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DIY

How To Create A Modern Zen Bathroom To Regain Mindfulness And Inspiration

by Guest Contributor June 19, 2019

Today’s world is as erratic as it is stressful. People crave relaxation and a calm tranquility that will let them reflect on their thoughts and think about their day. Coincidentally, that is one of the purposes of a bathroom, or at least it should be. When you find yourself having a bath and getting away from the stresses of work, you want it to happen in the most calming environment possible.

1. Consider Natural Lighting

Lighting is one element that a lot of people take for granted. They don’t realize the impact that a little bit of natural light has on a room. This is especially true for rooms like the bathroom, where you should spend a lot of your time relaxing.

Unlike other rooms in your home, you can’t exactly introduce natural light in most conventional ways. The bathroom is supposed to be a closed-off oasis, which means that too many windows are out of the question. A skylight window would be a great option if your bathroom is adjacent to the roof. On the other hand, there’s no reason why a couple of candles can’t be introduced as well.

Image by midascode from Pixabay

2. Isolate with Sound Design

When someone says the word “Zen”, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? For most people, it’s silence and tranquility. A big part of practicing mindfulness and harnessing inspiration is avoiding any outside distractions that might influence your mind. Considering the fact that a great majority of people live in big cities, it becomes obvious why sound pollution is such a crucial thing to watch out for.

You should design your bathroom to block out a lot of external sounds. This will allow you to enter into your calm oasis without the sounds of the hustle and bustle of the surrounding world. It’s perfect for relaxing and getting away from it all.

3. Organic Elements

It’s no secret that nature is relaxing. People like natural things that bring them one step close to nature. Even the tiniest details can influence how relaxed and at peace we are. This is why you should strive to bring as many organic elements to your bathroom as possible.

Everything from the mat to the towels should be made of a material that isn’t synthetic. Organic woven rugs are a good option. A lot of people like to bring pebbles and natural wooden surfaces into their bathroom design. These will help you feel at peace while you’re relaxing inside.

Image by Ted Sardena from Pixabay

4. De-Clutter

One of the most important parts of creating a Zen bathroom is creating a clean and tidy look. A lot of people believe that the tidiness of a room reflects one’s current state of mind. The truth is no different for bathrooms.

When your bathroom is cluttered with tons of bottles, cleaners, and unnecessary plastic elements, you can be sure that you won’t feel completely relaxed. Make sure that everything has its place and purpose, and anything that isn’t currently useful is stored away so that it doesn’t create a visually unappealing view.

5. Reflect on Getting a Mirror

Every bathroom needs a mirror. How else are you expected to get ready in the morning right after taking a shower? However, the kind of mirror you pick out says a lot about your bathroom and you as a person. A tiny mirror for the sake of getting ready won’t compliment a relaxing and Zen-like atmosphere.

Image by Jean van der Meulen from Pixabay

You want something that is large and spacious. A mirror that complements your bathroom design and gives it a much better look. A big mirror not only gives you a good view of the great design choices you’ve made, but it also makes the room feel a lot bigger and more relaxing. Cover part of a wall, and you can enjoy the natural light refracting over and over throughout the bathroom, giving you a gorgeous view.

6. Create Calming Colors

People often underestimate the effect of colors on the human mind. They have an enormous influence on our subconscious. The color of your bathroom can decide how comfortable you feel inside of it.

When you decide to go and pick out some ceramic tiles from Acqua Bathrooms, you need to keep their color in mind. White and off-white colors are great for a sterile-looking environment, but to truly relax and feel at home, you might need to look at some more earthy colors. Decide on a dominant color and let your imagination run wild with the accessories. As long as they match the aesthetic of your chosen earthy color, you can rest easy knowing that you will feel relaxed.

Image by DarthZuzanka from Pixabay

7. Think of Comfort

Comfort is a big part of Zen design. It’s impossible to separate the physical from the mental. If your body isn’t at ease, how can your mind feel relaxed? To create the perfect balance, you need to provide yourself with some comfort.

Having a bathtub is a no-brainer. It allows you to lie down and relax while the lukewarm water surrounds you. Standing showers are for those who are in a rush. You want to be able to stop and enjoy the moment while cleaning yourself. A towel warmer isn’t out of the question, either. There’s hardly anything more comfortable than a nice warm towel in the winter.

Conclusion

A lot of people forego quality bathroom design because they don’t realize the potential for relaxation. Having your own personal oasis lets you practice mindfulness in peace while cleaning both your body and your spirit. If you add some of these elements to your personal bathroom oasis, you certainly won’t regret having this kind of luxury in your life.

About the Author

Patrick Adams is a freelance writer and rock-blues fan. When he is not writing about home improvement, he loves to play chess, watch basketball, and play his guitar. More than anything, he loves to spend his time in his garage, repairing appliances and creating stuff from wood.

Beauty Beauty & Style DIY Lifestyle

Hair Alternatives That Won’t Wreak Havoc On Your Hair

by Guest Contributor June 17, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

As busy mothers, we’re all likely to have a set hair routine that is efficient, does the job and leaves us feeling ready to take on the day. But what’s easiest may not always be the best for our hair in the long run. As hair health is just as important as skin health or physical health, all moms should know hair tricks that are easy to make and will show a huge difference in the overall look and feel of your hair!

