tax professionals know these things and can help individuals avoid mistakes when filing their returns.

- Tax professionals are also up to date on all the changes on tax forms and what you'll need to fill out in order to file correctly.

- If you're looking for help with your taxes, check out the National Society of Accountants website. This is a great resource for finding a tax professional in your area.

Origin of love

- Family of origin has a huge impact on what you are attracted to. Things that happened in your childhood while growing up, whether you know it or not, shapes the type of person you seek out as a partner. 

- A mother is the earliest love that we have. If your mother is cold or smothering, that is how we perceive love to be. If your father is demanding or distant, that is what we believe love is. When we grow up, we are constantly drawn to people who remind us of our parents. We are good at psychologically honing in on people that are going to disappoint us or wound us in the same way that happened in childhood. It is quite often unconscious, but most people do this. 

Diamond self work

- This is a process designed by Dr. Kirschner of gaining self confidence. You think about how you want the world to see you and work on being that person. Being happy with yourself will help attract others. 

What is the key to finding lasting love?

- Things have become very complicated with all the different dating apps and websites. These can burn you out if you don't know what you're doing or looking for. Dr. Kirschner recommends getting a mentor or "fairy godmother" to help guide you in the right direction to find your perfect match.

- There are great people out there but you want to protect yourself. Dr. Kirschner recommends casually dating three people at once. This allows you to see who is willing to grow, who is staying the course, who has the same vision as you. 

- Once you have dated and found the one you want to pursue, you each need to make sure you're being fulfilled by the relationship. One way to do this is to have 10 minute listening sessions. One talks and the other listens. Talk about what is going well but also what you need from them. People can't read your mind so you have to tell them exactly what you need from them.

- To find people offline, participate in activities you enjoy doing. Go to those places where there might be people you are hoping to attract. 

Starting the conversation

- Having a conversation with your aging parent about care for them is difficult. Kelli says start the conversation as soon as possible. Even just starting with an ice breaker and asking your mom or dad, "If something happened to you, what would your wishes be?" 

- A lot of people don't want to have the conversation because they fear getting the door slammed in their face and having their parent say it's none of your business. That is a possibility, but you just have to keep at it.

- By the time you start the conversation, you've had time to process. When you bring it up, that could be the first time they have thought about it. Ease into it. 

- If they are refusing to talk about it, give them some space and time. Don't give up and keep trying different techniques to get them talking about it. 

- If having a rough time, find an accountability partner. Have a friend that will keep calling and get your mind off of things for an hour or so. 

Siblings

- Typically, each sibling will have different strengths. One might be good at handling financial things, another may be able to provide transportation. One may be a good cook and one may be good at dealing with doctors and medications. Play to your sibling strengths. 

- Sometimes not all siblings need or want to be involved and that is okay.

- If you're an only child, developing a support group is really important. These can be people you are close to and people your parents are close to. Getting to know their friends and neighbors can be very helpful especially if don't live near your parents and you can't always be there. 

- It's okay to accept help from people. 

- Establish key contacts for parents and children to refer to.

Costs

- In-home care is non-medical care. Costs for this can vary from $18-$35/hour. Not typically covered by Medicaid. Typically covered by Medicare. 

- Independent living, apartment building style with food and transportation, can be anywhere from $2,000-$5,000/month.

- Assisted care, walking or medication assistance, can go up to $6,000-$8,000/month. Not typically covered by Medicaid. 

- Usually there is a base price and then the more services you require, the more the cost will go up. 

- Memory care is typically not covered by Medicaid.

- Children need to understand fully the kind of health insurance the parents have and what is included in that coverage.

- Preparing for multiple situations will provide more security in case of an unforeseen issue.

- Be aware there may be "holdout periods" that you require pay out of pocket for the first 30 days of care.

- Hiring someone privately to care for your loved ones means you have to take on all the laws and liabilities of being an employer under state law.

- While it may be cheaper to hire privately, you may be exposed to issues when the caregiver can't show up or gets injured on the job

Selecting a facility

- Figure out what your goals are and what your loved ones' goals are with the facility and how it operates

- Visit the potential facilities multiple times at different times of day

- Find out what their staffing ratios are days, nights and weekends

- Check with your state's aging disability agency to see if the facility has complaints filed about it

- Red flags are bad smells and patients ignored by staff

- It's not always the most beautiful building with the best care

- Be aware that many facilities require a "buy-in" 

Licensed Naturopathic Physicians

- Licensed naturopathic physicians go through lots of training including a four year medical school. They take traditional medical school courses but they also learn about herbal medicine and alternative medicine techniques. 

