Category Archives: ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

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

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Damage Control: Simple Maintenance Tasks For A Trouble-Free Home

Damage Control: Simple Maintenance Tasks For A Trouble-Free Home

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We all strive for a happy and healthy home for our families. However, a home is a bit like an engine. It requires regular care and maintenance to ensure it functions at an optimum level. Without this, damage can occur which puts both the house itself and your family’s health at risk. Follow these simple maintenance tips to enjoy a trouble-free home.

  1. Prevent Water Damage

Water can have a disastrous effect on your home. Even the smallest persistent leak can lead to a buildup of mold, mildew, and rot, eating away at the foundations. It can also attract termites, which love damp atmospheres. Call 1-800 Water Damage or local restoration if you find excessive water. But, be sure to take the following steps to prevent water from causing long-term damage:

  • Don’t clutter the space under your sink with cleaning products, etc. This is a place where leaks can occur, and too much clutter will make them less visible.
  • Check for dark spots under your sink, under pipes, on the ceiling, in the basement and on external walls. If you notice a dark spot, call a plumber immediately.
  • Check your roof at least once or twice a year. Look for chinks of light in your loft space to indicate missing tiles, etc. Use binoculars to check for roof or chimney damage. The presence of vegetation in your chimney may indicate the presence of water.

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  1. Prevent Mold And Mildew

A buildup of mold and mildew in your home can have a negative effect on the occupants’ health. It causes blocked sinuses, sore throat, coughing and wheezing, eye and skin irritation and allergies. In some cases, it can also lead to chronic lung disease.

Mold and mildew are caused by humidity in the home. You may notice a warm, sticky atmosphere or your closets may smell.

Open windows and doors as often as possible to let fresh air circulate. Your best defense against humidity is to invest in a dehumidifier. This will filter out the humidity, creating a fresher and drier environment. Finding the right unit is important, so check out review sites such as DehumidifierWeb.

  1. Prevent Blocked Drains

Blocked drains are more than an irritation. They can cause leaks, structural damage, and flooding. To prevent your drains from blocking, take the following steps.

  • Blockages are frequently caused by coffee grounds, soap scum, hair, and grease. Avoid putting these into the drains wherever possible.
  • Collect cooking fats and oils in a container and dispose of them separately, rather than pouring them down the sink.
  • Run the hot water tap after using the sink to clear the pipes.
  • Install a drain cover to protect the drain’s opening and avoid clogging
  • Keep your garbage disposal unit in good working order by running ice through the mechanism on a regular basis.
  • Use baking soda and vinegar to clean the drain and keep it smelling fresh.

If warning signs are left or ignored, they can quickly escalate causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. When damage occurs, it can have a negative impact on your home, your health and your finances. It’s much quicker and cheaper to prevent problems from occurring. For the sake of an hour or so a month, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes from running a well-maintained and efficient 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, TikTok, or Instagram. 

ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Moving, Minus The Stress!

Moving, Minus The Stress!

So, you’ve crunched through all the math’s, spent hours scouring the market, and now you’re certain you’re going to move into a new place. Obviously, you’re going to be very excited about the big change on the horizon. However, between now and being able to relax in your new place, you’re going to have to jump a lot of stressful hurdles. Here are some tips for making your move that much easier.

Have a Purge

Let’s face it, we’re all a little materialistic. Pretty much anyone in a developed country is going to have certain things in their house which they really don’t want or need when it comes down to it, and yet hold onto anyway! One of the biggest stress factors of moving is having so much stuff to pack, so start mitigating this by having a big purge. Choose a date that’s coming up, and go through your house gathering everything you can get rid of, then sort them into three piles: sell, donate, and throw away. By carrying out a purge like this, you’ll take a huge amount of stress out of the overall moving process, and even make a little money while you’re at it!

Source Help Early

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Unless you happen to own a full-size removal truck, you’re going to need a little help getting all your stuff moved from A to B. Sure, it’s professional movers’ job to get you settled into your new place as quickly and easily as possible, and by and large they’ll do a good job of it. However, it’s also handy to have a trusted friend around on the big day to help you out. Aside from two heads, and two pairs of hands, always being better than one, simply having them around will take some of the stress out of the move, and make the whole thing more bearable. It’s also a good idea to contact any kind of auxiliary services you may want to use. Private house cleaners, full service storage and so on can be a big help, but you should start looking early to get the best prices.

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

I’m not going to lie to you; no matter how much you try to avoid it, your move is going to be at least a little bit stressful. One of the best things you can do to mitigate this stress is giving yourself plenty of time to pack and organize, and simply taking things easy for one or two days before you actually move in. From the moment you know you’re going to move, you should start packing, organizing house cleaning, decluttering and so on. This will make it easier to spread all the work out, and tackle the whole thing in small, manageable bites. Immediately before the move, take a day off, and do something that always manages to get you zenned-out. This will ensure that you’re nice and refreshed in the morning, inspire a positive attitude, and minimize the chances of any furious outbursts!