Your Pillowcase

If you’re ever wondering why you wake up with frizzy hair, your pillowcase might be the culprit! Even though cotton is the most common kind of cloth for pillowcases, it’s not necessarily the best option to sleep on. While cotton is a breathable material, it’s not the best choice for your hair or skin health. As we sleep on cotton, it robs our hair of moisture leading to frizzy and possibly tangled hair in the morning.

Image by Claudio_Scott from Pixabay

Instead of cotton, use a silk pillowcase for your slumber. The smooth silk will help keep your hair from becoming frizzy and prevent you from waking up with facial creases, helping to reduce the appearance of future wrinkles.

Hair Dye

Every woman wants to change up her hair every now and then. Often, with the change of seasons comes a new hair color to go along with it. Even though a brand-new look can leave us feeling confident and ready to take on the world, not all hair dyes we apply to our hair are healthy. With many dyes containing sulfates, ammonia and parabens, all the chemicals can end up damaging your hair follicles.

Image by Arturs Budkevics from Pixabay

Before you dye your hair the next time, look to products that will give you the hair color you desire but the healthiest version possible. Women-owned company, oVertone is a perfect example of this, as their main initiative is to create healthy color for your hair. Using only natural ingredients, their at-home hair color will give you the healthiest hair color possible!

Towels

As we all generally like to try and dry our hair as fast as possible, an easily accessible way to dry our tresses is through towel drying. But using a heavy, possibly damp towel to dry your hair is not the recommended route to take. Your hair is at its most vulnerable when wet, so rubbing it with a cotton or terry cloth towel can cause severe damage and worsen your split ends; leading to dry and frizzy hair as a result.

Image by Gentelle_Linen from Pixabay

Instead of using a typical towel, use a specialized microfiber hair towel instead. The microbers will help to reduce breakage as well as dry your hair in an effective amount of time! Another option is to take advantage of that old unused shirt you’ve been planning on donating and instead use it as a hair towel. Similar to a microfiber towel, the t-shirt will help to reduce frizz while also absorbing excess water.

Hair Ties

As moms we all know the easiest solution to solving a hair problem is by throwing it up in a bun. But what we use to put our hair up could be causing more damage to our hair than we know. If you pull your hair back too tight or put your hair up as soon as you get out of the shower, the hair ties can cause pressure to your hairline, leading to damaged hair follicles.

Photo by Edgar Martínez from Pexels

Instead of using typical elastic hair bands, use scrunchies or hair ties that have a soft and stretchy material. Not only will they spruce up your outfit, but it will also put less pressure on your hairline. Another alternative is to avoid hair ties altogether and stick to sporting other easy summer hairstyles or put your hair up using only bobby pins.

What are some of your hacks for healthy hair?

Design DIY Home

How To Make Your Patio A Gathering Place This Summer

by Guest Contributor June 12, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Summer is coming! And with warm weather knocking on our doors, we all want to be the ones our friends come to for a good ol’ BBQ party or evening cocktails.

The problem is, everyone who owns a patio is in the run for this unspoken magical prize, therefore, you have to make yours the ONLY place everyone wants to be. It needs to be like one of those Instagram places that everyone goes crazy about and no one ever truly knows how or where all the fuss started.

So, if you want your patio to stand out this summer, keep reading!

How to Make Your Patio THE Gathering Place This Summer?

Comfort!

Start by thinking of comfort. Comfort is key when transforming a place into somewhere everyone loves. Being outside and not having a place to sit can be a turn off. At the same time, being outside but not having shade is also not ideal.

Spruce Up Your Patio!

You can work with what you already have, just make it better. Think of yourself as one of those super cool exterior designers and consider where you would place a table or how you could spruce it up with a few added pieces.

Twinkle, Twinkle…

Another thing I personally love is cheap (but charming) fairy lights. They give a very familiar touch to your patio without making it vulgar. White ones are my favorite!

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Just a Few Add-ins…

You don’t have to do a complete renovation to your already lovely patio, but there are a few things you can add that will make it just perfect! One of the first things I always recommend is adding timber cladding to the wall above your patio. It will give it a very modern, rustic feel and add a very cozy effect for you and your friends to enjoy.

Gather at the Table

Whether your patio is large or small, you must have a table so you can have friends over for dinner. A large table that fits at least 8 people is the way to go, but try to keep it simple and neutral. My advice is to go for rosewood or a mahogany tone so that you can then play around with a few bursts of color somewhere else.

Make It a Jungle!

One of my favorite types of patio is when wood meets green. You have the tones I mentioned earlier mixing with lots of plants everywhere. Hang them or leave them on the floor, there’s no rule for how to do it, and they’ll always look beautiful. The simpler the plant, the easier it’ll be for you to take care of it, but it’ll add so much more to your patio.

Fifty Shades of Blue?

Another color that goes beautifully with brown and green is blue. If you decide to buy or already own patio furniture, include some blues on it. You can add throw blankets that are a deep blue or pillows to make it even cozier. The goal is to create a space where everyone can relax with a glass of wine in their hand, and the color blue inspires calming and relaxing feelings.

You can go full-on and even get a swing for your patio, or you can also do less on a lower budget, but still make it the place to be this summer. Just remember that pale tones work best and the timber cladding on your wall will make it extra special! If you feel like relaxing outdoors instead of inside, you’ll know you’ve done a good job!

