Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

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

Six of the Best Tips For a Happy and Healthy Smile

March 22, 2017 TipsfromTia

Six of the Best Tips For a Happy and Healthy Smile

For many of us, visiting the dentist can feel like a bit of a chore. It can be painful and a bit awkward. But having regular appointments is needed to make sure that you stay on top of your oral health. Not only will it mean a better smile in the short term, but will save you a lot of money in the long term. Teeth and dentistry can be expensive to fix if there are problems. So in between visits, it is important to stay on top of your oral health and take care of your teeth. Then when you do visit the dentist, you donâ€™t have to dread it! You can just have a check-up and leave. So here are some of the best ways to keep your teeth looking their best, and making sure that your whole mouth is kept healthy.

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Brush 2-3 Times a Day

Most of us know that we should brush twice a day for healthy teeth and gums. But really, the more you can do it the better. When you do it first thing in the morning and last things at night it will help. But if you can do it in between those times that it will help even more. After lunch could be a good time to do it as it is evenly spread throughout the day. Anything to keep your teeth looking their best.

Brush Down

If youâ€™re a side to side brusher, then that is fine. But if you brush up and down, then you might need to rethink your technique. Brushing up can cause damage to your gums, as they are pretty sensitive. So if they are being pushed out of place at every angle, then it can be detrimental. Always brush down, rather than up.

See Other Specialists

Having regular appointments with your dentist is a must. Every six months is ideal really. If you can, try to see other specialists too. If you have problems with your the alignment of your teeth, then perhaps consult an orthodontist to advise. If you get bleeding gums quite regularly or aren’t too sure about things like flossing, then seeing a hygienist could be the best idea for you. They will all just help you to get a healthy mouth, that looks just as you want it to.

Use a Straw

It can be hard to get all of your drinks through a straw. But if you can, then it will help you avoid staining your teeth. It also helps the sugar and additives in drinks to stay away from your teeth. That being said, if you can avoid drinks that can damage your teeth, then it would be even better.

Donâ€™t Use Teeth as a Tool

How many of us have used our teeth to open things like packages, or even worse, bottle tops? It might work, but it doesnâ€™t mean that you should be doing it. It can be quite detrimental to your teeth when you do this and can make them weaker. Even worse is that they could get chipped too.

Tia, and TipsfromTia.comÂ is trying to keep you looking good and
feeling good, from the inside out. If youâ€™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

How To Downsize Your Home

March 22, 2017 TipsfromTia

How To Downsize Your Home

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Moving from a bigger property to a smaller one can have many benefits, but it can also have many disadvantages. If youâ€™re taking the bold step to downsize, here are some important factors to consider.

Why downsize?

Downsizing is generally a financial decision. If you can no longer afford the bills or rent/mortgage of your current home, going to a smaller property is the most sensible option. Some people who arenâ€™t financially struggling may temporarily downsize so that they can save up for a deposit for a bigger and better place. Meanwhile, some people may be moving location â€“ which forces them to downsize in order to afford the increased rates (for example, moving from the country to a city to pursue a job).

If youâ€™re family has recently shrunk, if a loved one has passed away or if youâ€™ve recently split up with a partner, downsizing can also be a practical option. You know longer need all that space and there may be sad memories there that are causing you to live in the past. In these cases, downsizing could give you a fresh start and allow you to live more comfortably.

Find a property that meets your needs

Going from a bigger house to a smaller one can have all kinds of difficulties. Whilst you may not be able to afford previous costs, itâ€™s important to find somewhere that still meets your needs. If youâ€™re getting older, moving from a house to a flat thatâ€™s not on the ground floor could have accessibility issues. If youâ€™re thinking of starting a family or have a baby, this child may need a room of their own, so whilst it may be cheaper to get a one-bed, moving to a less expensive location to buy a two-bed might be more practical.

The biggest obstacles however is what to do with all your possessionsâ€¦

Dealing with possessions

Fitting all the belongings from your previously larger property to a smaller property can be stressful. If the move is due to a relationship split or divorce, it may be worth hiring a family lawyer to help divide the possessions. If the move is purely for financial reasons, then you may have to consider how to deal with the excess furniture and items.

Prioritize what you really need â€“ beds, sofas and wardrobes should be measured so that you can find another property that can still feet these important belongings in. Work out the large possessions you really donâ€™t need. Is there a treadmill gathering dust in the corner? Does anyone ever use that spare chair in the corner of the room?