- Health insurance coverage varies from state to state. Dr. Trevor Cates says that about 15 states around the country have some sort of coverage for naturopathic medicine. Also, some states don't require licenses for naturopathic physicians. You can check out American Association of Naturopathic Physicians for more information about licenses and insurance in your state.

- Naturopathic physicians believe nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle can help restore the body and get it back to a healthy state. They are trained to prescribe medications when necessary. Non-licensed naturopathic physicians will not be able to prescribe medication. 

- Naturopathic physicians carry certain products and sell them out of their office in order to ensure patients are getting the products and quality they need. 

- Some believe the more supplements, the better. That is not always the case. Dr. Cates says the quality of supplements is more important than the quantity. Most of the time, less is more. 

- There are some skeptics when it comes to naturopathic medicine. There are many sites, like PubMed, that have research to support these practices. 

How It Works

- Focusing on how the body works and what it needs is a priority for naturopathic physicians. Mindfulness, meditation, exercise and supplements are all things naturopathic practicers will look to before traditional medicine. Traditional medicine is there when needed, but shouldn't be overused. 

- Dr. Cates says that practicing natural medicine can result in experiencing less side effects that may occur with pharmaceutical medicine.

- If there is an emergency situation and you need immediate medical attention, it is best to go to the emergency room. After that, a visit to your naturopathic physician can be beneficial to help get your body back on track. Naturopathic medicine can be very supportive in recovery.

- When looking for a naturopathic physician, ask questions about the medical training they received and if they specialize in a certain field. Find one that is the right fit for you. 

Kezia Noble

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• There are skills, techniques, and insights that have been developed by honest female feedback that can help men get better results with women.
• Much of what men can improve on in dating revolves around basic conversation skills.
  • Communication is 70% nonverbal.
  • Knowing what to say next (the transition from the approach to a full conversation) is where men really struggle.
  • Men face the dilemma of whether to play it safe (boring/unsurprising questions) or escalate their approach romantically (more engaging/spontaneous).
• Many men have approach anxiety, fear of rejection, or insecurity issues.
  • Learning and practicing strong conversation skills helps men to overcome these fears.
  • Delaying facing the fear makes it bigger.  Challenge yourself to face rejection.
• Dating apps should be an alternative option to meeting people organically.
  • Dating apps create an artificial sense of achievement and progress, but the dates that originate from these apps typically don't materialize into anything meaningful.
  • Online profiles and conversations often cause letdowns because they are often misleading and don't show the partner as they are in person.
  • Good looking people will always do well on dating apps because that is what people are looking at.
  • People often make the decision to swipe left or right based on a quick instinct.
• Bars/nightclubs are the ideal places to meet people.
  • People are more confident.
  • It is socially acceptable to approach somebody.
  • However, it is more challenging in these places for older men.  Art galleries, malls, etc. can be good alternatives.
• Don't ignore opportunities and let them pass you by.
• Notes on introverts:
  • To men, introverted behavior and vulnerability can be very attractive in women.
  • Men need to be more careful. Women find spontaneity and serendipity more attractive than shyness. "This is so random, but-" can serve as a good pretext.
• Pain/rejection is necessary in building confidence.
  • Confidence is the most attractive feature on a date.
• Notes on engagement:
  • Direct openers (clear intent) vs. indirect openers (triggered by and observation).
  • It is important what you do with the data that you gather about her.
  • Try to get her out of "autopilot mode" and surprise her with the direction of the conversation.
  • Conversation is an exchange of data.
  • Springboard off of what they say to provide more data about yourself and then bring the conversation back to her.
  • Don't turn your engagement into an interrogation or make it one sided.
• Commonalities are good for friendships. Connections are good for relationships.

Toy Trends

- You have to know your kids to understand what will be popular with them, but there are certain toys every year that are popular across the board. Toys based on well-known characters on YouTube and TV are always big.

Ages 7 and up

- Sometimes it's more difficult to shop for older kids. Fortnite is huge right now. There is a giant piñata inspired by Fortnite that kids can break open and a hundred different individually wrapped smaller items are inside. The "surprise reveal" is good for children because they can break open the bigger item but still have more to unwrap. 

