Fishing: Is It a Fun Activity for Couples?

Fishing: Is It a Fun Activity for Couples?

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There’s no denying that being passionate about something in life is a very attractive trait to other people. Plus, when you involve someone else in your passion, they learn why you’re so passionate about it, and it might even pique their interest in what you love doing.

A new adventure is undoubtedly an excellent way to bond with your significant other. Believe it or not, more couples have taken to going fishing together. It’s a fantastic opportunity to learn skills and enjoy a shared victory with someone you love.

If you’re not entirely convinced that fishing is a passion your partner or spouse would enjoy with you, the following reasons will help change your mind:

It’s Easy to Teach Someone How to Fish

Some people will have you believe that fishing is a pastime that takes a long time to learn. However, the truth is anyone can quickly learn how to fish, and it’s a hobby that is relatively easy to master.

It makes sense to start off with a simple fishing exercise at a dock, for example. If you go to one with a dock light, you won’t have to venture off-shore in a boat to catch some fish as they’ll get attracted to the light and come to you.

It’s a Relaxing Way to Spend Time Together

You will undoubtedly know that fishing is quite a peaceful and relaxing pastime. If you introduce your partner or spouse to fishing, it’s a hobby you can enjoy with them too.

If you happen to pick a fishing spot remote from other anglers, it can be a great way to have deep and meaningful conversations with your significant other without interruptions from other people.

While you’re both waiting for fish to get your bait, you could use the time by enjoying a picnic together if the weather’s great. Your significant other may even find it a very romantic gesture as they can see you’ve put some thought and effort into your trip.

It’s Something Different to Do

The trouble with activities like going to the movies or having a dinner date at an upscale restaurant is they are predictable things to do. When you take your partner or spouse fishing, it’s an activity where you both get to spend time together doing something different.

Your significant other may even find that it’s a pastime they’d like to do with you more often, especially as it involves an element of reward for your efforts (i.e., taking home a large bass to cook at home, for example).

Picnics Aren’t the Only Ideas for Romance

Lastly, if you both catch a fish together, why not celebrate by cooking it over a campfire at your fishing spot? It can be the perfect ending to a day of fun, and it’s another way to turn your adventure into one with a romantic end. There’s nothing quite like enjoying a candlelit and healthy fish filet dinner together as the sun sets over a warm summer’s evening!

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.

5 Marriage Myths You Should Ignore

5 Marriage Myths You Should Ignore

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For some reason, old wives’ tales hold a dominant place in people’s minds, leading them to accept beliefs as the truth. As a result, several myths about marriage seem to alter people’s perceptions of what it is or should be. For example, 80% of people with marriage experience disputed the myth that the loss of physical closeness is a major cause of relationship deterioration. For more of such myths, please read further to see which ones you believed in.

1. Long courtship ensures a successful marriage

The Washington Post says this is the most common belief people have from the list of many marriage myths. Fortunately, various studies spanning over two decades disprove this myth. Although these studies agree that long dating periods create a sense of familiarity between the parties involved, it has no bearing on whether or not the marriage will be successful. Perhaps, the apprehension of high divorce statistics in the country has contributed to the increasing rate of long courtships.

First and foremost, the statistics available in the US indicate that 41% of first-time couples will seek the services of a divorce lawyer within two years of saying, ‘I do.’ Additionally, those who remarry are 50% more likely to back out again. According to apa.org, these numbers prove that your marriage success is not guaranteed regardless of a long dating or courtship period.

2. Love will last forever

Hopefully, this myth made you giggle because you know it’s never a guarantee for a lasting marriage. Indeed, it plays a significant role in the institution of marriage. However, several other vital elements ensure a robust relationship for all the time you are together. The reality of family and different life pressures can take a significant toll on both of you. Apart from the apparent strain on the love shared, you will begin to notice each other’s weaknesses. 

Recognizing these shortcomings will either upset you or make you indifferent to them. Remember that after a few years, the beauty of a fairytale wedding gives way to other life-altering highlights such as childbirth. Therefore, the honeymoon love phase you feel will gradually taper off to a more matured bond or other.

3. Jealousy means you love and care for your spouse

As unbelievable as this may sound, people actually believe that! Jealousy is an indication of an unhealthy possessive trait. It tends to destroy marriages even before the third year of the relationship. As humans, it is a natural reaction to feel sidelined when your spouse gives another person all the attention. Psychologists say the feeling of being sidelined is part of an innate trait captured under ‘territorial dominance.’

Animals display that in brutal ways. Territorial dominance can be disastrous for human beings and push you and your partner apart. Therefore, if you belong to a group of people who think making your partner jealous will result in more love, it’s time to reassess your beliefs.

