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Life Hacks for Living More Comfortably

People are looking for ways to benefit their lives in many different fashions. The difficulty that comes from everyday living can often lead to stressful situations. Finding ways to live comfortably will help to alleviate stressful situations throughout life. How does a person live a more comfortable life? Through simple life hacks.

Don’t Be Afraid to Freeze

One of the greatest ways to feel comfortable is through eating healthy. A gateway to eating healthy is through fruits and vegetables. Conventional wisdom would tell a person to eliminate the foods that make them feel sluggish, replacing them with healthy fruits and vegetables. Produce can go forgotten amongst the demands of life. Instead of throwing out a banana that is about to go bad, freeze it. There are plenty of creative ways to use frozen fruits and vegetables. Think of the possibilities with stews, soups, and smoothies.

Switch Up Those Stockings

Everybody wears socks: the CEO, basketball player, journalist, debt collector. Some of these socks are more comfortable than others. Pairs of diabetic socks are another hack for a more comfortable life. These socks are seamless and allow the feet to breathe. The socks are designed to prevent moisture from making a home in the cracks of the toes and other areas of the feet. Circulation helps a person feel comfortable. These socks encourage circulation because of their non-binding quality. They are perfect for people with or without diabetes.

Invest in a Quality Mattress

Most people may feel as if they don’t get enough sleep daily. If this is the case, consider taking steps to improve the quality of your sleep to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Investing in a quality mattress is an essential way of living a more comfortable life. It’s always encouraged to try out several different mattresses to find the right one.

Shoes Matter

Standing on one’s feet for extended periods of time gets tiring. Tired and achy feet are not exactly the genesis to feeling comfortable. It makes no difference if a person is a hairstylist or personal trainer, comfortable footwear matters. There are a pair of shoes fit for most professions. Search out options that work.

Relax

Deadlines, obligations, meetings, ball games to attend, meals to make, the to-do list seems to be endless at certain times in a person’s life. Feeling rushed can be a stressful time. A person ought to relax to seek comfort. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when the body doesn’t have time to recharge. Relaxing is good for the mind and body. Read a book, listen to music, watch a film–there are plenty of activities that one can do simply to catch a breather.

Cheerio, Clutter

Clutter in the home, office or automobile is going to be a sticky situation. It doesn’t take much time to organize possessions in a way that serves the occupants of the space. Nobody is going to feel comfortable when junk is on top of them, limiting floor space and walkways. Don’t trip on the junk, get rid of it. What’s the point of keeping something that hasn’t been used in five years? Get rid of clutter by donating goods that are in good quality.

Socialize

Friends are a great outlet in life. They help to balance the more unfortunate things. Don’t be afraid to make it a priority to see friends on a regular basis. Friendship seems to make everything better: Friendship motivates and makes life more comfortable.

Quick and Easy DIY Ideas to Give Your Home a Fresh Look

At this time of the year, many are redecorating and renovating their property to give it a new lease of life before summer comes along. While you may prefer to hire out professionals to handle the more complicated and skilled renovating and decorating tasks you might need completed, there are still many you can take on yourself. To give you some ideas of tasks and projects you can take on without the help of a tradesmen, saving you some money in the process, we’ll look at some of the easiest in the following post.

A Fresh Coat of Paint Makes a Whole World of Difference

One of the quickest and simplest ways to improve or alter the way your property looks is by giving it a fresh coat of paint throughout. Even if you intend on using different colours for different rooms, painting is a task that just about anyone can do, even if you don’t feel particularly handy when it comes to DIY. You’d be amazed at how much better a room that previously looked tired and dull will look with just a few coats of paint. You don’t even have to change to a different paint colour.

Don’t Forget Wallpapering

Although there’s a lot of people that struggle with wallpapering, it’s another way to easily you’re your property a new lease of life. What’s more, you don’t necessarily have to do much prep work, other than mixing the paste and cutting the paper as you can normally hang wallpaper directly onto painted walls.

Replace Lighting Fixtures

Look around your home. Have you had the same lighting fixtures for the entirety of the time you’ve lived there? This might be a great place to start making small, but significant changes to how the room looks and feels. After all, the mood and ambiance of a room is not just determined by the colour scheme and décor, but also the lighting. Although you may have to deal with the electrics to change the actual fittings, some are made with the unexperienced in mind and even a switch in shade could make a big difference.

Install Additional Storage Space

Do you have a very cluttered home with a lot of floorspace taken up by storage units and furniture? You could make a huge difference, with as little or as much effort as you want to put in to it, by clearing out some of that cumbersome furniture and installing some simple units and shelves on the walls. The extra floorspace will give you much more room to move around in your home and will make the area feel bigger.

