ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Functional and Efficient Ideas for Your New Home Construction

Functional and Efficient Ideas for Your New Home Construction

Whether you are building a house overseas or looking at home builders in Alabama, the trick to any successful build is to get the right balance between function and efficiency. This will ensure you can make the most of the space, keep your building costs to a minimum and even reduce the cost of running your home.

There are several ideas to consider but the first step in the process should be to consult a reputable Sydney home builders firm to ensure your suggestions are possible.

Building a home is done in stages, but having the concept of what you want out the gate is imperative. You want to know the space needed for all your ‘asks’ before the foundation is even laid out. It’s also important to know the history of your land and have site inspections. Finding the right company to help with this stage might take a bit of research, so you can look up phase 1 environmental site assessment companies near me to narrow down your research.

Hidden Garage

A great way to reduce the space you need outside your home is to build a garage under your driveway. This is not as difficult or as expensive as it may seem. You can even extend the space under your home to allow several cars to be parked with a lift to take them back to the surface.

Steam Shower

Reduce your water bills with the very latest in green technology. Steam showers use one gallon of water per minute, a traditional shower will use 7 gallons.

In addition, there is several health benefits associated with a steam shower and you’ll reduce any moisture issues in your bathroom.  

It will also increase the value of your home.

Impact Windows

An impact window is designed to withstand the force of a hurricane; that’s a real bonus if you live somewhere that has hurricanes.

But, even if you don’t you can benefit from noise reduction, improved insulation and higher security.

That’s a pretty good incentive to get impact windows.

Solar

Opting to add solar panels onto your roof will allow you to reduce your energy dependence and the bills that come with it. You can choose a system that sells excess electricity back to the grid or install batteries and convertors allowing you to use the electricity generated even when the sun has gone down.

Panic Room

It is becoming increasingly popular for people to build panic rooms or survival chambers into their homes. These will protect you against natural disasters or if your house comes under attack.

If you make it an easy space to get to in can function as a room in your house; doubling its use until you actually need it.

USB Sockets

It is fairly normal now to see sockets fitted into the walls which can accept conventional plugs and USB cables. Considering most electrical gadgets rely on USB style power sockets this is a very functional and efficient addition to your home.

You should aim to have at least one of these sockets in every room of your house.

Heating System

Doing a new build is a great opportunity to run meters of cable under the soil. These can then be connected to a ground source heat pump, (powered by your solar panels). The heat pump will pump the water through the pipes and under your floor (in more pipes); giving you a virtually free heating system.

A viable alternative is the air source heat pump which can be connected to pipes between your rooms and individual thermostats; allowing you to control the temperature in different areas of your home with ease.

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 Do You Develop Stress?

How Do You Develop Stress?

Everyone feels stressed at some point in his or her life for various reasons. However, stress can manifest itself in different ways, and if you are not careful, it can become a really big problem. Symptoms range from the physical, such as chest pain and insomnia, to the emotional, including low self-esteem and the feeling of losing control. In order to prevent this from occurring, it is important to have a thorough understanding of how you develop stress. Discover more below.

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How you develop stress

Stress is a term that is used to describe your emotional or physical response to pressures or demands that you may experience now and again. Common causes of stress today include illness, relationships, money, and work. In some cases, stress can be positive, as it helps people to take action, develop, grow, and be stimulated. However, if you cannot cope with the stress you are experiencing, this can impact your physical and mental health in a number of ways.

Read: CAN IV THERAPY TREAT STRESS?

The source of stress has changed considerably over the years. Modern day stresses are often prolonged in nature and originate from something psychological. For example, you may have financial worries or you may feel under pressure in the workplace. When this occurs, your hormones surge, as your body’s alarm mechanism is triggered. If you are over-exposed to stress hormones, your bodily systems can be impacted, including your digestive, immune, cardiovascular, and brain system. This is when negative symptoms arise. These symptoms include irritability, headaches, muscle pain and tension, depression, a lack of confidence, insomnia, high blood pressure, hair loss, and much more.

