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Learning to Let Go – How to Transition to a More Minimalist Decor

by The Diva




We all know the benefits of a minimalist décor and almost every home improvement site you read about it seems is currently pushing the idea very heavily. Minimalist interiors are fashionable and modern, they’re easy to look after and keep clean, they’re efficient and they’re inexpensive. Meanwhile it’s easy to move home when you have less in it to move, and the items you do have suddenly take on more importance and drawing more eyes.

But there’s one problem – and that’s that you probably like your stuff, and suddenly having to get rid of it all can feel a bit painful and heartless. Here then I’m going to talk you into deciding to take the plunge and make the split, and at the same time show you how you can lessen the pain of separation….

Ornaments: Here’s step one – take everything on your surfaces that is either a: candle holder, placemat, vase, photo frame, tissue box, fruit bowl or non-essential lamp and put it in a box on your wardrobe overnight. Now spend some time in your room and see how it feels – nice and clean feeling isn’t it? Knowing this, you should now put back just a few – two decoration per half a surface maximum – and make sure to cut down your things by at least half.

Collections: The urge to collect is something that leads to a lot of clutter but it can be overcome. First of all note that if you thin out your collections and display just the pride of your collections that you will immediately make that one item seem that much more important and special. If you have a collection of blue and white china then for instance this can just look cluttered and dusty on a shelf whereas just one single nice blue and white bowl that you’re incredibly proud of can make a real statement and stand out. Likewise rather than having a collection of hundreds of DVDs you don’t really care that much about, how about having just a select few that create a picture of who you are and the kind of things you enjoy?

Boxes: You may think that having boxes full of junk on your wardrobes or in the loft won’t affect your décor – but you’d be wrong. Even though you can’t see this stuff, just having it there is enough to prevent you putting other things away, while having boxes on wardrobes and under beds means there’s less clear space in your visual field which we still register as clutter. If you have a box of old things that you haven’t been in for the last year then you should simply take it down, remove anything valuable or sentimental and throw it out. The point here is that if you haven’t used it in that long, you probably won’t use it again anytime soon either. And if you do find you suddenly need whatever it is? Then you can probably buy a new one.

Stop Buying: Of course to limit your clutter you also need to stop adding to it. One easy way to do this is with a ‘one in, one out’ rule, which simply means that for every new item you buy and display, you have to remove one old one to make space. This forces you to think more carefully about purchases and means you can’t amass too much.

Hi, I am Anne Warren and I write home improvement articles. I am passionate about home decor and share my experiences through guest posting. I choose Central Heating Boilers to get all info on central heating types, providers of home heating solutions.

Filed Under: A clean home, Home Improvement Tagged With: clean, clear, clutter, Home Improvement, minimalist decor

5 Amazing iPhone Accessories Everyone Should Have

by Trish

It doesn’t matter what version of the iPhone you have. We all know your phone is your pride and joy and you spent quite a deal of hard-earned money on it. That said, you should protect your investment and do all that you can to maximize the way you’re able to use it. The following accessories will both protect your iPhone and take your use to the next level.

Finishing Screens

If your screen becomes scratched or cracked, you’ll have a hard time using your phone. Generic has made an anti-glare, anti-scratch, anti-fingerprint matte finishing screen protector that is guaranteed to keep your investments safe. Priced around $.60 each, or under $1 for a package of three, there is no reason to go without ordering a whole bunch to keep your phone safe. Now you won’t have to worry about your keys, items in your pocket or purse, or the harsh ground damaging your phone.

Docking Cradles

Want to charge your phone and still use it to listen to music or play games at the same time? A Charging Dock Cradle will allow you to charge your phone will maintaining its audio output so that you can sync your phone to your PC, play games, and use whatever other functions you need while you’re sitting at your desk and getting things done.

Protective and Customized Cases

If you have an iPhone, you should have a case for it – no exceptions. There’s nothing quite like the horror of watching your cell phone slip from your hands and shatter into several pieces on the pavement. If you’re lucky, you can put them back together and have a working phone. If not, you’ll end up with a cracked screen or damaged parts that won’t go back together again. A protective case, especially the rubber ones, will prevent your phone from falling apart or getting seriously damaged when it hits the ground. You can spruce things up a bit by opting for customized iPhone cases in various colors or with your favorite designs.

USB Car Charger
Most of the iPhones are designed to plug into a USB port for charging. If you want to make sure your phone remains charged on the go, invest in something like the GTMax Mini USB Car Charger and plug the USB cord right into it. You’ll never run out of battery power again, no matter how long you’re on the road.