About the Author

Rebecca is a translator by day, and a traveler mostly at night. She is an expert on living with jet lag – and packing in tiny suitcases. You can read more of her exploits at RoughDraft

Cleaning DIY Tips & Ideas

10 Practical Ways To Use Lemons In Your Home

by Amber King May 23, 2019

written by Amber King

When life gives you lemons, there’s a whole lot more you can do than make lemonade. These powerful citrus fruits are surprisingly versatile, and they can help a savvy mom like you tackle your toughest chores. Lemons might even help you accomplish things you didn’t think were possible. It’s amazing what a little lemon juice or peel can do for your home. The list of ways to use lemons in your home could go on and on, but we’ve compiled what we consider to be the most useful lemon hacks.

Here are 11 ways lemons can make your home cleaner, fresher, and even more budget friendly.

1. Make Produce Last Longer

The life expectancy of fresh fruits and vegetables varies depending on where you live, the weather, and what you’re trying to preserve. Either way, wouldn’t it be nice if the produce we spend so much money on could last even a few days longer? Apples might grow on trees, but that doesn’t make them cheap!

Lemon juice is perfect for preserving fruits and vegetables. A lot of fruits and veggies, like apples, pears, peaches, potatoes, parsnips, and artichokes, turn brown minutes after they’re cut. If you’re not up for eating the entire thing in one sitting, you’ll have to throw the brown and ruined fruit/veggie away. But if you have a lemon, you can make them last longer. Dip the exposed end of your cut fruit/veggie in lemon juice, and you’re free to enjoy it for a little longer.

2. Clean Produce of Pesticides

Even if your household is all organic, there’s still the chance of having sneaky, invisible toxins on your produce. A quick rinse can get the job done sometimes, but you and your family will be a lot safer if you take the time to wash your produce before eating.

Thanks to the acidic nature of lemon juice, you can use a few lemons to make an effective and all-natural produce cleaner. Add lemon juice, a dash of distilled vinegar, and cold water into a spray bottle. Then all you have to do is spritz your produce and rinse it off.

3. Fight Fruit Stains

Aren’t fruit stains the worst? Fresh berries are notorious for staining both fingers and clothes. They’re too delicious to give up, and thankfully, there’s an easy trick for getting out those bright blue and red stains.

If your usual method of stain fighting isn’t quite doing the trick, try dripping lemon juice directly on the offending spot. Sprinkle a little salt and rub it all together. Rinse the garment, and hopefully, the stain is noticeably lighter. Repeat the process until the stain is either gone completely or light enough to be tackled with other stain removing methods.

4. Make Your Home Smell Amazing

The smell of lemons is always associated with cleanliness. You can make your whole house smell clean and fresh without resorting to lemon-scented air fresheners.

Homemade potpourri is made with lemon peels, lemon juice, and a few other choice ingredients depending on the season and what you want your house to smell like. Check out One Good Thing for a few great recipes.

5. Clean Stainless Steel Appliances

Stainless steel appliances look sharp in your kitchen, but they’re like magnets for every jam-smeared finger and wet dog nose in the house. Those smudges always stand out and make your kitchen look messy even when it’s not. Cleaning up is harder than it looks, because even wet rags and paper towels can leave behind nasty streaks.

To solve your stainless steel struggle, cut a lemon in half and rub the juicy side on your smudged surfaces. The juice will cut through grease and make it easier to wipe away the mess. If you want an even stronger solution, add a little baking soda.

6. De-Stink Your Garbage Disposal

After pouring week-old leftovers down your garbage disposal, it’s no wonder it tends to stink. Your garbage disposal puts up with a lot of abuse, and every now and then, it’s a good idea to treat it to a nice lemon bath. Lemon juice will eliminate odors to make your kitchen fresh instead of funky.

For this kitchen hack, you have options. You can choose to dump a few lemon peels down the disposal and run the motor, or you can make vinegar ice cubes with lemon wedges frozen on the inside. The vinegar adds more cleaning power, and the ice keeps the disposal blades sharp and clean.

7. Clean Your Coffee Maker

When was the last time you cleaned your coffee maker? I’m not talking about rinsing out the pot or changing the filter. I mean when did you actually clean the inner workings of the machine? If you have to think about it, it’s been too long. Mineral buildup can block the mechanisms and even affect the taste of your coffee—gasp! Plus those stains make everything look dingy.

To clean your coffee maker the easy, cheap, and all natural way, pour a solution of half lemon juice and half water into the reservoir. Let the cycle run, and then run it again with nothing but cold water. Doing this every now and then will keep your coffee maker clean and in good condition.

8. Freshen Up Your Fridge

Old food, spilled messes, and mold can send waves of rancid smells into your face every time you open your fridge. Even if you recently cleaned it out, age can make some appliances take on what seems like a permanent stench. Before you admit defeat, try this lemon trick.

Soak a new sponge in lemon juice and put it in your fridge. The juice-soaked sponge will absorb odors and leave a fresh citrus smell in their place.

9. Clean Stained Cutting Boards

Once a plastic cutting board is stained, no amount of dish soap or scrubbing will get it back to normal. And thanks to the nature of cutting boards, you probably have a whole pile of stained plastic cutting boards taking up space in your cabinets. You can choose to toss them or deal with their less-than-clean look, but there’s a third option.

