Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Tips from fixing the room to finding health remedies in the kitchen.

A Well-Maintained Home Is a Happy Home

A Well-Maintained Home Is a Happy Home

No matter how much money you pour into renovations and refurbishments in your home, without proper maintenance they’re going to look dated, worn and the wear and tear could eventually damage the investment you’ve worked so hard on. Your neglect of your home might also turn into reduced property value later in the future when you decide to sell it and move on. No one wants to see the value of their property drop so sharply and everyone wants to lie in a home that they can be proud, but you can’t do this unless you respect your property and maintain it correctly.

 

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Repairing as soon as possible

 

Most people leave home repairs if they’re not that problematic. For example, some people tend to leave leaky taps alone because they assume that the taps themselves are fine. However, these small issues can eventually lead to larger problems, especially when it comes to utilities such as electricity and water. If something is wrong with your home, repair it as soon as possible. This prevents the possibility of further damage to your appliances or foundation and it also makes you happier to live in your home knowing that you’re comfortable.

 

Stop neglecting your floors

 

Whether it’s carpets or hardwood floors, it’s incredibly important to focus on maintaining your floors. You’d be surprised at just how much difference it makes to have clean carpets or buffed wooden flooring that doesn’t look outdated and worn. You can check here if you have hardwood flooring so you can learn a few tips and find the right services to help you look after them. Carpets need different tools but you can usually clean your own carpets if you have the right tools.

 

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Solid foundations are important

 

Maintaining your home also means looking after the foundation of your home. If you’ve lived in your property for several years then it’s important to look at how sturdy your home is in general. If you have crooked door frames or slanted floors, then it’s a good idea to take a look at those issues before anything else because it could indicate that you have a serious structural issue in your home. These issues are difficult to fix and often involve a lot of money, so make sure you keep these in mind.

 

Focusing on value-oriented renovations

 

Not everyone is loaded with money, so make sure you’re picking the right renovations to your home when you’re given the choice. For instance, if you lack storage space then a new shed or increased storage in your garage might be a better option than say, adding new tiles to your kitchen. Similarly, adding a loft extension to your home might be far cheaper than adding an entirely new section of the home if you’re looking for ways to add an extra bedroom to your home. There are many valuable renovations that add more than just style and comfort. Sometimes we need to think about the functional side of an improvement and making the most of the space we have.

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.

Take Charge of Your Health: Get More Sleep

By Guest Blogger, Sarah C.,

Take Charge of Your Health: Get More Sleep

Man Relaxing Under the Sun — Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

When it comes to getting healthy we hear an awful lot about exercise regimes and fad diets. What we don’t hear quite as much about is sleep. Why is that? Maybe it’s because sleep is something you can do for free!

 

Obviously diet and exercise are important but the lack of attention paid to sleep is surprising considering how vital a role it plays in both our physical and mental health.

 

What’s more, how well we sleep also plays a huge part in our capacity for exercise and our ability to maintain a healthy diet. So, while those two might be the pillars of a healthy life, good sleep is the foundation on which they stand.

 

Read on below to discover just how important sleep is for your health and why you should spend more time thinking about it…

 

Boost to the immune system

 

Our bodies are amazing things, while we lie asleep at night they get busy and go to work repairing themselves from the hardships of the day. If our sleep is broken these processes are obviously disrupted and don’t function nearly as well. That in a nutshell is why we feel bad if we don’t get sufficient sleep.

 

One very important process that takes place while we sleep is the production of cytokines, also known as the things that bravely fight off bacteria and viruses. These little guys are the cornerstone of our immune system.

 

If we’re sleep-deprived our immune system becomes impaired, meaning we are less able to fight off infection and less able to bounce back once we become infected. The result is more colds, more flu and more sick days to get over them. Not fun!

 

The heart of the matter

 

Not only does sleep improve your resistance to viruses such flu and colds, it also reduces your risk of being afflicted by a whole host of more serious conditions. Chief amongst these are strokes, heart disease and heart attacks.

