Living Alone For The First Time? Here's What You Need to Know!

Photo source

If you get the chance to live alone at some point in your life, it’s always worth taking it. Running a home by yourself can teach you a lot, it can give you independence like you’ve never known it, and can also give your self confidence a boost too. Knowing that you’re able to completely sustain yourself and stand on your own too feet really is a great feeling. Whether it’s your first place after moving out of your parents or it’s after a breakup, instead of instantly considering shared homes and roommates- why not go it alone? Here are a few things to bear in mind if you decide to do so. 

Think about safety

Safety is something that everyone should be thinking about when it comes to their home, but it can be a particular concern when you’re by yourself. If you work full time it can mean that your property is unoccupied for long stretches, whereas when you live with others there’s a chance that people will be at home more often. When you live by yourself, you also want that peace of mind that you’re as safe and secure as possible. Choosing a good neighborhood is the first step. Of course, most of us don’t have the budget to live in these William Pitt vistas, gated communities or huge mansions! But you can do some research into different areas and find one with a lower crime rate. Once you have found the safest neighborhood you can afford, get serious about home security. Have a burglar alarm professionally fitted, and CCTV installed. These days you can link this with your smartphone, and it can send you alerts if the cameras are activated while you’re away. Other smart home technology that can make your home safer is lighting. When you can turn lights and lamps on and off while you’re away from home, it can give the impression that someone is in. Which is enough to put off most opportunistic burglars. 

Get your money in order

One of the biggest challenges when it comes to living alone is managing a budget. When you live with a partner or roommates the bills are split which can make everything much more affordable. Before signing on the dotted line for your tenancy or mortgage, you need to make sure you can afford all of the running costs. Set a budget and stick to it, there are lots of apps and softwares that can help. While living alone is undoubtedly expensive, it’s also incredibly satisfying knowing that you’re paying for everything yourself and really standing on your own two feet. 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Living alone is a great way to gain independence, but that’s not to say you need to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. If you’re struggling, reach out for help. Lean on your support network when needed, whether it’s rallying round for unused furniture and appliances when you first move in, to speaking with a financial advisor when it comes to your bills. Especially in the early days there will be a number of kinks you’ll need to work out, reaching out and asking the right people will help everything run as smoothly as possible. 

Living alone can be a lot of fun. Since you don’t have to answer to anyone else, you really get to learn a lot about yourself and what you’re about. And since you don’t have anyone else living with you for company, it can actually encourage you to get yourself out there and be more social. 

Choosing the Right Towel for Your Bathroom

So you’ve spent hundreds or thousands of dollars ensuring that your bathroom is built and designed according to your every specification. Everything is just the way you want it, and you can’t wait to show it off to your family, loved ones, and friends. All that’s left is to stock it with the right kind of bathroom essential, and what better place to start than with the towel.

How do you go about this, then? If you’re stuck and have no idea where to start, or you’re just simply confused at the many towel options that you have to take into considerations, then let us remedy that. Here are some easy-to-remember tips on how to choose the perfect towel for your bathroom.

Pick one that’s made out of the most absorbent and advanced materials to date. You may have heard about microfiber towels before, and how their unique construction and design makes them perfect for cleaning up messes and picking up dirt, grime, and even bacteria off of hard surfaces. Did you know, then, that these very same traits make them great as bathroom towels too? 

Indeed, microfiber towels aren’t just made for cleanup. Their unique construction—that is, being made out of millions of tiny microscopic fibers—makes microfiber towels have a denser and softer quality to them, which feels absolutely luxurious on the skin. This is a sensory delight especially after you’ve just taken a bath or a shower.

The extra denseness isn’t just for tactile feel, however. It also ensures that they soak up a lot of water very quickly, which in turn dries your freshly-bathed skin a lot quicker than regular towels do. Finally, their antimicrobial properties ensure that you come out of the bath germ- and bacteria-free. 

Trust us, buying premium microfiber towels over regular ones will be one of the best things you can ever do for your bathing experience.

Bigger is always better. The standard bath towel measures around 27 inches by 52 inches. If you’re someone with an average weight and height, then a towel of that size should be enough for your needs. However, if you’re even slightly bigger than the average, then you might find it a bit too small to cover you completely, like a good towel should. What to do, then?

Go big. As big as you can manage. The biggest size of towels currently available is what’s known as a bath sheet—basically, a towel that measures 35 inches by 60 inches. No matter how tall or how wide you are, you’re sure to enjoy being fully covered and enveloped by this kind of towel. They also make for great beach towels, either to spread on the sand for some sunbathing action or to use as something to keep yourself warm after getting out of the drink.