Sell or donate these excess items. You may be able to hold a yard sale outside your home before you move if your local council permits it. Consider attending auctions or selling at flea markets. If you really canâ€™t part with any of your possessions, renting out a storage container may be an option, although this will cost you extra money. Storage containers can sometimes be a great temporary option whilst you decide how to deal with certain items, useful if youâ€™ve just been through a bereavement. Remember that there may be family and friends out there that could require some of these possessions, especially those moving out of home for the first time.

BEAUTY, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

The Best Things In Life Are Free (Kinda)

March 21, 2017 TipsfromTia

The Best Things In Life Are Free (Kinda)

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Sometimes, the best things in life are the things that the earth gives us. We donâ€™t have to expand or develop on the things that it grows or produces in order for it to be something that we can use or adapt to our lifestyle. While this sounds a bit cryptic, we are probably missing out on quite a lot in our lives simply by skimming over the basics and leaning towards more complicated products – and it simply doesnâ€™t have to be this way.

Products: Toothpaste and toothbrush

Swap for: Miswak or Charcoal

Swapping your toothpaste and toothbrush for miswak is like taking a step in the right direction. Miswak https://miswakclub.com/ comes from the Peeru tree and is harvested with your teethâ€™s health in mind. It naturally releases antiseptics, oils and sodium bicarbonate to help you achieve a whiter smile and fresher breath without having to use toothpaste or even water. There have been many reports to the benefits of charcoal powder used to whiten teeth too, and while it may seem counterproductive putting something black on your teeth in order to get them to a lighter and brighter colour, itâ€™s one of those strange things in life that actually works â€¦ just donâ€™t question it.

Products: Shampoo and conditioner

Swap for: Kitchen ingredients

You donâ€™t have to be going to the store and investing in the latest shampoos and conditioners. Chances are that you already have the ingredients readily available in your kitchen to make your own. Generally speaking, the fewer ingredients you use, the better; you donâ€™t want to overcomplicate matters by adding in stuff that isnâ€™t necessary. A lot of people have cited coconut oil as the thing that works wonders for their hair, and olive oil and honey are constant contenders in the best ranked products that you can slather on your scalp. Although it may sound quite sticky, be assured that you can wash it out quite simply – you can find out more about different homemade shampoo and conditioner recipes at http://hair.allwomenstalk.com/fantastic-natural-homemade-shampoos/.

Products: Facemasks

Swap for: Fruit, Vegetables and Water

There is no way that youâ€™ll ever be buying another facemask again after finding out how simple it is to make your own. Itâ€™s probably cheaper in the long run, too – especially if you make in bulk for a pamper party. As with the shampoo and conditioner, you probably have the ingredients lying around your house just waiting to be used up. Drinking a lot more water will help with the hydration of your skin and the receptiveness to the natural products that you are putting on it. Blend up your selected fruits and vegetables with natural oils and oats to make a thick mask which will do nothing but benefit your skin. Things like bananas and vinegar may seem like a messy (and rather stinky) combination, but your face will thank you for it. Utilise what you have got around you and see if it works – if you see any signs of a reaction, stop the use immediately and try something else.

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Clean Your Way To Spring Freshness

March 20, 2017 TipsfromTia

Clean Your Way To Spring Freshness

Ah, it felt like the sun would never return, but here we are at last – spring has finally sprung! Itâ€™s time to store away our winter wardrobe and begin looking forward to those long days and nights of being outside in the great outdoors, BBQs with friends and family, and afternoons in the hammock with a book. But hold right there, mister or missus, because thereâ€™s pretty big task that needs to be taken care of before you get to enjoy the bright and energising gifts of spring. Thatâ€™s right, you need to make sure your home is fit for purpose! So dig out the rubber gloves, because itâ€™s going to be a busy (but worthwhile!) couple of daysâ€¦.

Source: Pexels.com

Throw Away The Junk

A spring clean begins with throwing away all the junk you have stockpiled in your home that you really donâ€™t need. Remember: spring should be light and airy, you should have a spring in your step, and itâ€™s difficult to feel like that if you have clutter all around you. Make it your first task to take a trip to your nearest charity shop with all the items you no longer need. Itâ€™ll make cleaning the rest of your house all the easier. If you do have to keep your things, look at smart home storage options to keep them in order.

