Simple Tips to Make Your Do-It-Yourself Projects Successful
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Posted:Oct 5, 2020 7:36 pm
Last Updated:Oct 21, 2020 8:56 pm 2228 Views
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When you ask people who have completed do-it-yourself (DIY) projects what they
learned in their projects, they’ll tell you that the projects took at least twice or more time and three times the money they thought they would to complete them. The basic reason is that DIYers usually make a lot of mistakes that end up making home improvement projects more expensive and time-consuming.
Here are 10 surefire ways to avoid the top DIY home improvement mistakes in the future and ensure success.
1) Take out the required permits — it’s amazing how many DIYers skip this step. Sure, it takes time, and it means you have to deal with the government, but it’s actually in your best interest to make sure get the required home improvement permits. The folks in the permitting office will make sure the project is done correctly and that you
stay safe in the process. Also, for some projects, you’ll need proof that you have a permit or your insurance company won’t cover the improvement. You’ll probably need a permit for any project larger than wallpapering and painting. If you’re unsure, call your local building department and ask.
2) Have all the tools and materials you need available before you start your project — starting a job without the necessary tools and supplies will slow down the job and delay your progress. And make sure you buy quality tools. They’re a wise investment.
3) Prepare the job site for material deliveries — when your suppliers deliver materials, you’ll want to make sure the job site is ready to accept them. You don’t want your materials exposed to the weather while you are working and you want to have a storage area to prevent theft.
4) Don’t skimp on materials — for example, don’t use 1/4-inch drywall for building walls. Use at at least 5/8-inch; and 3/4-inch works well for a good sound barrier. Use 3/4-inch plywood for sub-floors. It creates a much stronger floor.
5) Prepare the walls for painting — clean the walls, sand them and patch any holes before you paint. Use a coat of primer or stain blocker if you are trying to cover over oil-based paint, stains or peeling paint, or if you are painting a lighter color over a darker color.
6) Use the correct paint — use flat paint ceilings. Interior paints should have at least an eggshell or satin finish so you can scrub it. For outdoor decks, use a linseed-oil-based stain to drive the pigment into the wood and preserve it.
7) Keep safe while working — you don’t want to end up in the emergency room. Wear safety goggles when using power tools or working with drywall or wood. Wear a hard hat when you are working under other people on scaffolding, and open some windows when you are painting or staining, or stripping old finishes off of floors or walls. Don’t wear loose, hanging clothing, especially when using power tools. Wear gloves when carrying wood, metal and rock, or when hammering, and wear a nail or tool pouch to prevent damage to your floors, feet, and pets.
8] Measure twice and cut once — probably the most important rule of any project. If you’re going to make a mistake, make it too long. You can always make something shorter. You can’t make it longer.
9) Know the limits of your abilities — you’re not going to be good at everything. If you don’t have a lot of experience at plumbing or electrical work, for instance, don’t attempt those projects.
10) Do not start to learn how to do a project on your own house — If you want to learn how to do a project, offer your assistance to a friend who is an experienced DIYer or a contractor. And if you have any question about what you’re doing, make sure you stop and ask.
You probably won’t eliminate all of your DIY home improvement mistakes, but you can surely reduce them with these ten tips.
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No Fad, but Health Benefits steeped in Green Tea
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Posted:Sep 24, 2020 9:12 pm
Last Updated:Oct 21, 2020 8:56 pm 2791 Views
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The western world may recently have awakened to the benefits of green tea, but it has been around for centuries in China and Japan as the beverage of choice for the classes and the masses alike. The Chinese and Japanese have always believed that a regular intake of green tea means a longer, healthier life. In the early 1990s, scientists proved this belief to be true when a survey of 3,000 Japanese women showed that those who drank green tea lived longer than those who did not.
Now I come to the healthier part. Continued research has also proved that green tea actually offers protection against cardiac ailments, liver disorders, and acts as an antibacterial agent for the immune system. The reason for this is the presence of strong antioxidants in green tea. Essentially, green tea contains a group of chemicals called catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). That's a mouthful, but EGCG is a very powerful antioxidant that hinders the growth of carcinogenic cells and even, according to some researches, kills cancerous cells without damaging healthy tissue. EGCC also lowers LDL or bad cholesterol levels, and reduces the risk of blood clots, which in turn reduces the risk of thrombosis, the leading cause of cardiac attacks and strokes.
Does not that seem an awful lot for one antioxidant to do? But I have not finished. Green tea also contains caffeine, vitamins like E and C and several minerals. Caffeine, as you may know, is a mild anti-depressant that stimulates the skeletal muscles and assists muscular contraction, while the vitamins and minerals hinder the ageing process.
And I have not even told you about the weight loss benefits of green tea yet. In plain terms, green tea burns fat, lots of it. In fact, it has what are scientifically called thermogenic properties, which means it actively promotes fat oxidation.
