Autumnal Updating: Simple Ways To Create Comfort and Coziness At Home

Is there anything nicer than a cozy night in when the weather is bad outside? Movies, hot chocolate, and cozy pajamas, now that the summer has come to an end it’s all about being as warm and comfortable as possible again. When you’re spending less time outdoors, and more time in your home, you of course want it to be as inviting and pleasant to spend time in as possible. So if you’re hoping to make some updates before the colder weather really sets in, here are a few things to consider. 

Sort Your Heating

Chances are your heating won’t have been used since the start of the year. But now that the summer is coming to a close and the nights are getting colder it’s time to fire it up. Since it’s not been used in a while, it’s worth putting it on and doing a test run, go around the house and make sure all radiators and things like heated towel rails are warming up properly. If radiators aren’t hot all the way up, there might be air trapped in the system. This is a simple fix, you can ‘bleed’ them which removes this and will ensure they work correctly again. Any issues you can call a heating repair company now and get it up and running again before the cold weather really sets in. If you have a wood burning stove, now is the time to start stocking up on wood. If you have a shed or somewhere to store it, you could start stockpiling now to spread the cost meaning you have less to buy later in the year. 

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Get Rid of Drafts

There’s nothing worse than feeling a big chill or gust of cold air come through the home when the weather cools down. Old houses are particularly bad when it comes to drafts. Two things you can do from a home improvement perspective are to get new windows fitted and have the walls and loft insulated. Not only is this better for the environment since you’re wasting less heat but it will also save you money in the long run and mean you’re much more comfortable at home. Companies like Renewal by Andersen windows specialize in energy efficient windows and patio doors which will be a welcome upgrade if you’ve been dealing with drafty windows for a while. Cavity wall and loft insulation will provide your property with almost a thermal jacket, heat stays trapped in instead of escaping keeping you far more warm and cozy. Other things you can do is ensure that doors fit right in the frames. If for example you once had a thick carpet but replaced this with wooden floors, you might now have a gap along the bottom where drafts can get through. Also, houses can settle and shift over the years meaning doors don’t fit as well as they once did. Having all new internal doors fitted will not only look nice but keep the heat trapped in the rooms more efficiently. At the very least, use draft excluders along the bottom of doors to keep the cold out. 

Refresh The Beds

There’s no cozier place to be than in bed, and when the colder months roll back around there’s plenty you can do to make this the loveliest, comfiest place in the world. First, if your mattress is over seven years old, it’s time to buy a replacement, since after this time it will no longer be supporting your body properly. Plus it can harbor dust mites and their waste, which can set off allergies. Replace duvets after five years and pillows after one or two for the same reason- plus new bedding feels extra plush and cozy. For bedding, brushed cotton or flannel will be extra soft and cozy, and you could pile up your bed with throws and a bedspread for added warmth. An electric blanket is useful for those really chilly evenings, pop it on for a few minutes before you get into bed. Whether you spend your evenings curled up with a book or watching Netflix, a comfortable bed is a perfect way to relax and unwind at home. 

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Make The Sofa Cosy

Another way you can get cozy at home is by making the sitting area a warm and comfortable place to be. If your furniture is leather, we all know how cold and unpleasant this can be to sit on! One way you can get around this is by using throws. You can get large throws big enough to cover a kingsize bed on places like eBay. Pop one underneath you and then a couple for over the top. Perfect for snuggling up within your pajamas after a hot bath on a chilly autumn or winter’s evening. If you buy a basket or a storage ottoman to go in your living room, it’s easy to put the blankets away when they’re not in use. Otherwise, you could just fold them up and hang them over the back of the sofa or armchairs. Plenty of plush cushions too will make everything extra comfortable. 

Work On The Bathroom

Cold nights are all about long soaks in a hot bubble bath, but if your surroundings in the bathroom are lacking you might not feel like luxuriating in there for long! If you can’t afford a full bathroom refit, there are a few things that can make all the difference. First, remove any moldy sealant from around the bath, and re-do this, so it looks nice and clean. Next, using a grout tool scrape some of the grout from between the tiles and fill it again. This gives you the look of a freshly tiled bathroom for a fraction of the cost! Replace your shower curtain if yours has gone moldy, and bring in some new accessories. A new bath mat, some soft fluffy towels, and a new soap dispenser are all practical while making your bathroom look nice. Another important thing to get right in the bathroom is storage. Instead of being surrounded by products and kids toys, these can all be neatly put away. Then when you run your bath, you have clean and tidy surroundings so you can properly relax. Buy some bath bombs or oils and light a candle. 

