Home Design Relationships 

Building an Archaeological Garden in Your Backyard

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If you are looking for something new and interesting for your child, you may want to build them an archaeological garden in your backyard. An archaeological garden is a pit designed to look like an archaeological dig site. You can fill the inside of the pit with faux artifacts like coins or broken pottery to give your child something to dig for. Planting ivy or other growing vines on the outside will give the site an ancient atmosphere. Just make sure your garden and your trees have no infestation of harmful insects that might bite your kids and cause them illness. You can request for tree trimming and inspection from your local tree services so they can check on schedule, just for safety purposes. I know it’s part of nature and we encourage our kids to love nature by this activity. Just some minor precautions to be aware of, before the real fun starts. 🙂

Here is a quick guide to building your own backyard archaeological garden:

Install the support poles

First, lay out the weed barrier fabric over the site you have chosen for your archaeological garden. This fabric will choke off the grass and weeds while still allowing for drainage. Set your poles on top of the weed barrier, making a square. This will be the outline of the pit for your archaeological garden. To create the supports for your archaeological pit, dig a small hole at each corner. Set an upright pole in the hole and fill with quick-drying cement to hold the pole in place.

Build up the pit’s walls

Once the cement has dried and the upright poles of your archaeological garden are set, you need to build up the pit’s wall. Set the horizontal poles in place by bolting them onto the upright support poles. Stack these horizontal poles as high as you wish, but at least two poles works best. If you build the archaeological pit very high, you should also add a step stool or stairs so your child can get in and out easily.

Hang the ivy

Affix a sturdy steel rope to the tops of the upright support poles. You will be planting ivy that will grow up the upright poles and onto the ropes to give your archaeological garden more of an ancient ruins look. Be sure that the rope does not hang low enough that it will trap your child. You may want to leave the rope off of one of the side so there is an clear entrance for children.

Fill in the pit

Now you can fill the inside of your archaeological garden with some “treasures” for your child to find. Old coins, small toys, or broken pieces of pottery work well. Be sure that any sharp edges have been filed down if you choose to use broken items of pottery or ceramics. Fill in the pit with sand, layering in more of your archaeological “treasures” every so often. Attach some plastic hooks on the support holes and hang a plastic collection tray and sieve for your child to use as their archaeological tools.

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Home Design 

Keeping the Home Clear: How to Get Rid of Hard Water Build Up

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Your home is supposed to be your shelter and your castle. As much as possible, you wouldn’t want anything untoward happening there. However, reality like hard water buildup sometimes happens. Let’s talk about how to get rid of it on your own before you call a plumbing company to assist you when the problem gets uncontrollable.

What is Hard Water Buildup?

They are usually known as hard water stains. They are left behind when the water you use has usually high mineral content—which usually would be either calcium or magnesium. When the water evaporates usually on the floor, walls, any reflective surfaces, or the sides of the tub it leaves behind a grimy looking residue. What issues arise from hard water?

Grimy appearance

As you can imagine, these can look like they’re pretty gross from afar and up close. It can give the impression that your bathroom isn’t very clean because of those stains.

Clogs

If hard water accumulates around drains, faucets, or showerheads, it can severely impede the flow of water.

Permanent Damage

Over time, the will eat away at the material of your surfaces especially if you’re sporting glass shower doors. Your plumbing will also end up damaged if you let hard water stay.

How Do You Get Rid of It?

There are several ways that you can get rid of hard water buildup. Just be mindful that the processes will depend on what you’re cleaning in particular. For example:

Showerhead

If you’re going to clean a showerhead, turn off the water source and take off the showerhead. Put the showerhead in a bag of white vinegar and leave it overnight. After that, rinse it with water and scrub with a small brush. Try running water in it to see if the clog is gone or if the water coming out is clean. Reinstall and use.

Shower Doors

Get some more of that white vinegar to work for you. Spray it on the doors. Let it sit for about an hour or so then rise and wipe off. Repeat when necessary.

Pipes

Use a combination of cream of tartar and water. Make sure the consistency is that of a paste. Hard water buildup there can result in rust and the mixture will clean it right off. Just make sure that after you apply the mixture, let it dry then rinse it off.

Always Remember

While prevention is always important, it is still just as important to know how to remove it by yourself. Professional cleaning can cost you a pretty penny. As hard water buildup can occur repeatedly, it is ultimately more cost effective to know how to get rid of it yourself. It certainly will be a good skill to pass on to any kids that you’ll have. After all, if you had a hard time with it, so will those youngsters.

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Home Home Design 

Purchasing a New Garage Door? Here are Some Features to Consider

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A buddy of mine was looking for help with a garage door repair in Buford, GA (his hometown) most usually with on the automatic doors and the overhead type of garage doors. Automatic garage doors are a preference for most homeowners because they are safe and convenient. The automatic garage door can be operated with a remote from the comfort of a car. Selecting the correct garage door for a business or home requires spending a lot of time on the local garage door retailer, local home improvement stores as well as on the internet. It is essential to note that price is one of the aspects that one should consider when choosing a garage door. One should also consider warranty, construction material, customer service, and design options as well. The following are some of the features that one should consider before purchasing a garage door.

Material or composition

First, one should look at the material or composition the door is made of. There are numerous garage doors on the market today. Some of the standard doors are made of steel, wood, aluminum, fiberglass, composite, and vinyl. The type of material to select depends on the consumer’s preference as well as the nature of the environment of the customer’s locality. For example, steel garage doors are best for hurricane-prone areas. Fiberglass, commonly known as GRP is perfect for regions near the sea.

Insulation

Another aspect to consider when buying these doors is insulation. Insulation is an essential feature to consider especially for persons living in regions with extreme climate or in localities where the weather changes radically. Checking the “R” value of a garage door allows you to determine the insulation capability of the door. The “R” value measures the thermal resistance of a garage door. Therefore, choose doors that possesses a high “R” value.

Durability

It is essential to purchase a door that is durable. A garage door is one of the most significant household investment. It is thus crucial to buy a door that can resist dangers and other unanticipated occurrences. At the cost of beauty, it is essential to buy a robust door that requires little maintenance. Some garage doors such as Hormann garage doors allows one to enjoy the robustness of fiberglass. They also enable one to appreciate the appeal of wood as they are finished with wood grain surface.

Maintenance

One should also consider ease of maintenance whenever buying a garage door. Fixing a garage door can be a pain and can be avoided with proper maintenance. Most of these steel doors require very little maintenance. However, most wooden garage doors require regular maintenance as they are always prone to tear and wear over a period. If for some reason you do need help, a local garage door repair company can usually help get things back in working order, as well as give maintenance tips so it doesn’t happen again.