4. A child cements a happy marriage

First of all, the presence of children never solved marital problems. On the contrary, the arrival of children or babies creates pressure in all forms. From physical to mental, emotional, and financial burdens, it takes a committed couple to endure them. Undoubtedly, babies are blessings to behold but never believe the myth that having them will cement your marriage. 

5. You only need each other and nobody else

A clingy attitude to your spouse only creates an abundance of unhealthy over-dependence. You both have your respective lives to live, even though you are now a unit. Nobody is discounting the benefits of being each other’s best friend. However, the danger lies in ignoring the essence of a support system outside of your marriage. What you should ask yourself is what you would do when your partner is unavailable.

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.

Checklist: Important Things You Need To Do Before Putting Your Home On The Market

Checklist: Important Things You Need To Do Before Putting Your Home On The Market

If you are planning on selling your home, you should not simply put it on the market as soon as you have decided to sell. There are a number of different things you need to do first. So, let’s take a look…

Make Sure It’s Structurally Sound

There are plenty of key techniques and ideas that you can use to make sure your home is as saleable as possible once you put it on the market. And this means that you need to ensure you focus on the best ways of helping to improve your home and make it structurally sound. One of the best and most effective ways of achieving this is going to be to make sure you improve your roof. This means hiring a quality roofing service company to make sure your roof is as safe and secure as possible, and making repairs if needed as well.

Making sure your home is structurally sound is so important, and you need to try to make sure you carry out the right steps that can be used to help you achieve this. So, it is important to ensure that this is something you work on as much as possible, and checking the foundations and structural integrity of the property is also vital. This ensures that there are no underlying problems that might rear their ugly head when it comes to trying to push through the sale of your home.    

Make low-cost curb appeal improvements

First impressions count! And, the first impression of your home will be made as soon as the buyers step out of their car, which is why your garden is so important! Impress them with these low-cost tips…

  • Wash the front porch light fixture or replace it if necessary.
  • Keep the garden lawn mowed. There is nothing worse than an unkempt garden!
  • Buy some large house numbers! There is no worse way to begin a viewing than by discovering your buyers have spent the last thirty minutes driving around the estate looking for your home.
  • Plant flowers by your front door or along the walk. This will create a welcoming atmosphere. Yellow flowers are a great option, such as marigolds.
  • Purchase a new welcome mat for the front steps to your home. The perfect way of welcoming people into your home!
  • Clean the exterior windows thoroughly. Grubby windows are never a good look!
  • Use the power spray to get rid of all the dirt and dust outside.
  • Re-paint your front door or replace it if necessary. The front door is an extremely important aspect of your home. It is one aspect every single person who comes to your property is assured to notice.

Get rid of family touches

Most homeowners have photographs of their family situated all over the home. It adds a personal element to your property and creates a warm environment. This is what makes a house your home – the keyword being YOUR home!

We all love to have reminders of the ones we care about and to display fun memories we have had together. But, when it comes to a home viewing, it’s time to put them away! Don’t take it personally – but the buyer doesn’t want to see pictures of your daughter getting married or your last family holiday to America. All this does is remind the buyer that the property is someone else’s.

By keeping your photographs out you merely distract viewers and you make it difficult for them to connect with your home. Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine walking into a home you were thinking about buying and seeing photographs of another family at every turn. It would make it extremely difficult to imagine yourself living there.

The same goes for all other personal items – whether it is dance awards, football medals, school certificates, or anything like that! Model your home on a showroom. You wouldn’t see aspects like this whilst at a showroom, so they shouldn’t be on show whilst someone is viewing your home.

Freshen up your bathroom

Many people, especially those with young families, like to view a bathroom as a potential oasis of calm in an otherwise hectic household. To others, it’s a place where they expect high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Replacing a bathroom is an expensive undertaking, and when marketing your property, showing what you have off to the best effect can make or break a sale.

What most people find inviting is a clean, bright room. The preference is always for a neutral colour scheme – no overwhelming, bright shades here! – and a white bathroom suite. But if replacing the large fixtures and fittings is beyond your budget, a few small changes can cast the most important room in the house in the best possible light.

Use bleach to clean up grotty looking tiles and grout. A mildew remover may also help to remove the worst of the stains. If necessary, re-seal the bath with white sealant. Do the same with the sink and shower area. Invest a small amount of money in replacing cracked tiles. Consider buying a fresh, new shower curtain or screen.

Remove half-empty shower gel and shampoo bottles and, for the duration of viewings at least, replace with quality bath products. Add white, fluffy towels for a final, homely touch.