Make it Look Nice

A cozy home isn’t just about it being warm, although that is important. It should look pleasant and inviting too. Plenty of soft textiles like cozy rugs, throws, cushions and sumptuous curtains will make it feel cozy. Display some personal touches like art and photographs, along with some plants and decorative accessories. Rooms that look homely and personal tend to have a cozy feel, so don’t overlook the decor if you want to feel as comfortable as possible over the colder months. If your home is decorated in neutral colors, bringing in an accent color is a good way to update it. Choose an accent shade, brown, terracotta, gold, navy, deep purple- all of these shades work well for the autumn. Buy your accessories and soft furnishings in this color to bring depth and dimension to space and update it for the season ahead. Generally decluttering and keeping everywhere tidy helps too, people go crazy for spring cleaning at the start of the year, but really this is worth getting on board with at the start of every season. Have carpets professionally cleaned, wash windows, curtains, vacuum behind large pieces of furniture and organize cupboards. Basically, tackle the jobs that would usually get left (or don’t need doing) during a normal clean. Lighting is another element to get right when it comes to the look and ambiance of the home. If you go with LED smart bulbs, you can easily tailor how dim or bright you want them meaning you can perfectly set the scene for whatever you’re doing. If you’re crafting or kids are doing homework, for example, you could have them brighter, if you’re relaxing with a movie you could dim them. If you have a voice-controlled speaker, you can change up the lighting mood using this. Otherwise, it’s from an app on your phone. It’s a useful way to make the room feel cozy. 

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Think About Fragrance 

Another way to bring a homely ambiance for the colder months is to fragrance your home. Plug in air fresheners, fabric sprays, reed diffusers, wax burners, candles, potpourri- there are tonnes of ways you can do this. Opt for seasonal scents such as autumn fruits, vanilla, and spices like cinnamon and gingerbread. It’s another way to add a level of coziness to your home and make it a space that you love spending time in. 

A few updates to your home can really make the difference, and when you’re spending more time indoors you want it to be as nice as possible. Whether you’re looking to renovate or just make some simple changes you can set yourself up for a much cozier autumn and winter. 

Set Sale! Preparing Your Home For A Big Sell

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It can be one of the most stressful things you will ever go through, although not as stressful as childbirth, selling your house is a long and difficult process sometimes. And the selling process can mean a lot of going back and forth to the estate agents, bartering with a potential buyer, and, of course opening up your house for incessant viewings for an extended period of time. Preparing your home for selling can be a bit expensive, but this should only relate to essential fixes. When you are selling your home, it makes no sense to completely overhaul the house, but you also want to strike the right balance for potential buyers by presenting a welcoming atmosphere. So how can you do this?

5 Tips to getting rid of water in your basement

When water has seeped into your basement, whether due to flood or pipe damage, it’s important that you clean it right away. Water may look harmless but it can damage furniture and even the structure of the home if not removed properly.

If you find yourself needing to get rid of some water in your basement, refer to the tips below or go to waterdamagerestorationdallastexas.com for more information on how to make sure that your house will be cleaned and free from water that may cause damage or disease.

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Mothers, Treat Yourself To The Little Things

As a Mother, our jobs are to put everyone else before ourselves - that's just the way our minds work, we are prone to care and nurture and make sure our children and our other half have everything that they need in order to be happy. But who do you have to do that for you?

Motherhood can be tough at times, and we all deserve that little treat to make things just that tad bit better. But who said about waiting for someone to come along and save you? We're Mothers; we don't need to wait around for anybody, right ladies?

So the next time you're out doing the grocery shopping and you see that dress that you wanted or that fancy coffee maker - indulge yourself for once!

Have a bestie

What better way of unwinding than with a girlfriend over a nice drink and a good old gossip. Not only that though, but friends are there to lean on when times get tough, so don't worry about feeling like a burden - you'd do the same for them. So when you feel like things are getting to you, open up and tell them about how you're feeling, it will make you feel so much better.