Of course, this does come with a certain downside, namely that they’re going to be a bit more difficult to launder than your regular-sized towels. However, for that comfortable, fully-enveloped feeling after your shower or bath, it’s more than worth it.

Choose thicker towels over thin ones. Another towel trait that you should be going for is thickness, as it not only dictates how soft and luxurious a towel is but also its ability to soak up water. As such, you should be aiming for only thick bath towels, never thin.

Towel thickness is measured in grams per square meter, or GSM. A thin towel, which you would usually use in the gym or in a kitchen, goes up to 300 to 400 GSM. The minimum GSM for an acceptable bath towel is around 400 to 600 GSM. As for the ideal bath towel, we recommend shopping around for a towel with at least 600 to 900 GSM. This ensures that your bath towel will be soft, fluffy, and able to absorb the moisture from your body very quickly.

The only downside to thicker towels is that, like all big-sized towels, they can be a chore to launder. There’s also the fact that they take up a bit more time to dry than their lower-GSM counterparts. 

Choose eco-friendly towels. If you can spare the added expense, go for towels that are made from sustainable and organic materials. By doing so, you not only go for a higher quality towel, but one that doesn’t do as much damage to the environment as those made with synthetic materials. Quick-drying towels also count as eco-friendly, as they take much less time in the laundry to clean.

Pick towels with colors that complement your bathroom. The right colored towel also serves as a way to finish off your bathroom’s overall look, so make sure to pick their colors wisely. Once you’ve done so, stack them somewhere that’s highly visible, such as on the counter between your bathroom sinks or on a towel rack. 

What if you’re not at all well-versed in color theory and have no idea what color of towel complements your bathroom? Then pick white towels. White towels usually go with every other color. For those of us with white-tiled bathrooms, however, something vivid and in the primary color range would do. Such colors include green, red or blue.

Conclusion
Picking the right towel for your bathroom might seem like a needlessly complicated chore, but it really isn’t. By keeping these easy-to-remember tips in mind, you’ll be able to stock the perfect kind of towel that not only makes your bathroom experience a joy to have, but also one to remember.

Getting Your Garden Ready For Summer '19

https://pixabay.com/en/poppy-flower-nature-wild-flower-3137588/

It’s fair to say that most gardens will have been neglected over the winter period. Apart from the odd snowman popping up to say hello, it is unlikely that they will have had any tender love and care. But realistically, who wants to sit outside or partake in some gardening when it is absolutely freezing? Nonetheless, once winter is out of the way, it is time to start turning your attention to your outdoor space. There is no better time than the present to hire landscape gardeners and get our garden ready for the warm months ahead.

After the cold, damp, and snow filled months pass, your garden is likely to need some new life breathed into it. This will take you an extensive amount of time if you try and tackle the challenge yourself. For most people just thinking about it is tiring enough. It is always difficult to know where to start as well. What do the plants need? It’s likely they have gotten enough water over the winter period, but have they had too much? Are some of them beyond saving? Leave it to the professionals. They will be able to deal with the current state of your garden in order to pave the way for a new and beautiful landscape design to welcome the summer with.

Once the blank canvas is ready – so to speak, the landscape gardeners you have employed will be able to work with you in order to come up with a fantastic design for your outdoor area. There are lots of ways you can get the most out of summer with your garden. This includes constructing a greenhouse. You can look at Growing Spaces residential greenhouse manufacturers for a better idea of this. Plus, there is nothing better than sitting outside in the sunshine, indulging in a scrumptious ice cream cone, and watching the world go by. But you need your garden to be a pleasant area in order for this to be the case. After all, when has anyone ever enjoyed sitting around a bunch of weeds?

One thing you may want to consider is having a patio area. Your landscapers could create a decking area with a couple of stairs going up to it. Here you can place a table and chairs and even a barbecue. If the sun is shining then you can guarantee your patio will get a lot of use. You should also consider the different flowers and plants you are going to have in your garden. There is no better time than summer to inject lots of vibrant colours. You can create a space filled with zest and energy. This will instantly put a smile on your face when you wake up every morning.

There is nothing wrong with neglecting your garden over the winter period – everyone certainly has a valid excuse. But when it comes to the summer you should make the most of what you have got. There is no better time to hire landscapers and have new garden design put in place. You will truly enjoy summer a lot more if you do.

