Choosing between artificial and real grass can be a tricky decision when landscaping. Some prefer real grass because they like the smell of fresh grass in the morning while others prefer artificial grass because it requires less maintenance.
To determine the most suitable grass for you, you should know which features, and the kind of look, you prefer. Considering the pros and cons will also help you to select between artificial grass and real grass to lay in the garden.
After installation, grass needs extra care whether you use the artificial or the real one. For general maintenance, real grass requires regular watering, weeding, as well as feeding fertilizer for it to remain in good condition. Some people like to do this aftercare themselves to save cost.
Never think that you can just leave the artificial one because it also needs aftercare. For regular maintenance, you have to scrub off any dirt and clean away fallen leaves. Whenever you discover any torn part, it must be filled with proper material.
Durability
Without regular weeding and trimming, a fake lawn may last more than 10 years without needing replacement. However, you need to step or do activities on it carefully. Because any sharp hit can cause damage and an artificial lawn cannot repair itself. The reparation for artificial turf sometimes can be pricey.
When talking about replacement, real grass offers a more affordable option. Anytime you find a damaged part, you can just dig it and replace them with fresh grass.
Artificial grasstends to get hot under the sun and it also releases heat both day and night. So, if you don’t want to feel hot when stepping on its surface during the day, it is better to place artificial turf in shady areas.
Meanwhile, the real grass keeps providing a comfortable place for a walk even in the middle of the day under the sun. It is because the real lawn has a natural cooling effect and doesn’t release heat.
Environmental Effect
Take into account the effects on the surrounding environment. The real turf offers fewer effects to the environment as well as just needs regular watering and energy like other plants. Besides, it is easier to decompose.
On the other hand, artificial ones are often made from synthetic material which provides more effects to the environment. The production of artificial turf also requires high carbon. They are not degradable and pretty hard to recycle.
Cost
Covering gardens with real grass naturally will come at a low cost. Perhaps, you only need to spend money on soil improvement and irrigation to support their growth. Artificial lawns cost more than real ones. Not to mention the installation cost.
So many of us haven’t seen family members in so long due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though restrictions are slowly starting to ease, some of your family members may still be sheltering. This can be such a lonely and challenging time, so it is so important for us all to keep communicating to try and keep spirits high. With that in mind, why not send your isolating family members a little gift to let them know you are thinking of them? Here are a few gift ideas to show your self-isolating family that you care about them.
String of Hearts Plant
A special way to show your family members that you love them is to deliver a string of hearts plant straight to their door. A string of hearts plant is easy to look after, so if you are worried that your family member may not be able to handle a high maintenance plant, this is the perfect gift for them. It is a heart shaped leafy vine plant that looks gorgeous drooping down a shelving unit. You can also send a free message along with the plant to let them know you love them and are thinking of them.
Find the Silver Lining Bangle
This sweet bangle from Kate Spade is so meaningful; it will be a reminder to your loved ones that they made it through this challenging time. It is a silver-coloured bangle with the inside engraved with the message ‘find the silver lining’. This is such a sentimental gift that your family member will treasure forever. It is also a simplistic and minimalistic piece of jewellery so they will be able to wear it every day if they wish.
Photos
Gifting your family member with a photo is such a lovely way to show that you love them. To make it a more impactful gift, you should pay close attention to the frame it goes in to help ensure it stands out. If you can’t find the right frame to match the size of your image, you can look at designing a custom picture mount which will fit it perfectly.
This is a great way to remind family members that there are so many good times to come and even more amazing memories to be made.
Hug in a Mug
If your family member is an avid hot drink lover, why not gift them a hug in a mug? It is a beautiful ceramic mug with a special little message at the bottom so that, when they finish their drink, they will receive a touching little note from you. The message reads, “a hug in a mug, from me to you x” which is a beautiful message to send to your self-isolating family member.
Receiving one of these unexpected presents will make your loved one’s day. Let them know you love and care about them with one of these little gifts.
Ant and I received early birthday presents last week and I have to say, we were both delighted! Historic Newspapers sent us a birthday book each which contains a newspaper reprint from your date of birth and birthday every year up to the present day.
As well as birthday books, they have anniversary books, your chosen year newspaper book which includes a full newspaper reproduction of your chosen date, as well as at least 12 newspaper headlines from the same year and a This, Is Your Life book, among others. Click here to see the selection of Your Date Newspaper Books.
Historic Newspapers Personalisation
Each book is personalised with the name and date of birth in gold embossing on the front and a special message printed inside.
