All posts by Tia

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Quick Tips for a Great Garden

Quick Tips for a Great Garden

Pixabay – CCO Licence

We spend so much time and money making our home look great on the inside, that often the garden can end up being neglected, or at the very least, manicured but uninspiring.

If that sounds familiar, here are some quick tips that can help you to create a great garden without having to spend endless time on the process.

Lay an artificial lawn

A well-manicured lawn is the cornerstone of a beautiful garden, but for many of us, all the time and effort it takes to seed it, water it, weed it, and of course, mow it, is too much to handle.

Luckily, you do not have to go through all that thanks to artificial lawn, which these days at least, looks just about as authentic as it can get without being the real thing and best of all requires very little maintenance – you may want to hose it down once in a while, that’s it!

Install some lighting

One of the things that can make a big difference to how good your garden looks and feels is the lighting. If you have no lighting in your garden, it becomes pretty redundant in the evenings, but if you have plenty of lights, which a good electric contracting company can install in no time at all, your garden can look pretty magical at night. It’s a good idea to have a mix of different lighting for different situations. For example, candles or fairy lights wound around trees can create a magical romantic feel while bigger lamps and spotlights can really light up the space for fun and games.

Pixabay – CCO Licence

Add storage

If you have a lot of gardening tools and equipment, then a shed is a good idea. You can use it to hide all of the necessary but unattractive stuff away and maintain the pretty look of your garden. wooden sheds are great because you can paint them in pretty pastel colors to better blend in with the garden. 

Pots and planters are your friend

There is no denying that plants and flowers add a lot to the garden. They will it with stunning colors and shapes, not to mention heady aromas, which make spending time in the garden a real pleasure.

However, it is also fair to say that they can be difficult to look after with all of that digging, weeding, protecting from the elements, and …well you get the idea. The good news is, if you keep plants in pots or moveable planters, instead of the ground, you don’t need to do nearly as much of that stuff to keep your plants in great condition, with the added bonus you can easily move them around to beat the elements or whenever you want to change the look of your yard.

As you can see, it can be a lot easier, and less time-consuming than you might think to create a truly amazing garden, and although you will have to do a little work, it will be totally worth it when you have a garden that’s the envy of everyone on the block.

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.

SEX & LIFE

4 Simple Actions that Improve Your General Well-being

4 Simple Actions that Improve Your General Well-being

Image Credit

Do you experience stress, anxiety, and fatigue? Well, you’re not alone. These symptoms are synonymous with millions of Americans today.

With life getting busier, there’s never been a more important time to take care of one’s health. Besides, taking care of your body doesn’t have to be a tedious or cumbersome task. By simply taking these four steps, you’ll start living a balanced mental and physical life.

Get Adequate Sleep

Running a business requires unwavering dedication that sometimes eats away your sleeping time. Lack of enough sleep has many consequences, but above all, it results in your body being in an unbalanced state since it doesn’t get enough time for cell and tissue repair.

If you combine lack of sleep with unhealthy eating, the result is high blood pressure, diabetes, and any other deadly lifestyle disease you can think of. So, ensure you get enough rest at night, preferably eight hours of uninterrupted sleep for the body to perform at optimum levels.

Furthermore, if you struggle to sleep at night, reduce screen time, whether mobile phone, TV or other gadgets, since the blue light affects sleep patterns.

Maintain Good Dental Hygiene

One ignored truth is that your dental hygiene plays a crucial role in your daily success as much as any other activity. This is because running a business requires constant communication, which is hard when you have swollen gums or bad breath.

Maintaining good dental hygiene goes a long way in keeping you healthy and giving you peace of mind. Visiting your local dentist regularly is even more reassuring since you’re keeping up with dental hygiene best practices. At the least, ensure that you:

  • Brush teeth daily
  • Floss regularly
  • Use fluoride toothpaste

Get Moving

As a business owner, you probably spend most of your days in your office negotiating deals. This leaves you with little to no time to exercise, and therefore, your body grows unfit and unhealthy over time.

What most people don’t understand is that exercising isn’t about running six kilometers and lifting weights in the gym. Instead, it’s the simple actions taken consistently. 

For example, instead of running or jogging, you can do long walks early in the morning or in the evening after work. With multiple exercise apps available today, you could even do some of these exercises at home. Remember, when it comes to rigorous exercise, slow and steady is the way.

Have a Social Life

It’s easy to get sucked into the working day in, day out and forget that there’s more to life than constant working. If you want to perform at your peak, learn how to unwind and get your mind off work from time to time.

Spend the weekends catching up with friends and family. Watch a movie; go out to the park or beach. Either way, engage in an activity that gets your mind off the stresses and anxiety of work and life.

Conclusion

Life is hectic, and its demands can lead you down an unhealthy road if you don’t pause to take care of your general well-being. Use these tips to stay on top of your health and live a balanced life.