Switch the Door Casing, Trims or Baseboards

If you don’t mind work involving some drilling, wood/UPVC or other things like that, you could consider updating the millwork in your home. We’re talking about the door casing, trim or even the baseboards. If you’re new to this kind of work, to learn how to install door casing, check out this awesome guide at plumbandlined.com. Just like many of the other ideas in this post, changing the door casing is a small task that can make a huge difference to the overall aesthetics of your home.

Kitchen Design Trends for 2019

For many years, kitchen design has tended to work on a “set and forget” basis, which is completely understandable given the nature of kitchens. Over recent years, however, people have become more aware that it’s actually perfectly possible to give kitchens regular updates without changing out major investment pieces such as cabinetry and appliances and hence without breaking the bank.

With that in mind, here are five tips on the top trends for 2019 and some ideas on how you can integrate them into your home.

Concealed storage

Concealed storage is officially back for 2019, although we suspect many homeowners will take the view that it never really went away, especially not in smaller homes where visual clutter can turn a space from cosy to cramped. That’s good news for those who already had closed cabinets installed but those who have open shelving and are wishing they didn’t can get around the problem by investing in attractive containers and using them to hold less attractive items while more attractive ones can be left on view. Alternatively, you could put a spin on the concept of concealed storage by putting attractive items to the front of your shelves and less attractive ones at the back.

Matte metals

Metals and metallics have long been a feature of interior design, especially in fitted kitchens and bathrooms, but up until now the emphasis has been on shiny metals, especially chrome or even silver or gold (albeit generally by means of plating, since the pure form would be impractical as well as expensive). While shiny metals do, obviously, have their place in the world, they do tend to be attention-grabbing and they also tend to scratch, which is particularly unfortunate since these scratches are often very visible due to the contrast they make with the surface metal. Because of this, it’s entirely understandable that interior designers are now increasingly moving towards matte metals, especially pewter and gunmetal, particularly for kitchens.

Leather and wood fittings on cabinets and drawers

Updating the fittings on cabinets and drawers may be the most well-known budget-update trick in the book and there’s a very simple reason for this – it works. It is a beautifully simple and cost-effective way to bring your kitchen in line with current trends so that it has a fresh feel.

For 2019 leather and/or wood fittings are the major trend and if you’re not ready (or willing) to invest in a whole new set of fittings for your kitchen, you can still make a style statement by switching out a few of them, say, on every other cabinet or on a specific drawer unit.

Playing with texture

While hygiene always has to be the top priority in a kitchen, hence the preference for flat surfaces which are easy to clean, you can still have fun playing with texture in other ways. For example, you can add a rug to your floor (make sure it’s laid securely so it stays in place), choose curtains which a pattern which implies texture and/or introduce plants (even faux ones).

Black and blue

The all-white kitchen is now, officially, a thing of the past. While it can still make sense to use white for major pieces such as cabinets and appliances, if you want an “on-trend” kitchen, make sure that there are at least pops of colour and/or black.

Custom Neon Sign

You’ve read that right. Before, you only see them in shops or at events, but custom neon signs are quickly becoming a popular home decor nowadays. These colorful LED signs are eco-friendly and they do not require a lot of energy. It’s also safe for kids. Make your bedroom, living room, or kitchen colorful and stylish with custom-made neon signs!

Tara Neil supply fitted bedrooms and kitchens in Reading from their 4,000 sq ft showroom in Woodley. 

How To Protect Your Home From Intruders

7 steps to better home security

Having your house burgled can be a devastating experience, but there are simple steps you can take to improve your security and deter would-be intruders.

Being the victim of a burglary can be a deeply upsetting experience, leaving you out of pocket and often feeling unsafe in your own home. Luckily there are some simple steps you can take to shore up your home security and deter any would-be burglars.

Appearances matter

One of the easiest ways to improve your home security is to look at your property through a burglar’s eyes. Walk around the outside of your home and look for any potential weaknesses, such as holes in your fencing or a window that could be easily pried open. Burglars love an easy target so make sure any expensive or valuable items are hidden away and not easily visible.

Secure your entrances

Make it difficult for intruders to get access to your home by securing your entrances. Make sure your doors are strong, with protected hinges, and additional features such as deadbolts, smart locks and strike plates. Sliding doors are a particular favourite with burglars, so take steps to protect yours. And don’t forget your windows – shore up your security with high quality locks, window security film, and glass break sensors.

Install an alarm

Alarm systems can act as an effective deterrent to would-be burglars, with research showing that properties with prominently displayed intruder alarms are much less likely to be targeted – so it’s worth installing one in your home. Security systems can come with many different features including motion detectors and two-way wireless technology, so choose the system that best suits your needs.