- Slime. Jackie says tactile toys are hugely popular. There are different types of slimes with different textures and colors.

- Older kids want to customize and create their own things. Toys that allow them to do that is always a good way to go.

- Pokemon is still around. Pokemon plush stuffed animals, figures and cards are very popular.

Ages 3-6

- Kids in this age range tend to be really focused on their favorite TV or movie characters. Getting them a toy that allows them to pretend to be a part of the show is typically a no-fail gift.

- It's not a coincidence that when you're toy shopping for kids, you may see toys on the shelf you used to play with as a child. This brings the nostalgia back and you may be more inclined to purchase that toy for your child because you have fond memories playing with it.

Infant - 3 years old

- Favorite characters also work for this age range. Also, something like an activity cube with moving parts and things they can reach out and touch work well.

Budget Friendly Toys

- Toy Insider has a list called 12 under 12 which includes items that are under $12. A lot of tactile items fall into that category. Check out the list here. 

- There are plenty of dolls, stuffed animals and smaller toys that kids love that are inexpensive. 

Buying Gifts

- Going to a toy store and seeing what they gravitate toward is very telling in what they might want to receive as a gift. 

- Local toy stores are great because the employees there are knowledgeable and want to help you. If you go in knowing your kid is interested in science and cars, they will have a few toys in mind that will be perfect for your child.

What's the scam?

- Military members are getting pictures stolen from their social media profiles by scammers who are posing as them and asking people for money. 

- Scammers will come up with a variety of different scenarios to try and get money from people. In Nikki's case, people were taking pictures she had posted of her kids and sending them to victims saying "she" needed money to take care of them, get home to them etc. 

- The asks will start out small. The scammers will initially ask for gift cards or phone cards. Then they'll for money, starting with a few hundred dollars and build up. If they realize someone is vulnerable, they'll keep asking for more. 

- The scammers usually target those who are divorced, widowed or people looking to build an emotional connection with someone else.

Red Flags

- People you don't know will strike up a conversation and subtly ask personal questions to get details about you.

- From there, they'll start building a connection and then ask for you to send gift cards or something small. That can escalate into them asking for bigger purchases or cash.

- If they ask for cash, usually it comes with a story about how they are stuck overseas without a way home or they need help financially. Selby says the military is not going to leave military members overseas without a way home. If someone is telling you that, it is probably a scam.

- Look at the dates pictures are posted. If the profile has only a few photos and they were all posted within a day or two of each other, chances are it isn't a real profile.

- A lot of times the captions have broken English. That's also a red flag. 

Avoid the scam

- Ask to video chat to verify the identity of the person you're engaging with.

- They are targeting the military because a lot of times those deployed aren't able to Facetime or video chat. And, people generally want to help those in uniform. So if they have a service member asking for assistance, most people will talk themselves into it and want to help. 

- The military has a generalized email with the ending ".mil". Ask the person to send you an email from their military email to verify it is actually legitimate. 

- Don't send money to people you don't know.

Breast Cancer risk factors and symptoms

- There is nothing specifically that can be done to prevent breast cancer from occurring. But maintaining a healthy weight, being as physically active as you possibly can, eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol intake and limiting or quitting smoking are some lifestyle modifications that may help to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

- The biggest risk factor besides being an aging woman is family history. Any families that have a strong prevalence of breast cancer, especially in a mother, sister or daughter,  are going to be at a higher risk for breast cancer. 

- A common misconception is that pain is an indicator of breast cancer. Symptoms Dr. Laura Dean tells her patients to watch out for: a developing lump, mass, thickening, changes in the skin and pay attention to the armpit area. 

- Breast cancer starts inside the breast and because of the drainage pattern of the breast tissue, if it were to spread outside of the breast, the first place it would most likely go is the lymph nodes in the armpit area.

Genetic Testing

- If interested in genetic testing, it may be beneficial to start with your health care provider to get in contact with a genetic counselor. The genetic counselor can narrow in on your family history; specifically, who in your family has be affected and by what types of cancer. 

- A benefit of genetic testing could be knowing if you are a carrier for BRCA1 or BRCA2. Knowing this information is helpful for you as the patient, but also any family members who may also be affected.

