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Budget Dream Bathrooms

by The Diva



Everyone want a luxurious bathroom to unwind in, but many people don’t think that they can afford all of the bells and whistles. this is not true! The cost to remodel a bathroom with all the amenities of a spa costs less than you think. In this article, we’ll show you how luxury bathrooms can be created, without a luxury price tag.


To properly remodel a bathroom, the initial step should be to select a calming color. Using color to improve your health is called chromatherapy. A number of bathtubs, showers and sinks are now designed with chromatherapy in mind, so you can coordinate your pieces for the maximum effect. For a super bath toy, the new soak bath with chromatherapy, allows an individual to be immersed in a warm, ultra-deep bath and, with the touch of a button, enhance the bathing environment to include a full spectrum of dramatic color. The colors are displayed approximately every 8 seconds and washed over the bather in faded hueswhich go to solid then fade again and give way to the next color. This creates an incredibly relaxing sensation that you should definitely experience!

If you prefer invigorating showers over long soaks in the tub, then here is something that’s a must-have in luxury bathrooms. Many people find that the rich moisture in a steam shower can be a soothing and relaxing and soaking in a hot tub. The steam relieves muscle tension, joint fatigue, reduces stress and cleanses skin impurities. Most steam showers offer temperature selections that range from ninety to one hundred and twenty degrees timers for the length of time that you want to enjoy the steam option. Steam showers have come down significantly in price and are the same size as traditional shower enclosures. If you really want to go all out, some steam showers come equipped with a radio and telephone, a remote control, as well as connections for your CD player.

No spa experience is complete without wrapping your relaxed and rejuvenated body in a warm towel, so luxurious bathrooms should definitely come with a towel warmer. Lower-cost towel warmers cost as little as $100-$150 and are superb for homeowners who need to remodel a bathroom on a budget. However, they’re often equipped with very light chroming or lower-quality materials that will wear off over time. You also cannot control the degree of heat that the unit emits. Luxury towel warmers can run anywhere from $1,500-$5,000, and many come with elegant designs. These towel warmers usually use solid brass and come with a 5-year warranty.

Prior to designing your space you need to decide on what luxury means to you,. Do you have to have the jacuzzi tub or would some new paint and fancy towels satisfy the need to upgrade your master bath and pamper yourself? Luxury bathrooms don’t have to be expensive. Many pricey items for decorating bathrooms have cheaper alternatives, so shop around and treat yourself to things that you’ll enjoy for years.

 

Filed Under: General Tagged With: chicago bathroom remodeling, chicago bathroom renovation, chicago home contractor, chicago home improvement

What to Look for When Buying an Exercise Bike – Some Tips

by The Diva

One of the most common fitness exercise machines is the exercise bike but buying one is not as simple as going to the mall and picking one out. There are various things to reflect on before you do this. You may want to take into account not only the cost, type of bike, whether you want a recumbent or upright exercise bike, and how comfortable and uncomplicated it is to adjust.

How Much Do You Want to Spend?

Naturally this is always the most crucial concern but you don’t want to go for the cheapest exercise bike on sale as it may not be long lasting, be comfortable or give you good exercise. A starting bike at a minimum will cost you roughly $200, and though this will be adequate it may not have any of the features that can be found on more expensive work out bikes. For a small amount more, say between $350 and $600 you’ll get a better quality exercise bike with some features such as heart rate control, magnetic resistance, a comfortable seat and usually quiet and efficient operation.

For approximately $600 you will be able to obtain a high-quality exercise bike with all the features you may need. For this cost you should expect a lot of built-in exercise programs, easy to use display console, and resistance control, handlebars that are effortless to change and a very good warranty.

Comfort of the Exercise Bike

Of course your exercise bike should be easy as you will be spending quite a lot of time on it! You will need a well padded seat and handlebars that adjust without difficulty. Are you going to obtain an upright or recumbent exercise bike? A lot of people think that recumbent exercise bikes are more comfy to use than upright exercise bikes as you sit in a more reclined position so there is less strain on your back. Upright exercise bikes, although not quite as comfortable, do have the advantage that you can effortlessly increase the level of the workout by standing up to pedal just as you would do on a standard bicycle.