Security

Security is essential to every homestead. Selecting a door that is thick is crucial especially if someone lives in an area that is prone to buglers. The selected door should guarantee the security of your family as well as your properties.

Lastly, every garage door type has its pros. For instance, steel up and over doors are durable and gives one value of the invested money. On the other hand, wooden doors are insulated, and they offer an attractive look while fiberglass doors require very little maintenance. However, ensure that you purchase a garage door that will give your home security, a good look and elevate the curb appeal.

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Home Design 

Classy and beautiful custom timber gates

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A customized timber gate has a classic appeal. The first thing which anyone would notice about your home is the majestic looking gate. There have been many technological advances in the past few years which have added other materials into the building industry. These day’s people make use of composite material for constructions of fences and gate, but wood is a class apart. It has a timeless appeal matched by few materials. You can choose something quaint or rustic or go all out and splurge on a magnificent looking masterpiece.

Why use custom timber gates

  • Timber gates can be customized to look either contemporary or classic. When you hire a manufacturer make sure to go through their portfolio. While going through the various designs you would get some idea on what you would actually like for your home. It should be kept in mind that solid timber gates tend to be expensive but they pay off that in term of aesthetics as well as sturdiness.
  • Timber is a natural material. Also it has a low impact on the environment. Unlike other material which are manufactured in factories, which requires a great deal of energy and man power, timber is available naturally. Although cutting down of trees is definitely not the best action environmentally, but its usage contribute very little to pollution. Also companies which use timber ensure that they make sufficient plantations so as to not deplete the supplies of the wood over a long period of time.
  • Timber gates re sustainable. These can later be put to another use. The wood can be recycled to make a variety of other things. Recycling can help save the precious supply of natural resources.
  • Another reason for using wood as a material for designing fates is its low upkeep. It only requires a coat of polishing once or twice a year. Good quality timber can stand the test of time and when it does weather it does so in a beautiful way. The result is a pastoral looking gate or fence which has a really time les appeal. If you decide to forego the polishing your gates, it would still look classy despite the weathering.
  • Another reason to prefer custom timber gates is the certain character which they add to your space. You can choose from a wide variety of wood which is available. You can go for a rich chestnut or the more simple and elegant looking oak. No matter whatever kind of wood you choose, it is bound to add beaut to your surroundings.
  • Custom gates can be designed to offer the maximum amount of security and privacy. With so many varieties and designs to choose from you have unlimited options. Timber gates complement all kinds of home whether contemporary, classic or modern. Just make sure you choose a design which helps define your home.

Make sure you choose the right gates and fencing contractor when looking
to order custom timber gates.

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Home Design 

Plumbing Services Gold Coast- Things your plumber wished you knew

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How often have you had to call in plumbing services in Gold Coast for a major plumbing issue? There has been at least one or two incidences which might have warranted an emergency visit from your plumber. Most of these issues could have been prevented if you knew the following things your plumber wished you had known before. These include the following:

  • You need to pay attention to you water heaters as well. A water heater is one thing in every house hold which receives the least bit of attention. Since they are usually tucked away out of sight, people stop paying any sort of attention. The water tank is prone to rust and build up over a period of time. Call in an expert for the repair and maintenance of your water heater at least once a year. This could help save a great deal of trouble in the long run while ensuring that the heater remains in mint condition.
  • Avoid pouring down oil and grease down the drain. While it is tempting to get rid of the leftover stuff in the frying pan by emptying it down the drain, refrain from giving in to this urge. This is one of the major reasons why drains become clogged. Sometimes the clog is so deeply ingrained that despite using cleaners and a plunger the debris just doesn’t shift and you may need to get professional help.

  • Don’t let those plumbing issues linger for a long time. If you feel that something warrants a check, make sure to get it checked ASAP. Sometimes avoiding smaller issues can lead to major problems. Instead try to call in plumbing services Gold Coast.
  • Don’t treat your garbage disposals as a trash can. Garbage disposals are ok for small amounts of scraps. Instead of throwing everything down the garbage disposal make sure you empty the food in the plates and the saucepans into a bag and then remove the rest of the debris. This would prevent any major issue with the garbage disposal.
  • If you notice water around the base of the toilet it’s a sign that something is wrong and warrants immediate attention. It could be due to the malfunctioning of the wax seal. It can cause the surrounding structures to rot.
  • Commercial cleaners while clean up the toilet real quick, can cause a great deal of damage in the long run. These chemicals contain harsh abrasives which can cause the pipes and drains to rust. If you want to sue cleaners make sure you sue the ones which are known as biological cleaners. These are gentle and can clean just as well.
  • Sometimes you may find a burst pipe flooding your home. Now this can be alarming. Turning of the water supply is one emergency move which can keep trouble at bay. But what happens when you aren’t sure which valve to close or even where the valve is located. Make sure you know how to shut off the water supply.

Keeping these simple tips in mind would help ensure that you face no major plumbing issues.

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Home Design 

Garage doors in Newcastle

K

Garage doors in Newcastle are huge doors that open either by the use of an electric motor or by physical means in garages. Their large sizes allow for the accommodation of motor vehicles. They may be made with single or several panels that are joined. During operation, counterbalance or loading by spring mechanism is employed. The energy required to operate the door is, therefore reduced.

TYPES OF GARAGE DOORS

Sectional garage-type

These type of doors comprise of between three and eight panels and operate by sliding up as well as overhead. Sectional garage doors exactly take space position of an equal amount of the internal garage.

Popular materials that are used to construct sectional garage doors include steel, wood, aluminium, copper, vinyl or glass.

Single panel garage-type

Garage doors of this type are made from a single monolithic panel. During the opening, a single panel garage door swings up as well as overhead into a fully opened position. One demerit of a single panel garage door is that the arc made following the swinging occurs in part outside of the garage. This implies that a motor vehicle has to be parked at a fair distance to prevent it from being hit by the door during opening.

Roller type

Roller doors are made from corrugated steel material or transparent fibreglass that is corrugated. Stamina for roller doors against impact is provided by the corrugations. Unfortunately, it is not possible to effectively insulate roller doors though aluminium lathe mixed with polyurethane foam can be used for acoustic and thermal insulation.

MATERIALS USED FOR CONSTRUCTING GARAGE DOORS IN NEWCASTLE

A couple of materials are employed for the making of doors in Newcastle. They are as follows:

Steel material

Steel garage doors are present in various styles and sizes. They are strong, secure, and cost-competitive. Additionally, they may comprise optional value for insulation. To provide additional strength, two to three steel layers that are galvanised having smaller gauge number of 23 to 24 can be used.

Wood material

Garage doors made of wood are aesthetically appealing even though they are expensive,  and generally have a higher cost of maintenance. On the contrary, doors of wood on a garage that are lowly priced are likely to break easily or warp.