- The downside of genetic testing is that it's a lot of information and weight to carry. So, genetic testing should definitely be done with a trusted health care provider who can talk you through the results and what to do with that information. 

Mammography

- Mammography allows doctors and radiologists to find cancer well before a self check would reveal it, sometimes years in advance.

- Mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening. Mammography is recommended every year starting at the age of 40. 

- 3D mammograms allow increased visibility of cancer inside the breast, especially dense breast tissue. It also decreases false positives.

- It is not uncommon to get called back for additional testing. This does not mean that something is wrong. 

- Surgery, radiation, chemotherapy are all forms of treatment for breast cancer. Doctors are learning more every day about which treatments work best for different genetic makeups.

- Cold capping is a new development that is helping prevent hair loss during chemotherapy. It is a cold cap that goes on a woman's head while she is receiving chemotherapy infusions.

- Breast cancer affects men as well. Men typically present larger tumors and this is because they don't regularly get screened so they don't usually seek treatment until they notice a physical change. 

- 75% of patients diagnosed have no family history of breast cancer. Screening is important for everyone, not just the high risk patients. 

Where to find scholarships

- The best source for scholarships are the colleges themselves.  It can be tricky to find, but searching the school website for scholarships is the best place to look. 

Your high school counseling office is also a great starting point.

- Shannon recommends bigfuture.org as a resource when searching for schools and scholarships. It includes statistics for average GPAs, test scores and other useful information to compare your standing amongst others.

- Because of the internet, where every scholarship is available at your fingertips, you have so much more competition to win any scholarship. Focus on the schools you are applying to. That is really the best source and allows you to be strategic to maximize your chances of getting the most scholarship money.

- There are scholarships for everything. You want to avoid doing a basic Google search for "scholarship." Be specific and focus in on your characteristics that make you unique and search based on that.

Applying for scholarships

- Parents and students tend to look at scholarships as a reward. Colleges view scholarships as a recruiting technique. Shannon suggests looking at scholarships from the colleges perspective. They are going to hand out scholarships to those who stand out the most in the applicant pool - the ones they really want to recruit.

- Don't waste time applying for dozens and dozens of broad scholarships. Every little bit helps, but make sure you're applying to scholarships that you are a perfect match for and meet all the qualifications.

- Take time to look up local community-based scholarships. The applicant pool is restricted and you have a better shot at getting that than a nationwide scholarship.

- Once you declare a major, you can focus on career-based scholarships. Apply for scholarships all throughout college, not just the first year. 

- It should almost never cost you money to apply for scholarships. The only exception is a professional association that offers a scholarship, in which you would have to pay a fee to be a member of the association to be eligible. Anything besides that, it should always be free to search and apply for scholarships.

- Always be authentic in any essays you have to write. Think about who or what organization is offering this scholarship to you. What do they want from you and what are they looking for? Think about what their priorities are and make sure your application is speaking to those priorities.

- Only Division 1 and Division 2 schools offer athletic scholarships. 

- If looking to a college coach for help, make sure they are qualified to offer guidance. Try to find someone that has worked in a financial aid or admissions office at a university.

Get more information about Shannon's company here: College Coach

What is it?

- Microblading is a type of tattoo. It implants pigments just under the surface of your skin. This technique requires a hand tool that scratches little lines resembling hair strokes. Microfeathering is another term for this.

- Microshading typically uses a machine. It is a little bit gentler on the skin because it just taps the pigment into the skin instead of scratching it in, like microblading. Ombre is another term for this.

How much is it?

- Cost depends on where you're located and the expertise of the person doing the procedure, but it can range from $300-$1,000. It costs quite a bit because of the training you expect of the person doing the procedur. Costs a lot of money and materials, like ink and home care, add up too.

- A follow up appointment is recommended around a year after your original appointment. This will be an additional cost but should not be as expensive as the original procedure.

Before microblading

- Depending on what state you live in, training is not required for this procedure so do your research and make sure you're going to a trained professional in this field. Look up websites and reviews before going. Whitney also says to look up images of their work - both fresh and healed images, look at how long they have been doing microblading, and look up if they have a license to provide this procedure or operate out of the facility they're using.

- There is only a very small cross section of people who are ideal candidates for microblading. Oily skin does not tend to do well with microblading. If you have oily skin, right after the procedure you will probably see nice, crisp hair strokes, but during the healing process, the lines will blur together and look more like microshading. It can end up looking blotchy. 