The book is A3 and is presented in a sturdy gift box. The quality of both book and box is excellent; we were both very impressed.
Add Your Own Memories
Opposite each newspaper front page is a ‘Remember When’ page. This is for the recipient to add their own memories and photos from each year.
I love this idea because it will be a great keepsake which can be passed down through the family.
Old News Stories
We both spent ages looking through the books and I found some interesting stories that I wish I could find more information about them. This one from 1960 about an American girl and a possible English girl who were found with identical scratch marks on their heads has piqued my interest!
I’ve been trying to find out if they ever solved the mystery but so far I’ve got nothing!
Thanks goes to Historic Newspapers for our birthday books. All opinions are my own and are honest 🙂
Real estate transactions here in the UK or any other country for that matter are lengthy, complex, and time-consuming processes. This is the reason why you should always seek help from real estate agents when you are trying to sell your home, buy a home or rent a property you already own.
Since the internet is packed with real estate agents and agencies who claim to be the best, how can you choose the one that can meet your unique needs?
Well, that is easy.
All you would have to do is follow the tips mentioned below and you will be sorted –
Make sure that the agent or agency is backed by class-leading credentials
Wirral estate agents or any other professional associated with the real estate sector has to be a member of ‘The Property Ombudsman Scheme’ in case they want to legally carry out their business in the UK. In case the professional or agency you have selected is not a member of the aforementioned scheme then you won’t be able to launch a complaint against them in case of a mishap.
Furthermore, you should also make sure that the real estate agent or agency that you have chosen is also a member of the following renowned organisations –
NAEA (National Association of Estate Agents)
Guild of Property Professionals
RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors).
Invite all shortlisted agents to appraise your property
After you have shortlisted the real estate agents or agencies, ask each professional or agency representative on separate days to come and appraise your property.
Now, your initial motive could be to choose an agent that offers you the highest price for your property but that would be an unwise decision. You see, a real estate agent who can offer their expertise all the while making sure that their appraisals and work are backed by fairness and honesty should be the ideal pick.
Hence, proceed with caution.
Make sure that the agent or the agency has been in the sector for a while
You must hire a real estate agent or an agency that has been in the business of helping their clients to buy, sell or rent the latter’s respective properties for a while.
It is a known fact that experience matters the most when you are looking for guaranteed results from a professional hired to help you in sensitive matters such as a real estate transaction. Hence, if you want to make sure that the real estate agent will not leave you out in the open, hung to dry, just remember to hire a professional or an agency that has been in the real estate sector for at least 5 years.
Apart from following the tips mentioned above, also make sure that the real estate agent or agency you have chosen to help you with your real estate transaction will be advertising your property in both traditional as well as digital mediums. Furthermore, also make sure that a representative of the real estate agent will be present on-site when buyers or tenants will be coming in to view your property. For more details about how a real estate agent or agency can help you with your real estate transactions, click here.
You may remember a post I did last year about Photowall. They sent me a gorgeous wall canvas and I absolutely fell in love with it.
So much so, that the super wonderful husband bought me a Treasure Hunt Bookcase notebook, diary and a cross-stitch chart for Valentine’s day 🙂
I’ve not started stitching yet as I’m still in the process of buying all the embroidery floss but I can’t wait to get started!
Photowall Mushroom Village Canvas
It took me ages to choose a new canvas this time because I didn’t automatically go to the fantasy section. I wanted to see if there were other designs that I’d fall in love with. It took me so long because they have thousands of different designs!
As you can see from the name of the canvas I picked, I didn’t fall in love with any other designs; I was drawn back to the fantasy section and knew as soon as I saw the Mushroom Village canvas that I had to have it.
I have to say that the photos do not do the colours justice. In real life it’s vibrant with loads of detail.
Mushroom Village wall canvas 110cm x 70cm
Easy Assembly
As before, the super wonderful husband assembled the canvas in no time at all. It comes with everything you need including the canvas, a wooden frame that has 3M double-sided tape already attached, metal brackets, screws, a wall hanging set and easy to follow instruction sheet.
It looks wonderful on the wall and I’m so very pleased with 🙂
The lovely people at Photowall have given me a 25% discount code to share with you. It’s valid for 2 months from the date of this post.
Just type in – shelllouise25 at the checkout.
Please note: I received the wall canvas from Photowall in return for this review, however, all opinions are my own.
Working from home is something that more and more people have started to do over recent years. Thanks to advancements in technology, it has now become possible for people to develop full-time careers doing work at home jobs, and they can earn a very good income at the same time.