Deep Clean

Yes, you should have known this tip was coming. When we say deep clean, we mean deep clean; that is, getting on your hands and knees and scrubbing those areas that havenâ€™t been scrubbed in some time. You only do this once a year, so pull back all the furniture and electrical appliances and give the spaces beneath them a clean that would make you comfortable with eating food off the surface!

Source: Pexels.com

The Gritty Details

While the main cleaning will take place on the infrastructure of your home (like floors and windowsills), you should also take this opportunity to give your everyday items a good clean. Your fridge, for example, has been in pretty high demand over the winter, what with Thanksgiving and Christmas. Thereâ€™s been no time or space to give it a clean, but you have no excuse now. Also, when youâ€™ve hoover’ing make sure you do so behind the cushions on your sofa: theyâ€™re ripe for dust and dirt and will give them a freshening up.

Window Space

The sun brings a lot of good things, including our daily dose of vitamin d. But it also shines a light, literally, on the dirt and grime of our windows, so now that spring has arrived youâ€™ll want give each and every window a thorough clean. Thisâ€™ll take the best part of a full afternoon, and remember thereâ€™s an art to cleaning windows. But itâ€™ll all be worth it when youâ€™re able to look out and see the flowers and birds and other delights of the season.

The Front

Your home will never look as good as it does on a sunny spring afternoon. But oh gosh, the front is a bit dirty, isnâ€™t it?! Thatâ€™s why youâ€™ll want to make sure you big up all the trash that is accumulated in the front yard over winter and make sure thereâ€™s no blemishes on your patio. A power washer can get rid of patio grime; indeed, this Karcher K2 Full Control review emphasizes its effectiveness at cleaning dirty patios, so youâ€™ll be able to have your whole house looking spotless this season. While itâ€™s not quite your home, the power washer can also clean your car – you donâ€™t want a dirty car to ruin the image of your home when itâ€™s avoidable!

In the Garden

Hopefully, if the weather plays ball, weâ€™ll all be sitting outside often over the next few months. Thatâ€™s why itâ€™s important that you get into the garden and give it a thorough tidying up. Throughout winter our gardens can take something of a battering, so take the time to clear away all the winter debris that will have fallen from its trees and bushes. Your grass will also be in a bad way, so make sure youâ€™re making the changes needed to make sure it looks great when it comes to summer.

Changing the Theme

Back to inside your house, you should be looking at matching your homeâ€™s dÃ©cor thematically with spring. Winter is a time for deep, dark colors that invoke coziness. Spring is about bright colors that bring the splendid outdoors to your home. If you have some spare cash lying around, then invest in curtains that are lightly colored, like yellow, and replace your winter curtains with them. The same can also be said for your bedding. You no longer need a heavy duvet (or wonâ€™t soon, anyway), so instead opt for a light and colorful sheet.

The Bigger Jobs

With the sun shining on your house, youâ€™ll begin to notice some of the bigger jobs that were hidden during the dark winter months. If youâ€™ve had a lot of wet, snowy weather over the past few months, your painted outdoor areas might have begun to peel away, while your gutters might also be in a bad shape. Before the fun of spring and summer really begins, take care of these larger jobs once and for all. There are few DIY jobs more pleasant than spending a fresh and sunny day painting a fence, if you ask usâ€¦.

Stay on Top of It

With a bit of luck and plenty of hard work, the transformation of your home from winter den to spring palace will only take a few days. However, that doesnâ€™t mean you get to sit back and enjoy the rest of the warm weather (though thereâ€™ll be plenty of opportunities for that!). No, itâ€™s important that you take the time to stay on top of your home and make sure it looks as good on the last day of summer as it did on the first day of spring. Itâ€™s much easier to do small tasks once a week than all the big tasks once a year, after all!

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

What’s Your Home Personality?

March 20, 2017 TipsfromTia

What’s Your Home Personality?