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.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Don’t Let The Elements Take Control Of Your Home

Don’t Let The Elements Take Control Of Your Home

We’re in the midst of winter and some places are getting hit hard, so we’re all thinking a bit more about how the element can affect our home. But it’s not just the winter we should be getting prepared for. Every season brings with it its challenges, so we’re going to look at how to protect your home the whole year round, not just for one season.

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Get yourself sealed up

Weatherization begins with how well you can stop the outdoors getting inside your home. The less sealed up your home is, the harder it is to control temperature as well as stop the advance of moisture and pests alike. Sealing your home is going to take steps all over it. You need to go about detecting air leaks, whether they’re in windows, under doors, and around water faucets. When you have them detected, it’s as simple as caulking them up. Draft excluders are less permanent solutions for the doors, but they can work just as well.

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Take care of the exterior

You should also be concerned with how safe the home is outside the house itself. Particularly in any driveways and walkways. Snow can be a major hassle in the winter, so you should consider tools like Snow Shifts that can make it a lot quicker to maintain your driveway. For surfaces that ice over, you should be able to source grit and rock salt easily to reduce the chances of painful and dangerous slips outside the home. If you have any trees, consider using a contracted arborist. Otherwise, bad weather and storms can increase the risk of branches falling and doing damage. Or your tree might grow into power lines, which is bad for the whole neighborhood.

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The dangers of water

Water damage in the home can cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars. Sealing up the home can help you battle the risk of damp and mold. You need to take special care of the roof. Some of the most sudden danger comes from freezing and burst pipes, however. Consider getting your pipes insulated so they’re at much less risk of flooding the home.

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Take care of your HVAC

How well you can manage the temperature and airflow in the home depends as much on your fixtures as blocking the outside weather. A lot of people find their energy bills climbing because they’re using old heating systems and air conditioning. Make sure that regular maintenance is done on them, including clearing the dust that can gather. Same for any ventilation between rooms. If you’re not careful with dust build-ups, it can exacerbate or even cause respiratory conditions like asthma. For HVAC systems that lead outdoors, make sure they’re kept clear of pollen, leaves, and debris. It’s especially important to check them after storms or windy weather.

Protecting your home from the elements isn’t just about keeping the cold out. It’s about navigating the challenges of temperature, whatever the weather, as well addressing serious safety concerns inside and outside your front door. The tips above should make it easier to manage all those risks.

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

Should You Take Out A Secured Loan To Improve Your Home?

Should You Take Out A Secured Loan To Improve Your Home?

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One of the quickest ways to get money for home improvements such as an extension, new conservatory or new roof is to take out a loan. Providing your finances are in a healthy state, you have a good credit score, and the project isn’t too big there shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you don’t want to increase the amount on your mortgage, not every lender will pay out, is it worth looking at a secured loan in order to get that dream family kitchen, extra bedroom or a new bathroom?

Will It Increase The Property’s Value?

This will be the number one question on a lender’s lips as depending on how much money you put into the property; you could increase the value of your house by a good few thousand dollars. Many buyers prefer to put their own stamp on a new home but if you choose to build an outdoor patio, infinity pool or even a wet room they’ll jump at the chance of owning something with a unique, modern feature. However, if you’re only looking to update the décor, it may be worth finding the money from elsewhere as it’ll be ripped down to make way for the new owner’s tastes, style, and ideas when they move in. Before you begin to make changes, or indeed before you apply for a secured loan itself it may be worth having a local real estate agent come to the property to value it in its current state.

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Do You Need The Money ASAP?

If you’re eligible for a secured loan the lender will release the funds, per the usual checks, in a timely manner which leaves you free to get on with your project. Some second charged secured loans have fees attached which are payable from the moment you take one out while other fees are simply added to your monthly payments. Make sure you carefully check the terms and conditions of your loan as a secured loan uses your home as collateral, and you’ll want to ensure that the money is always available for payments. Secured personal loans are seen as the better option, especially for home improvements, as it means that the lender sees the loan as a low-risk option because of the property, or another significant asset that’s been used against it.

7610230676_7ab8b53a75_zFlickr At: Granit Chartered Architects

Are You Looking To Sell Soon?

Some people like to do their home up when they are trying to sell the property which can either help or hinder when looking for offers. Consider undertaking only superficial decorating projects, unless you plan on living in the property for a long time to come. Decide how much money you want to spend on indoor and outdoor projects or if it’s a building project look over the budget before you start. Costs can spiral quickly, and the last thing you want is to run out of money early, or have to return to the lender and ask for a larger amount. This could delay the entire build as well change the terms and conditions of the new loan, not too mention push the monthly repayments even higher.

