Single Out Some Stuff for Summertime

January 27, 2017 TipsfromTia

Summer is fast approaching. Although we are still firmly stuck in the winter months, and will be for a short while (hurry up spring, we want warmth!), summer will be here before you know it and the cold will be but a distant memory to you. Do you have everything prepared? There is no way that when the sun starts shining you will want to be doing jobs that you could have previously prepared months beforehand. So what should you be looking to do now?

Clean the Essentials

Get out the barbecue and give it a good clean. Oil the grill grates and make sure that they are absolutely sparkling when you have finished with them. Ensure that any rust that may be peeking through it gotten rid of, and grease anywhere that needs it – hinges, wheels, go crazy on finding places. If you have BBQ tools that are hung anywhere else besides your kitchen, get those in for a scrub, too – you may want to give them a once-over before you start cooking with them, but at least you know that they have had the hard work done and will just need a wipe-over rather than hours dedicated to getting them back up to scratch again. While weâ€™re on the subject, consider buying your coal, firelighters and lighting fluid before the crowds come and raid the shelves of them as the first hint of a warm breeze. Keeping one step ahead will stop the stress!

Keep Cool

When was the last time you had your air conditioning serviced? Companies like D&M Service Company Inc. will come and sort it out for you without you having to do so much as open the filter, so leave it to the professionals to ensure that you stay cool this summer. Itâ€™s hard to think about now, but it is something that needs doing; you donâ€™t want to be stuck overheating due to it not working when you could have got the problem (or any potential problems) sorted months beforehand. Use this time wisely.

Order Garden Furniture

Act fast – itâ€™s still sale time! Get online and start searching for any garden furniture that you want for the coming months before the prices really start to go up. Like with the barbecues and the air conditioning, youâ€™ll find that more people are inclined to get this stuff sorted at peak times when it will cost more and be a lot more stressful to do so. It gives you time to work out what goes where and figure out how much space youâ€™ll have left in your garden. With the spare cash that youâ€™ll have leftover (always budget for buying at full-price, then if you donâ€™t use the money for anything else at least youâ€™ll feel a bit richerâ€¦) you can think about plants, ornaments or other furniture that you can add to your garden. Or just save it like a sensible person – who knows what deals may be popping up again next year!

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

I Can See Clearly Now: Top Chores To Tackle Today

January 26, 2017 TipsfromTia

I Can See Clearly Now: Top Chores To Tackle Today

Picture source

Many of us can get stuck in a cleaning routine from time to time. We tend to stick with the chores that need doing the most or the ones that need our attention there and then. But there are some chores we can just forget to do, the ones that would make a world of difference, but yet donâ€™t always present themselves as urgent jobs. However, if you tackled those today, you could get a head start on that spring clean, and make a real impact to your living space.

We forget about the upholstery

Too often we can focus our attention on mopping floors and cleaning work surfaces and forget that we do have a lot of upholstery around our home that will very rarely get cleaned. Things like couches or chairs, and even blinds or curtains. So maybe now would be the perfect opportunity to use an upholstery steam cleaner and breath a new lease of life into those everyday items.

Do you dust your light fittings?

Dust can settle everywhere, am I right? The skirting boards, the furniture and even under it, you can find dust pretty much everywhere. But when was the last time you gave your light fittings a dusting? Probably not for a while. This is because your lights donâ€™t tend to be at eye level, you wonâ€™t notice just how much dust has gathered. So grab a feather dusters and get dusting those light fittings and watch them shine even brighter than usual.

Declutter the cupboards and drawers

Clutter can really zap the energy right out of us, so while we are motivated to get our homes in order, maybe you should focus some of your attention to decluttering your home. You can start small by just concentrating on your cupboards and drawers. Then maybe moving on to different points of your room. Ven just allocating five minutes each day to decluttering can make a huge difference to how clean and tidy your home looks.

Give your windows a clean on the inside and out

During the winter there are some chores that we just want to avoid, cleaning your windows might just be one of them. So you might find that as the winter sun starts to shine through the panes, that they look a little dirty and dusty. Why not use this time to give your windows a good clean on the inside and out, it can make a huge difference to the amount of light it lets into your home. Which could even improve your mood.