Everything You Need To Know About An Ectopic Pregnancy

You may have heard of the term ectopic pregnancy before, but many people don’t know what one of these is. As it is not a very common condition, only 6-16% of women will experience this, not much is known in the general public about this type of pregnancy. But, it is something that is good to know about, as you never know what the future holds. This article is going to tell you everything that you need to know about ectopic pregnancies, and by the end of this, you will be well informed on what it is, what causes them, and what the signs are.

Image Link

What Is An Ectopic Pregnancy?

An ectopic pregnancy is where the embryo implants itself into the fallopian tube instead of the womb. This is dangerous, and if this type of pregnancy bursts, it will kill the mother. This is why they are so dangerous, and need to be identified quickly to give the mother the best chance of survival. Unfortunately, the pregnancy cannot be saved if it is ectopic, and must be removed as soon as it is found. All pregnancies like this must end, as the baby will not survive, and every second that it remains inside the tubes, the risk grows for the mother.

It doesn’t just have to be the fallopian tubes though, even though this is the most common kind of ectopic pregnancy. It can be implanted anywhere outside the womb, but because the womb is where everything is the embryo needs to stay sustained, it will not be able to survive.

What Causes Ectopic Pregnancy?

Location of Image

The most common cause for this type of pregnancy is some sort of damage to the fallopian tubes. The fertilized egg may have issues getting past the fallopian tubes, and as such implants itself in there instead. There are some factors that can cause damage to the fallopian tubes, and these are commonly thought to be some of the causes. The first one is smoking, as the more you smoke, you are going to be at higher risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. Endometriosis is another one of the possible causes of ectopic pregnancies due to the scar tissue in or around the fallopian tubes. 

If you have had an STD such as Chlamydia or Gonorrhea, you are more likely to have what is known as Pelvic Inflammatory Disease. This is thought to be another cause of ectopic pregnancies. Or, if you have had surgery on your fallopian tubes, or IVF, this too could increase your chance of having an ectopic pregnancy.

Signs Of An Ectopic Pregnancy

You should see your obgyn if you start exhibiting any of the signs or symptoms that come with an ectopic pregnancy, these are the things that you need to be looking out for. Pelvic or belly pain is one of the first symptoms that you might experience, and this is usually on one side first. Vaginal bleeding is also something that you need to keep a close eye on. While spotting is common during the first trimester of pregnancy, any bleeding should be reported to your doctor, just so they can make sure that everything is okay.

We hope that you have found this article informative, and now know everything that you need to about ectopic pregnancies.

The Best Christmas Song For Me: "Mary, Did You Know?" (Ceelo Green version)

Image credit

Every year as Christmas time approaches, the world goes crazy with gift guides, shopping tips and deals, decorations and special recipes.

Not me

Being a Christian, I feel that Christmas is the time to reflect on the true meaning for the celebration. It is the birth of our Lord Jesus. It is his birthday. A baby born into this world to suffer for our sins. A selfless sacrifice. It makes me sad because my sins put Him on the Cross.

Christmas has been too commercialized

I understand that gift giving is a manifestation of a Christian value of sharing our blessings, however, we must not be too preoccupied with shopping for gifts that we forget to teach the children that receiving toys and new clothes is not what Christmas is all about.

Don't get me wrong. I am no Scrooge or Grinch. I am not saying this because I don't have money for shopping. (Well, actually, I really don't have money for lavish gifts). I am not being bitter because I can't buy the things I like or travel to places I want to see. I just want to share how I truly feel. 

Praying for health for my family, protection from harm, peace in our hearts, and realization of dreams

Intangible gifts. These are the best gifts anyone can ever receive. Those four things I mentioned are the gifts I wish to receive this Christmas from my Lord God. I know He is All Good, and He has plans for me. I may not receive all these blessings at one time but I know that He will provide these to me in His Time. 

The Christmas song that speaks of my faith

Sharing this music video that never fails to bring tears to my eyes. 

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?

This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to the blind man?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?

And when you kiss your little baby, you kissed the face of God

Oh Mary did you know? Mary did you know?

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again

The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?

Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?

Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?

That sleeping child you're holding is the Great I am

Thoughts to ponder: 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

We have sinned and continue to sin and yet despite our misgivings, God still loves us and showers us with His blessings. 

As I welcome the sunrise every day, I will be grateful for that one more chance to make myself worthy of His Love. 

Have a blessed and meaningful Christmas.