Aluminium material

Doors made of aluminium material are light, resistant to rust, of low cost and require little maintenance. One disadvantage of aluminium made garage doors is that they cripple since aluminium is a weak material.

Fibreglass material

Fibreglass is another important material that is used for constructing garage doors. Alongside vinyl, they can be combined with steel core where the latter is placed behind it or the vinyl skin. Foam insulations such as polyurethane can be incorporated in fibreglass garage doors as well. However, fibreglass garage doors are more expensive than steel made.

MAINTENANCE OF GARAGE DOORS

This aspect is outlined by the manufacturer of the respective garage door. It is captured in their instructions and includes lubrication, periodic inspection on operability, visual checks on parts of the door.

PRECAUTIONS WITH GARAGE DOORS

Injuries and property damage are associated with garage doors in a variety of ways. Notable causes of injury include falling, one’s own attempt to carry out repairment, or unregulated release of the spring tension.

Now that you know the specifics about garage doors, the next step is to
get the best price on garage doors by searching online and comparing prices and specifications.

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Home Design 

Loose lay vinyl

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The planks of loose lay vinyl are extremely thick and heavy. These two are a perfect combination because they help keep the vinyl in place and also adds to the durability of the flooring. Loose lay vinyl strongly benefits from being made from the same materials that make other vinyl products look like wood. If you are still skeptical, there are many loose lay vinyl sellers online who are willing to send you samples.


What is loose lay vinyl? Loose lay vinyl offers tiles that are powerfully stable. This simply means that, depending on the moisture levels, they will not expand or contract. Therefore it is perfect for installations where there is no gap between the wall and the planks or tiles. Once again, its stability and durability all come back to the fact that loose lay vinyl is thick and heavy.

Main reasons for choosing Loose lay vinyl

One of the main reasons to choose to have Loose Lay vinyl flooring is that it’s one hundred percent water-resistant. If you usually have a wet floor, this is quite obviously the most excellent option for you. This purpose would reign true whether or not the humidity is coming from above or oozes from down below, which usually might happen in basements. 

This type of flooring, however, is perfectly designed to prevent water and any form of moisture from above from seeping through.  In a case where the moisture does manage to seep through the loose lay vinyl can be taken off (pulled up easily) in the area that needs it. Then you are free to dry the floor, after which you can reuse the same lay vinyl planks.

Installation

You don’t have to worry anymore about how to put down lay vinyl floor because loose lay vinyl is as easy as one, two, three, and will definitely put your worries at ease. Installing loose lay vinyl is an extremely uncomplicated process, that anyone can do.

There are several easy to follow tutorials available online that can help guide you through the easy process. Since loose lay vinyl can be installed right up against the walls, there is no need for filling gaps since each vinyl plank fits in perfectly with each other.  So if you are looking for an easy-going, do it yourself project for vinyl floor laying, then choosing loose lay vinyl is the best and most comfortable option for you.

Benefits of Loose Lay Vinyl

Loose lay tiles are pretty heavy-duty, and they are also tremendously low maintenance.

The use of new technology also ensures that the visual design of Loose lay Vinyl tiles is usually just as textured, authentic-looking and detailed as other vinyl. Since this type of material is more water-resistant and tends to be better at soaking up sound than other flooring products, it is a fantastic choice for any room in your home. Plus, loose lay vinyl is warmer than using actual stones, and softer than authentic hardwood flooring, and certain manufacturers are offering Loose lay vinyl that can be modified to get heating under the floor.

So if you are looking for an effective, innovative way to install a reliable flooring at home then look no further than loose lay vinyl. It is sure to meet your household needs and guaranteed to be a functional and attractive addition to your home.

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Home Design 

Do you need a Building and Pest inspection Gold Coast?

K

A mortgage loan that did not make it on time to purchase a dream home is a worse situation to be. A pest or building inspection that did not happen on time as the reason for the delayed mortgage loan can be terrible.

Yet, all these terrible scenarios pale in comparison to purchasing a property that turns out to be infested with termites.

Do you really need a building and pest inspection Gold Coast when looking over at potential properties in the area?

Why you need both a pest and building inspection

A company may carry both pest and building inspections. Some companies have qualifications to make them carry out pest and building inspections. However, the common practice is to hire two separate companies to handle separate inspections.

There is a big difference between a pest inspection report and a building inspection report. A building inspection report may identify visible termite damage done in certain areas. However, the report will not include other kinds of timber pests or existing termites.

Hiring the services of both pest and building inspectors to inspect a potential property is the best way to protect from financial risks. The reports submitted by these two professionals will either make you negotiate for a lower price or walk away from the deal.

Areas covered by Building Inspection

All accessible parts of the property will be inspected by the building inspector, to include:

  • Building sites to include driveways, garage, paths, garden shed, carport, retaining walls, stormwater run-off, any separate toilet or laundry, fencing, steps, and surface water drainage
  • Interior
  • Roof exterior
  • Exterior
  • Under-floor space

Some areas or particular items of the property can have a special inspection, to include:

  • Operable smoke alarms
  • Visible signs of asbestos
  • Electrical safety switch

Services involved in Pest Inspection

Termites and borers are timber pests that are invisible to the naked eye as you walk through an Open House. The wood rot happening to the timbers of a property can be easily camouflaged with a lick of fresh paint.

This is why it’s important to have a pest inspection or timber pest infection before you strike a deal with the seller.

Hiring the services of a pest inspector means knowing what you are getting into. It also means price negotiation with the seller with the discovery of a termite infestation.

The coverage of pest inspection includes:

  • Arranging access to the potential property
  • Spend at the least an hour or two to document and assess the condition of the property. Timber pest activity is included in the documentation along with photos
  • Inspect in great detail all external and internal areas including roof space and subfloors
  • Call the potential buyer the results within 24 hours to include the termite activity risk and other important findings
  • Send a formal report within the next 24 hours

Choosing the right pest or building inspectors

  • Licensed surveyor or builder for the professional building inspection
  • Adequate professional indemnity insurance coverage
  • Complies with content and format of the Australian Standard

Purchasing a property is a major financial decision that needs due diligence on your part. Peace of mind and a good financial deal are the just rewards for purchasing a property that has been properly vetted by both building and pest inspectors. There are many reputable pest and building inspections on the Gold Coast that can carry out the necessary work for you.

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Home Design 

Air Conditioning Installation Brisbane

K

One of the best places you can get services, such as air conditioning installation, is in Brisbane. The trained and experienced personnel will keep you very calm and comfortable a technician is offering you air conditioning installation services. All the staff working for you are not only fully qualified, but also ensure that the services they give you are always meeting your needs. Most people in Brisbane have therefore realised the benefits of hiring these experts, and hence, they still have so many customers requiring their services.