If you want to work from home, there are various career options you can consider ranging from online retail to working on cam sites. In fact, there are more options than ever for people who want to work from home in 2021. In this article, we will look at some of the most profitable ones.
The good news is that there are lots of options for those who want to work from home and earn a good income. Some of the profitable jobs you can do from home include:
Freelance Writing Work
If you want to work for yourself and do something that you enjoy, online writing is a great option. For those who like to get online to conduct research, this is an excellent way to make a good living. Of course, you need to have a flair for writing, and you also need to be able to work efficiently and meet deadlines.
If you can do this, you could work on all sorts of content such as marketing materials, blog posts, editorials, press releases, and much more. You can set up a home office where you can work in peace, and you could end up working for clients from around the world.
Digital Marketing Services
You may want to consider tapping into the popularity of digital service by working as a digital marketer. In today’s digital world, this method of marketing has become crucial for businesses of all sizes. From small businesses and start-up companies to major corporations – they all use this type of marketing to some degree.
So, as a digital marketing services provider, you could find yourself in demand and you have the potential to earn a very good income. You do need to have some skills and knowledge when it comes to the world of digital marketing to make a success of this type of home business venture. However, you can take online courses if you do not already have the necessary skills and expertise.
Remote Customer Services
If you prefer to work for an employer rather than for yourself, one thing you can do is remote customer services work. Our move into the digital era means that more and more businesses are now looking for customer service employees that work from home.
You may find yourself dealing with customers by phone and online using platforms such as email, messaging apps, and social media. You can then earn a regular salary and enjoy the security of being employed while also benefiting from working from home.
For those who like to crunch numbers, online accountancy work is a great choice of work-from-home career. You can work for both individuals and businesses when you set up on a freelance basis, and this enables you to enjoy greater diversity when it comes to your work. From helping people with tax returns to assisting businesses with all areas of their finances, you will find plenty of ways to make money.
You need to have some level of financial and accountancy experience and the relevant skills and qualifications to do this. So, you may want to consider doing an online course if you do not already have the necessary qualifications. You can then work in peace and quiet from home while bringing in a great income.
Work on a Flexible Basis
Another thing to keep in mind when it comes to these types of jobs is that you can work on a flexible basis. This is ideal for those who have other commitments such as a family to raise. You can often set your own hours and working days, particularly if you work on a freelance basis. This means you get to enjoy the convenience of working from home and working the hours and days that suit you.
Another thing to remember is that when you work from home, you can enjoy more than just simple convenience. You also get to save yourself a lot of money on travel costs compared to travelling to and from work every day. In addition, you do not have to waste time stuck in traffic or spend time travelling to and from your place of work on a daily basis.
So, if you want to enjoy the many benefits that come from working at home, consider one of these career options. You can then enjoy earning great money while also benefiting from greater ease and convenience.
Making preparations for the arrival of a foster child? If so, you’ll want to make sure that your home has been properly prepared to help them to adjust to their brand-new surroundings. To learn more, read on…
Fostering a child is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it’s also plenty of hard work – and that’s before you’ve even welcomed your foster child into your home!
As you can no doubt empathise, moving into a brand-new home is likely to be an incredibly daunting experience for any child. This is sure to add to the existing apprehension of having to adjust to life with an unfamiliar family.
So, the importance of making early preparations to your home in anticipation of their arrival should not be underestimated, both for your family and the child’s sake. If you’re already working with a family law solicitor to organise the arrival of a foster child, these preparation tips will help to make the process a success.
10 Tips for Preparing Your Home for a Foster Child
1.) Give them their Own Space
If you want your foster child to feel safe and secure when they first arrive at your home, then you’ll want to make sure that they have their own personal space. This will usually be their very own bedroom, where they can enjoy their own bed, and store their personal belongings.
It’s very likely that the bedroom is where your foster child will be spending much of their time during the early stages of their time with you. So, it’s a good idea to make sure it’s a place where they can enjoy some alone time in privacy.
2.) Keep their Space Neutral Ready to be Decorated
To make your foster child feel even more comfortable in their own space, it’s important to allow them a level of control over how they would like it to be decorated. If you have the time, painting the walls of their room a neutral colour is a great idea, as it will provide them with a blank canvas, ready to be customised.
Then, over time, they can continue to add small touches here and there, such as posters and prints. This will add to the level of security they feel when they are living with you.
3.) Find Out as Much About Them as You Can
Prior to their arrival, it’s important to find out as much about them as you possibly can, so you can learn more about their background and current situation. From here, you can get a better understanding of their personality and what their interests are. This way, you can tailor your home preparations accordingly.
