Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

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

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Improving The Outer Zone Of Your Home

Improving The Outer Zone Of Your Home

(Image Credit)

 

A lot of people will spend days, weeks, and even months working on the inside of their home to make sure that it meets their needs perfectly. In the best places, this work doesn’t stop once the first wave is finished, either, and you will find some people making alterations to their space as often as every few months. Of course, though, there are loads of posts to help you to improve the inside of your place, but not a lot which cover the outer areas. To help you out with this, this post will be exploring some of the key areas which can be improved when you’re working on the outside of your home.

 

Paint/Siding: In the modern world, the rules have changed when it comes to the way that you decorate your home. With companies like https://sidinggroup.com/ able to provide you with excellent options which can add color, texture, and even new shapes to the outside of your home, all while falling into most people’s budgets, most people can improve this area with ease. To help you with this, it could be worth using websites like Pinterest to get some inspiration as you get started.

 

Windows: Along with the walls, the windows which occupy them could also do with some attention. From a simple clean to a full-on replacement, you have loads of different options available to help you with this. Making an impact in this area is very easy. So, if you are on a tight budget, a simple paint job could be a enough, though going further will always come with loads of benefits.

 

Garden/Plants: While the building itself will make the biggest impression on your visitors, it’s always worth considering the state of your garden, too. The areas surrounding your home form a large part of the space it takes up, making them prominent to anyone going by. To help you with this, a professional gardening company will be able to work to keep your garden up to date. Along with this, though, you could also give working on this area by yourself a try if you’d like to save some money.

 

The Roof: Finally, as the last area to consider, not a lot of people realise how visible the roof on their home can be from the ground. The tiles you choose, along with the chimney, will shape the appearance of your home, with a lot of different fields of architecture relying on this part of a building to define it when compared to others. Of course, though, this part of the home won’t be as important as the others, and can be left until you have the funds to improve it.

 

With all of this in mind, it should start to get a lot easier to plan the chances you’d like to make to the outside of your home. A lot of people struggle with this, finding it hard to know which parts to improve first. In reality, though, any change will make a difference, and it can be good to focus on the ones which will make you the happiest.

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

How Should You Upgrade Your Home This Year?

How Should You Upgrade Your Home This Year?

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Whilst your home may look and feel “lived-inâ€, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re keeping it in the best shape. If you neglect to properly maintain your home and upgrade it when things start to look shabby or worn-out then your house is quickly going to become dilapidated in appearance. It takes work to make a house look and feel cozy. It isn’t about whether you’ve bought a modern house with all the latest commodities or not. At the end of the day, whether you live in a home that’s 2 years old or 2 decades old, it’s up to you to keep it looking fresh and feeling cozy.

 

How should you upgrade your home this year? That’s a good question. In this article, we’re going to talk about some of the improvements you should think about making to your home. Most of these suggestions involve relatively minor projects that you could complete by yourself with a little bit of DIY and a few Google searches. The key to upgrading your household is to make improvements that will keep your home in good shape for a long time. You don’t want to complete maintenance jobs every year when things start falling apart or the design of your home starts to look faded and dated. Here are some permanent upgrades you should make to your home that will improve it in the long-term.

 

Make your home minimalistic.

The first step to upgrading your home is to make it minimalistic in design. To start, you should declutter the house. Get rid of any unwanted possessions or anything that you’ve simply hoarded and don’t really need. Your home needs to be able to breathe, and that won’t happen if the layout is packed full of “stuffâ€. Still, spaciousness is only part of creating a minimal aesthetic. The visual side of your house needs to be “decluttered†too. For example, wallpaper with a busy design could be torn down. In its place, you could add a fresh coat of paint to your walls. Choose neutral colors so that you create a blank canvas on which to put any ideas, themes, or color schemes you want.

 

Make your home larger.

Tying in with the first point, your goal is to make your home larger. Cutting down on clutter is a good way to do this, but there’s only so much you can achieve by throwing out old things. If you want to have any belongings left then you need to think about ways in which you can store your possessions so as to better utilize your home’s space and make the household feel much larger. Throughout the decluttering process, you probably kept a lot of furnishings that you deemed practical in nature, such as that nice coffee table in the lounge. But you could replace those old furnishings with even more practical alternatives. For example, you could get a coffee table with drawers that provide additional storage space. Another smart way to create additional storage space could be to keep belongings under beds or even to create a cabinet underneath the stairs. Think about all the space that you’re not utilizing in your home if you want to make each room feel larger. You could put up shelves on walls to store certain things, for example.