Light up your surroundings

Thieves prefer to operate under the cover of darkness, so make it as difficult as possible for them by ensuring that your property and its grounds are well-lit. Place lights in your front and back gardens, along pathways and near your garage and other outbuildings. For a maximum effect, put your outside lights on a timer, or install motion-activated lights which will flood your garden with light at the first sign of activity.

Consider CCTV

Nobody likes to be caught on CCTV, especially when committing a crime, and installing security cameras around your home can help to put-off potential thieves. Many of today’s cameras can be linked with mobile apps so that you can check on your home while you’re out and about. If the worst does happen and your home is burgled, CCTV footage could also help to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Remove potential hiding places

Make life difficult for potential intruders by removing any potential hiding places. Cut back any shrubbery or trees growing close to your home that could provide cover for burglars, and remove any large items from your garden that someone could hide behind. An open, overlooked space with nowhere hide, will be a much less attractive proposition to intruders.

Be social media savvy

These days, most of us share our day to day activities on social media – but your friends may not be the only ones watching your feed. Announcing to the world that you’re going on holiday for a fortnight is like an open invitation to any would-be burglars – particularly if your address can be deduced from your profile or photographs. So, be social media savvy and hold off on posting those beach selfies until you’re safely back at home.

Making your home more secure doesn’t have to be an arduous task – start with your priority areas and carry out additional tasks as and when you can. By taking early action and exercising common sense you can create a safe, secure home that is protected against intruders.

Thoughtful and Beautiful Sympathy Gift Baskets

Choosing a gift to send in memoriam of a deceased love one is never easy, especially if the direction is for no flowers. Even if flowers are accepted, you might want to do something different, something that will perhaps be remembered more readily by those you love and care about.

To help you, we have put together a collection of ideas that should inspire you and point you in the right direction, so let’s have a look at our alternative sympathy gift suggestions, but before we do, an important suggestion:

Check for ‘In Lieu’

Before buying anything check the invitation or notice for a message. If there is a ‘no flowers’ instruction, you may find that there is a suggestion as to what you can do, which may include charitable donations. This does not preclude you buying a present, however, so here’s a few ideas.

Plant a Tree – a young sapling or shrub will grow into a lasting memorial to your friend or loved one, and makes for an excellent choice of gift if you are stuck for ideas. Find a place in your garden, or in a family spot, where you can plant the tree in memory of them, and enjoy watching it grow. You could perhaps choose a favourite of theirs, and there are many possible options.

Gift Baskets – one wonderful idea you can look at is that of sympathy baskets as they are always a welcome gift. Carefully constructed and including a variety of excellent gifts, there are many different baskets to choose from and you can select your own ingredients, and they are not expensive at all. This makes a very nice alternative to the usual, so is worth checking out.

Book of Letters – this very neat and creative idea involves getting as many people as possible to write short letters about or in remembrance of the deceased, and it can be done by young and old alike for great effect. It’s a lovely way of making sure your thoughts, and those of others, are preserved for the future, and makes an excellent gift.

Home Help – one thing you can offer when someone passes on is to help those left behind with anything that may need doing around the home. This is particularly welcome if an elderly partner has been left alone, as they will certainly welcome any help they can get. Consider it carefully, and you will find you are making a very kind gesture.

Photographs – if you have personal photographs that the family perhaps does not, why not dedicate these to the deceased, perhaps having them framed as a gift? It makes a very personal and touching tribute, and is certainly welcome.

The above are just a few ideas that we have found regarding alternative memorial and sympathy gifts, and there are many more you can probably think of. Have another look now, and we hope we have inspired you to do something different and memorable for your late friend or loved one.

3 Tips for Creating a Comfortable Workstation

 

It’s important that you feel content while you’re working. However, unless your workstation is just right, you may struggle to get comfortable. For three tips on how to finetune your setup, keep reading.

  1. Go for a supportive chair

You can’t expect to feel comfortable at your workstation unless you have a supportive chair to use. Ideally, the model you go for should have padded back and seat sections, and you may want to opt for a design that has armrests for additional support while you work. You should also look out for models that can be adjusted in terms of seat height and back tilt so you can reposition the chair to suit your individual requirements.

While it’s important that your seat is comfortable to use, this doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on style. The good news is, there are a whole host of designs available for you to choose from, including sleek mesh versions, sophisticated leather models and chairs in a plethora of bright colours.

For advice and inspiration on the style of office chair you should go for, make sure you check out the ‘My chair: get the celebrity look in your office’ infographic from Furniture At Work.

  1. Choose a spacious desk

When it comes to your workstation setup, a spacious desk is a must. In order to feel comfortable while you’re working, it’s important that you have enough room. If not, you may be too cramped, which in turn could make you feel sore and achy and ultimately have an impact on your productivity.