- Microblading is a bit harsher on the skin. So it might be less ideal for someone with delicate or mature skin.

How long does it last

- It is technically a permanent procedure. It causes permanent changes to the skin, but it can fade over time and can require a touch up.

- Microblading usually requires a touch up about six months to a year after the initial procedure.

- Microshading tends to last a little longer. Typically a touch up would happen about a year to 18 months after the initial procedure. 

The procedure

- You'll go into the appointment for the procedure. You'll get a consultation first and discuss expectations. The procedure will start with a pre-draw. You can give feedback and make sure that's exactly what you want it to look like. After that is settled, you'll go through the numbing process which takes about 20 minutes. Then the procedure will start which takes roughly an hour.

- Afterwards, there is home care involved. This typically involves cleaning the brows, drying them and applying an ointment.

- The first 3-5 days your brows will be darker than usual. Around day 5, the brows may peel or flake. 

- The whole healing process takes about 10 days. 

Mythbuster

- You keep your eyebrow hair! This process does not shave your eyebrows off.

Convection oven vs. air fryer

A convection oven heats air and then a fan blows it around. But in a big rectangular oven, it sometimes does not move the air around effectively. In a compact cylinder like an air fryer, the air moves more naturally like a cyclone. An air fryer has the same technology of a convection oven but just in a different configuration. 

Oil and the air fryer

You do not put oil in an air fryer. You actually spray the food with oil and then put that into the fryer. So, there is no hassle of having to heat and cool oil. 

Putting oil into a spray bottle and just spritzing it before cooking will do the trick. That can help reduce your oil intake as well. Grape seed oil, olive oil and canola oil are all good options to use. 

What to cook in an air fryer

Chicken, broccoli, carrots, asparagus, pizza, green beans, steak - the cooking options are endless with an air fryer.

Fish is also great in the air fryer! You don't have to worry about splatter from a stovetop or smelling up your house with a fishy smell.

You can cook frozen foods in the air fryer. The only challenge is when the frozen foods thaw, they are wet which inhibits browning. 

Air fryers are great for even just reheating foods! It can brown the food and make it crispier than a microwave would.

Starting out

When you first get an air fryer, test it out with a bag of frozen french fries. Spritz the fries with a little bit of oil, add some salt if desired and cook them in the air fryer.

Once you get a feel for how it works, try cooking other things! Meredith suggests the next thing to try cooking is a steak. "You may never use your grill again," she said.

There are different settings for different air fryers. There are manual air fryers and digital ones. Meredith prefers the digital ones to get a more precise temperature and cook time. There are also different sizes.  The sizes range from two quarts to eight quarts. 

Other tips

Cleaning up is easy with an air fryer. Some pieces of the air fryer can be run through the dishwasher or you can soak it in the sink with some soap and water.

When converting recipes from a regular oven to an air fryer, reduce the temperature by 25 degrees and reduce the time by about 20%. 

For recipes and air frying 101, visit Meredith's website here.

Recipes by Meredith mentioned with the episode include:

Cinnamon rolls

Roast turkey breast with cherry glaze

Photography Tips

- Keep in mind what you wear. The eye tends to go directly to the brightest part of the photo. So, if there's one person in your image in white and everyone else is in black, the eye will immediately go to the person in white. Try to coordinate everyone's outfits so they are cohesive and work well together.

- Pay attention to the background. Try not to have any distracting elements in the back that will take focus away from what you're actually trying to shoot.

- Avoid full sun. Overcast days are actually the best days to shoot!

- Having subjects off to the side and not directly in the center of the photo will create better composition.

- Not everyone has to be straight on facing the camera. Have people turn their body to the side slightly. 

- Bring a family friend or assistant to help you with the photos. They can help wrangle the kids and check the lighting to help get the perfect shot.

Toddlers and Photography

- Giving them a distraction can help when shooting with toddlers. Have them hold and play with a toy that you don't mind being in the picture. Also, have them in someone's arms. They will feel more comfortable and it can help them stay still and focus.

Teenagers and Photography

- Some teenagers aren't very enthusiastic about taking family pictures. Telling them it will be a quick session and actually living up to that promise will usually lead to more cooperation from them. 

- Prepping and knowing exactly what you want will help keep the photo session shorter and hopefully hold everyone's attention.

