The Secrets To Our Long Lasting Relationship

I met my husband 11 years ago to this day. 

Like many others, both of us were survivors of past tumultuous relationships. We talked about our experiences openly, and we soon found out that these conversations led us to heal. Ours was not the usual "first date getting to know each other" kind of thing. We started out as with a long distance relationship for a year until my husband decided to fly in and establish residence here.

How did we make it work? Of course there is trust and respect for each other. In addition to that, we never had any intent to change each other. Acceptance was what made this relationship strong.

Let me share our secrets to a long lasting relationship. Take a deep breath. Here goes...

Accept each other's uniqueness

My husband is American. I am Filipino. Two people from vastly different cultures living under one roof. It took a whole lot of adjustment for both of us. He could not understand the Filipinos' need to eat rice with every meal, and I could not imagine having native Filipino dishes without it. Pork sisig with mashed potatoes? Nah. I don't think so.

I have written an article a few years ago about how me and my husband are complete opposites and yet somehow manage to keep our relationship healthy. How different are we from one another? Well, for the record, he's handsome and I'm gorgeous. Ha ha.

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Communicate and compromise

Relationships are not always full of the joys of spring every day. In reality, couples disagree and have their "moments" from time to time. Just like we do. I am a tinderbox ready to explode when I am swamped with work, and he is a crabby patty when he's in pain. Through the years, we have learned to avoid getting on each other's nerves during these "moments." The trick is to communicate your need and if it cannot be met, then settle for a compromise.

Learn from each other

It is very important for us to never stop learning from each other. My husband is like my very own Google. I don't need to do a search for something, I simply ask him and he knows! Whenever I compliment him and say, "Oh goodness, you're so smart!" He'd just reply with, "No, I'm not. My brain is just full of useless information."

He is trying to learn to understand Filipino, but after more than a decade, he only understands a few words. That's okay. I never grow tired of trying how to teach him how to properly pronounce the names of the cities or municipalities when he reads a news item about it. Our cultural differences are our bridge of learning. We are like toddlers, always curious about anything and everything related to being American and being Filipino.

Find humor in everything

Both me and my husband suffer from chronic illnesses. Although these are not life-threatening, there are days when things go bad. There's the back pains, the joint pains, the fluctuating blood sugar levels, the migraine headaches. During those bad days, we make it a point to find ways to distract our attention away from the pain. I greet my husband with, "Hello, Stephen!" when his joints are stiff. He says, "You're so sweet" when my blood sugar reading is high.

Our bodies are no longer the same ones when we first met. Eleven years ago I was fit and slim and he was fit and strong. Now, we don't look anything like we did before. Does that matter? Nope, not one bit. We may be old, but we are still in shape. He is now shaped like a long rectangle, and I am shaped like a trapezoid.

Keep the Faith

Putting God in the center of the relationship strengthens the bond between couples. My husband and I are both Christians. Although he's Protestant and I'm Catholic, we still believe in the same God. He reads the Bible almost every day and it is such an admirable trait.  He encourages me to read the Bible, and lets me know what to read when I encounter trials, need guidance or to praise and thank God for blessings received.

One of the biggest blessings I received is having my Poppa bear in my life. And I thank God immensely for that.

Little things are important to keep the spark alive

Simple, heartfelt tokens of affection go a long way. A warm hug as we  pass each other on the way to the kitchen, a kiss on the forehead to wake one up, or even just holding hands while watching a silly sitcom means a lot to us. Couples have terms of endearment for each other. Well, we do too, and we call each other "Poppa bear" and "Momma bear." We live in a "bear cave," and our kids are the "bear cubs."

Doing housework may be the most mundane task, however, the efforts we put in is enough to show how much we care for each other, and for our family.

The bears go through a huge pile of clothes in a week and laundry day means back-breaking labor for me. I know how important it is to keep choose the right laundry products for our clothes to be clean, fresh smelling and if possible, bacteria free too. So, I do not scrimp on laundry detergent. I also choose a good fabric conditioner that will give our clothes a long lasting fragrance.

Del is my fabric conditioner of choice for the longest time now. When I learned they had two new variants, Del Forever Joy and Del Forever Love. I just had to get some and try it!

My take on them? I give them a 10 out of 10! It does make our clothes smell fresher, longer! I just love opening my closet and discovering that my clothes still smell fresh and fragrant, even after two weeks have passed! It is true that Del Forever Joy and Love now has 15x longer lasting bangooooo versus a regular detergent brand based on consumer test in Metro Manila. Fantastic!

I also found out that Team Kramer, an adorable celebrity family with three active kids, also trusts Del to keep their clothes smelling mabango the whole day! Now that I am using Del too, I can be sure that  my sons won't smell stinky and sweaty when they come home from sports practice. My daughter will smell like she just came out of the shower even after her long commute to work. For me and my husband? We enjoy this new scent! More hugs, more closeness, more love!

Give no less than 100% in everything you do.

Whatever you do to keep the relationship strong, give it your best and give it 100%. Give your full attention and really listen to what your spouse is saying. It means a lot to a person when they know you are actively listening to them.

From cooking, to cleaning the house, to running the business, do it out of the goodness of your heart. Things done haphazardly will only be reason for misunderstanding.

I used to hate doing the laundry, however, I have found an hassle free way to get the task done. I soak the clothes overnight, run the wash cycle in the morning and finish off with Del fabric conditioner. I am hooked on their two new scents! I used Del Forever Love last week when I washed our beddings and curtains. Now our bedroom smells like a flower garden in full bloom! I love it! Check out Del's Facebook page and read about how people are raving about their products. You just have to believe in Forever!

