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Five Tips To Help Dog Separation Anxiety

by Trish

taro shiba:

From puppies to adult dogs, anxiety can be present regardless of age, size, breed and gender. Separation anxiety can happen for a variety of reasons, but luckily for us dog owners, there are a lot of solutions to helping your dog overcome this problem. In order to help a dog feel comfortable being left alone, follow these five tips.

Exercise

Before you leave the house and leave your furry friend behind, make sure he or she has had a good deal of exercise. Whether this means taking a long walk or a short run before leaving your pet at home, exercise will help your pet feel more relaxed when you walk out the door. This is because your pet will have less energy to focus on being left alone and will most likely fall asleep easier when you leave.

Avoid contact

As much as you want to tell your dog you love them as you’re leaving and pet them, making a big deal about your departure is only going to make it more difficult. By being casual when you’re leaving your pet behind, it’ll seem less serious and won’t make them think that the world is ending as you shut the door. When you return after your departure, it’s also important not to overreact when you see your pet again. Remaining calm will help the dog feel relaxed and will make them realize you leaving and returning isn’t that big of a deal.

Say goodbye early

It’s always a good idea to prepare for your departure a little early so that your pet has time to cope with the situation. Just like you should be avoiding eye contact, you also should be avoiding showing any sort of affection right before you leave. Whether you’re putting your dog in a crate or you are simply shutting the door behind you, don’t say goodbye and don’t act like you’re leaving forever.

Be calm

Never feel guilty about leaving your pet, ever. Instead, show your pet that everything is going to be okay by showing confidence and positive energy. Being calm and assertive can help ease any feelings of separation anxiety in dogs and will help you break this habit faster.

Start small and grow gradually

The first step to breaking this habit from your dog is to start small. This could mean doing little things like only leaving your dog alone for five minutes or using one tip at a time until you can handle all five. The most important thing is to do things gradually so that it’s not a shock when you pay less attention to your dog as you’re leaving the house. Eventually over time, you will see that both you as the owner and your pet will be less stressed and hopefully anxiety free!

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Jessica McNeal is a freelance writer and dog lover. Because she loves animals, she loves to make sure they’re safe from harm and are protected with pet ID tags. She buys her animals ID tags from Ketchum Mfg. Co. and is always satisfied with their products.

Filed Under: Pets Tagged With: Avoid contact, calm, dog, exercise, habit, help, pet, relaxe, Separation Anxiety, tips

Top Tips That Will Make Your Kitchen Easier To Work In

by Trish

Day 180 - Bloody washing up

How many times has someone said to you ‘the trick is to wash up your dishes right after you’ve eaten?’. It sounds like good advice sure, but what these smug friends don’t seem to take into account is that it’s not always quite that simple. For instance, it might be that you often watch TV while you eat and that you want to watch the rest of the program before you do the washing up. Alternatively it might be that once you’ve sat down, you suddenly feel too tired to get up and do the washing up after your long day of work and cooking.

Finally though, it might just be that you don’t enjoy washing up because your kitchen is too crowded to make it easy. If you have a small or badly designed kitchen, then what’s already a tough and unpleasant job can become unbearable. Here we will look at some of the ways you can make your kitchen more conducive to work, including washing up.

Work Zones

No matter the work you are doing in the kitchen you will find you need work zones. Work zones are areas that you can stand to work and ideally you should be able to reach more than one surface as well as some kind of appliance. In other words a good work zone might enable you to reach two or three bare surfaces and the hob. This way you can chop vegetables, stir a broth and drop things into a bowl all at once. When you first come up with your kitchen design you should try to think about where the work zones are going to be and how you can include more if possible. Using a kitchen island is one great way to add reachable surfaces at multiple points around the kitchen.

Organize Your Small Appliances

265

Blenders, toasty makers and coffee machines are all great things to add to your kitchen that can help you to get more from it and provide better for guests. However they also have a downside which is to clutter your surfaces and make it harder to keep things clean. Keep them organized by providing storage for them, and make sure that there aren’t too many wires draped across your surfaces.

Have a Good Draining Rack

For washing up specifically a good draining rack is important and you should make sure that this provides enough space to keep all of your items on easily without it becoming overcrowded. A bowl in your sink can also help with the washing up.

Make Everything Accessible

While you should try to keep things out of the way and off the surfaces you should also ensure that you can quickly access anything you need to from the appliances to crockery and utensils. If you have to root around for ages to find a knife or climb up onto a step ladder to get the tinned beans then you’ll find that more often than not you end up just making ready meals instead…

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Gary Mint ia an interior designer. His area of interest is the kitchen. He loves to come up with new ideas for kitchen remodelling and is a firm believer in the concept of a spacious kitchen. His other interests include cycling and swimming.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, Kitchen Tagged With: Accessible, appliance, chop vegetables, clutter, cut, draining rack, Kitchen, organize, stand, stir, surface, tips, work, Work Zones

Top Tips For Decorating Your Windowsills

by Trish

Curtain'd Window

When thinking about the décor for a room and how to make the most of it, many people won’t really give much thought to the windowsills until the last minute. Often we think in detail about things like where the coffee table should go in relation to the couch, and what colour carpet and wallpaper we want, but will then literally just ‘dump’ a range of left over items onto our windowsills at the end.