For instance, if you know that they have an interest in reading, you can source some books for them to read. Or, if they are sporty, you can buy some cheap equipment to use in the garden.
4.) Keep the Everything Clean and Tidy
Beyond your foster child’s personal space, you should make sure that other living areas are kept clean and tidy ahead of their arrival.
You can do this by tidying away any clutter and rearranging furniture to maximise the space in a room. Emphasising the space, and keeping it from appearing claustrophobic in any way, will provide a warm welcome.
5.) Prepare Outdoor Spaces
If you have outdoor space at your disposal, you should keep it accessible and ready to be used. This is especially true if you’re welcoming a foster child to your home during spring or summer.
Outdoor play provides plenty of positive stimulants, particularly for younger children. So, getting out and cutting the grass is a more important idea than you might initially think!
6.) Ensure that they are Comfortable with Pets and Vice Versa
If your home plays host to a pet (or multiple pets), then you should check that your foster child is comfortable living with them and they don’t have previous traumas, or allergies, that would cause an issue.
Similarly, not every pet instantly adapts to living with children. So, if you’ve got any concerns, research some training techniques so that they will be more than happy to welcome a little one into the family.
7.) Stock Your Kitchen Cupboards and Freezer
Children can be notoriously fussy when it comes to food and, for foster children who haven’t had the time to settle in one place, it can be even more difficult to vary their palette.
The best short-term solution for this would be to stock up your cupboards and freezer with quick and easy meals. This will give your foster of child plenty of options when it comes to deciding what they would like to eat.
8.) Make Health and Safety Tweaks
If you don’t already live with children, there are some things you might take for granted, such as making sure your home is a safe environment.
It may be sensible to create a health and safety checklist to help you keep track of some of the changes you need to make to your home. This should include putting medication out the way, securing windows and doors, and covering up electric sockets.
9.) Sort Out the First Night Essentials
The first night in a new home is pivotal for a child, as a good first impression can set the tone for the rest of their time with you. To help them make the initial adjustment smoothly, having every base covered can make all the difference.
Stock up on toiletries, have spare clothes on hand, and have any toys or age-appropriate games available to help them take their mind off what can be a stressful experience.
10.) Make Sure Your Family Fully Understand What’s Changing
General family life is going to be different after you welcome your foster child into your home. This means you are going to have to prepare the rest of your family accordingly.
If you already have children, take the time to carefully explain what changes are going to be happening and discuss what changes they can make to their own habits and behaviours to help your foster child to settle quickly.
Are You Preparing to Welcome a Foster Child to Your Home?
There you have it! As you can tell, there are plenty of different steps you can take to ensure that your home is appropriately prepared before you welcome a foster child into your life. If you follow these tips closely, you can be sure that it’ll take no time at all for them to feel settled.
Have you looked after a foster child before? How did you prepare your home? Feel free to leave a comment below with your own suggestions.
Dubia roaches are one of the most wanted feeders among all the insects. Starting a colony of them can be an excellent plan for feeding your exotic pet.
Dubia roaches are a great choice to have as a feeder for your pet reptiles. Dubia roaches are mainly found in Central and South America, including Brazil, Costa Rica, and Argentina. These inexpensive bugs have many advantages. They don’t constrain you to compromise as the other feeders do. You can have a widely available and incredibly healthy feeder, and your pet will probably appreciate it. You will be able to feed your animal consistently if you start a Dubia roach colony. If you are eager to start a Dubia roach colony, this article might help you.
Living in a Colony
Dubia cockroaches like to live in colonies, so they can undoubtedly raise and care for their young. If you somehow happened to come across Dubia roach colonies, you would notice them crouched together in huge gatherings. They love to hide away in dark corners. Indeed, one plastic 40-gallon sack can fit a vast number of Dubia bugs easily.
Infestation
Taking proper precautions can make the infestation of Dubia roaches very unlikely. For one, they can’t climb up the smooth surfaces, so regardless of whether your Dubia roach walled in the area has no cover, they can’t get away. In any case, I do suggest a safe top in case of an accidental tip. If by any chance they get loose, they will have the only option to stay along the ground. There they might attempt to find a warm dark corner to hide in.
The perfect temperature for the breeding of the adult Dubia roaches is a minimum of 90 degrees F. For this, under your fridge can be their ideal spot for them to breed. But it will not cause infestation like the common cockroaches.