For the record, I am not a marriage counselor or a psychologist. The secrets to our long lasting relationship are simple and come naturally. What works for us may be different from yours, as we all know that every relationship is unique.

Now that I have shared with you the secrets to our long lasting relationship, I would love to hear about yours. Share them in the comments below.

Live. Love. Stay Blessed.

One Room to Rule Them All: A Bathroom That Lasts

You want any room in your home to last for a while before you need to redecorate. But there are two rooms where it's even more important because redoing them could involve a lot more than a quick paint job. Both the kitchen and the bathroom need to serve you well for years to come. If you've decided that you need a new bathroom, a design that's going to hold up for the next ten years will help to give you peace of mind. There are a few things you should do to make sure that your bathroom still looks great in a few years' time.

Timeless Design

Firstly, you should think about the style of your bathroom. If you choose badly, you could end up with a room that looks dated in a few years. Instead, you want a timeless bathroom design that will still look up to date a year, two years, or even ten years from now. While you might think that the trick is to go ultra modern, sometimes it's best to go with classic features. The design trends that keep coming back around or never truly go out of style are best to rely on. They include features like free standing, roll-top bathtubs, washstands, and metro tiles. Your bathroom can look modern and trendy while still having a classic look.

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Choose Products With Long Guarantees

When you're choosing products to install in your bathroom, look for those that offer solid guarantees. This is more about how long things will physically last, rather than whether they look good. Stores like Bathroom Takeaway offer 10-year guarantees on their products so that you don't have to worry about whether something is going to break. A good guarantee usually means you can get free repairs or replacements during the period it covers. Some brands even offer lifetime guarantees, but they do tend to offer more expensive products. So make sure you balance price with how long the guarantee lasts.

Design a Bathroom That's Easy to Clean

Cleaning the bathroom isn't exactly fun, but you need to do it. To make it easier and to help your bathroom last longer, think about ease of cleaning when you design it. You can consider the layout and the products you choose to decide whether they're going to create more effort for you. Some things will be harder to clean, with tiny spaces to get into. Leaving awkward spaces in your layout will make it difficult to get into them too.

Protect Everything Using the Right Methods

Protecting your bathroom will help it to last longer too. Bathrooms naturally have a lot of moisture in them, so you need to protect them from mildew and mold. It's essential to protect the areas around your bath and shower using cement board, caulk and grout. It's always better to prevent any problems occurring than to try and solve them later. An extractor fan in your bathroom is a great idea too.

If you want your bathroom to last forever, be smart about its design. Think carefully about your choices to design a solid bathroom.

Dodge Decorating Disasters With These Tips

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Interior decorating can be a fun project, whether you're painting a room or taking on a more taxing task. It gives you a chance to be creative and try out some DIY skills, even if you've never done it before. If you're gearing up to change your interiors, you need to be careful if you want everything to go well. You might be surprised by how easy it is to have a disaster on your hands. One small mistake could end up getting bigger and ruin your whole plan. It could be a pain to clean up or, worse, you might have something that's expensive to fix. To avoid interior design disaster, follow these steps.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Don't do anything without having a solid plan in place first. It's good to have a "give it a go" attitude, but you need to avoid rushing into anything. If you're decorating or renovating a particular room, find a guide that will help you. http://homespaselect.com gives you a step-by-step guide to renovating a bathroom. You can find similar resources that will help you plan out any project. You need to know everything from your budget to a breakdown of all the tasks that you need to complete. Think both creatively and practically to create a solid plan you can follow.

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Know What You Are (Not) Capable Of

Before you pick up a drill, hammer or paintbrush, you need to think about what you can and can't do. There are some things you can easily do yourself, without the need for any professional help. However, there are other tasks you absolutely can't do without professional experience. It's best not to touch anything electrical, and you might not want to do any plumbing yourself. There are also some tasks that you might technically be able to do yourself, but that would be much neater and more professional if you hired a contractor instead.

Always Put Safety First

Safety is always important whenever you do any kind of interior design. Even if you're just painting a room, you should make sure that it's well-ventilated before you start painting. The worst kind of disaster isn't a hole in the wall, but someone getting ill or injured because you weren't safe. So before you do anything, you should make sure you're aware of any potential dangers and how you can protect yourself. You might benefit from wearing a mask or using gloves, among other things.

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Choose Contractors Carefully

If you do use any contractors to help with your interiors, you need to choose them carefully. Even though they claim to be professionals, it doesn't mean they're all as good as each other. Some could do a terrible job or might start work and then leave you high and dry. Some might cut corners and leave things unsafe. Make sure you check their qualifications and certifications, and that you check out their reviews and reputation too.

If you don't want a disaster on your hands, don't rush into any interior work. Take your time to get it right.

Colors, Shade & Clever Techniques: A Guide To Hiding Facial Flaws

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We all have an area of our face that we’re not too keen on. In all likelihood, it’s a (perceived) flaw that only we notice, but it stands out to us like a glaring beacon. It’s the part of our face we find ourselves focusing on when we’re looking at photographs; the one thing we can’t quite see past. 

People will often say that everyone is beautiful, and you should gloss over the areas that bother you. As nice an idea as this is, it’s simply not possible for some of us-- and there’s nothing wrong with that either. If you have what you feel is a defining facial flaw, being constantly told it’s fine and to cheer up just isn’t helpful. You need practical solutions. 

If you have such a flaw, then it might come as a relief to know that there’s always something you can do about it. The most obvious solution is usually some kind of surgery to fully rectify the issue; this is a personal choice, but if you feel it might be for you then you can check out the likes of Facial Plastics for more. If you’re not looking for something so drastic, then there’s plenty you can do with makeup to ensure you’re always happy with the reflection you see in the mirror… 

You Think: Your Nose Is Too Big

There are plenty of contouring methods that can help reduce the size of your nose if this is an area of concern for you. There’s a great video here that can explain the basics; don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you. 

