Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

4 Important Tips to Help You Prepare Your Home for Winter

4 Important Tips to Help You Prepare Your Home for Winter

Photo by NATHAN MULLET on Unsplash

Most people are in the habit of putting off their winter preparation until it is too late. This is not surprising seeing as we all prefer to relax in the summer and enjoy the unique beauty of the fall season. 

However, now is the best time to start preparing for winter. This way you can save some money as all associated maintenance and repair costs of your heating system and insulation are usually lower. So, don’t delay. Start thinking of winterizing your homes now. Here is how to do that. 

Inspect your Heating and Cooling System

During the winter nothing is more important than your heating system. This is what will keep you warm. Without it, you will probably freeze to death very quickly. Now that we’re no longer sure of the climate’s temperament –the Texas snowstorm early this year is a good example–it’s always better to be prepared. 

So have a professional come. This is particularly important if you feel like the heating has been inadequate in previous years. Sometimes this inadequacy is caused by a smaller heating furnace. 

One of the questions you want to ask the heating technician is “what size of furnace do I need for my house to be adequately and comfortably warm during the winter”? After a thorough assessment, the heating technician will be able to tell you if your system is inadequate or okay for the house and your heating needs.

Read: 4 REASONS WHY YOUR HOME IS SO COLD

Check Your Insulation

Sometimes the problem isn’t your heating system. If your home feels like it’s inadequately warm during the winter, it’s possible that you may have poor insulation. If there are any air leaks through your windows or your doors, it will cause your heating system to work extra hard to try and keep the house warm. 

This is why you need to properly weatherproof your home and ensure that there are no drafts in your home. You probably don’t know this, but drafts can lead to a 20% increase in energy costs every year. So to insulate the house look for cracks particularly around windows, spaces around your doors, and gaps in your floorboards. Then fill them with caulk to seal up the openings and cracks. 

Check the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Devices

Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer. And since you will be indoors a lot during the winter, you need to make sure that your heating furnace or fireplace is not producing carbon monoxide. 

Because carbon monoxide is odorless, the best thing you can do is to install carbon monoxide detectors –if you haven’t already. And if you have, check their state to make sure they’re in good condition. The same applies to your smoke detector. Make sure that they are both in tip-top condition so that you and your loved ones don’t end up inhaling toxic fumes.

Check Your Roof for Leakages

You need to make sure that there are no loose shingles or leaks coming from your roof. An early roof inspection can save you a lot of heartaches and physical discomfort during the winter. The easiest way to do this is to go on top of the roof and check for these. 

Look for blistering, curling, or buckling shingles. If there are missing or broken shingles, you will need to replace them. And if you’re scared of heights your best bet is to have a handyman or, even better, an expert from Owens Corning Roofing, come to the house and check out your roof for you. 

Read: SOLAR POWER: THE PROS, CONS, AND MYTHS

​Tia and TipsfromTia.com are trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip, email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Moving To A New House? Here’s What You Need To Remember

Moving To A New House? Here’s What You Need To Remember

Statistics indicate that about 13% of people move annually. And in the last five years, a little over forty million of the population moved from one house to another. The numbers indicate that most people need to move houses for one reason or the other. Admittedly, moving houses can be quite a daunting task, and it doesn’t matter if it is your first time or not. The trick to getting it right is effective planning, and that is what you should be aiming for. In the meantime, how possible is it to move hassle-free? Again, what must you do differently to avoid the hassle that comes with moving houses? Please read further to find out.

1. Have an inventory

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Taking records of the things you are moving is an excellent way to keep track of your items. One of the worse things that can happen to you during the moving process is losing some of your belongings or packed valuables. Moreover, it makes it easier to know which of your packed belongings should be placed in specific rooms of the new house. One cumbersome activity most people find unnerving is distinguishing their packed items when they arrive at the new home.

As you take records, do not forget to indicate on the boxes which rooms they should go to. For example, after packing your kitchen items into respective boxes, indicate legibly on each one as ‘for kitchen.’ Be deliberate about labeling the various rooms in the new house. It makes it easier for the movers to operate efficiently. Sometimes, though, there is a great need to find a convenient storage facility to keep the bulk of your items before moving. In a scenario like that, you need a reliable storage facility to provide you with peace of mind. You can check out websites like https://www.mystorey.com.sg/woodlands-storage/ for more details.

2. Never pack all items in a day

The reason for this is to avoid the stress associated with one-day packing. Unless your items are minimal and do not require too much attention, you can do this. On the other hand, when you have a lot to pack and take a record of, the best thing to do is begin a few weeks before the actual moving day. According to house moving statistics, 52% of people start packing in the week leading to the moving day. A report on these statistics also indicated that 35% of these people end up with even more house moving problems on the moving day. Without much explanation, it’s easy to know that the better option is to prepare weeks before.