In fact, a Japanese study conducted on two separate groups of men of similar size (based upon body mass index and waist circumference) has shown that if all other conditions like diet and calorie intake remain equal, people who ingest a greater amount of polyphenols present in green tea will lose more weight than those who ingested a lower volume of polyphenols.
Enjoy green tea for good health benefits either as hot or cold brewed tea or mixed with other ingredients to make interesting Strawberry-Peach Green Tea Smoothie, Matcha Green Tea Latte, Miso Green Tea and Ginger Zoodle Soup With Tofu, Green Tea Noodles, Antioxidant Green Tea Porridge or decadent Creamy Matcha Green Tea Popsicles.
Drop me message for recipes to these food items or any other questions!
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Healthy Weight Management
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Posted:Sep 13, 2020 7:15 pm
Last Updated:Oct 21, 2020 8:56 pm 2251 Views
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Why Losing Weight for Good is Important
There is a great benefit acquired from losing weight. Though losing weight is not easy, the long term effects brought by it would probably be of help to anyone considering to shed those unwanted and unhealthy pounds. The following are a few of the remarkable advantages from losing those excess weight.
Weight loss prevents high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
That is a three in one benefit from losing weight. It is a fact that heart disease and stroke are one of the primary reasons for disability and death in both men and women in the US. People who are overweight have a higher risk to have high levels of cholesterol in their blood stream as well as triglycerides (also known as blood fat). Angina, one type of heart disease, could cause chest pains as well as a decrease in the oxygen pumped to the heart. Sudden death also occurs from heart disease and stroke, and usually this strikes with very little warning, signs and symptoms. It is a fact that by decreasing your weight by a mere five to ten percent, this could positively decrease the chances of you having or developing heart disease or a stroke. Plus, how your heart functions would also improve as well as your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride count will decrease.
Weight loss prevents type 2 diabetes
Diabetes puts in jeopardy one’s life as well as how one leads his or her life because of the complications that result from having it. Both types of diabetes, type one and type two are linked with being overweight. To those who already have diabetes, regular exercise and losing weight could help in controlling your blood sugar levels as well as the medication you may be currently taking. Increase your physical activity. You could simply walk, jog or dance. It helps get those blood streams moving as well as lose those unnecessary pounds.
Weight loss helps reduce your risk for cancer
Being overweight is linked with a number of kinds of cancer. Specially for women, the common types of cancer that is associated with being overweight include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, ovary, breast, and colon. This is not meant to scare you, this is only to keep you informed. Men are at risk too from developing cancer if they are overweight. These include cancer of the colon, prostate and rectum. Extra weight, a diet high in fat and cholesterol should as much as possible be avoided.
Weight loss reduces sleep apnea
Or it could eliminate it all together. Sleep apnea is a condition wherein one could temporarily stop breathing for a brief period and then would continue to snore heavily. Sleep apnea could cause drowsiness or sleepiness during the day and – because of being overweight – could result in heart failure. Shedding those excess pounds could help in eliminating this problem.
Weight loss reduces the pain of osteoarthritis
When one weighs heavily, the joints of his or her knees, hips and lower back would have to exert double – if not triple – effort to carry him or her through out his / her waking, walking and moving life. This could cause tension and stress on these joints. Weight loss decreases the load these joints carry thus decreasing – if not eliminating – the pain of one who has osteoarthritis.
Natural Weight Loss: For Long-Term Weight Loss
Eat right, keep moving.
You just have read all that you need to know about how to prevent being overweight. That simple set of instructions should be easy to follow, but not for 35% of Americans who are unable to prevent being overweight. Of course, once we are overweight, we usually want to trim down for a whole lot of reasons, some related to health, others having to do with looks. In addition, it is never too late to lose weight. But the fact is, it is a whole lot easier to prevent putting on pounds than to try losing them later on. And if there is one thing we all know, it is that weight gain is likely to happen if we do not take forward-looking steps to stop it.
Health experts say that most people who are into losing weight usually stray. They tend to go back to their old eating habits even after they learn to enjoy low-fat eating. They tend to return to sedentary ways even though they enjoy exercising. But despite the momentum toward weight gain, you can stop it from happening, experts say. And there are plenty of good reasons to avoid excess pounds, reasons that go beyond vanity or social acceptance. In fact, some health experts contend that the significance of excess weight is more than cosmetic. They say that it takes a huge toll on people’s physical health.
The Way to Losing Weight…Naturally
The nuts and bolts of eating right maintaining a healthy weight is not all that complicated. In fact, it is a good bet that most people know pretty well what is best. Hence, losing weight the natural way should not be a problem at all. Consequently, a reasonable approach for losing weight naturally is to stick to a diet that is high in complex carbohydrates, high in fiber, moderate in protein, and low in fat. A complex carbohydrate is a baked potato. Fat is the sour cream and butter you should not put on it. Fiber is vegetables. Fat is the oil you should not fry them in. Protein is a lean cut of meat. Fat is the gravy you should not pour over it.