 

Another way to make your home larger is to add a brand new room to the house. Perhaps you and the family just need a little more space to breathe. You could consider getting an extension such as a basement in your home so as to create additional space on your property. This space could be converted into a games room, a gym, or even a second living room (perfect for the family who always argues over what to watch on TV or Netflix). Of course, you don’t even have to go to the effort of physically extending your home in order to make it larger. As mentioned in the introduction, there are always easier ways to improve your home than you might think; a healthy dose of DIY is often all you need. You just need to think about the existing space in your household that’s not being used for anything. For example, if your garage does nothing other than serving as storage space for old junk then maybe you could convert it into a gym or family room. Think outside the box.

 

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Do some work on the garden.

It’s time that you did some real work on the garden. Even if you’re an avid gardener, there’s more you could be doing with this outdoor space than simply mowing the lawn and tending to flowers. Nature is vibrant and colorful, but it can be made even more powerful and aesthetically pleasing when combined with the right amount of manufactured design. Obviously, you don’t want to completely pave over your lovely garden, but adding a few creature comforts could really bring this area to life. You should work on the patio first. Get some comfortable chairs or loungers so that you have a place to relax and feel cozy whilst you admire the view of your garden. You could even look at patio awnings so as to provide some roofing and shelter over this outdoor area. Even if the weather takes a turn, you can still feel warm and cozy from your vantage point.

 

Feeling comfortable and relaxed on your patio is one sign that you have a great garden, but you shouldn’t stop there. Visually, you should want to take as much pride in the appearance of your household’s exterior as you do with its interior. And the rules for designing your garden are much the same as the rules for designing any room in your house. You need a strong backdrop, first of all. Repaint your fencing panels to make them feel fresh, and choose a natural color that doesn’t distract from the vibrant flowers, plants, and shrubbery in your garden. Additionally, this outdoor space needs a focal point. You should feel captivated by your garden. You could consider planting a tree in the center of the garden and have a path which leads up to it. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous then you could even consider creating a small fish pond. It’s all about ensuring that you retain the natural elements of the landscape even when human intervention is at play.

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 to Clean a Drip Coffee Maker

By Guest Blogger, Dennies John

7 Tips to Clean a Drip Coffee Maker

Did you know that poor maintenance is one of the biggest reasons why kitchen appliances meet an early death? Drip coffee makers are no different. Foul taste, ugly stains, and slow brewing are some of the big warnings that signal you when it’s time for a thorough clean up.

But the good news is that regular cleaning can keep all troubles at bay, and you don’t have to be spending copious amount of time doing it! Here are some easy and valuable tips to clean your drip coffee maker and lengthen its life span in the process.

  1. Empty your pot

Let’s start with the obvious. After each cycle, empty the coffee/pods and its residues from the filter. Scoop them from a spoon if needed, and simply dump them into a bin. This will prevent any solid waste from clogging the sink.

 

  1. Dissemble the parts

Residues have a way of seeping through parts that aren’t sealed. That’s why it is important to dissemble all the parts that come off, including minor parts like the rubber that seals the lid. The best coffee makers have fewer parts, and that’s a blessing especially if you have to wash them by hand. Once dissembled, they’ll provide access to every nook and cranny that needs cleaning.

 

  1. Wash

If yours is a machine that isn’t dishwasher-safe, then submerge the parts in a basin with soapy water, instead of soaping them one by one. This will save time, and help to remove even the stubborn dirt. Once done, scrub them and rinse off under running water.

 

  1. Mop

Just because certain parts cannot be washed doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be cleaned. They will accumulate dust, dirt and even splashes of coffee over time. So make sure to wipe them with a wet cloth and repeat it at least once in every two days. This will make your coffee maker look brand new for years to come.

 

  1. Dry off

Never reassemble the parts of your coffee maker without drying them first. Not doing so is like an open invitation for mold and bacteria. Remember, it’s never easy to kick them out once they take up residence in your coffee maker.