Clean your home from top to bottom

Picture this… You welcome viewers into your home, they start looking around, and then you realise that you have left a dirty ashtray on the living room table! How did you miss it? We are all guilty of missing the obvious when tidying our home! Use this cleaning checklist to make sure you don’t…

  • Make sure your clean your appliances inside out.
  • Clean your windows and windowsills.
  • Polish all interior woodwork.
  • Clean the inside of all of your cabinets and neatly organise everything that is inside. Make sure they aren’t too cramped; you want to show off how much space the buyer will benefit from.
  • Mop and sweep all of your floors.
  • Make sure you clean the entry thoroughly – this is the first thing buyers will notice when they walk into your home.
  • Clean all of your blinds, drapes, and curtains.
  • Git rid of all odours – especially food and pet smells.
  • Shower curtains and doors should be clean.
  • Keep your corridors and stairways clear.
  • Make sure everything is organised – your bookshelves, closets, wardrobes, entertainment units etc.
  • Empty ashtrays, rubbish bins, and recycling bins.
  • Remove all clutter – store in your car if necessary.
  • Be sure that all of your drawers, cabinets, and doors can be opened fully without any blockage.

Check The Roof

If someone wants to come and view your home, it goes well and then they request a survey, you have got to make sure that there is nothing bad for them to find. Often, people think that they can get away with not sorting out their roof because it’s generally something you can’t see from the ground. You need to hire professionals and make sure things like ice dam removals are sorted, any leaks are patched up and whatever other problem there is up there is taken care of. If you don’t, then you could lose a sale.

Find a good estate agent

Finding a good estate agent is obviously an important ingredient in selling your home! You should never just go for the first one you lay your eyes on, nor you should ever go for the cheapest agent! – Recipe for disaster.

You need to compare different estate agents against one and other in order to find the best one for you. But, what sort of things should you be looking for? Here is a checklist of things you should take into account…

  • Can you contact them via mobile phone and email?
  • How far away is their office from your home?
  • Will they provide you with a detailed marketing plan? What ideas have they got for advertising your home?
  • Do they seem enthusiastic about selling your home?
  • What is their track record? How many homes did they sell in the past year? Have they sold properties similar to yours?
  • Are they available on evenings and weekends?
  • Can they provide you with some references and/or reviews?

You have probably realised that one key factor is missing – how much they charge! So many homeowners make the mistake of looking for the cheapest agent. This is not an area to cut costs. If an agent charges more, it’s usually because they are worth it.

Some final home improvement tips to follow before you sell your home

  • Replace light bulbs – Bright rooms look inviting and fresh. Dark rooms look dingy, depressing and cramped. Just remember, safety first!
  • Fresh paint – Paint is the easiest way to make a huge difference to your property. Neutral colours are best!
  • Clean windows – Windows are often forgotten about, yet grubby glass is never attractive.
  • Deal with anything that needs to be repaired – Whether your kitchen light needs repaired or your require water pump repairs, deal with it before your property goes onto the market!
  • Clean your closets – Buyers often want to see how much storage space they are going to benefit from.
  • Play music – Soft music can be a great tactic to use when showing someone your home. Note the word ‘soft’ – no heavy metal, please!
  • Remove pet bowls – Not only are they distracting, but a buyer might not want to be reminded that you have pets running around the home every day.
  • Fresh glass and plants – Often a garden can be the first thing people notice. Make a good impression by creating a space that looks beautiful and inviting.
  • Clean the carpet – Nothing looks worse than a mucky carpet. If yours is beyond saving, consider getting rid of it and showcasing your hardwood floor.
  • Open curtains and blinds – Let as much natural light in as possible! It will open up the space.
  • Fresh flowers – Buy some fresh flowers and place them around the home. They create a welcoming feel.

So there you have it: the complete checklist of everything you need to do before selling your home. Good luck!

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.

So, Your Man Can Keep You Alive In the Bush? Help Him Look The Part (And Keep Safe)

So, Your Man Can Keep You Alive In the Bush? Help Him Look The Part (And Keep Safe)

Now, who doesn’t love their outdoor, rugged-man type?  We’re all for our metrosexual brethren but there is still something to be said for kind of guy that can build your shelter and hunt for your food.  Ok, so those are extremes but if you are one of those lucky girls that have the quintessential “Marlboro Man†in real life, we’re breaking down some of the best outdoor-ready, and did we say über-sexy man vs. wild inspired items. So, even as his chopping his way through the forest for you, he’ll look really good doing it.

Image By Elizabeth Zernetska

#1 ANYTHING BY “PATAGONIAâ€

“Patagonia†is the kind of brand that just ticks all of the boxes.  They will get your man ready to take on just about any outdoor challenge and their products are ethically sourced and manufactured besides.  Definitely look at getting him an insulated fleece for those treks across Antarctica. (Or Alaska, or the Rockies).