You Think: Your Pores Are Too Large 

Realistically, there’s not much you can do -- despite the claims of moisturizer manufacturers -- about large pores. It’s a genetic issue that tends to go hand-in-hand with oily skin. However, the fact you can’t remove the pores doesn’t mean you can’t hide them. Opt for silicone-based primers such as Benefit’s famed Porefessional; apply with a brush and then build the coverage until the pore size appears greatly reduced. 

You Think: You Have Dark Eye Circles

Again, despite the claims of most skincare manufacturers, there’s relatively little you can do about dark under-eye circles. They’re genetic; the skin is thinner in this area, meaning that it shows the shadow from your brow. So rather than spending a fortune on products to improve something that can’t be improved, learn to use a color-corrector. Yellow is the best color for under-eye circles; use it beneath your concealer and foundation for the best results. 

You Think: Your Face Is Too Red

If you suffer from facial redness, there’s various calming products you can use, but these take awhile to work. In the meantime, turn to color-correcting once more; for redness, you want to use a green-colored base. 

Ultimately, if you have a flaw, there is always something you can do to rectify it-- the above are just a few suggestions. Play with makeup, experiment, learn how to color-correct, and you’ll soon see a finished result that you love.

Don't Let Your Home Slide Downhill

Your home is probably the most expensive thing you will ever buy. It's difficult not to notice the expense too, as you can spend decades paying it off. Because it costs so much, taking good care of it is only sensible. Your home can deteriorate over time, simply due to natural wear and tear as you live in it. However, you can keep it in great condition if you know what you need to do. It can sometimes feel like a constant struggle to keep your property looking good, but it's easier if you break it down into a few different things that will prevent it going downhill.

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Invest in Quality Home Products

If you want to reduce your level of home upkeep and the amount of times you need to replace things, starting with quality products is a good move. Whether you want to get a new heating system or you're buying a dining table, you should think about how long the product is going to last. Buying something that won't last as long might mean you save money in the short-term, but you'll have to spend more later. If you choose a quality product, you won't have to replace it as soon. You might also get free repairs forever if you choose something with a lifetime guarantee.

Keep Up Maintenance

Regular maintenance for your home is important if you want to keep it looking good and functioning as it's supposed to. There are various maintenance issues you'll need to take care of, from exterior maintenance to your appliances. If you need to maintain your roof, services from Clayton Restoration and companies like them can help you out. Roof maintenance is important because it helps to protect the rest of your home too. You can prevent issues with damp and other interior problems by looking after the exterior of your home. To help yourself keep up with maintenance, try creating a yearly schedule you can follow.

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Protect Your Home

Preventing any problems will go a long way to helping you maintain your home. It's often easier to stop issues occurring than to fix them. There are various ways you could be protecting your home by weatherproofing it and choosing the right products and materials to use. For example, some paints are much better for keeping your walls clean. If they don't stain and you can simply wipe off anything that gets on them, it will prevent any problems that are more difficult to deal with.

Consider Your Lifestyle

Think about how you live your life, and how you might be able to change that to keep your home in better condition. For example, do you tend to wear shoes in the house? Taking them off could protect your floors. Perhaps you're guilt of not cleaning the bath as often as you should, which leads to the caulking deteriorating, and you could change your habits to improve things.

Looking after your home to maintain its condition will stop it from deteriorating. Keep it looking good to prevent a rundown home.

Making A Healthy Diet Taste Better

Eating a healthy and balanced diet is one of the hardest things to achieve when you’re living in the modern world. Unfortunately, while options for those looking to eat well have improved, temptation still lies everywhere. Of course, though, if you enjoyed the food you were making yourself, this wouldn’t be a problem, as there would be no reason to crave anything. There’s just one hitch; most people don’t enjoy their healthy food. So, to help you out with your own diet, this post will be exploring some of the ways you can enhance a boring diet.

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Herbs & Spices

To begin this journey of taste and smell, it’s time to think about herbs and spices. Unlike other ingredients, only a tiny amount of these items are used, keeping their calorific and nutritional impact very low. Despite this, they produce a huge amount of flavor when they’re used correctly.

• As you start to use these ingredients more and more, you will slowly realize how many meals can be enhanced using this sort of method. With the right herb or spice, you can make just about anything taste nice, whether you’re making pasta, a roast dinner, or anything in between.

• Of course, though, before you can let yourself loose on the spice rack, it’s important to do just a little bit of learning. Recipes can help you with this, but getting some experience through experimentation with your own cooking can be very helpful. Most cooks will choose their spices very carefully. The best complimentary flavors have been discovered, so it’s also worth using online resources when you’re struggling to match tastes.

• Getting your hands on the tools you’ll need to try this is nice and easy. Most large grocery stores will stock a good range of different herbs and spices for you to choose from, and it’s just a matter of doing some shopping to find them. Always make sure you research something before you try it, as smell can be deceiving.

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The Right Preparation

During the process of cooking your food, the different preparation methods and techniques you employ will all impact the quality of the food your produce. Few realize quite how big an impact this can have on their meals. 

• Some of the best-tasting food you’ve ever eaten will have almost certainly been fried. From fast food places to fancy restaurants, chefs all over the world use the cooking method to make their food taste better. But, isn’t frying unhealthy? In a lot of cases, this technique can be very bad for you, but it doesn’t have to be this way. By simply using less fat in your meal it will be better for you, so reducing and improving the oils you use is a must.

• Along with failing to consider frying as an option, a lot of people ignore the other preparation which can be done to make their food taste better. In a lot of meals, people waste the tastes they have, saturating the food with one distinct flavor, like cheese or salt. To avoid this pitfall, it’s a good idea to base the way that you make your food on getting the best out of each component. 