3. Hire the right movers in advance

The idea behind finding and hiring the most suitable moving company is to settle on one that meets your expectations. Most importantly, doing it ahead of time will save you from emergency fees that come with late or delayed booking. Moving companies tend to have several appointments in a day. Therefore, hiring them at least two weeks before the final day of moving is highly recommended. Additionally, it gives you ample time to discuss your expectations. Even better, the moving company has time to plan the route to take. Fortunately, several booking companies offer online booking, therefore simplifying the process. 

4. Get rid of junk

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Most people who have moved houses a few times admit not knowing the amount of junk they owned. Sometimes, what you consider as junk may be valuable to another if you had a yard sale. Again, getting rid of junk allows you to pack only the essential items you need for your new house. Perhaps, you should also look at it from a cost angle. The more items you must pack, the higher you will pay as moving charges. On the flip side, fewer items mean lower charges. Indeed, it will depend on the moving company involved, which confirms why you need to contact them in advance. Hopefully, you picked up a few pointers to help you make your next house moving a less daunting task.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Transform Your Home Into A Green Wonder

Transform Your Home Into A Green Wonder

Are you looking for ways to go green in life? If so, then you should definitely focus on improving and changing your home. Your home likely represents the most significant part of your carbon footprints. Here are some of the key changes that you should definitely focus on making. 

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New Technology

You might think that introducing new technology into your home is going to be counter productive if you are trying to make your property greener. But don’t be so sure. There’s lots of tech that could help you accomplish this goal. For instance, you can think about using a smart home control. As the name suggests, this is always going to give you a lot more control over your energy usage. So, you’ll be able to reduce wastage considerably. You could also think about upgrading your tech such as your TV for a model that does have a triple A status. 

Solar Panels

The reason for this is that the latest solar panel tech will allow you to store energy to use when you need it the most. This could include during the coldest months of the year when there isn’t much sun light. 

Extra Insulation

Finally, if you want to ensure that heat remains trapped in your home rather than escaping through the walls, then you might want to consider adding additional levels of insulation. Foam insulation could work wonders as part of your property and ensure that you don’t have to worry about issues with heat escaping through your attic or your basement. Foam insulation is particularly recommended if your home has a crawl space as this is a common way that cold air can flow into your home. 

Fix The Windows

It is possible that the main problem in your home is currently the windows. You might have a few windows in your home that are blown. If this is the case, then they will be letting cold air escape into your home. To deal with this issue you need to look into the right window repair service. They will upgrade your windows and ensure that your home is no longer freezing cold in the winter to the point where you need to put the thermostat on full blast. Thicker curtains can also help here and ensure that your home remains warm through the night. 


We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take to ensure that your home is far more green friendly. If you explore the right options here, then you’ll be able to guarantee that you save money in your home and help save the planet at the same time. 

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

BEAUTY, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Benefits of Retinol and How to Use It in Your Routine

Benefits of Retinol and How to Use It in Your Routine

Every time you reach for an anti-aging product or an anti-acne scarring cream, you’re bound to see products containing retinoid or retinol.

If you’ve taken the best acne scar treatment before, you may also have heard your physician recommend products with retinol to further improve your skin condition. It’s not only treated as a product that evens skin tone. But it’s also helps your skin cell turnover faster. It has the ability to remove dead skin cells quicker and help healthy ones come to the skin’s surface.

What is Retinol

Retinol is a kind of retinoids, which comes from vitamin A. The role of vitamin A in the body is to support cell growth, immune function, reproduction and vision among other things. Because retinol is a “weaker” form of retinoid compared to others, it can be bought over-the-counter.

How Retinol Works

Retinol triggers the skin cells on the surface of the skin so that the turnover becomes faster. New skin cells are then generated resulting in smoother and more even skin. The healthy cell turnover helps ease cystic acne, as well as reduces breakouts by keeping pores clear of clogging.

It also helps increase the skin’s production of hyaluronic acid which helps keep the skin look plump and young-looking. Retinol also helps boost collagen production and prevents collagen breakdown. Collagen is a kind of protein that helps with skin elasticity, and it’s a substance that makes up about 35% of all the protein in the body.

The Benefits

From aging to acne, retinol has become known as a go-to cure for all skin problems. Retinol was first marketed as an anti-acne and acne-clearing agent, but once physicians noted that it also helps reduce the signs of aging, they rebranded it as an anti-wrinkle product.

There’s a long list of wonderful benefits from using retinol, and below are some of them.