You should choose a desk that provides space for all of your essentials, including your computer screen, mouse and keyboard and anything else you may need, such as a telephone.

  1. Rearrange your equipment

Rearranging your equipment can help improve your workstation. For instance, it’s recommended that your computer screen should be positioned at around an arm’s length away when you’re sitting back in your chair, and your mouse and keyboard should be placed next to each other. You should also make sure that any other accessories, such as your stationery pot and paper filing tray, are within easy reach so that you don’t strain yourself to reach them.

Do you have any tips on how to make your workstation a more comfortable place to be? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Couples Massage Therapy – You Know You Want To!

Let’s be honest; a massage is something you do on your own, right? It’s private, it’s intimate and it’s enjoyable. It’s also great for your health and wellbeing, and is the ideal wind-down after a long hard week at work. The thing is, why is a massage something you have to do on your own? Why shouldn’t you take a massage with your partner, after all? There’s no reason, and that’s why couples massage is becoming a much more popular experience.

Think about it: you both need that relaxation, that muscle therapy and that quiet, relaxed atmosphere. You both want to look and feel as good as you can, and to enjoy life to the full. So a massage together makes a lot of sense when you start to think about it. Well, if you live in and around the Birmingham region, you can get a massage at the local day spa and also indulge in couples massage too! Let us tell you more about this professional, friendly and popular service.

Full Range of Massage Services

If you want a professional, friendly and expert local service, and live in or around Birmingham, we strongly recommend you check out Birmingham Massage Couple for the very best service in the region. They have a team of experts who are fully experienced in all different areas of massage and also many other areas of therapy, and can help you with the best rates for the most enjoyable and beneficial massages around.

With a choice of everything from Swedish Massage to Sports Massage, plus a range of other services such as deep tissue massage, stretching techniques and much more, this is the place to come for the finest and most effective massage treatment, and you will find the personnel to be friendly, courteous and professional, as well as knowledgeable and available to talk about your needs. This is also a very sensibly priced day spa, so you get competitive rates too.

Discounts and Specials

If you need further reason why Birmingham Massage Couple is the best day spa in the region, we invite you to check out their excellent discounts, specials and offers. To begin with, you’ll get a full hour with your massage with them – as opposed to the 50 minutes you get with most salons – so you can rest assured that they provide the very best in value for money in the region.

You can find more information about their range of offers on the website, where you’ll also see plenty on the variety of services they provide and more. This is a team that is dedicated to providing clients from the local area with the very best in well-being and massage solutions, and with a great many satisfied customers so far, there is plenty to recommend them. If you want to take a massage with your partner, or on your own, why not talk to them now and see how they can help you at the best rates in the region.

How Much Does Aircon Cost Per Year?

If you live in a region where hot weather is the norm you will know how difficult it can be to keep comfortable. The heat is draining on people when it gets to be too much, and can also have an influence on how well we perform at work. In cold weather, it is easy to combat the problem: put some extra clothes on, throw on a blanket, light the fire or put the heating on and you have instant warmth. When it is too hot, there is little you can do unless you have air conditioning.

You may have air conditioning in your workplace. If you are an employer and you want to keep your team happy, it might be worth checking out getting aircon fitted. At home you may also want to look at the idea of having an air conditioning system installed, as it can make life a lot more comfortable, and a lot easier too. Also, it may not be as expensive as you believe.

You may be worried that, once you have a system installed, it will cost  great deal per year to run. In fact, this may also surprise you, for air conditioning is not as expensive to use as you might have been led to believe.

Reliable Service

As with all systems that require constant or very regular use, you will need to have to hand a reliable company to install your air conditioning system, and to be available for any repairs, maintenance or upgrades that you may require when you have it in place. This applies both for domestic and commercial systems. In the Covington and New Orleans areas, and around, the people to talk to are One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating, so called because they will attend to any problems in such quick time – something that is essential with aircon.

They are experts in air conditioning installation and can help with all the advice you need to make sure you get a system that is ideal for your situation. They will also be able to offer you post-installation help with maintenance, servicing and repairs, and will always be on time. With a reputation for excellent service and many satisfied clients in the area, you can rely on them to do the job they promise in a professional and courteous fashion.

Comfortable Living

If you do not have experience of the benefits of air conditioning – whether at home or in the workplace – you will be impressed with the way it can change the comfort levels in your surroundings immediately. It is easy to use and not expensive, and if you keep it serviced will last many years and provide you with excellent results.

For all your air conditioning and heating needs get in touch with One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating. One of the team will be more than happy to talk to you about your requirements and answer any questions you might have, and they will provide you with a free quote for your aircon installation.