Moreover, health experts say that dietary fat promotes weight gain because it is a very dense source of calories. Also, when you consume excess calories from dietary fat, you store those calories as body fat more efficiently than excess calories from other sources. On the other hand, it can also help you lose weight naturally if you will not fall into the so-called “fat-free” trap. Manufacturers keep coming out with low-fat or fat-free versions of their best-selling foods, but Americans keep getting fatter anyway.
One of the greatest delusions of the 1990s is that “no fat” means “non-fattening.” The truth is, you are often getting just as many calories from the no-fat version, even if the calories are not coming from fat. The term fat-free can be a trap if you start to believe that you can eat any amount of the foods that are advertised that way.
What’s more, it is best to respond to hunger with healthful snacks. Health experts say it would be better to try eating every three to four hours, which may mean a nutritious low-fat snack between lunch and dinner. When you feel the urge for food coming on, snacking on something healthy such as a slice of whole-grain toasted bread is a better alternative. Never skip a meal and eat snacks instead because that is the worst thing you can do if you are trying to control your eating habits and weight.
Remember, if you want to lose weight naturally, you have to keep track of every food you eat and of every activity that you do. When you say natural weight loss means that you do not have to use some accessories or helpful aids just to lose weight. Losing weight naturally is a process and not a fad. Hence, it would take a lot of dogged determination, self-control, and discipline just to achieve your ideal weight.
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Is it Love or Infatuation?
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Posted:Aug 16, 2020 9:47 pm
Last Updated:Oct 21, 2020 8:56 pm 2388 Views
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So you think that you are in love. Are you sure? How? Why do you think that you are in love? Why do you think that it is not temporary attraction? Why do you think that you both are destined to grow old together? Let us try and find .
Do you feel happy with your beloved? Do you feel that if you both were left alone on an island for days, you would enjoy it? Or you will get bored? How about your self esteem? Does your beloved make you feel good about yourself? Is his/her focus on your good qualities or sometimes faults? What about you? Are you looking for some signs of weaknesses in certain areas, or are contented and satisfied with the whole package?
Love is different than any other relationship and has its own measures. It goes beyond friendship and one has to ask questions to find out if it is love and nothing else. Coming back to our inquiry, what if your beloved gets you some clothes? Will you be delighted and wear immediately, or will you try to look at it critically to find out how you will look in that particular piece of clothing?
Do you smile at the thought of your beloved? Get dreamy? Want to share everything good? Say, you see something good, or complete a some work very satisfactorily, will you immediately tell your beloved about that? Will you impatiently wait to share that?
Do you ever compare him/her with others? Give a second look to someone of opposite sex? No? What if the person is stunning in looks? Would you still rather never think of giving a second look and continue with the thoughts of your beloved? What if you go to a movie together? Will you try to look at each other in the darkness or rather watch the movie? Do you watch the movie at all while you are together?
Are you planning of the future together? Having , a new home, new life, etc? Do you talk about how you both would like to spend your old age together? Have you also thought about the career options after marriage?
If your answers to all above queries is in positive, you need to look at the relationship seriously. Because you are in love!
Love is difficult to find out. Many times, we feel that we are in love, only to find out afterwards that it was not love. It is better to make sure that it is love before committing. Wish you all the best.
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Who is more evil?
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Posted:Jul 31, 2020 7:54 pm
Last Updated:Oct 21, 2020 8:56 pm 2398 Views
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The world is made of good and evil people. There are some, who are nothing but emperors of evilness. Stalin was one such person. There are many like him. But we also have evil persons in our society who are generally not considered evil, but are evil. Evilness can take several forms, but which one is worse: the act of doing something evil or person or people who ignore or failure to take action against evil?
Evil act is any thought, behavior or action that inflicts hurt (whether physical, emotional or mental trauma) on another without any reason or lack thereof. Few examples, a person who hits a stray with a stone just for fun is a bad person. One who gives pains to friends for no reason is a bad person. Or one who treats poor people as dirt is a bad person. One who inflicts pain and death on others based on their physical attributes and passes false judgment is a bad person. One who shouts and terrorizes others for no good reason is a bad person.
The list can go on, but suffice to say, what is not good has to be its opposite or bad. In simple terms, evilness is a quality in a person, whereby that person hurts others in ways that the very life is taken away. One need not kill with a sword, gun or bombs to be called evil. At times, making false allegations on someone who never did what he/she is being blamed with is enough to kill the spirit and the body. That act is evil, and the person who acts like that is evil.
Nonetheless, one who witnesses, knows of or hears of evil acts, but fails to do anything is also evil for he or she has allowed evil to be propagated unchecked on to others. This reminds of old adage, “See no evil, hear no evil or speak no evil.”
Hence, what is more evil: the evildoers or their enablers?
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