Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Forget Interior Design! Think About The Exterior Design Of Your Home

Forget Interior Design! Think About The Exterior Design Of Your Home

It’s all too easy to consider the interior design of our homes, to the detriment of the exterior. When thinking about renovations, we consider knocking through the kitchen and the dining room to create an open-plan living space, we choose to replace the avocado bathroom suite, or we consider redecorating the living room. Very rarely do our minds go to our driveway, our garden, the importance of flagpole lighting, or the superior care of the frontage of our dwellings. However, we should be giving our humble abodes the curb appeal that they deserve.

There’s nothing worse than having the most creative, incredible, and imaginative interior and having a crummy driveway up to the front door. This doesn’t match up. You need to coif the outside of your home in the same way as you do the inside of your pad. Take a look at these simple ways that you can bring the exterior of your home up to scratch.

Image by

Frontage

The frontage of our homes should look clean at the very least. It doesn’t matter whether you live in a condo by the beach, a townhouse, or a bungalow, your home should look smart. Any flaky masonry paint, dodgy flashing or cracked window fascias can look undesirable and messy. It’s time to consider how you want your home to look.

Depending on your budget you may choose to replace your windows. Think about whether you’d like wood or uPVC fascias depending on the sort of look you want for your property. Wood looks fantastic if you have an oak front door or if you live on an older property. uPVC fascias are perfect for the more modern home. Either is energy efficient so long as you ensure you are installing double glazing to keep the heat in.

If you have pebble dash on your exterior walls and the beige hues are getting to you, just paint them white. Masonry paint is weatherproof and can actually protect the exterior of your home. The brightness you can achieve from white paint over your pebble dash will lift your home and revolutionise its look, bringing it into the twenty-first century. People crave light, bright and aspirational homes. Make yours one of them.

Image by

Gardens

If you are blessed with a large rear garden, it’s time to tackle the jungle that has somehow emerged. Cut back shrubbery, and don’t be scared to deadhead and strip right back. Starting from scratch is vital. Foliage and flowers are very resilient and will appreciate the cutting back to enable new growth.

If you have a grass area, make sure you mow the lawn. By cutting this back once a week during the warmer months, you are creating the perfect environment for healthy growth. Sprinkle some lawn-meal if needed and water your grass if you have any brown patches. Grass is resilient and will come back from the most severe of droughts, so don’t worry. You will never have to rip up a lawn and start again.

Having an area outside that can be utilized for al fresco dining is wonderful. If your ground is a tad wonky, needs leveling out, and could do with a revamp, why not consider employing patio builders to custom design a deck or patio. With a personalised approach, you can have the patio or decking of your dreams. Hardwood, composite designs or brickwork patterns can add another level of creativity to your backyard. Explore your options and enjoy using your imagination just as you would with the interior of your home.

No matter how small or large your back garden is, try and create two or three zones. This way, you have a clear purpose for your garden and can use it as another room of your home. Have an area for dining and barbecues, an area for growing pot plants, a veggie patch, a rockery, a water feature, or some lawn. You don’t have to create tens of zones, just a couple will do. Think of renovating your garden in the same way as redecorating your bedroom. By adding visual interest to your outside areas, you are bringing new life to your entire pad.

Image by

Driveway

Some people live directly on the road with very little drive to speak of. However, most people have a small section of land to the front of their property that often gets overlooked. Weeds can grow between the crevices of brickwork, the lawn can become overgrown and the hanging baskets we carefully adorn our frontages with, soon die and simply get left to hang for all eternity.

Instead of leaving everything to wallow, take some time once a month to take care of the upkeep of your driveway. Spray some weed killer, mow the lawn and hide the bins behind your wall so that the whole world can’t see your garbage. Your driveway is the route that your visitors, friends, and family take to your home, so make sure it generates a super first impression. Cleanliness and tidiness are essential. If this is spot on, then your home will harness curb appeal.

If you want to enhance the driveway to your home even further, consider installing some lighting to highlight the accompanying gardens or simply to light up the driveway in the dark. You don’t need to be spending a fortune on electronics with solar-powered lights offering up an excellent energy-saving alternative. Under brick lighting, pole lighting, and traditional lamp lighting can lift your exterior and give that much-needed curb appeal.