The following are the reasons why Brisbane has a reputation in  Air conditioning installation.

Brisbane have qualified experts for air conditioning installation.

In most places, air conditioning installation services are offered by people who are not trained but have been employed to provide the services. Unlike such sites, Brisbane has experts who are fully trained and experienced in providing air conditioning services.

The air conditioning installation services that are offered in Brisbane are quality service.

The the fact that the person providing air conditioning services are thoroughly trained, they offer quality services to all their customers. They always ensure that all your problems are fully solved.

The guide air conditioning installation to customers.

Whenever a customer does not know the type of air conditioning to install, the experts will guide the customer as a way of trying to educate the customer about the air conditioning installation.

The experts also have affordable prices.

The prices for air conditioning installation Brisbane are low, and hence all the customers requiring their services can afford.

There are different types of air conditioning in the market that you can install to your commercial or residential building. The types of air conditioning that are supplied and installed in Brisbane have deducted air conditioning; a floor mounted air conditioning, split system air conditioning, and reverse cycle air conditioning.

Deducted air conditioning

Deducted air conditioning is used for both residential and commercial air conditioning. Unlike split system air condition, deducted air conditioning can be used in the entire building without considering the size of the room. In deducted air conditioning pipes carrying fresh air are installed in the floor or ceiling while the air conditioning engines are kept some metres away from the building. The deducted air conditioning system is controlled in such a way that you can allow cold air to get in the rooms that you are using while the places that are not in use have no fresh air flowing into them.

Split system air conditioning

Split system air conditioning systems are made up of two sections that are different. This type of air conditioning is mostly ideal for conditioning the air in rooms that are small in size. They condition the air by regulating the temperatures and humidity in homes. The split air conditioning systems have an indoor evaporator coil unit that allows cold air in and also a blower mounted either on the wall, floor or ceiling that blows the fresh air into the house. It is also connected to a self-contained outdoor compressor that compresses and blows out the warm air. Refrigerant pipes and electrical cables connect the indoor and outdoor units.

Floor mounted air conditioning

The most easily installed air conditioning is the floor mounted air conditioning. This type of air conditioning can produce cold air from either at the bottom or at the top. Due to this reason, floor mounted air conditioning are installed on the floor or the ceiling.  Floor mounted air conditioning are ideal for installing in homes or offices.

Reverse cycle air conditioning

The reverse air conditioning can be used in all seasons. When it is freezing during winter, it produces warm air while it’s sunny, it provides fresh air.

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Home 

4 Ways to Reduce House/Property Maintenance Costs

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Property maintenance costs are a very critical factor in property management that you simply cannot ignore. You have to properly plan and budget to make sure that you are capable of accommodating all the management costs. As it goes, as whole property maintenance doesn’t come cheap. However, if you do invest some time and effort into it, you can sit back and reap the benefits.

Investing in the maintenance of a property will make sure that you have a readily operational property ready to generate revenue at any moment. It will also make sure you accumulate a lot of cost savings. There are a lot of strategies you can use to reduce the maintenance costs, let’s take a look at a few to help you get started.

Research what you’re buying

Before we go with anything else, it is very important to conduct research on the property you are buying. Many people jump on the opportunity of getting a property in a popular neighborhood. Don’t be hasty and purchase it based on the location. Conduct thorough research on the state of the property and check for any issues that might turn out to be a black hole for your cash.

Invest in a property that doesn’t require much maintenance, to begin with.

Look for good tenants

Quality tenants are a rare find these days. Some tenants will cost you a lot of money, as they live in your property and cause damage to it. Make sure to conduct a background check on the tenants to ensure that you get to relax without having to worry about your property a lot.

Be proactive

Doing preventive maintenance is very important when it comes to property management. It is a very effective way of cutting down on your maintenance cost. This type of approach will save you from spending a fortune in the future; you can nip a problem in the bud and avoid any serious problems before they even occur.

Fortunately, the cost of performing preventive maintenance is significantly lesser than that of making repairs. Your maintenance handyman should perform preventive maintenance activities at least twice a year for your properties.

Don’t forget pests

If you are renting or managing residential properties, your tenants may overlook the possibility of a pest infestation. An infestation can leave your property devastated and not fit for living.

Being the owner of the property, you can easily prevent this by scheduling regular checks and control measures if you find there to be any. Pest control ballarat is very affordable if detected in time and the pests haven’t done any damage. Otherwise, it may be difficult to control them and would need a fortune spent to get rid of them completely.

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Uncategorized 

Fertilizer or Composted Material: Which is Better for Your Garden?

K

To support the life of growing things over a prolonged period of time, all soil will inevitably need to be enriched in some way. Plants use up many of the nutrients within it, and others are leached away as water passes through. The vegetables, herbs, and flowers that we grow can obtain the carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that they need from air and water. Any complete commercial fertilizer can provide the three other nutrients that they primarily use: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Relying solely upon fertilizers, however, can eventually result in soil that is stripped of many other health-giving ingredients. They cannot correct or improve soil structure, for example; this requires the addition of organic matter. Also, fertilizers cannot compensate for unbalanced soil pH.

Humus, the end result of composting, can sustain a garden just as well as fertilizers in the short term while also bringing with it such beneficial things as microbes, enzymes, and earthworms. Composted materials also improve the soil structure, providing it with aeration and allowing for greater moisture retention. Introducing composted soil into our gardens over time can adjust the pH and bring it into proper balance. Because it does not carry nutrients in concentrated form, there is no danger that the surface feeder roots of our plants will be burned when we apply it. Humus is, in short, the most natural and complete substance that is available to us for replenishing the soil in our gardens.

Unfortunately, a stretch of time is required before we are able to obtain it: as much as a year, or 6 or 7 months from early autumn until spring at the least. If we intend to use composted soil in our gardens then we have to plan ahead and begin setting out our organic materials to decompose long before the growing season begins. Frequent turning and moistening can speed up this process, as can the introduction of earthworms. Still, the period of time can be longer than the eager gardener is willing to wait through.

One compromise that works well for many gardeners is to use fertilizer to “jump start” the garden soil and then use composted soil to sustain it over the long haul. Most soil will benefit from a complete fertilizer – that is, one that contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium all in balanced proportion. This should be mixed into the soil, and watered in, before any planting is done. Our gardens will then have the basic nutrients that they need to thrive; and in the meantime, we can allow nature to do its work in the compost. Once the compost is ready to be drawn from, we can begin to rely upon it more and more until, finally, it is supplying everything we need to sustain our gardens – in a never-ending cycle.

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Cold-Hardy Banana Trees, Bamboo and Orchids: Do They Exist?

K

When you garden in a cold-winter area, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking certain plants are just off limits.
With some careful research, however, you may find there are exceptions to every rule….