 

When it comes to sleep and heart health the exact mechanisms at play aren’t exactly known. One theory simply relates to wear and tear, when we sleep our blood pressure drops and our heart has to do less work. If we sleep less, our heart doesn’t get this break.

 

This means two people of the very same age may have hearts who have done considerably different amounts of work, simply due to a difference in sleep patterns.

 

Has this info got you clutching at your chest in surprise? Well, for advice on how to get a handle on your own sleep patterns why not turn to those in the know, head on over to the Sleep Advisor for specialist advice.

 

Improves weight loss

 

So you’ve been up every morning jogging and you’ve been knocking back those disgusting wheatgrass smoothies but still your waistline hasn’t budged. Why is this? Well, it could be because you’re not getting enough shuteye.

 

Firstly, when we are sleepy we have reduced willpower, meaning we are far more likely to hit the candy jar than when we’ve slept well.

 

Secondly, even if you’ve the willpower to resist temptation, not getting enough sleep will still impact your weight. Not fair I know!

 

Researchers at Chicago University have discovered that our bodies actually process food less efficiently when tired. Apparently when sleep-deprived our fat cells suffer from a condition called ‘metabolic grogginess’. Who knew?

 

Without getting too deep into technicalities, when tired our fat cells are unable to correctly respond to the hormone insulin. Insulin controls how fatty acids and lipids get used and stored. When tired it seems our bodies end up storing more fat than it should.

 

What’s more, metabolic grogginess can lead to fat being stored in the wrong places, such as the tissue in our liver. The result of this can be diabetes. Yikes!

 

So, keep up the jogs and keep knocking back those ‘tasty’ green leaf drinks by all means. But also add a couple of extra hours in bed to your regime and you’ll soon be dropping a few notches on your belt.

 

A brighter tomorrow

 

Sleep isn’t just good for our physical health it’s also strongly linked to our mental health. Such is the link in fact, it’s been reported that insomniacs are five times more likely to suffer from depression as well-rested individuals.

 

Once again the exact reasons for the link between sleep and mental health aren’t completely understood. What we do know is that while we sleep our body attempts to regulate the levels of stress hormones in our system. If this process is constantly interrupted it stands to reasons that it will be less successful, resulting in imbalances and with them a less balanced emotional outlook.

 

There you have it – four reasons why sleep is essential for your health. Who knew that lying in bed for a few more hours could be so good for you? Nighty night!

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.

Why It Makes Sense To Hire Tree Removal Specialists

Why It Makes Sense To Hire Tree Removal Specialists

If you are an individual homeowner, then it is quite likely that you will find the next few lines interesting and informative. While you would relish the idea of a nicely landscaped garden and backyard, you would also realize that there is quite a bit of effort behind it. While you would like to have trees, plants, and greeneries, too much of it could come with its own share of problems. Overgrown trees could be a threat to your home if it is located too close for comfort. Hence you may have no other choice but to look up professional help. You can search tree removal companies near me to hire the right professionals to have the trees removed safely.

Removing fully grown trees is a humungous task and it would not be safely possible to do it using DIY techniques and methods. Further, if there is a storm or other such natural disaster it is quite possible that trees could get uprooted and they could pose big risks to electrical wiring systems and also could damage the sewerage systems, piping systems, and more.

In all such eventualities, hiring a good tree removal Sydney professional is of paramount importance. While you might come across some DIY tips and suggestions for tree removal on your own, they are at best good theories to read and gather some knowledge. The best way forward would be to hire professionals because there are some obvious advantages and benefits associated with them.

They Know The Job Well

As mentioned above removing trees that are either standing or have fallen down is not easy. They are huge in bulk, size, and weight and therefore they need very careful handling. When you hire professionals you can be sure that they will be able to study the situation properly and then offer solutions. They carry with them the right experience and expertise and this certainly helps a lot when it comes to removing big and bulky trees.