Hub Of The Home

It’s only right that you want the interior of your home to be where you place most of your creative energy. The kitchen is the hub of your home, you spend most of your time in the evenings watching the TV in the living room with your brood, and you adore making your bedroom a haven of relaxation. However, don’t neglect the exterior of your property, as this also helps your home stand out from the crowd. Give it some much-needed curb appeal and bask in your newfound and revolutionized pad.

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, SEX & LIFE

The Process Involved When Hiring An Au Pair

The Process Involved When Hiring An Au Pair

In the modern day, there are lots of different childcare options available. One option that is becoming more and more popular is an au pair placement. People are choosing to go down this route because it provides them with the most amounts of help – both childcare and house duties. Furthermore, it is a lot cheaper than paying for a nanny or childminder. And finally, a lot of parents like it because it makes it easier for their children. They get used to the individual and do not have to keep going through the process of being dropped off at someone else’s house and alike. It brings them stability.

https://pixabay.com/en/toddler-child-happy-kid-fun-girl-667300/


If you are considering hiring an au pair for your children, then you need to be aware of the process involved. This is slightly different to normal employment and so it is best to have an idea of what to expect before you embark on the process. First thing is first; you will need to find a credible au pair agency. Make sure you have a look on the internet. Assess the company’s worth. Do they have experience? Are they credible? Do they seem helpful?  Do they vet the au pairs beforehand? If you are comfortable with the agency then your chance of having a successful au pair placement increases dramatically.


You will then speak to the agency about your requirements. You will tell them about your family; the number of children you have, the hours you spend at work, and what you are looking for from an au pair. You may want to tell them about any specific recruitments or your reasons for hiring an au pair. Maybe you have recently had to hire a divorce attorney and you are in the busy of a messy separation so you need help with childcare? Perhaps you’re just too busy with your work life? A good agency will take the time to get to know you because they will want to match you to an au pair who they think you will like and will feel comfortable in your home. They will use their knowledge about you and their knowledge about the au pair to make the perfect match.


Once the agency has decided on an au pair they think would be best for you, you then have the option to speak to the person. The agency will usually set up a phone call or a Skype chat with the person. After all, a lot of the au pairs will still currently be based abroad and so this is the best way to initiate contact. If you are happy then you will draw up what is known as a letter of agreement or contract. In this, you will basically state what you expect of the au pair and they will accept it. This is good because it sets the standards and ensures that you and the au pair are on the same page.


Once you have done this you are ready to begin the au pair placement! Make sure you take the effort to make the au pair feel welcome. You need to remember that this is going to be a difficult transition for her too. And don’t forget to give the au pair time off. She cannot be expected to work every hour under the sun.


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, Uncategorized

Essential Facts about Weight Loss and Metabolism

Essential Facts about Weight Loss and Metabolism

Metabolism is the most important factor when considering losing weight.
Read interesting facts about metabolism and how it’s important for your
weight loss. Here are 8 essential facts about metabolism:

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

The Secrets Of The Smoking Quitters

The Secrets Of The Smoking Quitters

Pixabay (CC0 Licence)

Everyone – even those who have never smoked – is aware that quitting smoking is a difficult task. In fact, the difficulties are so well-known, characters making an attempt are often featured as a plotline on TV shows and in movies, such is the universal understanding of just how challenging an undertaking quitting for good can be.

Yet somehow, thousands of people a year manage to say goodbye to cigarettes for good. If you currently are, or know someone who is, a smoker, you may have wondered why some people manage to quit while others are more likely to flounder. While it’s true that every smoker’s quitting story is somewhat unique, there are a few uniting factors behind the successful “I quit” stories…

Successful quitters… understand the process is going to be tough

One of the dominant stereotypes of any addictive behavior is the individual’s belief that they can “quit anytime they want”. Despite the common acceptance that quitting smoking is tough, some smokers start their quitting attempt with the belief that they will be the exception to the rule. This belief then doubles-down the difficulty of quitting; they experience the effects of nicotine withdrawal, and they are particularly disappointed or even surprised by them, which makes relapse more likely. Successful quitters, on the other hand, know that quitting is going to be difficult, so they’re more able to adapt when they encounter a few bumps in the road.