Changing the Resistance

Exercise bike resistance is variable in 2 ways. The majority of the lower cost models use tension and a belt, more costly models use magnetic resistance which is quieter and more dependable. Adjusting magnetic resistance is easy and usually done with a pushbutton or knob.

Heart Rate Monitors

It is extremely crucial to be able to observe your heart rate while training as this is the whole aim of riding your exercise bike in the first place! Always purchase an exercise bike with a built-in pulse rate monitor so that you can adjust your training accordingly. Nearly all the exercise bikes do have this though less expensive bikes will often just have a pulse rate monitor built into the handlebars. The more expensive exercise bikes will have workouts that are driven by your heart rate so they adjust automatically to keep your heart rate at a level that you set. This is a very good feature but not crucial if you can’t afford it.

Built-In Workout Programs

Many of the cheaper exercise bikes do not have workout included programs. While you may consider this is not too much of a drawback you will find that just sitting on the bike and pedalling will become dull very quickly! With workout programs you can vary your workout and the feedback you get will help with your motivation. Consoles that give you feedback on calories burned, distance covered and tour heart rate etc. actually do improve your motivation and keep you exercising for longer periods. A good number of the exercise bikes in the mid-budget range i.e. between about $300 and $600 will give you a realistic range of integral workouts and a moderately good quality display. More expensive exercise bikes i.e. in the $650 and above range will have a large number of workouts and excellent LED displays with a whole range of feedback information.

Conclusion

Naturally, as with other fitness exercise machines, when buying an exercise bike, you get what you pay for. It is not really a good plan to buy the cheapest exercise bike you can find as it won’t last very long and you won’t be satisfied with the exercise that you get. It is not necessary to buy a very high-priced bike but we suggest buying one for around $300 which will give you decent exercise and keep you motivated. Read more at Buying a Fitness Exercise Machine

Filed Under: Health and Fitness Tagged With: exercise bike, exercise equipment bikes, fitness exercise machine, recumbent exercise bike, upright exercise bike

The benefit Of Creating A Checklist Of Camping Supplies

by The Diva

Camping is a very exciting activity that requires being well organized which of course is easier said than done because remembering to take every item of camping supplies along with you is quite a task in itself. Not knowing which items of camping supplies to take along will also add to the task and more often than not people tend to forget some item or the other. Ascertain that nothing mars your camping trip so keep a checklist of essential and different camping supplies to help you in remembering all the items that are needed for enjoying camping.

Important Task While Preparing  Camping Supplies

In fact, preparing a checklist of camping supplies is probably one of the most important tasks that a camper must complete before embarking on their trips. The checklist ensures that everything is properly organized while also helping ensure that nothing of real importance is forgotten. What’s more, you can take help in deciding the checklist and then enjoy some more fun in thinking up new items to enter in the checklist.

Of course, it can also be difficult to create the complete checklist; especially, given the fact that there are different types of camping for which different types of camping supplies are required. Survival camping may only require minimal camping supplies while recreational camping would require items of comfort as well as luxury and in addition you might also need to have electricity on hand for which different supplies might be required.

Different camping types will require different kinds of camping supplies; of that there is no doubt. However, you can add and subtract different items of camping supplies to suit your particular needs and fancies and also choose according to whether you wish to swim or raft or grill or fish. The simplest way of creating a suitable camping supplies checklist is to list the basic items separately and then create another list for those items that are considered as extras and which are not essentials.

Among the basic items of campingsupplies that every camper will need you can include tents, sleeping bags, rain wear, tarps and cooking essentials as well as bottled water as too batteries, waterproof matches, flashlight, pocketknife and whistle.