Windshield/Dashboard Mount

What good is the GPS function on any phone if you can’t actually see or hear the directions you’re being given? Items like the Arkon IPM515 Windshield/Dashboard Mount make it easy for you to mount your iPhone on the car’s dashboard on on the windshield. This is great not only for GPS functions, but for allowing you to use speakerphone in areas where hands-free cell phone use is a must.

While your iPhone was a pretty significant investment, most of the items above will only cost you a few dollars – well worth the expense to protect your most functional piece of technology.

About the Author: Ela Casamento loves her iPhone and has it with her at all times. She believes that if you’re willing to spend almost $400 on the latest release, you should be willing to spend a few dollars to protect it!

photo by: Yutaka Tsutano

Filed Under: Electronics Tagged With: accessories, case, dashboard mount, docking cradle, finishing screens, investment, iphone, protect, usb car charger

Top Feng Shui Tips For The Bedroom

by Trish

Our bedrooms were designed for two activities: rest and romance. However, our busy lifestyles, coupled with the need to constantly multi-task or exercise, has rendered the bedroom more of an extension of the office or the gym than a haven for rejuvenation. The ubiquitous television has furthered reduced the bedroom to a gathering place for strangers rather than a sanctuary for solitude.

By using the principles of Feng Shui, we can restore our bedrooms to the heavens they were intended to be as well as increase our vitality, our health and the quality of our romantic relationships.

The First Easy Steps

Remove electronics

Feng Shui for the bedroom begins with removing all electronic and electrical devices from the bedroom, especially the television. If there is a need for an alarm clock, then place it as far from the bed as possible. However, all other electronic and electrical devices need to be removed from the room, including the telephone.

Electronic devices emit electrical signals even when they are turned off. These signals interfere with your sleep cycles as well as the energy in the room. Removing these interferences will result in more restful sleep.

Clear the Air


Another easy step is to open the windows every day so that energy in the room does not stagnate. This can also be accomplished by the use of a ceiling fan, but don’t use the fan while you’re sleeping.

Assume the positions

The principles of Feng Shui state that certain positions and styles of furniture are better than others. For example, the bed should:

• Not be placed under the window because this weakens your energy.

• Be placed against a solid wall.

• Not be in line with the door, which is called the coffin position, although the door should be plainly visible.

• Not be placed underneath overhead beams as this symbolizes the possibility of death.

Headboards should be made of wood rather than metal; padded headboards are also acceptable. There should be ample free space under the bed in order to facilitate the free flow of energy.

Sharp corners should be avoided in Feng Shui because rounded shapes facilitate the free flow of energy whereas sharp corners block it.

Mirrors facing the bed are verboten in Feng Shui. The energy leaves the body at night and will be startled if it sees itself reflected in the mirror; this will cause restless sleep or nightmares. Large mirrors are also thought to promote infidelity.

The Finish Line

Keep your bedroom free of clutter.

Displayed items should be kept to a minimum and only displayed in pairs. In other words, use two candles, two nightstands, and so forth. This promotes the concept of a couple whereas a single item promotes the concept of singlehood. However, twin mattresses should be avoided because this promotes separation. Try to use symbolic items, such as the endless knot, that promote the relationship.

Avoid having an aquarium in the bedroom as the movement of the water will promote the perpetual movement of energy in the room and will result in restless sleep. Plants and flowers promote the very active yang energy so they should be avoided as well.

Your bedroom should be relatively quiet and only items that pertain to you and your partner should be in it. Pictures of friends and relatives should be displayed elsewhere. Use cool and soothing colors such as tones of beige, green, blue and lavender and avoid bright colors such as red, vivid purple and so forth, as these promote the movement of energy rather than tranquility.

By using the concepts of Feng Shui in your bedroom, you can revitalize your romance as well as your individual energy and restore your bedroom to the haven it was meant to be!

Jeff Gross is a freelance writer and marketing consultant for Arverne Long Island online presentation. He enjoy’s in finding new creative ways to improve online visibility of his clients.

photo by: conceptDawg

Filed Under: Home Decor, Home Improvement Tagged With: bed, bedroom, busy, clutter, electronics, feng shui, gym, Health, lifestyle, office, rest, romance, round, sanctuary, solitude, tips, vitality, wall

Is Nicotine Physically Addictive?

by Trish

There is no doubt that nicotine is extremely physically addictive. Some people consider it just as addictive as heroin or opiates. No one will argue that once you’re hooked on nicotine from smoking that you won’t suffer physical withdrawal symptoms, however unlike with drugs, the withdrawal symptoms are much, much less severe.

