Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Transforming Your Garden Into A Relaxing And Tranquil Retreat

All of us have days when we crave some peace and quiet. If you have a stressful job, or you’re run off your feet at home, there’s no better place to retire to than the garden. Spending hazy evenings in the outdoors can help you to relax and recover. Here are some top tips to help you transform your backyard into a tranquil retreat.




Think about colors
Colors stir up emotions and create an atmosphere. Brighter shades like red, yellow, and orange can make you feel energized and lift your mood. Pale, lighter colors can help to calm you down and create a laid-back, chilled-out vibe. If you’re eager to turn your garden into a peaceful sanctuary, choose your colorways carefully. Go for options like duck egg blue, lilac or taupe and avoid clashing or busy prints. You don’t need to go crazy and start covering every stone or fencing panel with paint. Use colors as accents. You can inject different tones with plant pots, candle holders, and soft furnishings, for example.


Embrace laid-back, alfresco dining

The last thing you want when you get back from work is to spend hours in a hot kitchen cooking a meal. Thankfully, there are some excellent outdoor options that can make life easier and enable you to enjoy your garden as much as possible. Barbecues are a summer staple, so why not consider something a little different? If you fancy kicking back on the patio with a glass of red and a delicious, simple meal, why not invest in an outdoor pizza oven? You can find tips and reviews online by visiting sites like Hot Tub Advice.


Section off a cozy area
Spending time in the garden isn’t always about playing with the kids or hitting home runs. Sometimes, you just want to take time out, read a magazine or enjoy a coffee in peace. It’s always good to make your garden a versatile space. Section off an area of decking or put up a gazebo. Scatter some lanterns and oversized floor cushions around. Drape sofa sets with throws and blankets. Hang a hammock from the trees, and snuggle up.




Make the most of lighting
Lighting is one of the best ways to set the tone of an interior or exterior space. Your lighting choices can create all kinds of different moods. In the garden, go for twinkling fairy lights, subtle spotlights or floor-level lighting to add ambiance. If you’re short of ideas, you’ll find inspiration in home and garden magazines and online.
Choose plants carefully
Plants look wonderful, but they also boast other benefits. Certain scents are proven to help us relax. Including specific plants in your beds and planters may help you to sleep better and conquer stress. Lavender is a popular option. Plant it near your sofa and let the aromas drift through the air.
For many of us, there’s nothing better than getting out into the garden when we’re feeling a little fraught. If you love spending time outside, these tips will hopefully help you to transform your backyard into a heavenly haven. Go for soothing color tones, and use furniture, cushions and throws to create a cozy seating area. Indulge in a post-work soak or climb into a hammock and have a snooze.