It is a good idea to choose your RV camping supplies with care as the right items will richen your experience and also protect you against the vagaries of weather. Most people actually prefer RV camping and so they are ideal candidates for buying suitable supplies that will help to ensure the best experience.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: camper, camping supplies, recreational camping, RV camping supplies

Go on a Picnic and Save Money this Summer

by The Diva

Remember the good old days before theme parks and grand resorts when your family used to go on picnics? In these tough economic times, why not return to these easier times by taking your family on a picnic? In this story we’ll help you figure out everything you’ll need to make your picnic an event that your entire family will remember.

First, let’s consider the picnic basket. Think about where you’re going to hold your picnic. Will you be able to park nearby? Will you have to walk or hike a distance to get there. If you’re going to be able to park near your picnic area, a traditional wicker picnic basket will work. However, if you’re going to have to walk to your picnic table, you might want to consider a picnic backpack. Picnic backpacks are very light and have plenty of room to carry everything you’ll need.

One of the things I really like about carrying a fully stocked picnic basket is that it’s an environmentally friendly alternative to bringing paper cups, paper plates and plastic silverware. Today’s picnic baskets and backpacks come complete with all the equipment you’ll need to make your picnic a success. You can get a picnic basket or backpack that’s complete with silverware, plates, glasses, salt and pepper shakers, napkins, a table cloth and even a cutting board and cheese knife.

Next you’ll need to decide whether you’re going to cook on your picnic or bring a selection of sandwiches and snacks. If you want to cook, make sure the park you’re going to has grills to use or bring a portable grill of your own. Today you can even get portable gas grills if you don’t want to mess with charcoal and charcoal lighter. Whether you cook on gas or charcoal you’re going to need a set of quality barbecue tools.

I hope you agree with me that a picnic is an money saving alternative to a day at the local theme park. Give it a try and I think you and you’re entire family will be very glad you did.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: picnic, picnic backpack, picnic basket

Choosing the Right Above Ground Swimming Pool

by The Diva

Intex Round Frame Above Ground Pool Set Up

Above ground pools are probably the most popular form of swimming pool today. As the name tells you an above ground swimming pool is a pool that is installed above the ground rather than being buried.

Above ground pools provide a number of benefits over their in ground equivalents. One of the key benefits is safety. It is much harder for a child or a pet to fall into an above ground pool as they will generally have to climb steps to gain access.

Another key advantage is installation simplicity. Above ground swimming pools generally require far less ground work and preparation before being installed. In fact many can be built by competent DIY enthusiasts and there are some excellent swimming pool kits that make owning your own pool very affordable.

You will find that there are some excellent above ground pool designs to choose from. These include wooden framed pools, metal wall pools and vinyl sided pools. Splasher pools are a great example of easy-to-install, fun backyard pools. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. From compact circular splasher pools with a depth of only 36 inches to much more substantial elliptical pools that are great for the whole family.

When considering an above ground swimming pool it is worth giving some thought to the following:

How big is the space for your above ground swimming pool? Remember that people will need to get around the pool so its necessary to leave adequate clearance.

Who will be using the pool? If the pool is to be used by young children and non-swimmers it is sensible to select a shallower pool.

During which part of the year will the pool be used? Most outdoor swimming pool users in Europe will only use their pool during the peak summer months. But you can extend the usable period with the insulation provided by a pool enclosure.

What additional accessories will you need for your pool? Often overlooked. There are an abundance of pool accessories that you may need like a suitable pool heating system, a good pool cover to keep out debris, cleaners, filters and water treatment chemicals.

Armed with this information I would suggest that you then contact at least two reputable swimming pool supply companies with the details of your above ground pool requirements. They will provide you with the benefit of their experience and give you some suggestions regarding various above ground pools that meet your needs.

Many people are finding that there has never been a better time to invest in an above swimming ground pool. Competition between pool supply companies is fierce and many people are not currently spending on luxury items like swimming pools. Shopping around is likely to provide you with a bargain.

Filed Under: Travel Tagged With: above ground swimming pools, splasher pools, swimming pool

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