Lemon juice is great for lightening stains, and it works wonders on plastic. Cut up a lemon and drop the juice on your stained cutting board. Use the lemon peel to rub the juice on the stain, and make sure to get in all the little nooks and cut marks. Next, put your lemon-soaked board in the sun. Let it sit in the sunshine for as long as possible before bringing it in and washing it off. Your stains should be gone!

10. Stop Garbage Can Stink

It’s garbage…it’s supposed to smell, right? That may be true, but it doesn’t mean we want our kitchens smelling like trash because of an old garbage can. Even after you wash them out and change the bag, they can still stink. There’s a reason trash bag manufacturers now sell scented bags, but you can get the same (better) effect with only a few lemons.

Next time you change the bag, drop a few lemon peels to the bottom of the can. Put your new bag in over top, and the peels will help fight off both the stench from the can itself and whatever else you toss away.

Design DIY Home

5 Inspiring Ideas For A Cozy Outdoor Retreat

by Guest Contributor May 15, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

Summer is knocking at our door, and it brings the need to get away from the lengthy commutes and crazy schedules. As lovely as a trip to a 5-star resort sounds, most people need a getaway that’s near and available 24/7. So why wouldn’t you make one in your backyard? It may sound like a daunting task, but truth be told – it’s much easier than you think. With the right tips, you’ll get clued up about all the design elements that you can combine and create a stunning outdoor oasis of your own. Here are some tips and tricks that will help on that redecorating journey.

1. Make your yard luminous

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Spending hot summer days in your backyard or next to the pool is great. However, you’ll want to enjoy it when the sun goes down, too. You can’t do that without some source of light. Depending on the atmosphere you want to set, there is a great variety of options to choose from. If you have enough space, consider building a fire pit. Just imagine a starry summer night and your friends gathered around the fire. Sounds awesome, right? If you’re into something more practical, you can go for candles, floating globes, or solar landscape lighting. By mixing them, you’ll create a romantically-lit oasis in your backyard.

2. Cozy up your patio

Photo by Randy Fath on Unsplash

It goes without saying that no backyard oasis is complete without comfortable seating. Whether it’s a porch swing, a hammock or a gazebo, you need a cozy little nook in your yard. If your seating is in the area that’s not covered from the weather, a great solution is a raised patio pergola that will transform your outdoor living space with its functional and modern design. Having that checked off the list, you can now decorate the area with pillows, rugs, chairs, and lighting. When it comes to the choice of fabric for your seating area, go for sturdy ones since you want the pillowcases and chair pads to last longer than one season.

3. Increase privacy in your backyard

Image by summa from Pixabay

The whole idea behind creating a cozy outdoor retreat is to hide from your neighbor’s prying eyes. You want to make a place that will give you a sense of freedom and privacy. It can be challenging if you live in the city or crowded suburbs. Don’t get discouraged, though. There are lots of ways to achieve this no matter the surroundings. Landscaping can play a major role here. By smartly planting trees and bushes, you’ll create a wonderfully discreet outdoor area. Decorate a pergola with some nice draperies. A trellis will not only give you privacy but will also provide you with a beautiful curtain of flowers.

4. Invest in greenery

Photo by zhang kaiyv from Pexels

Nothing will make your backyard more lush and welcoming than greenery. It will not only give you much-needed privacy, but it will also help you make your yard look like a secret retreat. Before purchasing the plants, you should do some research first. Depending on the amount of sunlight your yard receives, see which types of plants will work best for you. You can go for annuals if you don’t mind rolling up your sleeves every spring. If you’re more into low-maintenance plants, choose perennials.

Layering your landscape will give your yard depth and make it look more interesting. Plant the trees in the back, shrubs in the middle, and flower beds in front. If you’re working on a relatively small area, opt for one or two layers and don’t forget to include some pollinator-friendly plants if you want to attract birds to your oasis.

5. The design should be all about you

Photo by KaLisa Veer on Unsplash

Forget about designer trends and think about you. How do you like to spend your time outdoors? Is your retreat meant to host large groups of people or just you? How functional do you want it to be? These are just some of the questions that you need to think about before you start working on your outdoor retreat. If you plan on having your friends over quite often, then you should invest in a big deck and maybe a barbecue area. On the other hand, if you’re making a dream oasis so you can relax and enjoy your privacy, then give advantage to your reading nook and landscaping. Remember that it’s all about you and your preferences.

In order to enjoy the nice weather, you don’t have to cross miles to get to that retreat you’ve been dreaming about. You can make one in your own backyard. Following these tips will help you create a cozy outdoor retreat that you’ll love.

About the Author

Hannah Thomas is a gardening and home decor enthusiast. Garden is the place where she feels most comfortable, that’s why there are always a lot of books and empty coffee cups on the back porch. Always learning, exploring and smiling.

Design DIY Home

4 Clever Ideas For A Small Bathroom

by Guest Contributor May 15, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

A small bathroom in no way needs to be empty or not styled. It deserves to be as stylish as the rest of your house. Of course, it’s easy to overdo it and make the room feel cluttered and claustrophobic with your decorations. Your best friend for decorating a small bathroom is compact and practical furniture solutions, as well as a few well-placed decor pieces. Use every part of the bathroom in the best way you can, and you’ll be rewarded with an immaculate design that serves its purpose well.

Use Colors

Color can be your best friend for this project. Most bathrooms are very white and sterile, but yours doesn’t have to be. If you add a few colorful focal points, you’ll transform the whole design in a heartbeat. You can introduce color with accessories, paint, or a bathroom rug.