Three Tips for Transitioning into Motherhood

When a woman becomes a mother, her entire life changes. Now, she's not only living for herself. She has a little life that is fully reliant on her in order to make it. If you're a woman who is on the cusp of motherhood, there are a few tips you'll want to consider as you make the transition. Think about these three. 

1. Self-Care

It's easy to lose yourself in motherhood. It can happen so much that you can easily look up and realize that you don't recognize yourself anymore. On a daily basis, make sure that you're finding ways to take good care of yourself. Exercise regularly. Incorporate lots of fresh vegetables into your diet. Do your best to do something you really enjoy each day. Whether it's a quiet hour with a good book and a cup of tea or a manicure and pedicure at the local salon, find ways to recharge yourself. 

2. Support 

Realize that you can't do it by yourself. Even if you're a single mother, you need to develop a support system of people to help you. It's always good to have a babysitter to watch the little one when you need a breather or if you need to run an errand. Family members and friends are important so that you and your family can be part of a larger community. When your little one is ready for school and you've decided that private school education tampa florida is the way to go, you'll want to make sure you have support in making it happen. Between transportation, after-school care and more, you'll need support in order to thrive in this experience. 

3. Selflessness While you want to make sure that you take care of yourself, remember that this is a selfless journey. There are going to be many nights of little sleep. You'll have to sacrifice quite a bit during the journey in order for your child to succeed. However, it'll be the hardest job you'll love. Being a mother is such a special experience. As you get into the crux of it all, you'll be grateful for every moment you have as you help another human being grow in the world.

3 Tips to Improve Your Heating and Cooling Bill

A significant amount of your electric bill is contributed to heating and cooling. When it comes to your heating and cooling Williamsburg VA AC technicians have a few tips for you to follow. It can end up saving you quite a bit of money over the course of the year.

Program Your Thermostat

It’s important to program your thermostat based on when you are and are not going to be in the house. There is no need for your HVAC system to be running constantly if you aren’t home. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, it is well worth the investment. This way, you can program different temperatures for the mornings when you are getting ready, during the day, as well as a different temperature when you are getting ready to go to bed.

Change Your Filters

You should change the air filters on your returns on a regular basis. Depending on how many people you have in your home and whether you have pets, filters should be changed every one to three months. Otherwise, you are expecting your air-conditioning system to work extra hard, penetrating through a thick layer of dust and dander on the filters.

Schedule Inspections

It’s a good idea to schedule inspections on your HVAC system at least twice a year. A professional repair technician can come in to identify if there are any issues with the system. Your system can be charged. Issues can be addressed. Plus, the coils can be cleaned. It will help your system to work as efficiently as possible throughout the year.

There’s no reason to spend more money than necessary on your electric bill. By following a few tips, you can keep your system in good working condition so that it doesn’t cost you too 

What Are The Right Passive Income Streams For You?

When it comes to passive income, it’s something everybody can and should do in order to make money. Making money with passive income can mean swapping less time for money at your 9-5 job, and even quitting that job altogether once you have multiple streams of steady income.

However, you shouldn’t listen to anybody that tells you passive income is super easy to earn. It does take some work initially, but once you’re set up you can sometimes simply perform maintenance work to keep things going smoothly. However, with other sources, this is not the case - a YouTube channel, for instance, will need fresh videos so you can continue growing your channel. 

Author

Passive Income Stream Ideas

A YouTube Channel - starting a YouTube channel can be a great way to make money with affiliate links and ads. Talk about something you’re passionate about. 

An Amazon Seller Account - create your own line of branded products and setup an amazon seller account. The great thing about selling on amazon is that they do a lot of the heavy lifting for you. 

Write an Ebook - if you have a lot of knowledge on a particular subject, write an ebook. This is something that could make you money for a long time if it’s high quality and you market it properly. 

Create An Online Course - you’ll need to work hard to create your course initially, but it’s something that people may buy for a long time. 

Rent Out A Room In Your House - if you have a spare room in your home, why not rent it out? You can also rent out your driveway if you’re not keen to share your home. 

Use Cashback Sites - cashback sites are a very easy way to get started, and they allow you to make money by making purchases you were going to make anyway. 

Buy a vending machine business - all you have to do is find the right places to install your machines. By choosing a place with 100 workers or more, you could make a great income with your vending machine business. Hiring somebody to stock the machines for you can save even more time.