Time to clean the appliances that do the cleaning for you

Finally, many of us rely on washing machines for our clothes and dishwashers for our pots and plates, but yet maybe we donâ€™t clean those appliances as often as we should. However, grime and limescale can build up in the pipes which means you could end up cleaning your clothes and dishes with dirty water. So spend some time running through a detergent in those appliances to get them sparkling once more.

BEAUTY, SEX & LIFE

How to Find Love Again in Later Life

January 25, 2017 TipsfromTia

Contribution from freelance writer Jenny H.

How to Find Love Again in Later Life

Love does not have to end when you enter your senior years, whether you have been widowed or have elected to stay single. Should you decide to join the dating scene again, here areÂ a couple of tipsÂ to make a success out of it.

Change Your Mind Set

While it is true that you are supposed to be an older, wiser and more experienced person, there is nothing in the books to say that you canâ€™t think and behave like a youthful individual. Prepare yourself mentally to embrace the idea of dating and perhaps finding another partner for your remaining years. This means discarding preconceived notions of what your ideal partner (man or woman) should be, to avoid biases during your first meeting. After all, this is just a date and not a wedding.

Prep Your Physical Appearance

However, first impressions do count a lot so it is important to make yourself look attractive, clean, and presentable. When was the last time you had a haircut, indulged in a facial or had your nails done? Give yourself a small makeover and let professionals do your hair and makeup for your first date. It can do wonders for your self-confidence, making it a bit easy toÂ get in the saddle again.

Get a New Wardrobe

Take a look at your closet and clear out the items that you do not use anymore. Buy new outfits that complement your personal style. Do not overkill the idea of a makeover by wearing leotards or skinny jeans with high cut boots. If this is not your style, do not do it. It is recommended not to stray too far from your usual trend.

Go Out

Now that you are ready to meet someone, it is time to go out and find a date. You can do this by going to parties, sign up for dance classes, attend wine-tasting tours or game nights with your friends. The key here is to make yourself visible on the social scene. And while you are at it, there is no need to put pressure on yourself to look for a potential date. Just enjoy what you are doing and make new friends.

Another way to meet people your age is through online dating. You do have to make a great profile and keep safety considerations in mind. However,Â online dating has experiencedÂ a substantial boost with 12% of 55-64 year olds using a dating site or app compared to the 6% figure that did so in 2013, according to Pew Research.

Make a Good Impression

Finally, you are ready for your first date. This is your one chance to make a lasting impression, so be sure to do it right. Apart from a clean and attractive appearance, be sure to show up on time. Although you might be very nervous, try to relax and be as natural as possible. Find common things you enjoy to discuss and avoid stories of the past. There is plenty of time for that later. Think of a first date as opening a present. You are just taking off the ribbon and maybe unwrapping the paper. The present inside will be revealed in the same way that getting to know your date slowly, through several dates, will tell you whether or not you have found love.

BEAUTY, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME, SEX & LIFE

Help, My Tooth Has Broken! What To Do In An Emergency

January 25, 2017 TipsfromTia

Help, My Tooth Has Broken! What To Do In An Emergency

We are all fairly open to the idea of breaking a bone, or suffering a fracture of sorts. It’s something most of us do at some point in our lives, and although it can be inconvenient it isn’t something that bothers us too much. One thing most people don’t expect to break, however, is a tooth. When do break or chip one, it can have quite a big impact on your life. First off, it can cause you to have difficulty eating, especially if the nerve was damaged in the process of breaking off. It can also hugely affect your self confidence. If the broken tooth is at the front of your mouth, you may become self-conscious when smiling, and may even avoid going out in public until it is fixed. So if you do suffer a broken tooth, how can you cope with it and fix it?