It’s no surprise then that often the windowsills are far from the most interesting part of our décor and that often they end up looking cluttered or unattractive. Seeing as your windows are something that can be seen from both inside and outside of the room, this is a decision that should take a lot more time and consideration. Here then we will look at some of the top tips for deciding what to put on your windowsills – you’ll be surprised what a difference it can make to your entire room.

Practicality

Window, Upper St Giles, Norwich

The first thing to think about when choosing items to go on your windowsill is the practicality of having them there. Many of us will have curtains as well as netting on our windows, and will want to be able to reach the handle to let cold air in from time to time. That means we’ll constantly be reaching over our windowsills and rummaging around on them and that any tall or poorly balanced items could easily get knocked over and damaged. If you are going to put items on your windowsill then, ensure that they are resilient enough to survive a fall onto the floor and preferably choose smaller items that aren’t going to get in the way/won’t be liable to fall.

Another consideration here is light, and while the light coming through your window can be very beneficial for your potted plants, it may not be so good for a range of your decorative items and may in fact bleach them over time. If you have anything that has a bold colour and you want to keep it that way – avoid putting it on the windowsill.

Finally, avoid anything on your windowsill that will potentially attract burglars. Remember that anything you put here will essentially be on display to passers by, and you don’t want to put things in temptation’s way if it can be avoided.

Appearance

windowsill

In terms of what looks good on a windowsill it’s definitely normally going to be a matter of ‘less is more’. Clutter this area with lots of different items and it will look busy and crowded and this will mean that none of your items really stand out. On the other hand though, put just a few of your prized possessions on the window sill and you’ll find that they can really make a big impact. Think too about what will look good in this particular position – will people often be facing that window? And will the light from outside enhance them? Crystal items look wonderful in the window for instance as they can refract the light coming through.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

This guest post is submitted by Linda Browns. She enjoys blogging on home improvement and tech related topics. She says home tinting helps in keeping your house safe.

Filed Under: Home Decor, Home Improvement Tagged With: Appearance, decor, decorating, room, tips, Windowsills

Top 5 Tips for DIY Roofing Projects

by Trish



Undertaking a DIY project is not just about saving money. Many homeowners get involved with do-it-yourself projects because they want to play an active role in the design and upkeep of their own house. Roofing issues in particular make for the most sought after DIY projects for homeowners. Whether it is as simple as fixing a leak or completely retiling the entire roof, homeowners love to tackle roofing issues by themselves. Here are 5 top tips from roofing experts that should benefit DIY homeowners.


Cut down overhanging branches

Overhanging tree branches can cause a number of problems in a roofing project. In some cases, it is the overhanging branches that cause the problem in the first place. The best thing to do before proceeding with any work is to cut down any overhanging branches. Always check the local laws and regulations before cutting down any branches, especially if the tree is on public property; even the branch encroaches into your property, you may not have the right to cut it down and may have to call the proper authorities to do it. If the tree is in your neighbour’s backyard, seek their permission first.

Keep the gutters clean during and after

Doesn’t matter how strong and sturdy the gutters are, it is not uncommon to find damaged gutters after any roofing work has been performed. In order to minimize the chance of damaging the gutters, try to keep them clean during the project itself. Do not let dirt and debris build-up in the gutters with the aim of cleaning it all up in the end; the longer debris stays in the gutters, the greater the chance of damage. Once the project is completed, do not forget to clean out the gutters one final time; even if there is no damage, you could face the frightful prospect of blacked and clogged gutters.

Check the valleys for leaks

The part of the roof where two roof planes intersect is called the valley. As far as leaking is concerned, the valleys are the most susceptible part of the roof. It is not uncommon to find that some completely unrelated roofing project has caused some damage to the valleys and resulted in a leak. As soon as you complete any roofing work, run some water down the valleys to ensure that there are no leaks present.

Don’t get sloppy

The biggest mistake DIY enthusiasts make is to get sloppy as the project nears completion. Many homeowners find themselves pumped up and rearing to start a DIY roofing project. However, the longer the work takes, the more quickly their enthusiasm fades. At such times, it is very easy to get sloppy and goof up. Always give your full attention to the work at hand. Getting sloppy will not only result in poor quality work, but can also compromise safety.

Never compromise on safety

Many homeowners think it’s alright to skimp on safety standards since they are working in their own backyard. However, safety should never be compromised for any DIY project, including those related to roofing. Always have the necessary safety gear required, including working boots, safety glasses, hardhats and work gloves.

Follow these 5 top tips from roofing experts and your next roofing project should go off without a hitch.

Jeff Fernandes is the author of this guest post. He writes about various DIY projects and suggests Oil Boiler Servicing to maximize efficiency and reduce fuel consumption of your oil boilers.

Filed Under: DIY, Home Improvement Tagged With: branches, clean, DIY, gutters, home owner, leaks, projects, roofing, safety, save money, tips

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

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