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A Little Tease

Finally, it’s time to think about a method which can make any diet just a little bit easier; the tease. This doesn’t mean having an entire cheat day, as this can often be counterproductive. But, it does mean getting to enjoy a little more of the tastes you crave, without feeling any guilt.

• It may not seem obvious, but drinks are one of the key areas people struggle to nail when they’re on their diet. Unfortunately, water isn’t most people’s idea of flavorsome, and this can make it very hard to enjoy. Thankfully, by combining the health benefits of both water and fruit/vegetables, it’s impossible to overcome this issue with delicious ease. Cucumber flavored water is a great example of this sort of drink. Of course, there are loads of choose from, though.

• For other people, having to live without their favorite comfort food can be impossible. In this situation, finding an alternative is your only real option, especially if you want to enjoy part of your diet. Carob chips are a great substitute for chocolate, for instance. Finding a new top food is just a matter of doing some searching around.

• Talking of alternative foods to replace your comfort or fast food takeouts, it’s worth looking at finding supermarket options instead. Frozen Chinese food for example can still be just as good as the real thing when you buy the right products and cook it the right way.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working harder to make your healthy diet taste better. A lot of people struggle to maintain their good eating simply because they don’t like what they’re having to eat. This is a shame, though, as the methods to save you from this sort of mess are easy to master and use.

Do You Know The Best Way To Make A Health Decision?

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In life, there are so many different decisions that we need to make. Along with some major life choices, career choices, and even parenting choices, we also have to learn to make serious and responsible decisions when it comes to health. And this can often be the toughest of all. Because sometimes, we need to make decisions that affect not just us, but others in our families too. Some decisions will be small and won’t make much of a difference whichever way you choose to take things, but some can be significantly important. So you have to be able to figure out the best ways that you can make health-based decisions.

Ask Your Doctor

One of your first options, and sometimes the only option you need, is to speak to your doctor. Whether your health concerns are serious or not, you’ll often find that they are the best people to speak to. Not only can they provide you with all of the facts that you could need to know, no matter how trivial your decision may seem, but they may also be able to advise you during that decision making process too. And it’s that last part that can often make this option one of the best routes to consider.

Speak To Someone

Sometimes, you can get information from your doctor and still not know what you want to do. Whether it’s a decision concerning your own health or someone else's, you may benefit from discussing it with someone close to you, like your husband, mom, or best friend. Sometimes, talking things over and getting their advice can really help you to work out what the best course of action will be.

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Speak To The Pharmacist

Then, you could also think about speaking to your pharmacist. When the health decision you need to make is based on taking a certain kind of medication or knowing how to take it safely, your pharmacist is the best person to speak to. You may even find they can give you all the information you need on certain products so that you can decide for yourself which options are best.

Read Reviews

From here, you may also want to think about reading reviews. And this can be relevant for all kinds of health issues. From reading up on Advantix 2 reviews to help your dog or reviewing care center feedback before agreeing to move your elderly parents there. Reviews can really help you to choose the right course of action for everyone’s health.

Take A Trial

And, of course, you’ve always got the option of taking a trial. This can be particularly useful in lifestyle changes, like a new diet or trying to change the way you do things. Because sometimes, you’re never really going to know if something is right for you unless you try it out. And when it comes to making a decision based on your health, if you’ve tried something out, you’ll be more equipped to make that decision when the time comes to it.

Go Green With Your Cleaning Routine

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The home deep clean is something we all have to endure at some point each month, but even just a good old-fashioned regular cleaning job can leave you feeling woozy and lightheaded. Here’s where the plot thickens, this isn’t because you were overexerting yourself. That’s right. It’s got less to do with elbow grease and more to do with cleaning products. Mmmmm hmmm, it’s all about the chemicals inside that bottle. Bad, huh?

Sure, these products may be designed to make your life easier, but the harmful chemicals they chuck in them could be making your life shorter. That’s where we step in because we want people to know that there is a way to go green with your cleaning routine, while also allowing you to achieve exactly the same results of glistening awesomeness. Better for the environment, better for your health and nicer smelling - what more could a domestic goddess need? 

For those of you that aren’t crazy-scientific-let’s-mix-everyday-products-and-make-some-magic kind of people, then we recommend you visit CleanHappens.com and make the switch to cleaning products that can cut through grime, grease and dirt without compromising on safety. However, if you are excited by the prospect of unleashing your inner high school chemical student, then you really need to check out these super cleaners that are delivering on the eco-friendly side of things, as well as being epically effective. Double. Whammy. 

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Baking Soda Is The Best

There are tons of different sodas that are great at doing different things. You’ve got bicarbonate soda that you can clean silver and rust with, washing soda that is ace at removing stains and descaling appliances, and club soda that is equally talented on the stain removal front (especially from organic products). However, our favourite is baking soda because it is insane when it comes to cleaning, as this list by allyou.com will confirm. Pour some down a drain, add an equal amount of vinegar and then just watch as they react, creating a gorgeous foam that cleans drains and leaves them smelling impossibly better. If you’ve got kids then this is one that you really want them to watch. It proves science is the best. 

A Sexy Little Thing Called Salt

Every household from here to Timbuktu has salt hidden away in one of the cupboards. What you may not realise, though, is that this salt can be used to clean, disinfect and deodorize a bunch of different parts of your home. Add salt and lemon juice together and you can battle back any rust. Turn it into a paste and you can clean your pots and pans, even the ones that you have managed to burn some stuff onto. Add salt to vinegar and flour and you will be able to shine up almost anything from stainless steel to pewter, gold to silver. That’s not all, either. You can also use salt to keep your other cleaning bits and bobs (read: sponges) germ-free and stench-free by simply leaving them to soak when not in use. 