#2  HIKING BOOTS

The “can’t-do-without†staple of any outdoor man (or woman’s) closet.  You want to make sure that you invest a decent amount of cash here.  Having a good boot that’s weatherproof, can take a beating, and is made from top-quality material could literally be the difference between surviving…or not.  In extreme situations, something as (seemingly simple) as dry feet can make a massive difference.  Ankle height boots provide further support and provide some coverage against snakes and other bugs.

#3  THE BACKPACK

Clearly, you want a backpack that’s made of the best possible, durable, and strong material but you also want to make sure that it has various pockets for different storage purposes and if you’re splurging, you could spring for backpacks that not only carry water and look good (yep) but, they also charge devices while they’re at it.  This is a no-brainer and especially important if you and your guy regularly take on wilderness-type hikes, camp missions, or travels.  

#4  WATER PURIFICATION

Technically, more gadget-ish than fashion but nothing is more fashion-forward than staying alive, and with a wide range of portable water purification devices from the “life straw†to more sophisticated larger quantity recyclers, you should definitely look into this.  Don’t worry – they are still seriously cool to look at.

#5  UNDERWEAR

You could be forgiven for thinking that we just added this one in here somewhat gratuitously, but you’d (only be a little bit) wrong.  Sure, your guy looks great in his threads but the type of underwear he’d be wearing for city life does not translate well in the jungle.  You’re looking for material that dries quickly, is superlight, and keeps uh….â€it†where it needs to be for long distances.  Cotton does not dry quickly when wet and so is not the ideal material for hiking or outdoorsy kind of stuff and if he is planning on “going commandoâ€, there are a few things he should be aware of.

You also want to check out cargos made from great material and durable items like this mens tactical belt to keep everything together.

This is by no means an exhaustive list but it’s a good place to start and as tempting as it may be to get the coolest looking gear, comfort in this instance, must marry substance.  We’re all for accentuating what you have naturally, so keep this in mind for him too.

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.

4 Important Tips to Help You Prepare Your Home for Winter

4 Important Tips to Help You Prepare Your Home for Winter

Photo by NATHAN MULLET on Unsplash

Most people are in the habit of putting off their winter preparation until it is too late. This is not surprising seeing as we all prefer to relax in the summer and enjoy the unique beauty of the fall season. 

However, now is the best time to start preparing for winter. This way you can save some money as all associated maintenance and repair costs of your heating system and insulation are usually lower. So, don’t delay. Start thinking of winterizing your homes now. Here is how to do that. 

Inspect your Heating and Cooling System

During the winter nothing is more important than your heating system. This is what will keep you warm. Without it, you will probably freeze to death very quickly. Now that we’re no longer sure of the climate’s temperament –the Texas snowstorm early this year is a good example–it’s always better to be prepared. 

So have a professional come. This is particularly important if you feel like the heating has been inadequate in previous years. Sometimes this inadequacy is caused by a smaller heating furnace. 

One of the questions you want to ask the heating technician is “what size of furnace do I need for my house to be adequately and comfortably warm during the winter� After a thorough assessment, the heating technician will be able to tell you if your system is inadequate or okay for the house and your heating needs.

Read: 4 REASONS WHY YOUR HOME IS SO COLD

Check Your Insulation

Sometimes the problem isn’t your heating system. If your home feels like it’s inadequately warm during the winter, it’s possible that you may have poor insulation. If there are any air leaks through your windows or your doors, it will cause your heating system to work extra hard to try and keep the house warm. 

This is why you need to properly weatherproof your home and ensure that there are no drafts in your home. You probably don’t know this, but drafts can lead to a 20% increase in energy costs every year. So to insulate the house look for cracks particularly around windows, spaces around your doors, and gaps in your floorboards. Then fill them with caulk to seal up the openings and cracks. 

Check the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Devices

Carbon monoxide is known as a silent killer. And since you will be indoors a lot during the winter, you need to make sure that your heating furnace or fireplace is not producing carbon monoxide. 

Because carbon monoxide is odorless, the best thing you can do is to install carbon monoxide detectors –if you haven’t already. And if you have, check their state to make sure they’re in good condition. The same applies to your smoke detector. Make sure that they are both in tip-top condition so that you and your loved ones don’t end up inhaling toxic fumes.

Check Your Roof for Leakages

You need to make sure that there are no loose shingles or leaks coming from your roof. An early roof inspection can save you a lot of heartaches and physical discomfort during the winter. The easiest way to do this is to go on top of the roof and check for these. 

Look for blistering, curling, or buckling shingles. If there are missing or broken shingles, you will need to replace them. And if you’re scared of heights your best bet is to have a handyman or, even better, an expert from Owens Corning Roofing, come to the house and check out your roof for you. 

Read: SOLAR POWER: THE PROS, CONS, AND MYTHS

​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.

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