Schedule unplug times

Although you may think that it's near impossible to find free time with all that you do - if you look hard enough, you'll be able to create at least an hour. This is so important to do because it's what will keep you sane and balanced. So every now and then, take an afternoon or an evening off and do something that you enjoy, like going out to watch a movie, or treating yourself to a spa day. Or even if you just decide to stay home and do nothing - that in itself can work wonders on the mind.

A better night's sleep

It's hard enough to get a proper night's rest when you have so many different responsibilities and tasks running around in your head, so how much worse is that going to be if you have a ten-year-old mattress that has broken springs inside? Don't suffer in silence, even if you think you can put up with it ‘for now’, it'll soon start grating away at you physically and mentally. So visit some mattress stores and pick out a brand new piece of heaven - it'll make all your dreams come true... Really.

Exercise

A lot of people can associate exercise as being a chore, but if you figure out what you love doing, it will work as an amazing stress reliever. Take dancing for example, even if it's just in your living room when no one is around - this counts. So stick on your favorite tunes and dance like no one's watching. - The neighbors don't count...

As you can see it's really not that difficult to treat yourself, in fact, these are all just things that ordinary people do, but now you're a Mother it seems like a luxury. So take them - take as many as you want. You deserve it.

Strong and Able: The Best Diet in Old Age

As we grow older and have children, we also watch our own parents go from active adults to sedentary seniors. They’ll be more or less depending on us in the same way we used to depend on them; the only difference is, that as adults with children of our own, we don’t always get to spend as much time with them as we’d like. 

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They will be able to hang around for a while longer with the right kind of diet and exercise, though, and a specific diet seems to be working better for people in old age than others. Here is a neat guide on how you can help keep your parents healthy with the right kind of food - and company.

Pre-pregnancy Preparedness: Important Health Moves Before You Start Trying

If you're planning a pregnancy, you shouldn't wait until you're pregnant to start thinking about your health. Just because you don't have a fetus to worry about yet, it doesn't mean you can continue making unhealthy choices. Paying attention to your health when you're trying to have a baby can help you get pregnant. A healthier body can be better prepared to have a baby, so you might get pregnant quicker or have an easier pregnancy. There are also some health issues it's wise to address before getting pregnant, like vaccinations or checking if you're a carrier for common health conditions. These are some of the things you might want to do before you start trying for a baby.

Stop Smoking and Drinking

Smoking is bad for you and, if you get pregnant, bad for the baby too. If you smoke while you're pregnant, you can increase the risk of your baby having a low birth weight or breathing problems. It can also mean you have a higher chance of miscarriage or premature birth, as well an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). While you could stop smoking when you find out you're pregnant, it's better to try and do it before you start trying for a baby. Drinking during pregnancy can also cause problems, including fetal alcohol syndrome if you're a heavy drinker. You should cut out or at least limit your drinking while you're trying to get pregnant, especially as you could be pregnant for a while without realizing it.

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Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being overweight could make it more difficult for you to get pregnant, and if you need fertility treatments, they could be less likely to work. There's also a possibility of some problems during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and blood clots. Losing weight before you try for a baby could help you to get pregnant and avoid problems when you are pregnant. A balanced diet and moderate exercise can help you to lose weight and to maintain a healthy weight when you're pregnant. If you want to adjust your diet, it's a good idea to get into healthy habits before you get pregnant.

Vaccinations

There are some illnesses that are dangerous to have while you're pregnant, but you might not be able to get vaccinated for them during your pregnancy. For example, rubella (or German measles) can cause birth defects if you get it during the first half of your pregnancy. You should make sure you're vaccinated, along with measles and mumps, at least a month before you want to get pregnant (if you aren't already fully vaccinated). Other vaccinations you might consider include chicken pox and hepatitis B.

Sexual Health Check

Having a sexual health check before you try for a baby is a good idea, and often a routine part of health checks when you're pregnant. Many sexually transmitted diseases can cause harm to a baby, either during development or during labor. Others, such as chlamydia, can affect your fertility. If you want to get tested before you start trying for a baby, you can find pricing and locations for nearby testing clinics. Both you and your partner should get tested, even if you've been in a monogamous relationship for a long time. If nothing else, it will help to reassure you. Some of the important infections to test for include HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. STDs don't always present symptoms, so it's important not to assume you couldn't have one.