Ways to cope with stress

Reducing stress begins with you and your attitude. You need to change your outlook. If you adopt a positive attitude, you will be better able to cope with stress. You need to try and alter the way you look at things. For example, if something goes wrong, don’t dwell on what has happened, but see it as an opportunity. Look for ways to do things differently to improve the situation. Positive thinking can also have knock-on benefits too, for instance, it can improve our resistance to illness.

There are a number of other stress busters you can make the most of as well. Exercise is a good one. While exercise will not banish stress once and for all, it can help to clear your thoughts and lower some of the emotional intensity you are experiencing. You should also take some time to yourself. We do not get enough ‘me time’ these days because we are so busy with work and our families, and life in general. Spend some time away from work, having quality time to yourself, every week. You should also avoid unhealthy habits, for example, caffeine, smoking, and alcohol. Don’t rely on these as coping methods.

Read: AMAZING TIPS FOR STRESS REDUCTION THROUGH MASSAGE

Is someone else to blame for your stress?

Claims can be made if you are suffering the effects of stress and feel that someone else is to blame. This could be because you are stressed after suffering an injury that has changed your life. It could be because you are stressed because someone is bullying you in the workplace. The scenarios differ. However, psychological injuries are taken just as seriously as physical ones when it comes to making a personal injury claim, and so it is definitely worth exploring this further. Derrick Law Firm offers legal solutions for injury matters. They will listen to what has happened to you, and they will be able to advise you on whether or not it is worth pursuing a claim for compensation. After all, you do not want to waste your time if there is no chance of it being a success.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how stress is developed. For most illnesses, only once you get to the source of the problem can you rectify it. In fact, this is the case for virtually all of our problems in life. We hope that this blog post has helped you to get to the source of your stress, as well as providing you with some help regarding what to do about it. Do not forget to look into whether or not you are eligible for compensation if you believe that someone else is to blame for your stress.

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 Twitter, TikTok, or Instagram.

BEAUTY

Changes of seasons usually warrant changes of hair

Changes of seasons usually warrant changes of hair

 

As you know with each season the texture and maybe even color of your hair changes. Protecting your hair in the summer slightly differs from winter protection in several ways.

 

Unlike the summer when you must protect your strands from pool water and sweat, in the winter you must remember to keep hair hydrated from the drying heat of any indoors. Using a hair mask or using argan oil once a week can help restore moisture into those locks. Using a shampoo and conditioner that protects from UV rays is also important in both winter as well as summer.

 

Changing your hair color like the leaves

 

This season, I went from a summer blonde to an icy blonde with a touch of low lights thanks to previous Hollywood hair stylist, CJ Deaver Designs. Reds are a desired color for fall, but remember, reds are hard to get rid of and even harder to keep. But the most important thing to remember when coloring your hair is to not color on top of clean hair. The cold strips the moisture out of your hair. Washing your hair strips it of natural oils. And we all know, bleaching and coloring dries hair. So, it’s best to plan accordingly when you’re about to get colored. Dirty hair will give you the best color results.

 

CJ had no worries about lifting my blonde to its icy tone when I walked in with oily hair. When the lift was completed, she used a purple shampoo to bring out the rest. *Using a color safe shampoo is key for maintaining the salon results. CJ finished with a blowout and razor cut to get me moving into my winter season.

 

Even days after the fact, my hair has remained in great health. It’s important to remember great hair starts on what you put in the inside. So, maintain a healthy diet along with adding plenty of nuts and oils. B vitamins are also a major importance when it comes to fabulous hair, no matter what season it is. And just like your skin needs it, your hair needs water too. So, drink plenty of water and your hair (and body) will thank you for 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.

BEAUTY

Winter skin feeling chapped?

Winter skin feeling chapped?