Those who really want to think outside the box can paint their ceiling a different color and match their shower screen or bathtub to it. It’s just a small detail, but the fact that it’s different from the blinding white will make your bathroom appear warmer and more welcoming.

Add A Mirror

No bathroom can do without a mirror. Your bathroom may be small, but there’s always enough room to fit an elegant mirror. You’ll be able to see what you look like every time you’re getting ready. The mirror will be conveniently close to your beauty products, so you’ll be able to gauge their effect on your skin and body right away.

If you introduce a standing mirror to the premises, you can also make your bathroom appear bigger. Not only do mirrors give the illusion of space, but they also reflect light. There’s nothing prettier than a well-lit small bathroom. All of the decor pieces fall into place with the power of natural light.

Wall-Mount It!

Bathroom sinks and storage furniture look good in a conventional way, but mount them to the wall and they look even better. A wall-mounted bathroom sink with its own storage unit underneath is just what a small bathroom needs. Not only will you get a stylish and modern design, but you’ll also enjoy functionality and ease of storage.

The one thing to watch out for in this project is how the sink is installed. That’s why you should always turn to companies like Jake’s Plumbing for help. Expert plumbers will be able to carry out your vision without any issues. After all, your whole design is dependent on how well the sink is installed. It may look easy, but this is in no way a DIY project.

Change Up The Walls

The walls will be your best option for decorating a small bathroom. You’ll get to create a striking design without compromising any of the space. The most common option for decorating the walls is using tiles. You can create fun color patterns or choose tiles with quirky patterns already on them. On the other hand, you can even use paint to achieve the wanted effect.

Those who want to take it a step further and be even more creative can opt for bathroom wallpaper. It’s striking, bold, creative, and completely safe for bathrooms as it’s resistant to water and dampness.

Final Thoughts…

As you can see, decorating a small bathroom doesn’t have to give you a headache. You may not have room for some major improvements, but you’ll redesign what matters. For the best bathroom design, all you have to do is realize that size isn’t a disadvantage. It is a challenge and an opportunity to think outside the box and let your imagination run free. With a little inspiration, your bathroom is bound to shine with a new light.

About the Author

Hannah Thomas is a gardening and home décor enthusiast. Garden is the place where she feels most comfortable, that’s why there are always a lot of books and empty coffee cups on the back porch. Always learning, exploring and smiling.

Design DIY Home

5 Things You Should Never DIY At Your Home

by Guest Contributor May 13, 2019

written by Guest Contributor

When the winter passes and the weather gets warmer, we start craving some changes. Whether it’s a hairstyle or a colour of the walls in our living room, spring brings the need for something fresh. You may also be thinking about tackling some new DIY projects around the house. Talking about home repairs, you basically have two options – to do or not to do them yourself. As much as the Internet tutorials make these projects easy to handle, sometimes it’s best to hire professional help.

It may seem like a waste of money, but when dealing with electricity, plumbing, removing walls, furnace repair, or waterproofing issues, it is better to play it safe. Here are some of the things that you may want to leave to the professionals.

1. Stay Away from Electrical Work

Even though installing new lighting may seem like a piece of cake, steer clear of any project that involves electricity. Getting shocked is just one of the many things that can go wrong. Even if you know how to turn off the live power, there’s a possibility that you’ll wire something incorrectly.

home repair

That can lead to overloading your power draw which can cause popping breakers or sparking outlets. There are many serious consequences of amateurs handling electrical wires. The safety of your family should be imperative. For that reason, everything more complex than changing a light bulb is a job for an electrician.

2. Don’t Fix Your Appliances Yourself

Whether you’ve just bought a new dishwasher and you’re eager to install it ASAP, or you need to move the oven to paint the walls, it’s something that you definitely want to leave to the professionals. No matter how experienced do-it-yourselfer you are, dealing with gas or water is something you don’t want to mess around with.

home repair

Having that said, the best solution is to hire some local appliance repair company to do the job. A skilled team of professionals will bring all the necessary tools for the job. They can help you with both the installation and repairs of almost every appliance in your home. If you can stay away from the complexities that these tasks involve, gladly do so.

3. Say No to DIY Roofing

Speaking of risky DIY projects, roofing is definitely on the top of the list. The risk of falling down is just one of the reasons why you should leave this job for professionals. They are far more experienced than you in working on a great height at an awkward angle. Although crucial, it’s not only a matter of safety risks. If you decide to do the roofing yourself, there’s a great chance you’ll end up with loads of unused materials.

home repair

When the job is done, your roof may seem spotless, but will it stay that way when the winds pick up? Your insurance company probably won’t cover the damage, spare yourself the stress and hire professionals to do the job.

4. Moulding is not a DIY Project

As much as it looks like a pure decoration, moulding requires some serious skills. It’s like couture, if it doesn’t fit perfectly, it’s a disaster. In order to reach that goal, you need perfectly straight walls. It may come as a surprise that no walls are like that, not even in new houses. One of the reasons you should leave this to the professionals is because they have the right tools.

home repair

What’s more, they have more experience when it comes to finding the right solution to the shape of your walls. They’ll make sure your mouldings are properly aligned and also pay attention to all the necessary details. It may look tempting, but it’s not a job for amateurs.