Winter bananas, anyone?

Nothing gives the look of the tropics like a banana tree. If you’d like to have a banana tree in your yard, but you don’t have a greenhouse to move it to in winter, there are a couple of types you might want to try.

The Japanese fiber banana, Musa basjoo, is an interesting possibility for cold-winter gardeners. But don’t bother to harvest it; the fruit is not edible. This banana tree gets 10 feet tall and is a reliable grower in Zone 8. For colder zones it requires heavy mulch. There are reports of Musa basjoo surviving -20 degrees F.

For a slightly warmer winter climate, consider the Chinese wax banana, Musella lasciocarpa. This banana is cold hardy in Zone 7. It has a pretty yellow bloom.

The Orinoco Banana, Musa Orinoco, is one of the most cold hardy of the bananas that produce edible fruit. It can reach 10 feet in Zone 7, or twice as tall in warmer climates.
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/page74.html

How about bamboo?

Many people think of bamboo as a tropical plant. Actually, there are many varieties of bamboo that are cold hardy to well below 0 degrees F. Many are large in size, ranging from Ruscus Bamboo, Shibataea kumasaca, at 6-7 feet, to Greenstripe Vivax, Phillostachys vivax, topping out at 70 feet. These are often used as screens or for decorative groves.

A word of caution on selecting bamboos: Many of them spread rapidly and are considered quite invasive. Be sure to do your homework so you don’t create a monster in your yard. “Clumping” versus “running” is only the first thing to look for. Check out the second website below for a great explanation on how to choose the right bamboo for your yard.
http://www.jmbamboo.com/coldhardy.htm
http://www.countrywhatnotgardens.com/bamboo/bamboo.html

Orchids in winter?

I was so pleased to learn about cold-hardy orchids. There are several types of Bletilla that are hardy in Zones 5-9. These hardy orchids prefer moist soil and a little shade. They get 15-18 inches tall and bloom in early spring. The flowers are white or pink.
http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Current/page18.html

Another delightful choice for cold-winter gardens is the native orchid called Nodding Ladies’ Tresses, Spiranthes cernua var. odorata. This hardy plant produces loads of white flowers August through November. It likes moist soil or bogs and is hardy in Zones 3-9.

Another popular cultivar is Spiranthes cernua ‘Chadds Ford.’ This hardy orchid is known for being a vigorous grower with large flowers that are extremely fragrant.

Spiranthes cernua var odorata

Northern gardeners not out in the cold

So even far northern gardeners can have some “exotic” plants in the garden. Do a little research and see which of these plants would bring an unusual element to your garden.

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Health 

Diseases that Affect Black-Eyed Susans in Michigan Gardens

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Black-Eyed Susans are an extremely hardy plant, but even the hardiest of plants can succumb to disease. Knowing what diseases are possible is one of the easiest ways to treat or prevent disease from occurring in your Michigan garden of Black-Eyed Susans.
Different Types of Leaf Spot in Black-Eyed Susans

Angular Leaf Spot

In Black-Eyed Susan plants, angular brown spots that occur on the leaves are known as angular leaf spot. These spots can potentially cover the entire leaf and with this particular type of leaf spot, the spots generally affect the lower leaves of the plant prior to moving upward toward the top of the plant.

To treat angular leaf spot, during the late fall (following the first full freeze,) all of the Black-Eyed Susan that is present above the soil must be removed. Tools that are used to remove the infected plant should be thoroughly cleaned using a product specifically for this situation; as the tools can re-spread the infection when reused later in the spring or summer the following year.

Cylindrosporium and Ramularia Leaf Spot

These types of leaf spots are not as common as Septoria. However, when they do occur, they can produce small lesions that are often angular in appearance. Therefore, it can be difficult to differentiate from angular leaf spot.

These plants too, must be removed from the root up.

Septoria Leaf Spot

Septoria leaf spot is currently among one of the most common diseases affecting Black-Eyed Susans. Like with Cylindrosporium and Ramularia leaf spot, the lesions start out small in size. These lesions, which are dark brown in color, will double in size and most of the lesions are round in appearance. However, angular spots may occur around the leaf veins in the plant.

Again, removal of the infected portion is necessary and the tools used should be cleaned to prevent reinfection.

Aster Yellows in Black-Eyed Susans

Aster yellows is a phytoplasma, meaning it does not have a cell wall. It spreads via insects (also referred to as leafhopper vectors,) so there is little a gardener can truly do to prevent them, as any insect could potentially carry the disease.

Unfortunately, aster yellows can affect several plants within the daisy family including, but not limited to: marigolds, purple coneflowers and cosmos. Symptoms of aster yellows include deformed flowers of which additional leaves and plants grow outward from within the cone of the flower.

To treat aster yellows, the infected plants (including the roots) must be removed entirely from the garden.

Powdery Mildew

Mildew affecting Black-Eyed Susans is generally more of a visual issue, though if left untreated it can result in a die-off of the leaves. With powdery mildew, the leaves will slowly turn a shade of yellow before dying and falling off.

Like with many diseases, the affected leaves and flowers should be removed from the plant. In severe cases, the entire plant (including the roots) may need to be removed.

Stem Rot in Black-Eyed Susans

Stem rot will begin by causing lower leaves to become discolored (often to a shade of yellow or yellow-brown.) Eventually, the entire plant will die. During the process, you may notice that there is a cotton-like mound growing at the base of the plant in your garden.

Plants with stem rot should be removed from the area, including the roots and the surrounding soil.

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Additional Information:

University of Minnesota: Diseases of Rudbeckia

Missouri Botanical Garden: Aster Yellows

Do It Yourself: Identifying Black-Eyed Susan Diseases

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Uncategorized 

How to Care for Torch Lily Plants

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Torch lily (Kniphofia uvaria), also known as red-hot poker, gets its name from its 1- to 2- foot tall spikes of densely-packed tubular flowers in brilliant shades of red-orange and yellow. The spikes are said to resemble glowing torches or pokers, and bloom in late spring and summer. These flamboyant plants grow 3 to 5 feet tall, and look best planted in groups of 3 or 5. The foliage isn’t particularly attractive, but the flower spikes rise several feet above the foliage and look great in the back of a border. Use plants with graceful foliage, such as cushion spurge, white phlox, variegated ornamental grasses and licorice plant to hide torch lily’s ratty foliage.

Site Requirements

Torch lily prefers a humus-rich, well-drained soil in full sun. It won’t tolerate a wet or heavy soil. The flowers are top-heavy, so choose a location protected from strong winds. Torch lily is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 to 9.

Care

In spring, cut back top growth to 4 to 6 inches to make room for new growth. Once the flowers on a stalk fade, snip out the stalk near the base to encourage fresh blooms. Use an organic fertilizer or compost in late fall.

