Saturday, October 28, 2017

Do You Protect Your Tech?

Most of us have a wealth of gizmos and gadgets in our homes. We might even have a few in our bags when we’re out and about! Without a doubt, you have an arsenal of tricky-to-remember passwords for each one. On top of that, you have to remember all the other passwords for your apps and online accounts. It’s good to protect your personal information and data like that. But what about the device itself?

Lots of us have had a mishap with a smartphone or tablet in the past. Perhaps you just shrugged it off and carried on using it until your contract renewed? After all, we get a new device every year with most contracts. No wonder these devices can feel so disposable! Technology develops at such a pace that it renders devices unusable after just three or four years anyway.

No matter how much you spend on your devices, you shouldn’t really be flippant about it. It’s your hard-earned cash after all. And if you got it on credit, chances are you’re paying well over the retail price for it anyway. Taking care of portable devices is never easy to do. Think about all the places you go with it. Is it tucked safely in a rugged case? You can’t encase everything in bubble wrap, but there are a few ways you can increase your protection.


The first, and most obvious, is with insurance. Household insurance rarely covers the full value of your device, and might not cover it if you take it from the house. Try to find specialist insurance for that type of gadget. 

The second level of protection is a ruggedized case. This can sometimes restrict the use of the device, though. It won’t protect against every serious knock or water accident either. But it’s a good start for daily use.

The third way to protect your device is to actually repair it if you damage it. With companies like Forever Wireless cell phone repair is quick, painless and affordable. Glass continues to crack and leave your device vulnerable once it is damaged. Get it fixed to protect your tech straight away. 

What about your other devices at home, like TVs and sound systems? This type of tech doesn’t tend to be upgraded nearly as often as phones, tablets and computers. That means it might be even more important to ensure your technology is in good working order. Most of our home tech is just as connected as anything else. Bluetooth and WiFi are the most common ways to connect to these devices. Software and operating system updates should benefit the equipment. Make sure you’re up to date.

Positioning is everything at home. Sturdy shelves, no heat sources, and sensible socket use are essential to protect your tech. Keep kids and pets well away from any of your wires to ensure nobody gets hurt, and nothing gets damaged. How do you protect your tech at home and away?

Friday, October 27, 2017

Avoid Fall House Maintenance Faux Pas


Fall is finally here, and that means that it’s time to get the pumpkins for carving, stock up sweets for trick or treaters and make sure you have a pantry full of food for thanksgiving. However, it also means that we’re approaching the time whether the wind and rain take their shots at our homes, attempting to do some damage and maybe blow a few tiles from the roof. As such, you have to make sure that your home is prepared for the fall season with a little maintenance work. There are a few tips we can recommend here. 

Get Some Shutter Gutters

Wind and heavy rain equal one thing: blocked gutters. Usually, this is due to the fact that the wind blows up the leaves and other muck to the roof. The rain pushes it into the gutters, the gutters get clogged, and before long you have a smelly mess. That’s right, if gutters are left clogged up for too long, they can and will start to small. 

That said, there is an easy fix. You can get shutter gutters from http://www.guttershutter.com/. Shutter gutters fit over the gutters of your home like simple plastic coverings. Since they have holes in them, the rainwater seeps through, but the muck and mess of leaves and other dirt is kept out completely. As such it is the perfect solution, and the best part is that they are totally easy to install. 

Check Your Roof Regularly 

You might find that there is a hole in your roof, damage left over from a recent storm. It’s important to get this fixed well before the fall weather really kicks into high gear. An issue with the roof can leave your house more vulnerable and may cause issues with damp or even allow animals to enter. Don’t forget, as the weather starts to turn animals will be looking for shelter and if there’s an entrance point to your attic, this could be the perfect place. 

The answer here then is to get a roof inspection. If there is any damage, make sure it is fixed as quickly as possible before the weather starts to turn. Luckily, there are companies like https://www.crownremodelingllc.com/, that can take care of this type of storm damage for you. That way, you won’t have to worry about attempting a weird and potentially dangerous DIY repair. 

Prep The Yard 

You won't get much of a chance to get out in the garden through the fall and especially as the winter winds arrive. So make sure you are preparing your garden. You can cut the grass short, and you won’t have to cut it again until after winter. Grass tends to grow slower through the winter season, much to the joy of all gardeners. As for the rest of your garden, it’s probably time to let it go until spring arrives. 

We hope this helps you prepare your home for the fall season and ensure that everything is in place before winter comes.

Big, Black Mold: The Home Horror You Have To Avoid


Mold is not a particularly nice topic. It’s something we’d all rather pretend doesn’t exist; we know it’s possible, but that doesn’t mean that we’re entirely comfortable discussing the idea of it. 

However, one thing that’s worse than just discussing mold is living with mold-- especially the pernicious and ruinous black mold. So, in an effort to ensure that your home is always mold-free, it’s necessary to have a discussion about this fungal invader-- and ensure that your home is always a mold-free zone. 

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Healthy or Hoax? Rethink These Common Health Tips

Health is a complicated thing. It seems like everywhere you look, you can find advice on how to be healthier. And if it's not telling you how to be healthy, it's trying to convince you that looking a certain way is better for you. It can be really difficult to know what to believe and what to dismiss. Even things that are widely accepted as being good for you can turn out to not be true. The best thing to do is to look at what scientists and dieticians say about how to stay healthy. The health industry is just trying to sell you various products, so they're not the best people to rely on. 

Take a look at these common tips and the truth behind them.