Babies and Photography

- If babies are teething or sick and not feeling well, don't shoot that day. You won't be happy with the images you get of your grumpy child. Rescheduling for a different day when they are feeling better will make everyone happier.

Smartphone Photography

- Don't use the flash on your camera. Try to get a separate light shining behind or next to the camera. It will create nice and natural shadows to give your pictures a more 3D feel.

- Not every picture needs a filter. You want a timeless image. You can brighten up a photo or enhance colors slightly but use filters sparingly and don't overdo it.

- Change your phone settings to the highest resolution if you want to print them. This will take up more memory on your phone, but it will print a clearer and more concise photo. 

Learn more about Julia's business Jewel Images

What is bullying?

- When one individual makes it difficult for another to feel safe or comfortable in an environment. It could be at home, at school, in the workplace etc.

As a parent, what is the best way to handle your child being bullied?

- Acknowledge the emotions your child is feeling. Ask them what happened? When did this happen? Who was around when this happened?

- Be aware that the person causing the harm has some emotional triggers happening that is causing them to perform such an act. 

What can your child say to a bully to confront them?

- Your child can tell them they don't like how this person is talking to them and making them feel. Your child can say the comments or behavior of this person is making them unhappy or uncomfortable.

- If confronting them doesn't work and the negative comments continue, have them go to a teacher or a counselor and tell them how this person makes them feel. Teachers and counselors are there to support students and make them feel safe.

- Chart the size of the problem with your child. How big is this problem? Is it happening to everyone or specifically to your child? How often does this happen? Understand the size of the problem and then go from there to figure out how to address it.

- Some schools have programs in which a parent or student can report something anonymously that they may be uncomfortable talking about.  This makes the school aware of the issue and they can take steps to resolve it .

Technology and Bullying

- Be careful about what you post online. 

- Think and reflect before you post something. The minute we see something on social media, we have the ability to react immediately. So, take time to think of a response before you react emotionally.

- Disconnect. Turn the phone and computer off for a little bit to reconnect with yourself.

Bullies within the family

- Sometimes people in your family may not know how they are acting is bothering you. Having a one-on-one conversation with them is a good place to start.

- If that doesn't work, try going to someone you trust in your family that you can lean on to help you communicate with this person. 

Bullies within the workplace

- Go to that person and tell them that their behavior or comments are making you uncomfortable. Ask them why they are treating you that way. Ask them if there was something that happened that made them act this way towards you.

- Have a plan of action. Try to make a truce and say if they have an issue with you, they can come to you and have a conversation about it instead of treating your poorly.

- If the behavior continues, talk to a manager or supervisor. If it still continues, sometimes getting Human Resources involved or taking legal action is necessary.

Key points from Shannon Vasconcelos of College Coach on That Expert Show

- 80 percent of students receive some form of financial aid for college.

- FAFSA is the key document a student needs to fill out in order to apply for financial aid, It's now available as an app called the My Federal Student Aid app. The Department of Education created this app as a way to reach more families and students and make it easier to apply for financial aid, right from your phone.

- The FAFSA application opens on October 1 but there is not a standard deadline. The deadline is determined and can differ by each individual school. Deadlines for the application can range from November to March so make sure to check the school websites you want to apply for so you don't miss the application deadline.

- Even if the deadline isn't until March, applying earlier is better. Some schools can run short on funding so applying early is the best option.

- There are standard questions on the FAFSA application like name, address, social security number etc. It will also ask about the income and assets of the student and the parents.

- FAFSA looks at your income two years prior to the year you're applying for. So typically, if applying for financial aid all four years of college, they will be looking at income from sophomore year of high school to sophomore year of college. These are called the base years.

- One thing to avoid doing is artificially inflating your income during the base years. This can happen when you sell or cash in on stocks or withdraw from a retirement account, which a lot of people do in order to pay for college. When you do that, it can create a capital gain on your tax return and your income looks higher than it otherwise would have been. You want to avoid doing one of those income producing moves in one of the base years.

- Assets held in the students name are looked at more harshly than assets held in the parents name, such as a large personal savings account.

- 529 is a tax advantage college savings account. The tax advantage is that you get all of the growth of the account tax free as long as you use the money for college.

- If your child decides not to go to college, you can withdraw your money out of a 529 but you would have to pay taxes on it plus a 10 percent penalty.