Winter Protection

The crowns need winter protection in USDA zones 5 and 6. Mulch heavily or tie the foliage over the crown for winter protection. This prevents water from getting inside the crown and freezing. To grow them in colder zones, move them into cold frames for the winter.

Propagation

Kniphofia doesn’t recover easily once divided, so established clumps are best left undisturbed. Propagate by removing crowns along with their attached roots from the outer edge of the clump in fall. Trim the roots and cut back the foliage to 2 or 3 inches before replanting. Space the plants about 18 inches apart. Kniphofia takes off slowly. Fill in the space between new plants with bedding annuals for a full look.

Seeds need a period of cold treatment before they will sprout. Plant them in pots or flats and place them in the refrigerator inside plastic bags for 6 weeks. Once moved to a warm location, seedlings emerge in 3 to 6 week. Remove the bags as soon as the seedlings emerge to allow free air circulation and prevent fungal disease.

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Home Quality of Life 

Living With Pets: How to Effectively Get Pet Hair Out of Carpets

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Having pets in your life can be a pretty special thing. They offer unconditional love and companionship that can get you through some pretty tough times. One setback, however, is the sheer amount of hair that they leave everywhere. If you leave it alone, you will start to feel like you are being overrun. There is nothing pleasant about having your furniture, clothes, and surfaces covered in your beloved pet’s hair.

Many of us have our own pets and have come up with our own methods of getting pet hair out of carpets. Here are a few of our effective methods:

Sponge Mop Method

There are mops that are sold with a sponge tip. Before you use the sponge mop, it would be wise to do a bit of vacuuming beforehand. This way, the other things in your carpet like lint and dirt won’t stick to the sponge. Once you are done with your vacuuming, you can spray a bit of water on the carpet. This will help the sponge pull up the hairs as the water clings to it.

Use your sponge mop and gently mop over the surface area of your carpet. You’ll be surprised at how much hair can be pulled up with this method.

Lint Remover Method

Admittedly one of the more tedious ways but it works well if you don’t have a lot of time to clean. You can purchase lint removers or lint rollers from department stores and hardware stores. You simply need to remove the roller from its case and roll it over surfaces. The writer in our team that utilizes this method says that it works for her since she has so many other things to do during her day. So if she sees any pet hairs or has a spare moment, she can just whip out the roller and pull out the pet hair.

What is best about this method is that it doesn’t take much time but you need to be consistent with it to keep your area clean.

Always Remember

What works for us may not necessarily work for you. It all boils down to what you are comfortable with and what you are able to do with your means and time. The methods that we have listed come from our own tried and tested experiences—so we’re fairly confident that they actually work.

What methods have you tried to get pet hair out of carpets?

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Health Quality of Life 

Health Puzzle: Three Simple Ways to Improve Your Health on a Budget

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If you have noticed, a lot of the food trends have leaned toward being grossly unhealthy. Our technology now also empowers us to be less active than we used to be. So how do you stay healthy? After all, not everyone has the time or the extra finances to empower a healthy lifestyle. The concept of ‘staying healthy’ is something that is often passed on by many due to the fact that it does cost money.

Here are the three simple ways that you can improve your health while on a budget:

Work Out at Home

One of the biggest misconceptions that people have about getting healthy is the necessity of a gym membership. While there are certain pieces of equipment that would certainly help getting fit a whole lot easier, it is not critical to the task.

There are a lot of different workouts that can be done in the comfort of your home. The simple act of doing daily calisthenics is a big contribution towards getting healthy. The act of simply cleaning your home is already an exercise in itself. Be creative.

You can do yoga from your home. You can get the poses and instruction from websites or even YouTube channels. Utilize the sources that you presently have and run with it.

Lay Off Food Fads

Food Fads are pretty hard to ignore since you see them everywhere—especially on social media. The world, it seems, is always waiting with bated breath for the next big food fad. You may have come across several of them: the red velvet craze, the Nutella obsession, the gooey cheese scrapings, the several layers of burgers, the need to put matcha on everything, etc—there have been so many.

What they all have in common is that they are notoriously high in calories and sugar. These, as you can imagine, can and will add several pounds to your weight.

Educate Yourself

Being educated about your choices is one of the best ways to stay healthy. If you know what you need more and less of, the better your chances will be. Information is so easy to come by. The internet is right there—full of useful information.

Libraries still exist. In case you have no internet in your own home and rely on free Wi-FI options, you can take a jog down to your local libraries. Join symposiums near you. All local government health centers will have dates on talks that they have about health and these are usually free.

Always Remember

Your health is in your hands. You do not need the fancy workouts or the equipment to get into shape. At the same time, you do not need to jump on every single food fad that comes on simply because it is there or looks so delicious.

What other ways can you think of to improve your health while on a budget?

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Health Quality of Life 

Kicking Your Butt into Gear: How to Get and Stay Motivated

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Being in a rut is one of the most unpleasant things that you can be in. It affects your work, it affects your relationships, and it can even affect how you view life. This is why it is important to know how to get and stay motivated.

A lot of people often overlook or take the cultivation of their motivation for granted. As a consequence, they suddenly find themselves feeling at a loss or stuck despite things looking okay from an outsider’s perspective. So we would like to take this chance to discuss how you can cultivate and sustain your motivation.

What is Motivation?

This refers to the thing that gives you an extra spring in your step. You can even refer to it as what gets you out of bed every morning. It is the very reason why you do what you do and what gets you through hard and stressful times.

Some call it their inspiration but mostly, it is your motivation. Motivation is critical because it can mean the difference between accomplishing your goals and letting them lay stagnant and inert.

Getting Motivation

Before you are able to sustain motivation, you must first have it. While it can be something that is organic, it may need a bit of help. So here are a few ways on how you can build or get your motivation started:

Set a Goal

Having a destination is always good—otherwise, you’ll just be going forward aimlessly. Having a clear goal gives you an idea of what you need to do and what you’ll get by the time that you’re done.

Get a Buddy

If you feel like you are lacking motivation, talk to someone you trust about it. You would be surprised at the difference another person’s opinion will make. They can talk you through your rut and give you the jumpstart that you need.

Maintaining Motivation

Once you have your motivation started, it is important to keep stoking it. Here are a few ways how:

Keep a Progress Journal

Nothing keeps your motivation going like having a physical representation of your progress. It triggers the reward sensors in your brain and can release endorphins which can drive your energy further. Keep a journal or an app wherein you can jot down what you’ve done for the day and how much closer you are toward your goal.

Schedule Your Breaks

It will do you no good if you keep pushing forward with no rest. Your motivation is a blade that needs to be tempered in order to be sharp. Schedule your breaks both long and short. They can be little pit stops toward your destination.