5. Don’t Do the Demolition Yourself

Home improvements often involve tearing down the walls. Demolishing and rebuilding may seem far from a complicated process. It can even seem like a fun thing to do until you swing the sledgehammer and hit something you shouldn’t like the support wall or electrical wires. Repairing the damage would be more expensive than hiring the contractors.

home repair

Money isn’t the only problem. These reparations take time so they will delay the whole rebuilding project. In order to avoid damaging any of the vital parts of your home, it’s best to leave demolition projects to a contractor.

In the sea of YouTube channels and Pinteresting ideas, it’s easy to get carried away with house-repair projects. People in the videos giving step-by-step tutorials make it look ridiculously easy. Decorating your picture frames or repainting the shelves can be a super fun activity for the whole family. However, there are tasks that are too dangerous to handle.

Those usually involve water, gas, and electricity. Hiring professionals may seem like a splurge, but in the long run, it will save you not only time and effort but will also make sure your home is safe. After all, that should be the most important thing on your list of priorities.

About the Author

Beauty Beauty & Style Health Lifestyle

Say Bye-Bye To Chloasma And Dark Spots With These Helpful Tips

by Modi Ramos May 10, 2019

written by Modi Ramos

If there is anything that shows the signs of aging, it is most certainly our skin. It’s this covering we wear that shows the world who we are, and imperfections can seriously affect our self-esteem. Dealing with dark spots is not easy. Even for women who are not vain, it can take a toll on one’s self-esteem and directly affect a woman’s self-confidence.

There are a number of causes for dark spots, ranging from general hyperpigmentation, melasma, to the “mask of pregnancy” which often fades shortly after giving birth. For myself, I think the combination of sun spots and pregnancy hormones forged to create an unkind combo of dark spots on my skin. Dark spot correctors can be rather pricey, and sometimes they’re not even worth it. But there are, in fact, some products that have proven effective in diminishing the appearance of dark spots.

What is Melasma?

Melasma (muh-LAZ-muh) is a common skin problem. It causes brown to gray-brown patches, usually on the face. Most people get it on their cheeks, bridge of their nose, forehead, chin, and above their upper lip. It also can appear on other parts of the body that get lots of sun, such as the forearms and neck.

Obviously a quality sunscreen is your #1 weapon of defense when it comes to preventative care, but there are methods you can try to help your dark spots without having to seek out expensive med spa treatments (i.e. IPL facials, etc).

What is The Mask of Pregnancy?

An example of hyperpigmentation is melasma (also known as chloasma). This condition is characterized by tan or brown patches, most commonly on the face. Melasma can occur in pregnant women and is often called the “mask of pregnancy,” however, men can also develop this condition. Melasma frequently goes away after pregnancy. It can also be treated with certain prescription creams (such as hydroquinone).

It’s important to note that pregnancy affects each woman differently. For instance, I didn’t have the mask of pregnancy with my first two pregnancies, but with my third pregnancy, my entire forehead was roughly 4 shades darker than the rest of my skin. I’m naturally blonde with fair skin, so hiding this tan forehead was no easy feat; I opted for bangs as a temporary fix. And several months after pregnancy, my “mask” was still there.

Here Are 3 Natural Dark Spot Remover Methods To Try:

Lemon Juice Spot Treatment for Dark Spots

Lemons have been used for years as an ingredient in facial products because of its high levels of vitamin C, which can help lighten dark spots on your skin. A lemon scrub can also be used to help lessen the appearance of dark spots on your face.

For the lemon juice spot treatment, start by purchasing fresh lemons from the store. Skip on the little lemon juice concentrate bottle, even though it might seem like an easier solution–fresh is key here. Once you’re ready to apply, roll the lemon on the counter for a few minutes to stimulate the juices inside the fruit. Then slice your lemon crosswise and take a Q-tip to apply fresh juice directly to the darkened area. Allow the juice to dry, then rinse with cool water.

Repeat this treatment each morning and evening until the spots fade. Beware that the lemon juice makes your skin sensitive to sunlight, so you need to use sunscreen or reduce your exposure to sunlight while using this treatment.

Vitamin E Oil

This wonder oil has long since been used by aestheticians and dermatologists alike for treating the skin. Since Vitamin E is considered an antioxidant, the oil helps target free radicals that can cause damage to your skin. You can purchase Vitamin E oil from your dermatologist or skin/med spa, or you can find a quality product to purchase off of Amazon, like the one featured below:

100% All Natural & Organic Vitamin E Oil For Your Face & Skin

For the liquid, apply a tiny dab before bed, massaging gently in a circular motion to treat the dark spot area. If you have the capsules, then pierce through the encasing and do the same method listed for the liquid form. In just a few weeks time, you should start to see a noticeable difference in the appearance of your dark spots on your face.

Aloe Vera Gel

When you were a kid, and you got a sunburn or a nasty scrape, did your mother ever reach for that bright green gel to doctor you up? The aloe vera plant is known by many for having medicinal properties, and it reportedly is great for helping to reduce the appearance of dark spots on your skin. If you happen to have an aloe vera plant at home, try using the fresh juice straight from the plant, massaging your dark spot area for two minutes at a time. If not, this product off Amazon has great reviews, and it’s both natural and safe:

Feel like you need a little more intervention to kiss those dark spots or chloasma bye-bye for good?

We’ve got the solution for you, need not worry! It’s proven to reduce and diminish the appearance of dark spots, especially on the face. It contains natural ingredients, and it won’t cause your skin to turn red or react.