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

Must-Know Tips For A Fantastic Dinner Party

Must-Know Tips For A Fantastic Dinner Party

Ah, the art of the dinner party. It’s something that has been around for centuries and is also something that we have seen a bit of resurgence of recently. The cost of going out for the evening, especially to eat, is rising, and therefore more and more of us are now choosing to entertain at home instead. During the winter months especially, at-home entertaining is very popular. After all, who wants to trek into the town center when it’s cold, wet and icy? It is much nicer to cozy up around at someone’s house and enjoy a home-cooked meal away from all the business of local restaurants and bars. But it can also be great to host a dinner party in the summer too, especially if you can have it al-fresco. If you have decided to host one of your own in the near future, good for you! But there are some things you should know before you do so, so you can pull off the perfect dinner party.

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Don’t be overly ambitious

When planning a dinner party, the temptation to pull something really crazy and avant-garde out of the bag can be overwhelming. Or maybe you want to challenge yourself with a complex type of cuisine you’ve never attempted before. Whilst you would definitely get points for trying, a dinner party isn’t really the most appropriate occasion to make sushi for the first time. It is better to stick to a recipe you know or at least a cuisine you are familiar with. That doesn’t mean you can’t jazz it up a bit, but make sure you, for the most part, know what you are doing. The last thing you want is for it all to go wrong and you all end up ordering pizza instead! Also bear in mind that if your kitchen and dining area is open-plan, you may be cooking at the same time as chatting to your guests. This can be very distracting if you are having to follow a very precise recipe, so if you do plan to do something new, at least practice it a couple of times first.

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Prepare ahead

Think you have all the time in the world to cook your dinner party meal as and when it’s required? Unfortunately, in most cases, you will probably find that this doesn’t actually work out for you. Three courses plus appetizers and a cheeseboard, if that’s what you are doing, will be difficult for you to achieve in front of your guests. In order to be a good host, as well, it’s important that you remain relatively unflappable. A stressed-out atmosphere isn’t really going to set the tone for the evening and could potentially make your guests feel uncomfortable. By preparing some of your dishes ahead, you will save yourself time and potentially a lot of stress too. Before you do so, consider which dishes you will actually be able to do this with. Some certain types of food don’t do well if they are left for a long period before consumption. Equally, some food can be ruined if it is microwaved, so think about what you will need to serve fresh. Generally speaking, you can make most desserts in advance, especially if they are cold ones like mousse. Some need time to set in the fridge or freezer as well, so you may actually be required to make them the day before. Canapes are also something else you should consider making the night before, especially as they tend to be so fiddly. That way, you can greet your guests on arrival and serve up some appetizers straight away.

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Dress the table

No self-respecting host would expect their guests to eat off their laps on the couch at a dinner party. Whilst this is more than acceptable for takeout night, dinner parties are generally a bit more formal – meaning that if you don’t currently have a dining table, you might want to get one before your guests arrive! An easy way to make your home a bit more dinner party ready is by dressing the table appropriately. Adding restaurant quality tablecloths to your home is a perfect way to make your setup look a little more professional and impressive. It also stops the risk of any spillages or scrapes from cutlery damaging the surface of your dining table. Next, check that you have all the necessary cutlery and glassware that will enable you to host. After all, there’s nothing worse than one of your guests having to eat their soup with a ladle because you didn’t realize you were a spoon short! Take a look at table setups online for tips on how to arrange said cutlery and glassware if you’re not entirely sure where everything should go. Finally, you may want to consider getting a decorative centerpiece for your table, or at the very least adding some candles to help set the mood.

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SONY DSC

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Add the finishing touches

Strictly speaking, just about anyone can host a dinner party. But it’s the attention to detail that can make or break it and can cement you in people’s memories as a great host. As well as your table candles, pay attention to the other lighting in the room you are going to eat in. Anything too bright looks too harsh, but anything too dark and your guests may not be able to see the food they are eating! You should aim for a happy medium, if you can, as this helps to create an ambiance. Another factor that can help to create an atmosphere is having some music on in the background. If you have an extreme music taste, it’s usually best to avoid this kind of genre (despite the temptation to play your favourite songs) in favour of something that everyone will like. Remember, the music shouldn’t distract from the conversation, so don’t have it too loud. Ideally, it should be something without lyrics, or at least something relaxed and low-key. There are plenty of great Spotify playlists that you can simply put on in the background whilst you eat and socialize. Every dinner party is different, and you’ll probably want to add your own twist to it. But follow these tips and you can at least be sure that everything will run smoothly.

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.