I mage source

Prevention

Obviously, prevention is better than a cure. Most broken or chipped teeth happen as a result of a freak accident – perhaps a blow to the face or biting down on something exceptionally hard. But sometimes they can also be the result of poor dental hygiene too. For example. if you have cavities (tooth decay), your teeth may be weakened, meaning that even a light blow could cause them to crack or break. The most important thing to do to prevent this occurring is to keep on top of your dental hygiene. You should brush frequently, at least twice a day, and use floss as well. It is also advisable to use an electric toothbrush, as this will get into places that a manual brush misses. See your dentist for check ups regularly, just so they can check whether anything is amiss or not.

Treatment

There isn’t really any way you can treat a broken tooth at home. Handling it yourself could only make it worse, and you could put yourself at risk of an infection by doing so. Instead, see your dentist as soon as possible. Explain to them what has happened and you may be in with a chance of getting a fast appointment. Your dentist will check whether there is anything medically wrong with your mouth before sorting out the appearance of the tooth. The remains of the broken tooth may be covered with a pfm crown and dental bridge. These are made out of either porcelain or ceramic and can be color matched to blend in with the natural color of your teeth.

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Coping

It can be very easy to panic when you have just suffered a broken tooth, but try and stay calm. Unless you feel any pain in the tooth itself, it is unlikely that the damage is anything more than superficial. If you have a phobia of the dentist, take a friend or family member along for moral support. Your dentist will have dealt with thousands of these kinds of cases in their lifetime, so don’t be embarrassed – they will have seen it all before. A cracked or broken tooth can be unsightly at first, but it is easily fixed and remember that it could always be worse.

FOR THE GUYS, ORGANIC HEALTH & HOME

Unpleasant Yet Essential Jobs Every Homeowner Has To Do!

January 25, 2017 TipsfromTia

Unpleasant Yet Essential Jobs Every Homeowner Has To Do!

Owning a home is one of the best things you will ever do. It provides security for you and your family. It gains in value over the years and means youâ€™re not wasting money on rent. But there are some parts about being a homeowner that arenâ€™t all sunshine and roses. If something goes wrong, itâ€™s up to you to sort which is a huge amount of responsibility. Therefore keeping on top of everything to avoid disaster is essential. Here are a few of the unpleasant yet essential jobs that come with the territory of owning a property.

Via Pixabay

Clearing Guttering

Over the fall when the leaves are coming down, gutters can become blocked. Here they begin to rot and clog them up, so when it starts raining, they donâ€™t empty properly. This can lead to water splashing or pooling, which can not only look unpleasant but cause some serious damage too. Blocked gutters can cause leaks which can the lead to black mold forming in the home. They can even cause structural damage over time which will be incredibly costly and time-consuming to put right. Once or twice a year, grab your ladders out of the shed, put on some thick gardening gloves and scrape out all of the gunk thatâ€™s accumulated. If this isnâ€™t something you feel comfortable doing, there are lots of companies and handymen out there who will offer this service.

Maintaining Drains

Blocked drains can cause all kinds of issues in the home, and be extremely unsanitary and smelly. If youâ€™re having drain issues, itâ€™s your job as the homeowner to put them right as soon as possible. You could try some products at the DIY store in less severe cases which may help the issue. If not you might need full sewer line inspections done. Either way, itâ€™s a problem you will want to tackle as soon as possible!

Dealing With Pests

The problem with having warm and cozy homes is that pests find them warm and cozy as well. This causes an issue as pests are not only a nuisance but they can also cause structural and electrical damage as well as pose a health hazard. It could be a flock of pigeons that have roosted in the eaves of your roof and are damaging the walls with their droppings. It could be a rodent thatâ€™s found its way inside and given birth to lots of baby rodents. It could be insects that have flown or marched in search of food. Keeping your home clean and tidy will help to prevent pests, and will also allow you to see the signs of them more quickly. Preventative measures such as not leaving out food and covering up pet food can also help. But sometimes they will find their way in regardless. Donâ€™t panic, if itâ€™s something you feel like you can deal with yourself you could set some traps. If not, call an exterminator- at least that way you know that the issue wonâ€™t get any worse and that itâ€™s completely taken care of.

Everyday Tips from Tia