They Have The Right Infrastructure

Another good reason to hire these professionals is the kind of infrastructure that they have at their disposal. Whether it is cutting down huge trees, dragging them to a safe distance, trimming them or loading them onto trucks, they certainly will be able to do a wonderful job of it. This would not be possible at all by the homeowners or others because they simply do not have the wherewithal to carry things forward.

They Take Care Of Safety Aspects

Removing big trees once they have been cut is a tricky and risky affair and only professionals with the right kind of tools and equipment can do it. They also factor the dangers associated with such jobs and ensure that the staff is well protected and the right kind of safety equipment and other things are available to them.

They Follow The Rules

There could be some local rules and regulations with regard to the felling of trees and removing them. If you want to be on the right side of the law it always is better to hire these professionals instead of trying to do it on your own.

​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 TwitterTikTok, or Instagram.

Happy and Homely: Make Your Abode Amazing

Happy and Homely: Make Your Abode Amazing

There comes a time in our lives where our home needs a little tender loving care. There are drawers full of junk and your sofas are getting slightly tattered and torn. Nobody wants to have a disorganized house, especially when you are due to have family or friends around to visit. You worked so hard to buy your home that you need to remember to take care of it when it needs that extra attention. You can make some tiny tweaks to your rooms and belongings to make your house feel homey again. Choose the areas that need the most attention first and you will soon have all the problem areas fixed in a flash.

Luscious Lounging

Your sofas bear the brunt of most of your home activities; they are there for you and your friends to sit on each and every day. Whether you’re sat tapping away on your laptop or you’re eating dinner on your knee, they can become tired and uncomfortable pretty quickly. Check out Altson’s sofas and update your seating arrangements from ancient to astounding. You will soon be able to lounge around in luxury again.

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Clean and Clear

When was the last time you had a good old clear out inside your cupboards, closets and drawers? It is often said that a cluttered home makes for a messy mind, so in order to get back on track you need to start throwing away all that old junk. Try not to be too sentimental about objects you don’t really need to keep. If you haven’t used it in the past six months then it probably deserves to be thrown in the trash or to be sold online. You could make some money whilst you’re spring cleaning too if you do find some old bits and bobs that other people might be interested in. It is always worth having a regular deep clean in order to keep your house fresh and decluttered.

Outside Overhaul

Our gardens and outside areas often get a little neglected in the winter time. The weather can be chilly and you simply don’t want to go out there, but before you know it spring will appear and you’re left with a topsy-turvy outdoor space. Think about having an outdoor clear out before it gets too late to salvage. You might want to plant some new flowers or buy some new garden furniture whilst it’s on sale. There are a variety of different plant species which actually thrive during the colder seasons, so see if any of these could brighten up your backyard. There are many beautiful things you can do with your garden, even in the winter months. No matter how cold and dark it gets don’t forget to give it some attention!

Give your home the mini makeover it deserves and you won’t feel so overwhelmed by the bits and bobs that have built up over time. Enjoy your new comfortable seating and thrive in your newly refreshed backyard. It will soon feel like brand new again.

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.

Turning Your New House into a New Home

Turning Your New House into a New Home

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So, you’ve got a new home or you want to build a new home. The entire process can be exhilarating and overwhelming, especially if you are building from the ground up. Hiring the right contractors is imperative. Before you do anything, do your research. For example, you can search home builders in Chester County PA, and see the reviews on the best contractors in your area.

Now, that your new house is ready for living, you should know there have been a number of sociological and psychological studies that link having a tidy home with a tidy mind; indeed, it is now scientifically proven that a cluttered house can contribute to a cluttered mind.

Yet, this isn’t limited to physical clutter.