How it Works

Once you introduce nicotine into your system, it immediately starts affecting certain chemical processes that send signals to your brain. As smoke carries the nicotine further into your body, you body begins to rely on it. What is even worse is that once your body adjusts to a certain level of nicotine being in your system, it begins to want more of it, which increases your physical and psychological dependence. This is the reason why many people may start out smoking on a few cigarettes a day and turn into two to three packs a day chain smokers. Nicotine addiction escalates the longer you use the drug.

The Vicious Circle

Your lungs, your brain, your circulatory system and even your hormones are all affected by nicotine. Even though you know you’re damaging your body, and you can likely feel the effects, the longer you use nicotine the harder it becomes to quit. Nicotine causes the brain to release endorphins that make you feel good just like exercise does. In fact, your brain comes to rely on nicotine-related endorphins and the severe mood swings people go through when they try to quit smoking usually drives them to light up again. The fact that your body is so used to “getting high” makes it that much harder for you to quit.

Withdrawal

Quitting smoking is especially difficult because there are physical and psychological components to the withdrawal. Even after you crush out your last cigarette, nicotine resides in your system for up to a week. Most people say the first three to four days of withdrawal are the worst. Symptoms vary from person to person, but common complaints are restlessness, headaches, and bad mood swings. Additionally, you have to break habits like having a cigarette after meals and get used to not having a cigarette in your hand. Many people find lollipops or chewing gum helpful for the psychological withdrawal to help with that “missing something feeling” they get from not smoking. Unfortunately, the only cure for the physical withdrawal is time.

Breaking the nicotine cycle is a challenge, but it is not impossible. Millions of people quit smoking every year. You may have to try several times before you finally quit, but that is a part of the process. Keep trying and eventually you can break the cycle of addiction for good.

About the Author: Loralee Anable works in a healthcare clinic and counsels people who want to quit smoking on a regular basis. She is currently looking into moving into diagnostic medicine and is reading sites like http://www.ultrasoundtechnician.info to find out if a career in ultrasound is right for her!

Filed Under: Health and Fitness Tagged With: brain, chemical processes, heart, hormones, lungs, mood swings, nicotine, physical dependence, physically addictive, psychological dependence, smoking, system, withdrawal

Bathroom Remodels Which Won’t Scare Your Wallet Away

by Trish

While you might want or badly need a part of your house remodeled, the truth of the matter is that renovations cost money, something which most of us do not have a lot of. In fact, bathroom remodels are projected to cost an average of $15,789 per project. For this reason, remodeling plans which you have conceived more than five years ago have been pushed to the back of your mind and your budget. But whether you are thinking about upping the value of your house or making a much needed modification for someone who is having trouble using your current bathroom, here are some remodels which you are sure won’t break the bank:

Changing the Grout

Do you want to make a huge impact on your bathroom without having to spend your son’s college fund? Then try re-grouting your bathroom tiles. If you’ve been to old houses, you have observed how these homes seem to have no, if not only meager, problems with their tiles. For as long as the tiles you buy are not chipped and cracked, you can re-use them but breathe new life into them by using a new color of grout. While replacing old tile can cost as much as $2000, it only costs $500 for you to re-grout your entire bathroom.

Refinishing the Tub

If you have invested in a high-quality tub which still functions great although it has already look worn-out and outdated, just like every item after it has been used for at least a decade, you do not need to have it removed and replaced with a new one to have a spa-like bathroom. You can choose to have your bathtub refinished so that you can get rid of all the stains and water spots which have developed over time. Not only is this job affordable with services costing only around $475 to $600, this job can also be completed in just 24 hours. While it is true that you can buy a new tub at just a few hundred dollars, the entire work involved will run for a longer period of time than the former which can lead staggering labor fees of up to thousands.

New Mirrors

Because we never forget to look at ourselves in the mirror when we’re in the bathroom, doing something as simple as getting a new mirror is sure to not be left unnoticed. One of the tricks of really getting the best out of any remodel is to spend time on the items and parts of the house which are often used.

Jeannie Conner is a writer who has several experiences with bathroom and plumbing services. She has many great advise when you read articles in Filan & Conner Plumbing .

photo by: juhansonin

Filed Under: Bath and Shower Tagged With: bathroom, budget, grout, money, new mirror, refinish tub, remodels, renovation, wallet

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