Anti-Aging

Retinol helps your skin look more youthful by reducing the appearance of wrinkles, restore skin that’s been damaged by the sun, and it also gets rid of uneven spots. Although wrinkles are beautiful, and physical flaws like dark spots are nothing to worry about, it’s still good to prevent skin imperfections from forming.

Retinol does these things by boosting the production of collagen. Fine lines can be caused by the decrease of collagen production and collagen breakdown, two issues that retinol helps solve.

Of course, for more effective anti-aging results, you can always undergo different types of professional treatment. Research and learn more about plastic surgery centers to find the best to suit your needs.

Helps Treat Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition or an autoimmune disease diagnosed by darker, itchy, dry and scaly skin. Retinol can be used due to its ability to increase skin cell turnover and its properties that help improve skin appearance. However, for severe conditions, one will need to apply stronger forms of retinoids. A physician’s prescription is needed in such cases.

Brightens and Evens Skin Tone

Dull, lackluster skin can be bothering as you would want your skin to look healthy. Lackluster skin can be caused by sun damage, stress, lack of sleep and poor lifestyle habits. Retinol helps by toning down the skin cells that produce the darker pigments called melanin.

Helps Treat Acne

Studies have shown that retinol is effective in treating inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne. It also has the ability to reduce pimple marks aside from its capability to stop new ones from developing.


How to Use

Before we discuss how to properly use retinol for skincare, please note that you should never wear it during day time. Only apply retinol on your skin during the night, as it makes your skin very sensitive and can increase the risk of sunburn. If you choose to wear a small amount of retinol product in the morning then remember to always put sunscreen on.

Retinol products should have the instructions at the back. For added guidance, here’s how to add retinol to your daily routine.

Use with Care

Retinol is a great addition to your skin care regimen. But you have to consult with your dermatologist first. It’s important to note that retinol will come in various strengths so better start off with something that has 0.1% retinol before progressing to 0.5%, 1%, or 2%. Always do a patch test first on the inside of your elbow or your neck to make sure that you don’t have any allergic reactions to the product. Other than those, it’s a powerful ingredient that will gain you benefits the more you use it.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Home Remedies To Aid The Battle Against Chronic Pain

Home Remedies To Aid The Battle Against Chronic Pain

Whether you experience chronic health issues such as arthritis, are recovering from an injury, or simply have trouble with joint pain, living with chronic pain can be tough. Treating that pain isn’t always easy, especially if you don’t want to rely too much on prescribed medications. However, there are natural options you can consider, including some of the following.

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Needling the problem

When you’re opting not to go for the modern medicine approach, turning to more traditional techniques may work, instead. Acupuncture might be an ancient Chinese form of medicine but a lot of people find that it is just as effective at helping with pain, today. One of the potential explanations is that the treatment releases endorphins, which are positive mood-alerting chemicals that can also numb sensations of pain.

Herbal remedies

Avoiding medication doesn’t mean that you take nothing to help address your chronic pain. A lot of people take supplements such as willow bark and turmeric that are recommended by many as helping to fight off chronic pain. Cannabis products have become a lot more popular for treating pain and you might even be able to grow your own, where legal, with the help of products like Gavita. If you are taking any medication to manage any conditions, however, it’s recommended to check with your doctor that there’s no risk of your supplements affecting other treatments.

Add anti-inflammatories to your diet

Chronic pain is often caused by inflammation. This is especially true of pain affecting the joints and back. To that end, the body does have its own anti-inflammatory response, which can be aided by eating foods high in anti-inflammatory ingredients like kale, spinach, tomatoes, and salmon. You can also use IV treatments such as those available from Drip Hydration to load the body with these ingredients directly.

Find the right temperature

If the problem is inflammation or some other kind of physical tightness or ache, then applying heat or ice directly to the site of pain might help as well. In general, you want to use cold packs or ice for inflammation or swelling, especially immediately following any type of exercise injury. Heat, on the other hand, is better for aches that feel stiff, especially for sprains and similar injuries.

Work out the pain

For physical pain, taking the physical approach can often be the right solution. Massage therapy may be able to offer acute relief by increasing the blood flow to pained areas and to ease tensed muscles that might be squeezing on the painful area. Getting a good night’s sleep can be crucial in helping your body relax and, as such, taking steps to increase sleep quality such as a new mattress may be key.

The relief that people feel from chronic pain can differ from person to person and method to method. Just because one doesn’t work doesn’t mean that none of them will work. Often, it takes time and some trial and error to find the best method for you.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.com  is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If you’ve got a problem or a tip email me! Be sure to Like and share on Facebook or Follow on Twitter or Instagram.