Have you ever considered the personality of your home? This might sound like an odd question but thereâ€™s a style in your interior dÃ©cor â€“ or at least, there should be. Just like your sense of fashion says something about you, such as, for example, your choice of colours, shapes, and materials, the way you decide to arrange your home will be just as revealing. If you have not yet thought about home decoration, itâ€™s time to sit down and check dÃ©cor inspirations to get started. The only way you can feel at home in your house is by giving it a personality that matters to you, by making your house a nest of comfort and elegance. While you can always check blog articles for ideas and read about the latest design trends, you need to go a little further to make it work. You need to figure out what you like and what you want to be surrounded with. Indeed, the more you adjust your home to your tastes, the homelier it will feel and the more you will love its comforting colours and lines. Remember that your home dÃ©cor is your sanctuary; this is the place where you can recharge your batteries. So itâ€™s important to make it work for you! Here are some of the main trends to suit most personality traits of homeowners. Which one is yours?

The Zen Master: Clear And Natural Colours

Modern and discerning personalities have a natural attraction for simple colours and shapes that are a reminder of the shades you can find in nature. Have a look at designers such as Milk & Sugar that have been discussed in a previous article of TheStylishSplash.com.au. Milk & Sugar is an Australia-based homeware specialist that works with a palette of earthy and natural colours. This type of colours is best suited for a homeowner who is conscious about his or her Zen potential and who wants to maximize the peaceful feeling in the house. If you are one who loves a little bit of Feng Shui philosophy in your home dÃ©cor, this is exactly the kind of arrangement that you should be looking at. Additionally, itâ€™s good to note that you will find it easier to set a zen dÃ©cor in a new build structure, as most designs tend to be already built around a Feng Shui palette. Have a look at the models from VisionOneHomes.com.au, for example, that maximize natural light and neutral colours in a perfect Feng Shui statement. While you can create your zen paradise in any home, starting with a new build property will make it an easy and smooth switch.

The Taste Of Simple Things: Sunny Greek Style

If you are one who loves the tastes of simple things such as a glass of milk or good company, you need to make sure that your home dÃ©cor reflects on this approach to simple pleasures in life. Working with a Greek-inspired dÃ©cor gives you access to a handful of colour and material options that are designed to create a spacious room and to make the most of natural light. This starts with whitewashed walls, or white painted. Any proper Greek villa will have elements of blue, whether you decide to paint your doors or to use a blue throw, itâ€™s up to you. The delicate mix of white and blue reminds the peaceful waves of the sea under a clear sky. What more does one need to be happy? Choose simple materials, such as cotton and olive tree wood to create a soothing ambiance that will take your worries away.

Soothing Greek style

The Warmth Of A Spanish And Mexican Style

For those who love a southern approach to life with a lively and energetic lifestyle, have a look at Spanish and Mexican dÃ©cors to balance your feisty personality. All you need is to set a scene with colourful walls in orange ochre, red and yellow to remind the colours of the favourite spices of the Spanish cuisine and to maximize the effect with statement cushions. While it may be a little tricky to find the right type of cushions in your everyday shops, check for sellers on Etsy.com who are local artisans with a great knowledge of style. Finally, finish your southern style with the display of bright paintings full of temperaments such as a reproduction of Picassoâ€™s cubist portraits or a landscape by Dali.

The Romantic Soul: British Cottage Comfort

If you are one who cries when reading Jane Eyre or who love the story of Little Women, thereâ€™s no doubt about it: Your strength is your sense of romance. Make it also your sanctuary with an elegant British cottage style that combines flowery patterns for your furniture and wallpapers, elegant laces for your tablecloths, and pale shades of pink, blue, cream, and green for everything else. Remember to buy a proper porcelain teapot to complete the picture of ideal British romance. Thereâ€™s a special charm to romantic little cottages that comes from the presence of tamed wilderness in the garden. Check some of these garden ideas from Countryfarm-lifestyle.com to turn your garden into a British cottage jewel. With this style, your house will immediately feel 10 times homelier and, this is the ideal design to put your traditional family values at the center of the attention.

A perfect cup of tea

The Creator: The Brave Modern Eye

Creative personalities have a lot of fun with decorating the home as they can experiment with their sense of colours and shapes to create new statement pieces. If you have the courage of a creative mind, you will need to look for ways to break the natural structure lines of your home with the introduction of new materials and colours. The use of unexpected combination such as a concrete kitchen countertop in an old-fashion room, for example, can create a new sense of space. Itâ€™s not uncommon to mix materials and add metal and glass elements in the least expected areas, such as adding a glass floor in one room. Additionally, as a creator, you also have a strong sense of high tech which allows you to pick the latest technology for your home and to highlight them in the most stylish fashion.