 

Staying hydrated during winter months is a necessity. Seriously, doing these simple things will help improve your skin drastically.

 

Drinking water like its hot is the start to great skin. Indoor heat can deplete your system quickly causing you to dry out.

 

You aren’t the only thing losing moisture. With the heater running during a lot during the winter nights, it’s sucking the water out of the air. To replace the water vapors in the air, you should place a vase of clean water near the heater to replenish water back into the air. It’s like an instant humidifier.

 

Adding oils into your diet like, olive, coconut or sunflower with also keep skin hydrated when the cold tries to zap all your moisture. Be sure to cook with nourishing oils instead of plain vegetable oil when you can.

 

For rough skin surfaces, I suggest trying oils on the skin as well. Putting coconut on the lips can keep them plump and soft. However, coconut oil or olive oil on the hands can leave a slippery surface until it is soaked in. Some folks however, feel it doesn’t penetrate as deeply as needed in the winter.

 

If that’s the case, for sever chapped skin that isn’t broken, talk to your doctor or pharmacy about trying a heavy duty cream like Biafine. This product is great for all types of issues like, diaper rash, burns and especially restoring moisture into the skin.

 

An extra added bonus… In France, Biafine has even been known to reduce fine lines and wrinkles! Honestly, don’t let the price scare you away. Remember, most times, you get what you pay for. And just a small amount goes along way, whether it’s on a baby’s bum or on the fine lines of mum… (Yeah, I couldn’t help myself.)

 

So if you’re combating the harsh results of winter, remember, hydrate is key. If you need an extra layer of moisture, talk to your doc or pharmacist about creams like Biafine to keep your skin feeling supple this season. 

 

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.

BEAUTY, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

What Exactly is Bone Broth?

What Exactly is Bone Broth?

It seems like every couple of years some health supplement or food becomes all the rage. It’s like you can’t even watch a show without hearing it referenced.

 

We’ve heard it about avocados, turmeric, coconut, and now …bone broth? 

 

All these things are great, and I would recommend them all, depending upon the individual. But so many people are asking, what exactly is bone broth?

 

It might not have the most pleasant name, but first off, that’s how it’s made. Broths are made from the juices of meats. Bone broth goes a little deeper into the marrow of the bone. But I think the most important thing is what bone broth can do for an individual. It’s packed with vitamins and nutrients as well as collagen being the most sought after.

 

How to make bone broth

Getting bones from a butcher is one way to get the main ingredient, but they must be broiled first before making the broth. Another easy way is saving the scraps from a previous meal. They freeze just fine.

 

Add bones along with carrots, celery, salt, garlic, Apple cider vinegar and water into a pot or slow cooker. Cook on low for several hours to achieve delicious broth.

 

The benefits are amazing. Packed with collagen, it’s a boost to your skin, hair and nails. The other benefits include boosting the immune system and overall function of the body.

 

Another way to get bone broth outside your kitchen 

Now, if you don’t have 8 hours to dedicate to making bone broth, lot’s of stores have premade bone broth in stock. Another way to get the benefits of the broth without the broth is a product called Naked Collagen that’s made with bovine bones. It’s a great supplement! This powder is packed with essential amino acids to boost not only immune function and restore collagen, but also ramp up brain power. Amino acids curb anxiety and depression, not only stopping misfires in the brain, but also correcting them! (Naked Nutrition has many supplements and proteins to choose from)

 

Adding two scoops of powder to your morning coffee or juice is all you need to get your daily dose. Some folks just mix it with water! It’s that easy. You’ll start to feel the results right away. To see results, well just give it a little bit of time since collagen takes time to build back up.

 

So is bone broth just hype or is it the real deal?

It’s definitely the real deal. Our ancestors have been doing it forever. And they didn’t have the processed food issues we have today. So talk to your doctor about giving your system a treat as well as restoring your youth inside and out by adding some bone broth or naked collagen into your 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.

Everyday Tips from Tia