Always Remember

Motivation is something that you need to work on. While it is something that would be good if it was a self-sustaining things—it sadly isn’t. So you’ll constantly need to work at it in order to meet your overall goal.

What ways do you have to start and sustain your motivation?

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Quality of Life Relationships 

Children Not Wholesale: Why You Should Not Compare One to Another

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Children can be the joy of your life but raising them is anything but easy. Stress and lack of sleep can be leading factors why you can do or say things that you shouldn’t do. One of those things is comparing children to one another.

When you compare children to one another, several things occur:

Toxic Relationships

Siblings are supposed to be there for each other. If you start comparing them to each other, feelings of resentment will start to fester and ruin their relationship. What parents do not realize is that the feelings of inadequacy or inferiority to a sibling can stain the relationship for the rest of their lives.

Rather than having siblings that are supposed to look out for each other when the parents are gone, you will have adults who harbor resentment toward each other. Not exactly ideal for a loving relationship!

Self-Esteem Issues

Children are still growing. They are discovering who they are—what they like and what they are good at. They will not have a chance to do that if at every opportunity they are compared with a more successful sibling.

Confidence is needed to be successful in life. If you clip that by comparing them, you effectively contribute potentially damaged individuals to society.

Distance from Parent


When you start comparing your kids to each other, they can feel that you favor one sibling over them. This can drive a wedge between you and the child. If a child feels that they cannot rely or count on their parent for support that is hardly conducive to a well-adjusted individual.

You may be in charge now but you won’t be forever. Children might be a bit more understanding while they are young. They might even be inclined to give you numerous chances. However, once their feelings have hardened against you, not much will soften them toward you again.

Always Remember

Children are not an extension of you. Children are not a second chance for you to live the way you wanted to. Children are their own persons with their own plans, dreams, and aspirations. It is your job as a parent to help them realize who they want to be. You do not do that by comparing them to one another.

Give them a role model to aspire to—an elder rather than a sibling or a cousin. You can even use a famous person as a role model. No flower grows by being kept in the shade. It is needs sunlight. So what better ways can you inspire your child to do better?

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Quality of Life Real Talk 

After the Magic: Best Ways to Clean Your Bakeware Properly

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Baking is one of the best ways to indulge in your creativity, get lost in the whole process, and have something delicious at the end of the rainbow. What isn’t so delightful is the cleaning up that happens afterwards. If only there was a way to magically clean all bakeware after using them, right?

As it turns out magic isn’t real but the cleaning methods we’ve developed comes pretty darn close! We’re lucky enough to have some pretty talented bakers on our writing team so they were kind enough to share their expertise with us today.

Baking Pan

The baking pan can be one of the most used materials in your arsenal for baking. It’s great for cookies, bread, and so many other things. So it is only natural that it looks worse for wear come hundreds of baking sessions in.

Our writer shares how she only uses five materials for cleaning:

  • Hot Water
  • Baking soda
  • Dish soap
  • Sponge
  • Elbow Grease

She mentions how she coats the bottom and the surface of the pan with a combination of baking soda, hot water, and dish soap. She lets it sit for about fifteen to twenty minutes and starts scrubbing away using the sponge. The chemical reaction, coupled with the friction from the scrubbing, can do away with even the toughest of stains on a baking pan.

Silicone Bakeware


Silicone has really risen as one of the favorite heroes of any baker. They’re a lot easier to handle, super easy to store, and they come premade in certain shapes and designs! So naturally, people opted to go with silicone rather than the traditional bakeware. However, they were not as prepared to deal with the cleaning.

Our writer shares how he uses four key ingredients:

  • Hot water
  • Really tough dish soap
  • Sponge
  • Elbow Grease

It seems that he and our other writer share a lot in common. He mentioned how if you’re not all that comfortable working with hot water, you should wear gloves. Beyond that, using the hot water with the dish soap like Palmolive can really cut through the oil that can be left behind after baking.

Blenders & Other Cookware

What about blenders and other cookware? Well, it depends on what type of blender you have! You can pretty much use the same techniques here for other places as well. Not sure what blender is the easiest to clean? The most popular are vitamix, blendtec and ninja blenders. I personally don’t like blendtec, but check out this vitamix review.

Always Remember

Cleaning can seem like such a chore but it is an integral part of the process. A lot of the time, it is during the clean up process that you can get ideas on what you could try making next. When you clean your materials, you get to really see which ones are being used and which ones may need to be retired. Every single part of the process of baking—which includes cleanup—is needed. You get to learn more about your baking style while you’re at it to boot.

With that in mind, what are your tried and tested ways to clean bakeware properly?

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Finances Quality of Life 

Business Thinking: How Important Is the “Employee of the Month”?

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If you are one of the lucky and skilled ones that were able to start your own business, it should be one of your priorities to keep productivity and morale up. So how do you do that exactly? The concept of “The Employee of the Month” is something that has always been heavily represented in media like TV and movies. It makes us wonder just how important is the program itself.

What is the Employee of the Month?

This is the person that manages to meet a specific set of rules or accomplishments as set by the administration. When seen by the outside, it is always represented by a plaque reflecting the picture and the name of the chosen employee.

The factors that go into choosing an employee of the month can usually involve:

  • Perfect attendance
  • Voting system
  • Meeting KPIs

Whatever they are, it is usually clear who can join and how many times they can be part of the program. There is no point in trying to raise morale if only one person gets to benefit from it. It is also important to be clear about what else they will get from the program. Just a picture on the wall is not enough. A bonus or some gift certificates can work.

Why is it Important?

The employee acknowledgement program or an employee of the month program has been known to have these particular effects:

Increased Productivity

When there is something to be gained—beyond the regular salary, people tend to work harder. While not everyone may be inclined to chase after the incentives, there are some that will rise to the challenge.

Friendly Competition

When there is more than one person after the reward, a friendly competition usually sparks. They usually keep each other accountable for their actions. No one wants to be beaten by a cheater. So it makes it a lot easier to keep a handle of things. It will be the employees themselves that will keep each honest.

Always Remember

The program is in place to help induce and inspire productivity—not a toxic environment. Before you launch your employee of the month program, it is important to do notable study over it. What parameters are going to be part of your program? Who gets to be involved? How long does the program last?

These any many more need to be answered. The program should exist for the betterment of your employees—not their harm. So when you think about it, why is the program important?

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Quality of Life Relationships 

Love In the Age of Social Media: What Is Healthy and What Is Not?

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Pretty much everyone has social media. In the age where the norm is to share so much information about our daily lives, relationships are pretty much put on a stage. This can put a lot of strain on relationships—even when you don’t mean to do so. In light of this, we want to take a chance to discuss healthy vs. unhealthy social media habits when it comes to relationships.