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

7 Tips for Home Renovations this Year

7 Tips for Home Renovations this Year

Renovating your home can be a time-consuming and expensive process.  That’s why it is important to plan for this before you start the process.  So how do you renovate with success?  This blog post will provide seven tips that will help make sure your renovation is successful.

Photo by Monica Silvestre from Pexels

1) Plan Ahead

The first step in any renovation project is to plan ahead.  This means creating a budget and timeline for the project.  It’s also important to decide what you want your finished product to look like.  By taking the time to plan, you can avoid costly mistakes and make sure that your renovation goes as smoothly as possible.  Another thing to consider when planning your renovation is the weather.  If you’re renovating during winter, make sure you have enough insulation and heating to keep your home warm.  And if you’re renovating during summer, be prepared for the heat by installing air conditioning.

2) Set a Budget

The most important part of planning your renovation is making sure you have the funds to complete it.  This means creating a budget and sticking to it.  A good way to save money when renovating is by doing as much work as possible yourself.  If you’re not experienced in construction or landscaping, take some time at home improvement stores like Home Depot (HD).  This will give you an idea of what materials are needed for your project and how much they cost so that you can plan accordingly.  Another thing that many people don’t think about is getting quotes from multiple contractors before starting the renovations. 

3) Choose the Right Contractor

One of the most important steps in any renovation project is choosing the right contractor such as a window replacement service.  This means doing your research and asking for referrals from friends and family.  Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, it’s important to interview each contractor and get a written estimate.  Make sure that you understand what is included in the estimate before signing anything.  It’s also important to be aware of scams when hiring contractors.  One common scam is when a contractor asks for money upfront and then never returns to complete the job.  If this happens, report it to your local police department immediately.

4) Work with Trusted Professionals

When renovating your home, it’s important to work with professionals in each field.  This means working with only licensed and insured contractors and hiring a good architect or designer when you want something custom-made.  In addition, if possible, use materials that have been tested for safety by an independent lab, such as the Underwriters Laboratories (UL).  By following these tips when choosing professionals for your project, you will be able to enjoy peace of mind knowing that all necessary precautions have been taken during construction.  Working with reputable professionals also makes things easier because they already know what is required under local building codes. 

5) Choose a style and stick to it. 

Choosing a style and sticking to it is important when renovating your home.  This will help create a cohesive look throughout your home.  If you’re not sure what style you want to go with, browse through magazines or online galleries for inspiration.  Once you’ve chosen a style, make sure all of the renovation decisions you make are in line with that style.  For example, if you’re going for a rustic look, choose materials like wood and stone instead of modern materials like metal and glass.  And be sure to use colors and textures that complement each other well.

6) Try to use recycled items 

Another way to save money when renovating is by using recycled items.  While it’s not possible to use all of your renovation materials in this manner, you can try repurposing things like doors and sinks.  It also helps to reuse lumber if the existing structure isn’t too damaged.  If a piece doesn’t need replacing, consider trying an “upcycling” project such as building furniture instead.  This will allow you to create custom-made pieces that suit your style perfectly while saving significant amounts of space and money over buying new goods off the shelf.

7) Warn the neighbors in advance 

When it comes to renovations, many people don’t think about warning the neighbors in advance.  This means letting them know what you’re planning on doing and asking for their cooperation when it’s time to do construction work.  In particular, if your renovation involves a lot of loud noise or dirt going into the street utility lines, let them know ahead of time so they can plan accordingly

In conclusion, renovating your home is a great way to improve the value of your property and give it new life.  However, in order to do this successfully without running into problems, you need to be prepared. 

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.

Uncategorized

5 Ways to Improve Your Outdoor Space for Spring

5 Ways to Improve Your Outdoor Space for Spring

Spring is the perfect time for taking care of outdoor spaces. Not only is it the first time of the year that you’ll be able to enjoy your backyard, but it’s also a great chance to spruce up your front yard to make it more welcoming. Here are some easy tips on how you can improve your outdoor space for spring.

Image credit

Clean Your Yard

Start by cleaning up your yard. Cleaning up leaves and raking the lawn will give you some time to think about what you want to do with your space. It can also help you notice any damage or problem areas that need to be fixed.

If you have a weedy garden, the best way to get rid of them is by pulling them out and discarding them in a compost pile (make sure they’re not poisonous!). With weeds like dandelions and thistle, make sure to spray them with weed killer before throwing them away.

Trim Your Trees

Most people spend their time trimming hedges and bushes, but they often neglect to trim the foliage on the trees. There is no reason for this! Just like your bushes and hedges, you should cut your tree in the spring. 