The Stress of It All

There’s a well-known concept within psychology that niggling ‘incomplete’ tasks cause significant stress, as an example, there might be a number of jobs within your home that you keep putting off; whether that’s to dig out a certain weed, repair broken glass, or retile the bathroom.  The challenge, of course is that when moving into a new house, there can be such a large list of niggling ‘incomplete’ tasks that you can feel completely overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, when we have a number of incomplete tasks our brain feels stress, even if they are tiny things, and it ultimately lowers our self esteem because we feel like we are not keeping on top of things.  When we have a long to-do list, particularly when it comes to tasks around the house, it can feel overwhelming and somewhat stifling, which is why it’s a great idea to keep that list small and tick things off as often as possible.

Now, when it comes to buying a new home this list can feel endless – particularly if you’re buying a home in need of some renovation.

Prioritize Tasks

The trick here is to prioritize tasks according to their significance and to chunk tasks together – so that your to-do list is much smaller; as an example, consider grouping all minor garden tasks together such as weeding, painting the fence, and so on.  You will then end up with a to-do list that is chunked into a handful  of categories that each have a handful of tasks to complete.

There are a variety of apps, such as wunderlist that can help you get organised in this way, and the greatest thing from a psychological perspective is that with these apps you can tick items off and then look back at all the completed items which is great for your self-esteem.

House or Home

Now, in terms of buying a new home it’s often agreed that there’s a huge difference between buying a house and buying a home.

A house is a physical commodity that can simply be purchased, whereas a home is something you must create…. Home is a feeling and a sense of belonging that transcends the value of the bricks and mortar holding up the roof over your head.

Home could be summed up as a sensation of peace… it can be a feeling of relief, such as when you pull into the driveway after a long trip and rest your weary head on your pillow… a feeling of comfort… or even a feeling of focus.  Home means different things to different people, but your sense of home is something that must be created.

If your home is a disorganised mess you’re unlikely to be able to create the sense of serenity and harmony you would like to experience as it’s not going to exude the emotional feeling of warmth, stability and peace that most people crave from their home.

Organize List

One of the greatest tips with regard to turning your new house into a home is the power of taking immediate action and building momentum.  Think of how much effort and fuel it takes to launch an airplane into the sky, yet once it has got momentum, it can cruise along with significantly less effort.  The underlying principle within the following three tips, therefore, is to take immediate action and build positive momentum.

  1. MAKE YOUR MARK

It’s important that your house feels like it belongs to you.  There’s a strong chance your new house will have remnants of the previous owners tastes and preferences in terms of its style.  The house might be stripped back to the basics, but there’s still likely to be a feeling of it belonging to someone else.  This is why you need to make your mark.  Similar to how a dog will mark his territory, you need to mark your territory in your new home in order to feel a secure sense of belonging.  There are several little things you can do to make your mark and turn your house into a home.

  1. PUT OUT PERSONAL ITEMS

Everyone has certain items they feel a strong emotional connection with and attachment to; indeed, just like a child with a teddy bear, there’s often a few pieces of furniture that just feel like home… whether that’s an old coffee table you’ve had for many years or a painting that’s been in your family for generations.  Whilst it’s important you don’t clutter your new home in the first few weeks, whilst you unpack, it can be a nice symbolic gesture to put out a few photographs that allow you to immediately start feeling more at home in your space.

Artwork is another great place to start, as wall hangings aren’t going to get in the way of your unpacking and instantly brighten up the space.  Mirrors are obviously fragile, and want to be wrapped with care, but when they are safely hung on the walls, you no longer have to worry about smashing them and getting seven years of bad luck.

  1. CLEANSE THE SPACE

In addition to the rational scientific need to clean in order to kill germs, the emotional aspect of cleaning your new home is a powerful emotional process that essentially cleanses the old and welcomes the new.  There are many emotional benefits of cleaning your new home and cleansing your space – the major benefit is that you will have the chance to connect with your new home and feel united with the space… and the more you energetically feel you are nurturing your new home, the more you are likely to feel nurtured by your new home in return.

Hopefully, these three principles put you in good stead to turn your new house into a happy home.

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.