Managing a Long-term Health Condition

If you have a health condition you need to manage, whether it's physical or mental, it's important to take this into consideration before getting pregnant. Being pregnant could cause complications or in some cases might mean that taking your usual medication is unsafe. The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor about what getting pregnant might mean for you. You might need to be monitored carefully during your pregnancy and birth, just to make sure you and the baby are as healthy as possible. You also could benefit from taking your condition into account when making certain decisions, such as choosing a hospital to give birth or a doctor to manage your pregnancy.

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Screening Tests

There are some things you might want to screen for before you get pregnant, in case there is a chance you could pass something to your baby. These include conditions such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia, for which you could be a carrier, even if you don't have one of these illnesses yourself. These two blood disorders are particularly common in people from certain ethnic groups, such as those of African, Caribbean, Mediterranean or south and south-east Asian descent. If you're of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, your doctor may also recommend testing for a number of conditions.

Visit Your Dentist

It's a good idea to also go to your dentist before getting pregnant. Gum disease could increase the risk of having a preterm or low birthweight baby, according to some studies. So it's important to get a health checkup for your teeth and gums to see if you might have gum disease and treat it. Even if you don't have gum disease, which many people do without realizing, you should make sure to maintain good oral hygiene so you can prevent it.

Take Folic Acid

Finally, you've probably heard that it's a good idea to take folic acid during early pregnancy. It's also recommended if you're trying to get pregnant. Folic acid helps to prevent birth defects, and it's recommended that you take it for three months before getting pregnant, plus during your pregnancy. 0.4mg a day is the recommended amount to take, in addition to a balanced diet. You can take it as part of a multivitamin so that you get some of the other nutrients you need to stay healthy too.

Start your pregnancy off right by paying attention to your health before you start trying for a baby. You could have a healthier pregnancy and a healthier baby if you do.

Moms: Quick Ways To Enviable Tresses

When you’re a mom, you haven’t always got lots of time to get ready. However, this doesn’t mean you want to compromise on your looks! You should still feel great about yourself when you leave the house - you simply need to change your routine so you can look great in a shorter time frame. Here are a few quick ways to enviable tresses to help you:

Spray In Some Dry Shampoo

Dry shampoo is a god send, whether you have greasy hair or not. If your hair is the kind that gets greasy quickly, dry shampoo can offer you a day off from washing your hair the traditional way. If it’s not greasy, you can still use it to give our hair a root boost. Simply spray it at your roots wherever you want a boost and massage with your fingers. 

Buy A Comb For Backcombing

Backcombing the hair is an age old technique that can help to give you more lift at the roots of your hair. It’s perfect when you’re trying to achieve certain styles, such as a messy ponytail, high bun, or even a simple voluminous down style. The key is to really go for it at the very root of your hair, and then smooth over to hide the tangle. It’s crucial you brush these out at the end of the day though, or you risk damaging your hair! 

Invest In Plenty Of Pins

Pins are a great way to create a multitude of quick hairstyles. By tying your hair up, you can backcomb various pieces and pin them, creating many different messy bun looks that can work for day or night. You can even use them to simply pin your bangs away from your face, or create a half up half down style. 

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Buy A Hair Donut 

A hair donut is perfect for those who don’t have much in the way of volume. You can simply place it at the base of your ponytail and pin your hair around it, creating a gorgeous bun. 

Find Some High Quality Hair Extensions 

If you need extra length, volume, or both, quality hair extensions are the perfect way to go. Tape in hair extensions look natural and are great if you’re looking to completely hide the fact you’re wearing extensions. However, you’ll need to research the different types out there to find the right set for you. Make sure you carefully color match your hair to avoid any embarrassing faux pas. 

Invest In Your Hair Health 

Something else you need to do if you want enviable tresses is to play the long game by investing in your hair health. This means sleeping on a silk pillowcase, eating nutritious food, exercising, and taking the right vitamins. When you’re consistent with these things you’ll find that the look of your hair improves and it becomes more manageable. 

Hopefully, these tips for enviable tresses have been useful to you. Do you have any tips for enviable tresses? Leave them below!