You’ll want to trim any branches that hang out over sidewalks, driveways, or walkways. It’s also essential to remove any dead or diseased wood from the tree. Contact a professional tree care company such as Tree Doctor to ensure all work is carried out correctly and legally.

Why not get creative with your tree trimming projects! If you have a shaggy-looking tree that needs some taming, try wrapping it in rope lights around the trunk. This will give your tree an exciting texture and look that will appeal to homeowners looking for something different.

Plant Summer Flowers

Now is the time to purchase your plants for summer flowers. Start with perennials like hostas, irises, and peonies. These are sure to last through the summer if you plant them now.

Next, consider some annuals that will bloom in the spring and throughout the summer. This includes impatiens, petunias, marigolds, sunflowers, salvia, and zinnias.

Finally, buy some seasonal bulbs that will flower in the spring by looking for tulips or daffodils.

Add New Furniture

Every part of your outdoor space needs to be usable. If you don’t have any furniture, now is the time to purchase some. There are plenty of options for outdoor furniture available at your local retail store or online. Consider what you want to use your outdoor space for and choose furnishings accordingly. For example, if you spend a lot of time cooking outside, you might consider getting an outdoor kitchen set with a table and chairs.

Paint Fences or Walls

For many homeowners, painting fences or walls is an easy, inexpensive way to spruce up the exterior of their home. Painting your fence or wall can help to brighten up your outdoor space and make it more welcoming for guests. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy the outdoors even more because you won’t have to worry about stains on your walls or damaged paint from tree branches.

One idea is to paint the back of your house in a bright colour. Painting just one side of your home will allow that side to soak up all the sunlight coming through.

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

Making Your Home Energy-Efficient

Making Your Home Energy-Efficient

We hear the terms energy-efficient, eco-friendly, and sustainable a lot when it comes to our homes. The truth is, unless you are looking at a new build, the house that you’re in might not be any of those things. 

And it might be down to you to make sure that your home has all of the necessary technology or structural changes to ensure that it is energy-efficient.

We are talking about making sure that your home doesn’t use and therefore waste the energy your family needs. This could be running the tap for too long, but it could equally be having the thermostat up a little bit too high. 

It is essential to keep in mind that some of these changes could cost more than others. For example, having things like solar panels, replacing windows, and ProVia entry doors installed. But the overall saving is typically a lot more than the initial cost.

Now let’s take a look at some of how you can save cash and make your home energy efficient.

Photo by Jeremy Bezanger on Unsplash

Insulation

Before you start making any other changes to how you use the energy around your home, you should ensure that it is well insulated. One of the ways that you could tell that you have good insulation is that you will not have a steep cost rise over the winter months.

If you find that your heating bill rises dramatically over the months, there could be a lot of heat leaving through your roof. 

Some insulation techniques are better than others but it is essential to have somebody look and see if you are as insulated as possible. Some of the critical areas you should look for are the crawl space, basement, attic, ceilings, windows, and doors.

CFLs

If you still have old bulbs in your home, you’re going to be using a lot more energy than the average. Older bulbs have a much shorter lifespan, and when you switch them out to fluorescent bulbs or perhaps even LEDs, you will notice that they could last up to 12 times longer than a regular incandescent bulb.

You do not need to switch all of your light bulbs in one go as this can feel rather expensive. You can mix and match your light bulbs around your home while slowly switching out to energy-efficient models.

Appliances

If you are looking for new appliances for your home, you must look for appliances with a B or A grade in terms of efficiency and energy star certification. Where appliances have the energy star certification, they are proven to use less energy and cost less in the long run.

Of course, when things have better technology, inside tend a little bit more money upfront. But you can compare this to the amount of money you will save over time from running at the energy-efficient appliance.

Solar panels

Solar panels are an investment, but you will only need to make them once. Solar panels help produce your energy costs over bright and sunny days. Solar panels turn solar energy into energy to run your home. 

This means once you have these fitted, things like running washing machines, dryers, and any other electrical appliances during the day will cost almost nothing.

It is also not uncommon to notice that you contribute energy to the energy grid after having your solar panels fitted for a short while. 

Self-audit

Only you know how much you spend on energy in any given month – and what is or is not usual. It is essential to go back over bank statements or bills for the power you have used in the last few years. You will be able to see any dramatic changes that you may not have considered before. 

Of course, there should be some expected rises as energy prices also rise, but anything dramatic might point to the fact that you have some lapses in your insulation that you are turning up your heating too high.

It can also be that some of your appliances are using power unnecessarily when they are not in use.

One of the most significant power users is that most of us do not turn electronics off correctly at the switch. Instead, we will leave them in a standby mode all this time, but they are still using power when you don’t need to use it. 

All of these small changes combined will have led to a healthy improvement and how much are you spending on your energy per month and year. For even more money-saving tips at checkout at this blog post, Is your home as energy efficient as you think? 

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.