Vinegar Is Very, Very Good

We’ve mentioned vinegar a couple of times already, which is a testament to its powers as an accomplice. But that isn’t all. Oh no. This little household gem is a diamond in the rough because it is an all-rounder up there with the likes of Freddie Flintoff. Its secret weapon is its ability to cut through grease like a hot machete through butter. How you go about applying it is up to you, though. You could put it in a spray bottle - half and half with water - and then use it to clean mirrors, glass, windows or anything else that falls within that bell curve. You can use it on wood flooring to spruce up a bit or use it on food containers to disinfect. The winner of all winners though is using it to clean your shower heads and faucets. All that rust and stubborn mold will fall away like people leaving a concert. In short, vinegar is that gentle giant that could transform the way you cleaning - gentle for the home and tough on the areas you need to clean. It’s a win-win. 

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When Life Gives You Lemons

When life gives you lemons, forget about lemonade for a second and use this wondrous fruit to eliminate smells, clean surfaces and polish items. That’s right, this gorgeous, yellow beauty can do more than just make your face scrunch up. There isn’t too much to delve into, but it is great at eliminating grease, killing nasty little germs and leaving your place smelling fresher. Like a summer orchard in the south of Spain. 

Olive Oil Is The Original Polisher

If you don’t have olive oil in your cupboards then who even are you? It is a must have for delicious cooking, and even a little bit of beauty work. But, more appropriately to our blog, it is also great for home cleaning. Mmmm hmmm. The best way to use it is for polishing things. Wood, metals, anything really. The point is it will bring up a nice shine that you can’t ignore or hate on. The other thing it is great for is leather. So if you have any leather products that are cracked a bit, worn a lot or just looking a tad dry then it is time to slap some olive oil on. It is also great for removing chewing gum, which could address an issue you are currently facing with your teenager, or it could make buying secondhand furniture a lot easier, who knows? Just make sure you add a little squeeze of lemon so that you get a nice aroma going. 

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Vodka Is Vital For A Lot Of Things

The Russians have been telling us that vodka is invaluable for centuries. But would we listen? No. Well, we recently decided to and, guess what, we’re kicking ourselves slightly. It is amazing, especially when it comes to removing stains and odors from your laundry. Seriously. It will get rid of all those odors that no amount of washes seems to be able to cure. It is also great for polishing glass, and it does so without leaving any streaks, which is what we’ve always wanted. You can also polish metals and even porcelain too, as well as the stresses in your mind by just dropping an olive in and sipping on it frequently. Soon enough you’ll forget you had any cleaning to do whatsoever, which is a total bonus. 

Super-Soap To The Rescue

So long as you choose a natural soap, the kind that is made from oils or fats (yup, just like in Fight Club) with an added dash of alkali, then you will be able to break down all those nasty, dirty greases that seem to be taking over your home. That’s its biggest superpower: it can be used on pretty much every surface in every room of your home - kitchen through to bedroom, office and bathroom. Even more epic is the fact it comes in a plethora of different forms. We’re talking powders, liquids, flakes and, every shower’s favourite, bars. 

Hydrogen Peroxide Isn’t Just Hype

The reason why people tend to use hydrogen peroxide is that it is a safe alternative for bleach (which is something that comes with a whole host of health concerns). As for what to use hydrogen peroxide on, you can use it to deal with stains, mold, mildew and anything else of this ilk. The other thing it is used for is cleaning kitchens and bathrooms - but mainly kitchens - simply because it crushes germs and bacteria - especially that nasty sucker, Salmonella - quicker than life crushes dreams (joking!). It is basically an antiseptic cleaner that doesn’t have any of the harsh chemicals you are clearly worried about or else you wouldn’t be reading this blog. 

And that is pretty much it. 

Now whether or not you use all, some or none of these natural cleaning products is your prerogative, as Britney would say. The important thing to understand is that you don’t have to worry about your kid's health and safety, your pet’s allergies, or about pulling on a pair of elbow high yellow gloves, or wearing science-lab goggles out of fear of what the chemicals may do to your lifespan. Instead, you can clean every inch of your home using things you already have in your cupboards; things that will do a grand job and leave a great smell too. Vinegar. Salt. Lemon. Olive oil. Baking soda. Vodka. Each of these is epic at cleaning, disinfecting and deodorizing. But beyond that, they are also great for the environment and even better for your wallet. Oh, yeah, we haven’t mentioned that. Well, not to beat around the metaphorical bush, these things cost cents, not dollars (except Vodka, maybe), which means you will have more money to spend on the finer things in life. 

We do hope we’ve piqued your curiosity enough to see you give it a go, and we would really love for you to send some pics in to prove they are amazing alternatives. 

Summer Is Over, But You Can Still Enjoy Your Garden

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Winter may be on its way, but that’s no reason to lock yourself away indoors. You should be able to enjoy your garden all year round. Here are few ways that you can encourage you and your family to get out in the garden during the winter months.

Turn up the heat

The main reason no-one wants to venture outside in winter is because it’s too cold. However, a patio heater or a chiminea could help to provide some heat. Patio heaters will cost more to buy and run, although you can get solar powered ones. They can be excellent for heating up and outdoor space in the winter. Chimineas are cheaper and rely on burning wood. They might not provide as much heat but could still be a solution.

Set up an awning

If you’ve got a patio or decked area, it could be worth putting up some kind of shelter to protect from the rain. These could be something temporary like a gazebo or an umbrella. Alternatively, you may want consider more permanent canopy options such as patio roofs. Permanent roofs may be able to provide shelter from the sun in the heat of summer on top of shelter from the rain.