- Saving For College is a great resource for researching 529 plans and which one is right for you.

- 529 plans can only have one beneficiary at a time listed on them, but you are able to change the beneficiary within the family. 

- If your children are close in age and will be going to college at the same time, it is better to have two separate 529 plans for each child. 

- National average costs of college per year

In-state public university: $25,000 

Out-of-state public university: $40,000

Private university: $50,000 but Shannon has found it to be more around $70,000

- Some colleges tend to be more generous than others when it comes to financial aid. To check out the colleges that offer the most financial aid, see Shannon's blog post here. 

Hilary Johnson of Hatch Tribe on That Expert Show with Anna Canzano

Advice for someone with a business idea but doesn't know how to get started?

- Let the creativity flow! Carry around a notebook with you and write down any and all ideas you have for your potential business. It's a process but over time, some of those ideas will become a little more exciting and those may be the ones that you choose to pursue. 

Once you decide on an idea, what is the next step?

- Research is very important when getting started and when your business is up and running. Research other businesses doing a similar thing. Doing research online is wonderful, but stepping outside and actually talking and interacting with others in the field can be very beneficial.

Planning for the financial commitment of starting a business

- Develop a budget. Factor in the one-time start up costs but also think about what it's actually going to cost to run the business. What resources will you need? - Start saving money right away! Don't spend money on unnecessary things and start putting it towards a nest-egg you can use to launch.

Are things like Facebook groups necessary to have a successful business?

- Not really. For some businesses it is the right move to have an online presence in the form of a Facebook group but it is not necessary for all businesses.

- Think about who you are trying to reach with your business. If community -- connecting people to others and yourself -- is a huge part of that, a Facebook group or something similar is a good tool. 

If you've launched a business but have felt it plateau, what steps can you take in order to continue to grow?

- Always remember we get tired of our own message before anyone else does. Hilary says it takes 7-11 times for someone to hear and recognize a message. 

- If you want to grow your business there are two areas in which you must invest time and money.

1. Sales. 

2. Marketing. 

- Humans want immediate results. But when owning a business, you have to be patient. Give your sales and marketing strategies time (90 days is a suggested amount) and then look at analytics. See what is working for your business and what you may need to improve upon and you can build a new strategy.

How do you know when it's time to fold?

- About 50% of businesses will fail by year five. It is not uncommon. That doesn't mean don't go for it! But, if you reach a point when you realize this isn't sustainable anymore, being able to exit out of that business is a win. Walking away because it didn't pan out like you thought it would is success, not a fail.

- Set a threshold for yourself: By this date, if I haven't reached this (it could be number of customers or how much money is in the bank etc.), then I'll need to make some decisions.  Sometimes the decision is to get another job to earn some extra money to keep the business afloat. Sometimes it's closing the doors and planning a new endeavor. 

Other advice?

- Know your target audience and market to them. A lot of business owners make the mistake of not marketing at all or spending a lot of money and marketing to the wrong audience.

- If you already have an online audience, go to them and ask what they want to see from you. A common mistake people make is assuming what their audience wants. Just ask them! They'll tell you what they want to see from you.

Dena Royer breaks down key things to know about CBD

- There are two types of CBD. One is derived from a hemp plant which resembles bamboo and one is derived from a marijuana plant. Both plants contain CBD but it's more abundant from hemp. There is a very low amount of THC in a hemp plant and that can be removed.

- Anything sold in a dispensary is derived from a marijuana plant and will most likely contain THC.

- If you use a CBD product derived from a hemp plant, you won't feel any sort of high.

- People can use CBD for a variety of different reasons including trouble sleeping, anxiety, inflammation, pain, arthritis, cancer, migraines etc. CBD can help with neurological and autoimmune problems.

- Dena says CBD does not interact or interfere with other medications you may be taking.

- There are many ways you can use CBD. You can smoke, vape and take it sublingually. If you don't want to ingest it in those ways, it also comes in creams, oils and gummies, among many other forms. 

- CBD is not hemp oil. 

- Dena says you can't overdose on CBD. Every body is different so dosage will vary from person to person.

- Start with a few drops of a CBD oil under your tongue and see how you feel. Your body will tell you how much you need to use in order to see and feel results. 

- If you've never used CBD before, research it! Research the symptoms you are experiencing and look into different products. Go with a company and product that has been on the market for awhile and has a money back guarantee. That way, if a certain product doesn't work for you, you're able to return it and try something else.