Successful quitters… don’t go it alone

Quitting smoking “cold turkey” – i.e. stopping abruptly and without any kind of nicotine replacement – is rarely successful. While some people do respond well to a clean break, most smokers need a tapering off of their nicotine consumption. From vaping to standard nicotine patches, there are plenty of smoking alternatives that are well worth exploring.

Successful quitters… focus on the cost benefits

Smoking is an expensive habit, and successful quitters often keep a running tally of the amount they have saved through quitting smoking. These savings can be substantial even when factoring in the costs of nicotine replacements, given it’s relatively easy for vapers to find affordable premium e juice, while patches can be bought in bulk to maximize the savings. As a result, you may find it useful to track your savings, with the total figure not spent on cigarettes capable of boosting your spirits and willpower on the tougher days.

Successful quitters… know quitting isn’t just about nicotine

In a world where vaping and nicotine replacement therapies can help to reduce cravings almost entirely, it seems that quitting should be relatively simple. However, successful quitters know that smoking isn’t just about nicotine. Smoking is almost a lifestyle, a way of living, an influencing factor that shapes a person’s day-to-day life. Without smoking, many smokers struggle; there’s no cigarette break to look forward to, no daily trip to the store to purchase more cigarettes, no obvious way to relax after a long day of work. Successful quitters understand these lifestyle changes can be as – if not more – significant than nicotine withdrawal itself; as a result, they’ll look to keep themselves busy, often taking up new hobbies to fill the time until they adjust to a cigarette-free way of being.

In conclusion
Quitting smoking is undeniably challenging but, by keeping the secrets of the successful quitters in mind, you should be able to find your way to a cigarette-free future. Good luck.


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, SEX & LIFE

Can Your Elderly Parent Still Live Independently?

Can Your Elderly Parent Still Live Independently?

There comes a point in the life of every adult when they start having to worry about their parent just as much as their parent worried about them when they were younger. When this change occurs can differ from person to person, but it usually begins a little after you start to build your own family or when you reach a comfortable point in your life. For instance, you might find that once you reach forty, your parent starts to have more frequent trips to the doctors or even hospital. This is a clear sign that they do need more support and may not be able to live independently anymore. Let’s look at some of the other possible signs that you should watch out for.

Pic Source

Issues With Dementia

Dementia becomes frighteningly common as we age. It’s quite possible that you start to see signs of dementia as early as forty. This is called early-onset dementia and it’s far rarer. Actual cases of dementia start to become common after sixty-five and you do need to watch out for this.

If you are concerned about dementia, Care For Family’s In-Home Care Services has a checklist you can download with a list of symptoms to watch out for. Dementia moves fast, and by recognising the signs, you can make sure that your parent gets the treatment they need to slow down the progression of the disease.

Early signs include zoning out of conversations and living in the past. This simply means that elderly parents remember long-term memories far more clearly than say, what happened yesterday. You can learn more about the early signs on https://www.healthline.com/health/dementia/early-warning-signs.

Furthermore, you will also need to make sure that you are looking for signs that they are forgetting names, places, and dates. The disease will progress quite quickly once it reaches this point without treatment.

Loss Of Motor Function

Another issue that you must keep a check for is a loss of motor function. This could be anything including issues with motor control. For instance, you might see them making movements that they have no control over. A common sign of a motor neuron disease is the finger moving freely by itself on one hand. It’s a small sign but one that should definitely be checked out by a doctor. If issues with mobility and motor control continue to develop, your parent will eventually need nursing support. You can read more about this option on sites such as https://www.riddlevillage.com/how-we-care/skilled-nursing/. Here you’ll discover exactly the type of treatment your elderly parent can receive from a full trained staff and why they might need it.

No Recovery

Finally, you need to watch out for signs that your elderly parent isn’t recovering after suffering from an injury. This does become a serious issue as we age because our bodies heal a lot slower. In some cases, time in the hospital can cause elderly parents to deteriorate faster than before simply because they are in environments that are emotionally stressful for them. As such, you do need to be aware of this problem and work hard to provide the full support they need.

We hope you find this advice useful when determining whether your elderly parent can no longer live independently without help from you or others.

​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.