 

  1. Use vinegar

According to Mercola.com, vinegar is proven to be the best natural and non-toxic cleaner that can be used on a coffee maker. It not only kills about 80% of mold and bacteria but also removes mineral build-up caused by hard water. All you need to do is mix equal portions of vinegar with water and let it run through the coffee maker at least twice a month.

 

  1. Battle Stains

Stains are the first thing that makes your machine look older than it actually is. Baking soda is a great way to get rid of them. For light stains, scrub the area with a sponge by dipping it in baking soda. If that doesn’t work, let a solution of baking soda and water sit in the coffee pot overnight.

 

If these tips proved to be valuable to you, start adjusting your cleaning-habits right away. You’ll be rewarded with a better looking coffee pot and better tasting coffee in no time at all.

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

It’s Time You Started To Take Better Care Of Yourself

It’s Time You Started To Take Better Care Of Yourself

 

Lifestyle

 

The way we live is what overall affects how our body feels and changes, and it’s important that we protect it in our lifestyle. From what you eat to how much you move around in a day is what your body has to go off of, and surprisingly this can have a huge impact on your health. If you’re leading an unhealthy lifestyle you may really start to feel it physically, and you’re a lot more likely to fall victim to serious health issues. Typically, when it comes to starting the new year, people try to make a new year’s resolution to work on their diet or start up a new exercise plan. It’s hard to stick to, but you have to be determined!

 

Checkups

 

If you don’t often see a doctor, it might be worth booking yourself in for a quick checkup to make sure everything is fine. That’s not to say that you should expect bad news, but there’s no harm in making sure! Even if you do find out there’s bad news, the sooner you find out about it, the more chance you have of getting the best result. You might find yourself needing specific drugs to help out with any conditions you have, which can be pretty expensive if insurance does not cover it! You should check out ePharmacies to help you find the best deal out there on the market. You never know how much you could save, and when it comes to an essential purchase like this; you want to make sure that your payments are going to stretch!

 

Bad habits

 

Bad habits are often the worst causes of damage to our bodies. It’s quite common to see people with smoking addictions, and they bring such substantial health risks to themselves and people around them. Managing to quit this addiction doesn’t only help save your body from potential illnesses, but you’re also going to be saving yourself significant amounts of money. It’s hard to give up these addictions, but there are many services and treatments you can invest in to help you quit. The problem with most people’s addictions is, they don’t usually want to give them up, but it can be made a lot easier if you take the available treatments. For example, with the latest e-cigarettes, you don’t really have to give up smoking in a sense, but instead, you can lower your chemical intake significantly by using those instead. Smoking isn’t the only habit that people tend to get addicted to, alcohol is quite a common problem these days, too. Which again, not only compromises your health but leaves a massive hole in your wallet.

 

(Source: Pexels)

 

The sooner you start to take care of your body, the higher the chance you have at a healthier future. The last thing anyone wants is to be given some bad news based on some silly compromise on their health, like smoking or a lack of exercise. It seems like fun at the time, but it’s something that you would seriously regret when the time comes.

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

Fill Your Fall Garden with Late-Blooming Perennials

Fill Your Fall Garden with Late-Blooming Perennials

 

In gardening, flexibility and variety are the names of the game. Mixing things up in my garden is what gives it the longevity and the brilliant hue throughout the year. I would not imagine a flower garden that goes flat after the early bloomers have withered away into oblivion.

When one group withers, the other groups should set up their stunning floral show. There should never be a dull moment in your garden. It is for this reason that you need late-blooming perennials in addition to your early bloomers.

To help you put up the most amazing display in fall, I have put up this article to help you Fill Your Fall Garden with Late-Blooming Perennials. With these, your end year garden’s look will be an envy of many.

  1. Hardy Mums

Also called Chrysanthemum morifolium, these late bloomers are meant to do well in both containers and on garden beds. Their cheerful and bright flowers bloom in fall to give your garden a new breath of life.

What I particularly love about these flowers is that they grow all through the summer heat, but you need to give them a cut back in mid-summer so that they get a fresh start for fall. As the flowers start to fade, remove the dead blossoms as this encourages more of them to reappear. (USDA Hardiness Zone 3 to 9)

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  1. Japanese Anemone

I love the brilliant white flowers with yellowish stamens. The paper-like blooms make for a stunning view as they start to bloom around late summer. They then continue the show through to winter.