Buy An Existing Online Business or Blog - how about using your own savings to purchase an  existing online business or blog? Many are already making money but the owners are keen to pass them over. You just need to make sure you’re prepared to continue putting the work in. 

Figuring Out The Right Passive Income Streams For You

Above is just a few examples of how you could be making money by generating passive income. There are so many more options for you. It’s a good idea to look at mastering one income stream before moving on to another - you don’t want to get overwhelmed. Make sure that whichever passive income stream you choose, you’re excited about it and prepared for the work you’ll have to put into it.

Leave your own thoughts and ideas below! 

Why Professional Dementia Care is So Important for Your Loved One

Having a friend or family member who suffers from dementia can be heartbreaking in so many ways. You are probably willing to take any steps that you can to make sure that your loved one gets the help that he or she needs when suffering from dementia. You may even try to offer some care on your own. Of course, there is nothing wrong with trying to help your loved one in any way that you can, but you have to understand the importance of professional dementia care. Listed below are some of the reasons why professional dementia care is so important for those who have dementia.

It Can Be Heartbreaking to Provide Care on Your Own

For one thing, it's important to understand the serious impact that providing dementia care for a loved one can have on someone. You might already be having a hard time coming to terms with the idea of your loved one having dementia. Having to witness it on a daily basis, particularly when your loved one is going through a really hard time, can be very hard. By having someone else help with dementia care Darien CT, you can make things a little easier on yourself during a time that isn't easy at all.

Your Loved One Could Get Hurt

Someone who has dementia can easily get hurt without the proper care. For example, if your loved one forgets to turn off the stove after cooking or forgets to take his or her medication, then he or she could be at serious risk. Making sure that a professional who knows how to handle the situation is there to provide care is a good way to help keep your loved one safe, though.

Now that your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it's important to start thinking about care. Instead of trying to provide all of your loved one's care on your own, you're probably going to want to seek professional dementia care for the two main reasons that are listed above.

Don't Let The Cold Sink In

In the human consciousness, there is no worst winter word than cold. Nobody likes to be cold. Your body shivers. Your extremities feel numb. You find yourself trying to shrink into your own skin in an effort to warm up. Arms crossed against your torso; this is the universal symbol for being cold. But winter doesn’t have to feel like that. You can take preventive measures to make sure your home stays warm this season. 

Is winter coming?

Is it coming from the roof?

Did you know that your home can lose up to 30% of its heat through the roof? Indeed, poor insulation in the attic area is often the cause of cold rooms in the upper part of the house. Additionally, if your roof is damaged – or old, as roofs have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years – you might need to consider planning for repair and maintenance. You’re likely to be able to tell whether your roof or attic needs attention rapidly. A damaged roof can lead to leakage, which is noticeable on the ceiling during rainy days. Similarly, you can also touch the ceiling of your rooms. If it’s cold, your attic lacks insulation. 

Is your home not appropriately heated?

Your heating system is crucial during the winter months. You can’t keep your family warm if you can’t trust your boiler or heater. One thing is for sure; if you need furnace repair, it’s best to schedule it as early as possible. The longer you wait, the colder the house will be. Ultimately, what are the signs there’s something wrong? Your heaters need a long time to get to temperature, or they can’t maintain the temperature. 

Your furnace doesn’t react to the thermostat. 

The electrical heating unit makes a clicking noise.  

Is the home too well heated?

You’ll be surprised to know that sometimes your heating works a little too well. Indeed, if you overeat your home, you are at risk of drying the indoor air. When the air is too dry, it can feel cooler than it is, forcing you to turn up the heating some more. Additionally, it can also lead to dry skin and respiratory troubles. To prevent extreme air dryness, you need to maintain the air moisture above 30%. 

Is it coming from the ground?

If your basement doesn’t have any insulation, you might struggle with a cold floor. Additionally, you could lose some of your heat through the ground, making it hard to stay warm. Thankfully, there’s an easy solution to the problem. Insulating your basement is the work of a weekend. For amateur DIY-ers, you could sort out this issue fairly quickly. 

Are your windows air-tight?

Last, but not least, while windows are often listed as the main reason for houses to be cold in winter, your property loses less than 10% heat through poorly insulated windows. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider tackling the problem. You can insulate your windows for good with secondary glazing and even triple glazing. For tight budgets, adding thick curtains can make a great deal of difference! 

Don’t let your home get cold this winter. You don’t need to break the bank to stay warm. All it takes is to figure out where the source of cold lies. Whether it’s under the roof and in the furnace, there’s a solution to most heating failures.