Add some light on the subject

In winter, the evenings get darker more quickly. Installing some exterior lighting could be handy. Nowadays, you don’t have to invest in mains lighting – solar lighting won’t require you to run cable outside and is far more cost-efficient. You can also light up outside with candles.

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Start growing winter produce

Need an activity to get you outside in the winter? Why not try some organic farming? You can grow many vegetables in the winter including parsnips, onions, garlic and leaks. Why wait until spring?

Have a winter BBQ

You could also consider having a winter barbecue. It’s not the done thing to do but it’s perfectly possible and standing over the barbecue will provide enough warmth. Many winter foods taste great when grilled over a barbecue. Leg of lamb for example can taste delicious seared with some black pepper, sea salt and lemon. You could even grill some sausages and burgers for something a little hearty. Both gas and coal barbecues are effective solutions, but expect it to take a little longer to warm up (you may want a canopy above in case it rains).

Encourage winter wildlife

The winter is also a great time to see some new exciting wildlife. Why not put up a bird-feeder in your garden to help attract robins and chiffchaffs? Many animals will want to hibernate in the winter – woodpiles can be great places for them to nest so be careful when disturbing these. If you’ve got a pond, make sure that it doesn’t freeze over as this could kill off any fish in it. Don’t break the ice by smashing it as this could cause harmful shockwaves that harm the fish. Instead, pour some boiling water on an area of the frozen pond. 

Creating A Beautiful Outdoor Space To Suit Everyone In The Family

If you’re a creative person, you might also enjoy creating beautiful spaces in your home. Of course, if you’ve done about all you can with your interior decor, you might be looking for a new project. Have you thought about extending your design skills to your exterior? Your outside space isn’t just an extra room to utilize. It can be many different rooms, depending on the amount of ground it covers. So what are you waiting for? Try one (or all) of these outdoor projects to make more use of your home’s exterior:

One For The Kids

Most of us are keen to encourage our children or grandchildren to play actively outdoors as much as possible. This isn’t always easy. There is, after all, a lot to fear. You can build a secure and safe play space in your garden more easily than you think. Start by planning out the space you might need. If you have tiny tots, consider putting in a little picket fence with a gate. This stops your pets using that area and prevents the kids wandering into areas that are less child-friendly.

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You can turf this area for a softer landing as they’re finding their feet. You might even use artificial turf if you’re worried about mud. Play mats work perfectly well on any surface, so you can even make a hardstanding area into a safe and fun play area. Add a playhouse and a few ride-on toys. Why not include some water play or a sandpit?

All children’s areas outdoors should have shady areas too. This greatly reduces the risk of illness or burns from the sun. It’s more comfortable for their little eyes too. A little table and chair placed under the shade could become the ideal workstation for all those crayon artworks. Why not have a little picnic here too?

One For Thinking

Every garden should include an area that is just like your living room, but outside. You should feel comfortable just to sit and be. Contemplating life and doing not-a-lot can be good for the mind and the soul from time to time. Now all you need is a great view and a great place to sit. 

There are lots of different types of garden that can help you to relax and even meditate. A Zen garden might be the first one that comes to mind. This is usually a dry garden and might be considered minimalist. Sand, pebbles, and one or two statues might be all you need to create a place that can help you find peace of the mind and quietness. 

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Water features can be added too. You might have a little pond with lilypads and gorgeous flowering water lilies. Maybe you like the idea of moving water? A fountain or feature can offer that calming sound of running water as well as something beautiful to watch. 

All of this might be enjoyed from the lawn. A good quality turf should be mown every week in the summer. To keep it healthy, use options like hunter rotors to ensure irrigation is thorough and adjusted to suit the climate and soil. It will also help ensure a steady rate of lush growth that is easier to manage. 

Don’t forget that beautiful floral displays can be the perfect view when you want to unwind. Add a bench or a gazebo with an outdoor sofa. Perhaps you like to lounge in the sun? And if you love being active, you might have a workout space, complete with a Yoga mat.

One For Dining

If you love entertaining, then an outdoor kitchen and dining room are the perfect solution. You have plenty of space when you use your yard or garden. It also means you don’t have all those cooking smells indoors. You can hook up a gas grill or use a traditional barbecue. Set up a good quality dining set in the garden, and you’ll have all the seating you need to celebrate those big events in style.

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Outdoor kitchens are usually enclosed on three sides and may have a roof. The open side is essential for safety and ventilation. Being enclosed keeps the wind and any passing rain showers out though. This type of exterior facility is often attached to the back door or kitchen door of the main home. You might have a patio or concrete flooring. Wooden decking isn’t always the best choice here.

One For Gardeners

Gardening can be physically demanding but highly rewarding. Much of the work that is required once you’ve designed and installed the garden is easier though. Get started with a few photos and some measurements of the space you have. Consider the size of the budget you have to work with. Don’t forget that plants will spread out over time, so you can afford to plant sparsely at first.

Plants grow up as well as out. Think about the architecture or structure of your planting as well. You might choose shrubs as well as colorful flowers. Don’t forget that trees can offer tasty fruit as well as some wonderful shade in your garden. Check the final height of your young sapling. You might not want a very tall tree in a small garden. 

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You might also like the idea of growing your own fruit and vegetables. This takes quite a lot more work than a flower garden. But imagine the taste of veggies fresh from the garden to your dining table! 

One For The Pets

We mustn’t forget our pets. If you create a fenced off area for your dog, then you can contain any mess and digging. Animals need to roll around and play outside. Try to provide a few different surfaces. A gravel area, some lawn, and a little bit of mud might keep your pet happy for hours. Throw in a few toys, and they’ve got their own little patch of heaven!