These plants only need maintenance before they establish. But after they are properly established, they don’t require much to grow along. (They thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 to 8)

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  1. New York Daisy

How does purple, pink, white and blue sound to you? Such a color combination is just what your fall garden needs. The delicate flowers blossom late in August all through to winter, just like the Japanese Anemone.

In early summer, I would advise you to pinch them so that the yield of flower buds increase in fall. As time goes by, you will love how seamlessly they get along with other flowers in the garden. (USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 9)

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  1. Purple Coneflower

I call this bloomer the drama queen of fall. If you have noticed them, their big purple petals and sizeable center cones are kind of dramatic, don’t you think so? Another amazing thing about them is that their display starts in June and lasts until frost hits.

After their flowers have dried up, they leave behind seed heads that are ornamental and also food for birds during winter. (USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8)

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  1. Sedum Autumn Joy

Their name literally says something about them. These flowers bring you immense joy in fall, just as their names suggest. And since they are hardy and are drought resistant, their bloom will last from late summer and well into fall.

The hot and dry days experienced in late summer are no big deal to them. To demonstrate their exuberance, the clustered flowers change from green, then to pink and then ends in a stunning deep red shade. (USDA Hardiness zones 4 to 10)

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  1. False Sunflower

I love my sunflowers. The deep yellow flowers are just so attractive and beautiful to have around, not to mention their intelligent sun-seeking maneuvers. However, these perennials are not the ones you are thinking of.

The Heliopsis helianthoides almost resemble their oil-producing counterparts, without the oil of course. Their daisy-like flowers have yellow petals and grow to about 2 inches in diameter, with brownish center cones. Once you plant them, they will self-seed in large numbers after that.

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  1. Nippon Daisy

I have heard that it is also called a Montauk Daisy in some quarters; this perennial explodes its perky white flowers in fall. Such a colony of whites can transform any dormant garden back into life late in the season.

They are easy to care for and grow to a height of between 24 and 36 inches. Growing them requires that your garden has full sun and well-drained soil. Otherwise, they are absolutely easy to care for. (USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9)

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  1. Goldenrod

As a native, this flowering plant is easy to care for because of its drought-resistant nature. Over the course of time, this native plant has been modified to give it that extra modern touch. These modern types are more vigorous than the natives and would be great for your garden.

As the goldenrod blooms its yellow flowers during the late season, you get a garden full of color. These flowers provide a feeding haven for hungry bees and butterflies hence resulting in a garden full of life. (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-9)

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  1. Helenium

No flower hue quite beats the yellow, red and orange daisy flowers of the perennial Helenium. These sun lovers will bless your garden with their color rich flowers year after year. More vigor is realized when you plant them in masses.

They are easy to care for plants that continue their terrific show even during low rainfall seasons. (USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8)

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  1. Balloon Flower

Named after its balloon shaped eye-catching flower buds, it provides you with the burst of color you need in fall. After the balloon-like buds have popped open, they expose the magnificent dark blue, white or pink flowers.

These plants will thrive in any garden with sufficient sun. You can as well cut and vase them. (USDA Hardness zones 3-8)

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  1. Oriental Lily

This is where fragrance meets exotic looking flowers. I love it when I take a walk in my garden, and then that refreshing fragrance hits me along. The flowers are available in different hues of pink, cream, rose red, white, orange and yellow.

A keener look at the flowers reveals splashes of dark stripes or spots for more flare. Ensure they are exposed to the sun on well-drained garden soils. To finally enjoy the massive fragrance, you will have to wait for about one year, but it will be worth your while. (USDA Hardiness Zones 5-9)

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Conclusion

Fall flower bloom is an irresistible sight for any gardener out there. These flowers that bloom in fall are rich in color, some have an amazing fragrance, and are easy to care for. They may need a little pinching here and there, but your efforts will be well worth 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.

 

 

Profile Picture: http://www.thefilix.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/barbara-herring.jpg

 

Bio:

Barbara Herring is a contributor at TheFilix.com, where she writes about everything from hydroponics and aquaponics to regular houseplants. She loves troubleshooting plant problems, and when she’s not knee-deep in her garden, she’s usually skateboarding, surfing, or reading a book.