Monday, August 15, 2016

Comfortable Footwear to Walk Around Hard Wood Floors #Flipflops

Remember our dilemma and nightmare with Empire Today a couple of months ago?  I really regret that decision of  hiring  them to do our  floors in the kitchen, family room, and hallways.  The  two-day job that  they promised turned out to be more than three weeks.  It messed up our plan of moving  and selling our old home soon.   The third and last  contractor that they sent  works alone so it took him  over a week to finish it.
We moved  in on June 25 and the day after that, we waited late at night  here at the new house waiting for the guy to  finish but he ended up staying just to be able to  put the grout and make it dry.  Pn the day of our move, he was just cleaning the floor  from all the grout  so it was chaotic.  With the movers coming in and out  of the house, the floor was nasty because it was wet, oh it was a total nightmare.
If I have to do it all over again, I would have convinced my husband  to do it ourselves because it ended up having it done for a  long period of time.  The reason we hire them was that they said they can  do the job for two days.  
So fast forward that nightmare, we are now living at our new home for  7 weeks and one thing I found out about this tile that we chose is the difficulty of cleaning it.  The tile is not smooth so it is hard to clean it.  I have to really scrub it to clean.  With two dogs and two kids, I find it so difficult to  maintain it clean.  It takes  me about 4 hours to really clean those dang floors!  Mind you, I have to  scrub it twice a weeks and   sweep it everyday.
We still need some  furniture with our family room but we will get there as soon as we  sold the  other house.  Paying two mortgages a month is so stiff in our budget .  I hope and pray that someone will buy the other house  soon.
I thought wood floors is easier to clean than carpet but I was wrong.  I have to mop it everyday because if I don't, the socks of our kids gets very dirty.
Kitchen cabinets and   counters need to be replaced as well as they are old but for now, I  just put  lining inside the cabinets before I put all our  kitchen wares and tools.
Since I am the only one that cleans the house, I laid out rules to my other lovelies for them to follow or else, they will need to help me with cleaning.  I told them that they have to removed  the shoes upon entering the house and wear slippers  inside the house.  I got my husband this yoga flip flops from Aurorae . I know that it is designed for for women's feet  but my husband's feet are so skinny that these fits perfectly. It also helped his feet which has been hurting.  What I love about these product is the fact that   the foot bed is made from real EVA-Foam yoga mats offering a lightweight, cushy and comfortable feel while you walk.  I know that for a fact because I have a pair also which  I have been using for  few months now.  Having hardwood floors and tiles, it is really hard on your feet if you don't wear something comfy so these flip flops are perfect for us.  
If you guys are looking for something to wear to relieve  tired feet, I highly recommend Aurorae's Yoga FlipFlop
We bought  our  children  house slippers as well so that they can walk around comfortably on the floors and it keeps their feet  clean.  I wish that I can find something that the dogs can wear so they are not tracking dirts from outside.  It's so hard when you have dogs especially when they shed as you have to constantly clean.  I clean everyday and there's always a clamp of hair.
Since I clean everyday, buying the  mop cloth  from the store  is costly so I  gather up some old shirts and cut them up.  This is what I use after  scrubbing  the floors with the wet  wipes or rugs.  
Disclosure: The owner of this blog was NOT financially compensated to write this review. I was provided with the product/s mentioned to help me facilitate this review but opinions are my own.

5 Tips for Redesigning a Boring Bedroom

When you walk into your bedroom you should feel comfortable, at home, and welcomed in an environment that is set up perfectly to your liking. Sadly, many people throw in a bed, a dresser, a night stand, and a few other basic components without paying much attention to visual appeal and functionality along the way. If you've been wanting to add some flair to your bland and boring bedroom, consider the following five tips:

1. Use 3D Bedding

Perhaps the most dominant visual feature that everyone immediately notices upon entering a bedroom is the bed. Conventional bedding simply is not as impressive as the new 3D designs that are available, which serve to make the most comfortable part of your room stand out even more. Sites like threel.co.uk offer a variety of bedding designs that are suitable for anyone's preferences.

2. Incorporate Cushions and Throw Pillows

A bed without cushions is like an office chair without back support – yeah you can sit in it, but is it going to be enjoyable? Probably not. Plus, how exactly are you going have a pillow fight with your bestie or significant other, when there are no extra pillows to be found? Another reason to have plenty of cushioning on hand is to serve as support on those days when you decide to sit up in bed and watch TV or read a book, which bring us to our next tip...

3. Mount a Television and/or Book Shelf

Who wants to sit in their bed and stare at the wall? Mounting a TV and/or hanging a book shelf can give you reliable sources of entertainment and edification without taking up too much floor space. This one tip alone can transform your bedroom from the equivalent of a padded cell to a place where you can actually enjoy your free time. Plus, with a smart TV you'll be able to cast internet to the screen via Wi-Fi or thorough your mobile device's data connection, so you can browse the web from the comfort of your bed.

4. Revamp the Lighting

Studies have proven that lighting affects mood in so many ways. Consider replacing or complementing the regular lamps and bulbs that you're already using with more elegant fixtures that offer enhanced luminescence. Adjustable lamps with multi-coloured bulbs are a particularly interesting option, as are hanging lamps and chandeliers. Other notable ideas to consider would be lava lamps, strobe lights, night lights, and glow-in-the-dark star ceilings.

5. Add Plants, Paintings, and Posters

Indoor plants not only give you an extra hobby to take care of, they're also known to reduce depression. Likewise, paintings and posters make excellent aesthetic additions, especially compared to the alternative of a blank wall, and they add a level of uniqueness to your bedroom that other furniture and accessories simply can't achieve.

Finally, once you've heeded all of the tips above, don't forget to add some personal touch to the room as well. Consider adding family portraits, a custom mural, an exotic rug, and maybe even some arcade or board games as the icing on the cake. 

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