What kind of garden might you create for your family? Why not have one of each? Enjoy your beautiful outside spaces.

What Goes Into the Perfect Christmas Gift?

Are you tired of buying boxes of chocolates or bottles of wine for friends as Christmas presents? Do you want to take gifting to the next level and get them something that will truly wow them? Then you’ve come to the right place. In this brief article, we’re going to go through some golden rules of gifting so that you can come up with the perfect gifts time and time again. No matter who your recipient is or how long you’ve known them, this guide will teach you how to pick the right gift.

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Determine who it’s for

First, pick your target. Is your recipient a close friend? Is it a co-worker? Or perhaps it’s your significant other? It’s important to determine who your present is for because everyone is going to need different levels of attention, and everyone has different interests that you need to appeal to.

Stalk your target

Next, gather information. If it’s someone that you know well, then asking them some subtle questions about their interests should be easy. However, if it’s someone that you’ve only just met, then it suddenly becomes a little harder and you’ll need to stalk them a little to get some information. Ask mutual friends, look at their social media profiles or converse with them without appearing awkward or revealing your true intentions.

Look for inspiration

Let’s assume that you’ve discovered that your target has an interest in video games. How do you pick a gift with that as a theme? Well, you could always check out inspiration websites such as GiftBeta here, or you could ask friends that share common interests with your recipient. Just make sure you do a bit of research before getting a present with a theme that you have no idea about.

Store-bought or DIY?

Decide if you want your gift to be store-bought or DIY. Store-bought gifts are often less hassle, but a DIY gift can be more meaningful and a bit cheaper as well. Just keep in mind that making your own gift can be time-consuming, especially if you’ve no idea how to even begin.

Add a bit of personalization

Whether you buy a gift or make one, make sure you add a bit of personalization to it. This can be as simple as gift-wrapping it with a handwritten message, or you could take it to the next level and gift your recipient a shirt or something with a customised message.

It doesn’t have to be physical

Gifts don’t always have to be physical. You could always purchase something digital like a gift card for an online store or a digital copy of a music CD instead of giving a physical gift. It usually works out to be cheaper and it’s perfect for friends that live far away from you.

Final words

If you follow all of these tips, you’ll no doubt have some fantastic ideas on what you could gift your recipient. Research is the most important step, and with Christmas coming in a little over two months, you should have plenty of time to pick the perfect Christmas gift.

Keep Calm When Handling These Common Household Issues

We all work hard to provide ourselves with a home that we can retire to each day. Whether you have mortgaged and bought it, lease it, or even live with parents still, the place you call home is of great importance to you. So it is important to ensure that you keep calm when facing some of the most common household issues. Some may be obvious, others may prompt you to do something. But I wanted to share with you what some of them are and hopefully provide you with some tips on how to overcome them. 

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When you have a problem with pests

Pests can cause havoc in your home. Whether that is termites eating away at the woodwork. Cockroaches infesting your personal space, or even an infestation of spiders. Many of these pests are completely unwanted and uninvited. However, no matter how hard you try, sometimes you can get a pest problem that needs to be resolved by professionals. This is when companies like Natura Pest Control could ensure that the problem is terminated once and for all. Pest issues can be troublesome, especially if you have some form of phobia yourself. So take the chance to get it sorted as soon as you spot the signs that something isn’t right. 

Keep your home secure from opportunists

No one wants their home to be burgled. You will have filled it with items you have worked hard to buy, like computers or TV’s, it may be filled with sentimental items that have huge value to you, however, to a burglar these items are just chances to make some quick money. They don't care what they are taking or what you are losing. This is why it is important to ensure that you secure your home as best you can. It might mean getting a pet dog, raising your fences or adding gates your home boundary. It could mean adding an alarm or surveillance cameras to secure your home more appropriately. However you do it, make sure you are happy with the outcome. 

Try and avoid leaks or pipe issues during different seasons

Different seasons can cause different problems when it comes to the pipes in our home. Winter often means that pipes can freeze, but once they thaw, they can burst or leak. Autumn and spring may bring rain, which could cause drains or gutters to overflow and flood your home. This is why it is important to protect the pipe framework in your home. Adding foam around pipes to avoid freezing, and tackling those yearly chores such as clearing out the gutters and drains regularly. Simple actions can avoid huge problems. 

Keeping on top of maintenance issues

Finally, there are other elements of your home that may need your attention. You may need to fix a wall or patch a hole, perhaps decorate or sort out niggling issues like damp or adding insulation. Home maintenance can be an abundance of things, and keeping on top of it can ensure you avoid other common household disasters in the future. 

Wellness Advice For People Who Work From Home

For many people, the concept of working from home seems like a dream. There’s no worry that your boss will pop up behind you and demand to see what you are working on. There’s no one to interrupt you to share the latest gossip. No commute to worry about. But even so, working from home - complete with all of its perks - does have some downsides, one of which is taking care of your wellness. 

When you work from home, you are technically ever away from your desk, which can make getting that work-life balance right, a little difficult at times. And it’s this struggle to balance your private time and work time that can make putting your health and wellness before your career, so difficult. However, if you take note of the wellness advice below and implement it, you can ensure that working from home doesn’t hinder your health. 

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Take regular breaks

In a corporate environment, usually you are reminded to take breaks by your colleagues or even your boss, but when you work from home, there is no one to remind you. This can often mean that you end up working through your break times, and have very little time to rest and recharge throughout the day. The issue with this is that when you don’t take regular breaks from work, the stress that comes with your job can get on top of you and can impact your mental health and wellbeing. To remind yourself to take breaks, set a reminder on your phone, that way you shouldn’t end up working through your breaks. 