- If you aren't seeing the results you want, try another product. Not every product works the same so you just have to find the right one that works for your body.

Dr. Scott-Dixon of Precision Nutrition offers strategies on how to get more nutrition into what we eat  (for both adults and kids)

Red, Yellow, Green Light Food List

Red light: foods you can't eat in moderation, foods you may be allergic to, foods you hate

Yellow light: foods you like if prepared a certain way, foods you like in moderation

Green light: foods you love, foods you can eat any time

Sit down and build this list for you and/or your child. Focus on the green light foods and try to prepare meals based on those items. Maybe throw in a food on the yellow light list. 

If your kids are old enough, you can have a great conversation with them about food choices. What food items do you like? Why do you like them? Is it the taste you like or the texture?

Recognize your food preferences (and theirs) will change! 

Fasting

There are benefits to intermittent fasting. Intermittent fasting means occasionally abstaining from food for a day every few weeks or every month. It can help manage blood sugar, lower inflammation and there is a psychological benefit to it as well. People learn that being hungry is not an emergency. 

Kids and Food

Genetically, people have different taste preferences. They change as we age and try different things. You will have aversions to foods when you're younger that are much stronger than at other points in your life. Keep talking to your children and try to discover what they like about their favorite foods. Over time their preferences will change and their horizons will broaden.

Have fruits and vegetables available but don't try to force them on your child. If fruits and vegetables are a normal part of your routine and food choices, over time your child will most likely adapt those same habits.

Your children learn by observing and doing, not by telling. If you are interested in improving your kids choices, think about your own choices. They learn by watching you, not by what you're telling them. 

Kids often need to try foods several times before they start to accept them. 

Give your kids a choice. Take them to the grocery store and teach them the names of different fruits and vegetables. Give them the chance to pick out which one they want to try and that way they are excited about it and not dreading it.

Involving your children in the creation of food can help introduce them to new tastes and new items they like.

Be kind and compassionate and patient with yourself during the ever-evolving food choices of you and your children. 

Summary of interview with family medicine expert Dr. Rouhkbakhsh with the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and APD at Forrest General Hospital Family Medicine Residency.  On Twitter: @DrHealthyBod @JrnlOccEnvMed

• Embrace the fact that your children will get ill. It is an immune stressor that will help them be healthy for the rest of their lives.

• Getting sick is a part of life so don't look at your child getting sick as a parenting fail. It is actually beneficial and will boost their immune system. 

• It is uncommon to get the same virus more than one time.  Once you get a virus, your body builds up antibodies to fight against it. 

• As we get older, we tend not to catch as many colds because we have been building up and fighting against different viruses our whole lives. 

• Trust your intuition when it comes to illnesses. It's okay to visit the doctor and have symptoms turn out to be nothing. That way you learn what earns a visit to the doctor and what symptoms you can treat yourself. 

• When your child looks different and it concerns you, act upon your intuition.

• The cough is the most common symptom people get worried about. Typically if all you have is a cough, that should not cause concern. A cough can last up to 6-8 weeks. If you or your child is still coughing after that time period, it may be time to visit a doctor. That could be signs of asthma or reflux. 

• The typical cold lasts for 7-10 days.

• Hand sanitizer can be a vital resource when you aren't able to wash your hands. However, you don't want to become too reliant on hand sanitizers or antibacterial entities because the bugs can evolve to become resistant to them. 

• It's not bad to have germs on your hands, but you'll get sick when you touch your face (eyes, nose, mouth, ears). Try to avoid touching these areas until you have cleansed your hands.

• Infections don't last for weeks and weeks. Sometimes if your child is showing symptoms for a long period of time, it could mean they have allergies. Dark spots under the eyes, sniffling, clearing of the throat or a scratchy throat could be signs of allergies.

• The Natural Standard Database is a great resource to research natural medicines.

• There is some evidence that tea tree oil is a deterrent for head lice. But the only way to cure it is to suffocate them and wash them out. 

• Germs can stay on surfaces for hours and hours. Washing your hands frequently can help fight the germs and prevent sickness. 

• If a fever spikes from 99 or 100 degrees to 104 degrees in a span of a couple hours, that may be a sign you should try to treat the fever. But if it's a low fever (under 102), there is no harm and it shouldn't be cause for concern.