Healthy

When your relationship is going to be online, it is important to maintain healthy habits like:

Tasteful posts

Is it your anniversary and you want to make a gushy post? There’s no problem with that—as long as you keep the intimate details of your relationship off the status. There is no issue with being sweet online—just keep the massive PDA to yourselves.

Mindful Tagging

Social media is a place where it is easy to find things that are in line with the interests of yourself or your partner. It is completely okay and healthy to engage in things that you find interesting or sharing those things with your partner. Social media is first and foremost a sharing platform.

Unhealthy

Unhealthy habits can sneak up on you like:

Ranting

It can be quite easy to get carried away by your emotions when you are in a relationship. It’s easy to feel like you are the aggrieved party and want everyone to know that you are clearly the victim in a scenario or a problem. However, this paints a pretty grim portrait of your partner AND yourself.

You now look like a person that cannot keep personal issues between the necessary parties. It also implies that you do not hesitate to hang your partner out to dry when a bump (no matter how small or large) comes up.

Apologies

Hear us out. When you or your partner errs, there must be apologies to be made, yes. However, these are better served privately. It can put unnecessary pressure on the one being apologized to. Think about it. If you were hurting about something and you go online and see your wall littered with posts from your significant other saying how sorry they were along with the comments of other people.

It takes away the sincerity of the apology.

Always Remember

A relationship is between two people—not two people and each other’s friend list. It can be really tempting to share something because being validated is something that a lot of us crave—especially when we are feeling slighted or feeling upset.

When you are presently in a relationship—or even if you aren’t, it will serve you well to learn about the line between healthy and unhealthy relationship habits on social media. Which bad habits have you been guilty of?

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Finances Quality of Life 

Money Matters: Are You Making These Four Money Mistakes?

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Finances are often at the core of what we are able to do or achieve as individuals. Finances enable us to form our lives in the way that we have envisioned it to be. The trouble starts when you do financial decisions that are actually mistakes in the making. The trouble is, how are you to know what you are making is a mistake?

Well, if you ask us, we use the experiences of others and our previous experiences to determine if something is an established mistake. If you presently do not have any previous experiences to use as a learning point, feel free to learn from our discussion of four particular money mistakes:

Not Having Savings

Savings is a word we are very sure that you have come across before. Savings is the money that is set aside and usually should remain untouched. This is separate from your retirement fund. Savings is the pool of money that you can use in case of emergencies.

A lot of people keep putting off building their savings until it’s too late. Savings will help you when there are any sudden and large expenses that you need to square away.

Not Budgeting

A budget is a carefully constructed money plan so that you will be able to keep track of your finances. A budget is a map of what you receive, what you should spend on, and what it actually goes to. A lot of people tend to neglect building a budget for various reasons.

Budgeting will help you understand your financial capability and what you can actually do with your finances.

 Prioritizing Wants over Needs

Wants and needs are very different. Needs are the things that you require absolutely like utilities and shelter. The trouble is that everyday we see things that we want. The latest phone, the newest trend, a new travel location—it never ends.

The trouble with prioritizing wants over needs is that you’ll only feel good for a while. Eventually, you’ll find yourself in a heap of trouble because you don’t have food to eat or a place to stay.

Neglecting Your Credit Score

Credit is always a part of everything. It determines the type of loans you can get and the sort of payment terms you can be privy to. One’s credit score is determined by how consistently you pay your dues on time, paying back loans, and many other things.

Always Remember

Finances are there to empower you not hold you back. However, the reality of life is that your financial situation can be the reason why you are not able to do certain things or be subjected to a lot of crippling limitations. This is why it is super important to be financially literate. Look around for any financial literacy classes or seminars around you and get a better handle on your money management ASAP.

While you’re at it, check the four money mistakes that we’ve listed above. If you’re guilty of making them, what do you plan to do about it?

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Home Design Quality of Life 

Start Your Year Right: How to Use the Color of the Year in Your Home

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Colors are pretty powerful. If you use it right, you can send a message, assert a mood, or even affect your state of mind. This is why it is actually worth it to learn how to apply colors tastefully in your life. Every year there seems to be one color in particular that is called ‘Color of the Year’.

In light of this, we wanted to take the time and give some useful suggestions on how you can use the “color of the year” and brighten up some spots in your life. It just so happens that this year’s color is Ultra Violet. This isn’t exactly a color that is normally used as it is bright and in certain situations it can be an eyesore. However, if you do manage to use it tastefully, it is a great color to have in your home. Here are a few suggestions for you:

Faux Rugs

If you are in a ethical mindset, you can make use of faux rugs in the shade of ultra violet to spruce up any drab floors or even your couch. You can use it to add accents to your seating options.

Throw Pillows

This is by far the more popular usage of the color. Throw pillows are versatile and can be used in any part of the home that has seating. Ultra violet throw pillows add a big statement color to pull together a room’s focal point.

Always Remember

The rule of “less is more” does not always translate. When it comes to colors as bold and rich as Ultra Violet, it all depends on how you use it. Always consider the lighting, the placement, and the object. Think three months ahead if you are planning on making any big changes like wall paint. Is this still something that you would like your wall to be three months from now? If not, best to not make any big changes.

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Quality of Life Real Talk 

Let’s Get Started: Top Three Things That Affect Your Quality of Life

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Welcome to Improving Your World’s very first article. We’re extremely excited to have you here with us! We would like to get started by discussing the common sources of troubles that affect the quality of life most people have.

Our writers came together to think about the biggest reasons why they had felt or continue to feel like their lives weren’t in the way that they wanted it to be. These are what they all came to an agreement about:

#3: Surroundings

The immediate surroundings of a person can refer to their homes, their offices, or even the very town or city that they are in. When these conditions aren’t ideal, they can really do a number on the individual. External stressors can really bog down the mental and physical wellness of a person. So if you aren’t happy, take a look around you. Are you where you want to be?

#2: Relationships

People are social creatures. We love to interact with others. So if this is not available or if the interactions or the state or source of these interactions aren’t very good, we suffer. The effects of bad or toxic relationships can stay with a person for years to come.

This is why the quality of relationships that a person has can strongly determine their quality of life. So it is important to do periodic analysis of the people in your life. Are you sure they should be part of it?

#1: Finances

Money, money, money! Sometimes it can seem that our lives revolve around it. Money empowers experiences and the quality of life that we can secure for ourselves. Money can also be the source of massive stress and problems—especially when the money problem isn’t even ours.

This is why getting a strong handle on finances is necessary. Are all your financial ducks in a row?

Always Remember

You can always change the situation that you are in. The power necessary to effect change in your life is in you. Are the top three things that affect your quality of life in a good spot right now?

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