This wonderful, highly-rated product available on Amazon from the good folks at Admire My Skin will help you diminish those dark spots once and for all!

Admire My Skin’s Ultra-Potent Brightening Serum, $21.85

There are several user submitted images showing how terrific this product is, just like the one below…

More about the product for your below:

✅ 2% HYDROQUINONE – Helps brighten and fade dark spots, hyperpigmentation & melasma: The acids gently peel dark spots to reveal brighter skin: This product can be used either once OR twice per day
✅ OUR PROMISE TO YOU – We promise this OTC product will provide effective results within 4 weeks when used as directed: The directions on the product label says “use once or twice daily”
✅ CONSIDERED TO BE MORE effective than other hydroquinone products and melasma treatment creams: the directions on the outer box says “use twice daily or as directed by doctor”

No one wants to see dark spots or the signs of chloasma when they look in the mirror. But by following our expert tips or purchasing this inexpensive yet highly effective product shown above, you can say bye-bye to your dark spots for good.

DIY Tips & Ideas

4 Ideas For DIY Mosquito Repellent To Get You Through The Summer

by Amber King May 7, 2019

written by Amber King

Days at the lake, bonfires, camping trips, hiking—you and your kids aren’t the only ones excited for summer. Those fun outdoor moments can be ruined by a few hundred small—but seriously annoying—uninvited guests. That’s right, we’re talking about mosquitoes. No matter how well you pack your picnic or how refreshing that cool lake water looks, tiny blood suckers will always ruin your fun. No one wants to spend the whole day swatting and itching, but store-bought mosquito sprays aren’t for everyone. They’re made with potentially harmful chemicals that a holistic-minded mama like yourself would rather avoid.

These DIY mosquito sprays are great for families interested in living a more natural and less chemical-dependent lifestyle. There’s no DEET or any other chemicals that could potentially harm your children or the environment. With these recipes, you know exactly what you’re spraying, and you can make your DIY spray as potent as you want. As an added benefit, DIY mosquito repellent is usually cheaper than the stuff you buy in the store.

Here are our favorite DIY mosquito repellent recipes for you to try out.

Essential Oil Mosquito Spray

DIY mosquito repellent

This easy-to-mix mosquito spray comes to us from the holistic harbingers over at Wellness Mama. If you’re already a fan of essential oils, you probably have these ingredients somewhere in your house. Even if you don’t, essential oils are a relatively inexpensive investment once you realize how many uses they really have. This particular recipe is especially potent, and it should give you and your family a nice respite from misquotes no matter where you are. Because it’s so powerful, however, Wellness Mama recommends spraying the mix on your clothes and other gear instead of putting it directly on your skin–especially for little children.

This DIY mosquito spray recipe uses several essential oils known for their pest control properties. Citronella, clove, rosemary, lavender—they’re all accounted for. Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients:

30 drops geranium essential oil
30 drops citronella essential oil
20 drops lemon eucalyptus essential oil
20 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil
1 TBSP vodka or rubbing alcohol
½ cup natural witch hazel
½ cup water (or vinegar)
1 tsp vegetable glycerin (optional)

Instructions

Place essential oils in a glass spray bottle. Add vodka or alcohol and shake well to combine.
Pour in witch hazel and shake to combine.
Add ½ tsp vegetable glycerin if using. This is not necessary but helps everything stay combined.
Add water and shake again. Shake before each use as the oils and water will naturally separate over time.

Lavender and Vanilla Mosquito Repellent

DIY Mosquito repellent

Lavender is one of the strongest natural allies you have in your fight against mosquitoes. It’s perfect for repelling bugs, because while people love the smell, tiny bloodsuckers hate it. Lavender has been used to repel mosquitoes long before store-bought bug sprays even existed. Simply planting lavender in your yard will help keep bugs away from your house, and you can also use it to make a seriously effective DIY mosquito repellent. This recipe from Wide Open Eats uses lavender, vanilla, and lemon for a spray you can apply to your skin and clothes.

Ingredients:

15 drops lavender essential oil
3-4 tbsp. vanilla extract
3-4 tbsp. lemon juice
Distilled water

Instructions:

Combine lavender, vanilla, and lemon in a small spray bottle.
Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water.
Shake before spraying.

Coconut Oil Balm

DIY mosquito repellent

There’s more to repelling mosquitoes than spray. If you’re not into spritzing your skin, or if you have a Costco-sized tub of coconut oil and nothing to do with it, you can try out this anti-mosquito balm. It has the added bonus of making a great moisturizer, and rubbing a finger-full onto your skin will give you a force field no blood-sucking insect will want to cross. Better Homes & Gardens has the recipe.

Ingredients:

5 drops peppermint oil
4 tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions:

Add the ingredients to a jar and stir together until smooth.
When the mixture is the consistency of a hand or lip salve, you’re done. Apply the balm directly to your skin to deter mosquitoes.

Tea Tree Mosquito Repellent

DIY mosquito repellent

For our last DIY mosquito repellent, we’re going back to essential oils. Tea tree and geranium are two essential oils that are tough on pests. They smell great to us, but they keep bugs, especially the biting kind, at bay. This recipe from Scratch Mommy also has another ingredient on the list. Vegetable glycerin is often used to bind essential oils to whatever you spray them on. This recipe isn’t as involved as the first essential oil spray on this list, and it’ll take you only seconds to mix up. Here’s how to make it.