Look after your eyes

One common complaint that many people who work on computers - not just people that work from home - is that they have bad eyesight. There are various studies that have shown that spending longer than a couple of hours on a computer each day can be bad for our eyes, and can make conditions like nearsightedness worse. So if you are going to be working on a computer day in, day out, it is important to take care of your eyes by going for regular check-ups with your optometrist, to make sure that your eyes are healthy. Ideally, you want to get your eyes checked at least once a year. However, if you notice any strange symptoms such as blurriness, headaches, or eye pain between your annual checkups, it’s always worth going to get them checked. 

Get out of the house every day

When you work from home, it’s far too easy to end up trapped in your home day in, day out. However, it is important that for both your physical and mental health, that you make an effort to spend some time out of the house each day. Whether that means going for a walk somewhere local, popping out to meet with some friends, or spending a few hours working out of the house at your local library, it doesn’t matter, all that matters is that you make times to get out of the house. 

When you work from home, it’s far too easy to put your health on the back burner and focus purely on your work. However, it is important that you put your health first, and make an effort to ensure that you are taking your wellness seriously. 

Going With The Flow - 15 Ways You Can Improve Your Home's Energy

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could physically feel your home’s positive energy when you entered it? If you always felt positive when you got home from a long day, or had to get up to start one, rather than drained and unmotivated? There are a few things you can do to feel this way!

There are many different ways people say you can improve the energy of a home, and here we’ll discuss 15 of them. No, not 15 tips on how to save on your energy bills - 15 tips on improving the vibe of your home, if you will. It might sound strange, spooky, or like downright witchcraft to you, but people have tried and tested these methods! Whether you believe in energy or not, there’s nothing wrong with attempting to improve the look and feel of your home. You don’t even have to move! So, without further adieu, take a look at these tips: 

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Tip 1: Start Using Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an ancient practice in many countries, and is famous for supposedly helping the energy in a room to flow better. There’s no harm in trying it, right? There are all kinds of principles with feng shui, and it’s understandable that you may not be able to incorporate every single one in your home for whatever reason. Instead, do the ones you like the sound of, and the ones that speak to you most. 

Tip 2: Clear Your Air

Clearing your air as best as possible is great for your home and physical health. You can crack open a window from time to time, but this still isn’t going to do much if you live in a polluted area. To help, you can add plants, as well as Himalayan salt lamps.

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Tip 3: Add Some Color To Your Home

Know the meaning and moods of colors and then add your favorites to your home. This will brighten up your space and make you feel good whenever you see them. 

Tip 4: Give Your Home A Deep Clean

Giving your home a deep clean is a good way to ensure everything is looking great, and that there will be no adverse effects on your health. If you fail to clean your home properly, this is where energy can go stagnant. When energy goes stagnant, you tend to feel lethargic and down in the dumps. So, what can you do to give your home a deep clean? Set a day, or even a weekend aside and just go to town! You could even hire some professional services, like Delaware Valley Hardwood to make things look brand new, without having to purchase anything new. Whatever you do, you’ll love the vibe of your home afterwards. 

Tip 5: Get Rid Of Things That Don’t Bring Joy

In order to banish negativity from your home, you need to get rid of absolutely anything that doesn’t bring you joy when you look at it. It’s a great way to declutter and make more space for better things to fill - and not necessarily material things. Just good energy! 

Tip 6: Include Some Art That Lifts Your Spirits

Every single house should have a gorgeous piece of artwork in it. It should not be up for discussion. If you see a piece that speaks to you, make sure you grab it! Artwork makes a fantastic investment, and you’ll likely have it in your home forever. It could even be a piece that gets passed through the generations. 

Tip 7: Add Soft Textures

Soft textures not only bring interest to your home, but comfort too. To feel cozy and protected in your home, make it full of texture. 

Tip 8: Burn Some Sage

Burning sage is thought to purify a home. You can do it as regularly as you like, just make sure you stay safe! It is thought to help a space’s energy after an argument, after a guest leaves, or even if you just fancy doing it for no reason. 

Tip 9: Think Very Carefully About The Things You Bring Into Your Home 

Before bringing new things into your home, think about it carefully. Will the novelty wear off? Could you do without it? Will it really bring you joy? Be as precious as this about your space and you’ll begin to love it more than you can imagine. 

Tip 10: Have Real Fun In Your Home 

One of the best ways to improve your home’s energy? Have real fun there! Invite your best friends and favorite people over and have a blast. Spend quality time with your family. Dance and sing alone. What better way to lift the energy than by having an awesome time? 

Tip 11: Use Essential Oils 

Essential oils are all unique in their own way. Lavender is relaxing, for example, while others can be uplifting. Consider how you’d like to feel and use them. You can get wonderful diffusers! 

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Tip 12: Play Beautiful Music

Playing beautiful music in the home is a no brainer. Classical, relaxing, and even soul music can all have a profound effect on the home’s energy. However, it’s OK to listen to anything that truly brings you joy. 

Tip 13: Include Flowers And Plants 

Flowers and plants should always have a place in the home. They look beautiful, bring life to any decor, and even have health benefits. Flowers can improve mental health, while plants purify the air. 

Tip 14: Cut Down On The Electronics 

The electronics we have in our homes can seriously affect our sleeping patterns, moods, health, and more. Cut down on them as best you can. For example, stick to only having them in the main room and avoid having them in any bedrooms! You’ll love how relaxed you feel when you go to bed, and your sleep quality will be so much better. 

Tip 15: Burn Candles 

Candles have been used for centuries, but these days more so for relaxation purposes. There’s nothing quite like a gently burning flame to improve the mood of a home. Try some non-toxic, natural candles and see if you like those better than more commercial brands! 

Which of these tips resonates with you the most?