Take Lots of Vitamins

Taking vitamins, on top of what you get from your diet, is recommended for lots of things. It's true that we all need to get a range of vitamins to help our bodies in the right away. And taking supplements can help you if you're not getting what you need from your diet. Many people take a multivitamin or one particular vitamin to help them stay healthy. However, at some point, taking more vitamins isn't going to do anything. For example, vitamin C helps your immune system. But if you have a cold or other illness, taking vitamin C supplements is unlikely to help you, beyond a placebo effect. High doses of vitamin C could help slightly but ultimately won't cure your cold.

Dark Chocolate Is Really Good For You

We all love to believe that the things we're told are bad for us are actually good for us. Unfortunately, you can usually find matching stories for pretty much any food or drink. If there's one story saying it's good for you, you're almost guaranteed to find another that says it gives you cancer or increases your risk of heart disease. One example is dark chocolate. Chocolate does actually contain something called flavanols, which are good for your brain. But to benefit from them, you'd have to eat an awful lot of chocolate. However, chocolate can still give you a little boost by making you happy.


Cleaner Water Is Better Water

A lot of people worry about what's in their water. Aside from conspiracy theories about fluoride, you still might think that perhaps your water isn't as clean as you would like it to be. Some people think that super clean water is better, and opt to drink distilled water. However, distilled water has pretty much nothing in it. That means all the good minerals are removed, alongside the things you actually want to be removed that can affect the taste and safety of your water. A better option is to buy a water filter, which will remove the bad stuff but leave all the good stuff behind.

Navigating the world of health and diet can be difficult. But if you listen to the experts and look for evidence, you can find out what's true and what isn't.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Transform Your Garage Into The Perfect Children's Play Shed


If you’ve got a garage that you’re not using for much other than to store junk, and kids that just love to make a mess, why not consider transforming your garage into the perfect children’s play shed? There are a few things you’ll need to do before it’s suitable to play in, and some considerations you’ll need to make along the way. Read on if this sounds like something you and your children would like!

Choosing A Theme 

If you want to transform your garage into a playroom, first consider the sort of theme that you want to create. This will depend largely on your kids, what they are into, and how long you think they’ll be using the space. Turning it into a room based on their favorite kids' TV show is all well and good, but you need to remember that kids change their minds and grow out of things quickly. It might simply be better to go with a theme or decor idea that will last much longer, so you don’t have to redecorate every year. 

If your children are old enough, you could even get them involved by asking them what colors to use. That is if you’re not having the playroom as a surprise! 

Making The Garage Suitable For Children

The garage isn’t often the most suitable place for children to play. This means you’ll need to make some changes before you can let them go in and play out their wildest dreams! Consider the temperature of the garage to start. If it’s freezing, there are ways you can insulate it to make it a more suitable temperature for kids to play. Of course, there are also personal heaters you can use. 

Making sure the garage is clean and tidy is important, so set about having a huge clean and clear out. Ensure there are no pests lurking that could pose a danger to your kids. You may need to get professional squirrel removal or find a similar service. Having the room assessed by a pro could be a good idea, as you may miss some of the signs of an infestation.

The flooring in the garage is crucial. Concrete is fine for parking your car on, but for your kids to play on? Nope! You can look at replacing the floor you have with laminate or carpet. Carpet is the best option if you want something soft and warm that your kids will avoid hurting themselves on. It’s also a great noise muffler, so you’re not going to hear excited cries from your children as they play, and neither will your neighbors. Bear in mind a dark color is usually best, as you won’t always be able to oversee their playtime and make sure they’re not spilling things! If you’d rather not install a carpet permanently, you could purchase a large rug or something to soften and warm up the floor instead. This way, once your kids have grown up, it won’t be too much trouble to remove them and continue using the garage for your car. 

Thinking about installing windows is also a good idea. After all, wouldn’t you like your kids to play somewhere light and airy? Natural light is important for health and development! Installing windows won’t be cheap, but it’ll make all the difference to the play shed. 

Installing a secure TV is another good option. If you also provide comfortable seating, then your kids will able to enjoy their programs and films here, without disturbing you as you watch yours. The TV must be secure, as kids can get a little rowdy at times and you’d hate to find it smashed to smithereens one day. Attaching it to the wall could be a good idea for this reason. 

Lastly, it may be a good idea to get down to your kids level and assess what needs to be changed from there. Are there ways you can childproof the shed further? What will they likely see/bump into when they enter? 

Hiring A Decorator Vs. DIY

Consider how much time you have to dedicate to this project, as well as the budget you’ll allow. This will help you to decide whether hiring a decorator or doing it yourself is a good idea. While hiring a decorator is more expensive, you’ll likely have the play shed up and running much sooner, not to mention completely to a higher standard. Make sure you spend as much as you can afford - don’t automatically go for the cheapest decorator. 

This play shed will be somewhere your kids make memories to last a lifetime, so you want it to look suitable. 

Getting As Organized As Possible

Finally, getting organized is a must. Your kids have plenty of toys, books, arts, crafts, and other items that you’ll want to store. Being as organized as possible is the only way to ensure that the room stays tidy, even when you’re not there to supervise. Stacking boxes are the perfect solution for this, depending on how much stuff you have to store. Make sure you label absolutely everything so that your kids have no excuse for making a mess when looking for certain things or putting things back in the wrong place. 

Ensuring Your Children’s Safety

While childproofing, as mentioned before, can keep the play shed safe, you’ll also want to take other safety precautions to ensure that your kids are as safe as can be while playing. Make sure there are no cords or anything that they can get tangled up in, and install alarms so that you are alerted should anything happen. 

The perfect children’s play shed will be comfortable, warm, look great, and be as safe as possible. You don’t want to have to worry about your kids when they’re supposed to be having fun! Take some of the tips here and you’ll end up with a room that both you and your kids fall in love with. 

Leave your own thoughts and ideas below!