Ingredients:

30 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops geranium essential oil
1 T vegetable glycerin
Distilled water

Instructions:

Combine the two essential oils and the vegetable glycerin in a small glass bottle.
Fill the rest of the bottle with distilled water.
Shake well and apply directly to skin as needed.

These DIY mosquito repellents are great for long summer nights and warm summer days. Why not try them all and let us know which one you like best?

Cleaning DIY Tips & Ideas

6 Carpet Cleaning Secrets From The Pros

by Amber King April 16, 2019

written by Amber King

If your carpets could talk, they’d definitely have a few horror stories involving a not-quite-house-trained pet or a toddler’s snack time gone wrong. Dirty carpets can make your entire home look dingy, and vacuuming regularly doesn’t always fix the problem. There will still be mysterious stains and ground-in dirt that just won’t come out. Professional carpet cleaning is a great splurge, but you can’t be calling the pros every time your kids track mud into the living room–your budget can’t keep up. So when you don’t want professional help but your regular vacuum isn’t doing the trick, what are you supposed to do? The answer is in these seven carpet cleaning secrets straight from the pros.

1. Never Rub Stains

It’s instinct to start rubbing and scrubbing in hopes of bringing up a fresh carpet stain. You scrub everything else to get it clean, so why would the carpet be any different? But the unfortunate truth is, rubbing will only make your carpet stain worse. It spreads the mess around and will make clean up a lot harder.

Instead of rubbing, you want to blot your stains. Blotting is a method that applies direct pressure to soak up a mess. Start by blotting around the outside edges of the stain and make your way toward the middle. Starting in the middle could actually push the stain out and make the mess bigger.

carpet cleaning

2. Use Dish Soap for Greasy Stains

Dish soap is made to be tough on grease—that’s why we use it on all our pots, pans, and dirty dishes. Many people don’t realize, however, that dish soap isn’t only for dishes. You can use it on almost any kind of greasy surface, and that includes a greasy stain on your carpet.

Dropped food or a dribble of oil will normally soak into carpet fibers and leave a lasting stain. But if you use dish soap, you can cut through the grease before it does its damage. Put a drop of dish soap on a rag and blot the stain, or spray the soap onto the carpet for the best results. You might need to do this more than once depending on the size and severity of the stain.

3. Freeze Off Gum

If you have kids, it’s almost guaranteed that you will one day find yourself trying to get chewed gum out of your carpet. It’s an easy mistake kids make, but that sticky gum takes only a second to glue itself into your carpet fibers. If you try and pick it off, you’ll end up with a stringy, disgusting mess, and you won’t be able to get it all. Freezing the gum is your only effective option.

By freezing the chewed gum, you make the sticky substance hard and easier to pick off the carpet. All you have to do is apply an ice cube to the blob of bubble gum. Then take a butter knife and pry it up. You might need to blot the area with water and mild detergent to finish the job.

4. Hydrogen Peroxide is Tough on Blood

We’ve all been there—you get a cut on your foot and don’t realize it until you’ve already left bloody prints on your otherwise-clean carpet. Or maybe your kid suffered a bloody nose and dripped their way down the hallway in search of a tissue. No matter the situation, blood is notorious for being hard to clean up. But hydrogen peroxide is a carpet cleaning solution.

According to the pros, hydrogen peroxide is a natural oxidizer and is great for getting blood out of carpets. First, you’ll need to scrape away as much dried blood as you can and vacuum up the dried particles. Then dab the area with water mixed with detergent. Finally, finish up by dabbing the area with hydrogen peroxide.

5. Use Vinegar For Red Wine Stains

Your “mom juice” may be an essential part of life, but it’s also a killer when it comes to carpets. Red wine stains like nothing else, and more than a few carpets have been prematurely ripped out because of a wine-related mishap. But the good news is, as long as you act fast and have the right supplies, you can enjoy your wine and keep your carpet.

First, soak up as much spilled wine as you can. Go ahead and stand on your absorbent cloth if you have to, but remember, don’t rub or scrub. Next, pour cold water onto the stain to dilute it. Then get a new cloth and start dabbing and soaking again. When that stops working, mix together two cups of warm water, one tablespoon white vinegar, and one tablespoon detergent. Dab this solution onto the stain until it’s gone.

carpet cleaning

6. Heat Removes Wax Stains

Wayward drips from your favorite candle or a knocked over Scentsy warmer can do a lot of damage to your carpet. Depending on the color of the wax, you could end up with a bright stain that automatically attracts attention—and not in a good way. Dried wax attaches itself to carpet and can seem impossible to clean up, but there’s a simple trick. All you have to do is get the wax hot again.

Start by laying a white cloth over the stain. Then apply a hot iron to the area. The wax will soften as it gets hot, and you’ll be able to scrape it up with a butter knife. Remember, don’t put your iron directly on the carpet, and even with the cloth, you never want to apply the heat for more than 30 seconds at a time. You could end up burning your carpet, and there’s unfortunately no easy fix for singed carpet fibers.

You can ask guests to take off their shoes and limit what foods kids bring into the living room, but there’s really no avoiding carpet messes. Life happens, but it doesn’t have to be the end of your carpets. Try out these tips in your home to give your flooring a fresh look and new life.

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