Benefits
There are many benefits of growing a colony of Dubia roaches. We have listed some significant benefits below:
Inability to Fight
You can save your pet from probable harm as it cannot bite, fight or claw, unlike other feeder bugs and keep them better.
Inability to Fly
While Dubia insects do have wings, they can’t fly. Actually, the wings help in determining their sex. The male roaches have long wings that broaden the length of their body, and the female roaches have short stubs for wings. In any case, they can’t utilize them to fly out of the starter colony of Dubia roaches.
Survive Well
Dubia roaches live somewhere in the range of one and two years overall. The existence of different feeders is generally estimated in weeks or perhaps months. Taking care of fewer Dubia roaches than planned isn’t an issue. They require a long time to mature, grow gradually, and their development slows considerably in cooler temperatures. At around seventy degrees, they might remain in their present phase for one year.
Clean
The required temperature for the Dubia roaches is somewhat near like the tropics or jungle to survive; however, they can endure low humidity. This implies that their enclosures can remain predominantly dry. If you feed the roaches a plant-based diet and keep their enclosures dry, the fecal matter will not smell (like other cockroaches). While it might appear daunting, proper management of the Dubia roach colony can be amazingly spotless and problem-free in reality.
Don’t Make Noise
Dubia bugs don’t chirp, murmur, clack, or make any noises. The most you’ll hear from them are the delicate sound of little feet as they look for their next supper or possibly a date for the night. It is presumed that the majority of the hastening heard inside a colony relates to mating conduct.
Prolific Breeders
If you are purchasing Dubia cockroaches for a consistent stock of feeders, you are in luck. Grown-up female Dubia can produce around 35 sprites every other month once their imperative ecological requirements are fulfilled. Fertility is emphatically associated with natural surroundings and wellbeing, so you’ll have to change these things as you push ahead.
No Annoying Smells
Thanks to their neatness, neither Dubia insects nor their walled areas smell bad. Dubia roach nooks will, in general, smell like whatever food they eat. What makes a difference is that when they’re mainly having grains, oranges, and some other natural plant ingredients, they barely emit any odors. Whatever odor they may emit is not offensive or noxious. The odor gets stronger and takes on an alternate smell when they have more animal-based food varieties – and even then, you wouldn’t portray it as unpleasant. It is simply different.
Variety of Sizes
You can get Dubia roaches in a variety of sizes. That’s why only a handful can be enough to feed one day, unlike the several handfuls of crickets it would require to feed your reptile pet. You can adjust your pet’s feeding volume according to their life cycle stages – growing adolescent reptiles will require more food than fully grown adults.
Nutritious
Dubia roaches rank at the top of the list regarding their nutritional value for your pet reptile. They’re not just loaded with calories, and nutrients animals need for their wellbeing; they are also far more hassle-free when compared to other live bugs your reptile pet may like. Nutritionally speaking, they are loaded with protein, and essential minerals, and calcium.
There are countless benefits to growing Dubia cockroaches. So, growing a Dubia roaches colony can be a great plan to create a reliable feeding source for your reptile pets.
We all want the best for our daily nutrition. When it comes to older adults, this becomes even more important. It’s essential for seniors to choose their food wisely and effectively. Proper wellness and hydration are of vital significance for seniors.
Suppose you’re on a new diet for health reasons or are simply trying to enhance your nutrition at an independent senior living community. In that case, there are some essential foods that you can implement into your selection. Here are three of the healthiest food choices to improve senior nutrition.
Salmon
Salmon is a delicious fish to cook with. It also has various health benefits that can help with seniors’ nutrition.
Salmon has a high level of protein. This helps build muscle structure while also aiding digestion. Protein also helps provide additional oxygen to red blood cells.
Salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Since your body can’t create these fats like others, omega-3 fats are considered medically “essential.” Omega-3 fatty acids can help prevent chronic inflammation, and may also lower your blood pressure.
Nonfat Milk
We all know that milk is high in calcium, which can increase bone density. However, nonfat milk has added benefits that make it healthier than whole or reduced fat milk, giving it more appealing options for seniors.
Nonfat milk is rich in amino acids, which your body needs for its daily functionality. Serotonin, which is included within amino acids, helps improve the regulation of mood and sleep.
Nonfat milk also has a larger amount of potassium than whole milk. Potassium can help with nerve signals and cardiovascular health. An increase in potassium could help reduce the risk of stroke.
Almonds
Almonds are an incredible source of nutrients that seniors should try. In addition to being rich in protein, they also have fiber which helps bowel health and lowers cholesterol levels.
In addition, almonds also have a large amount of Vitamin E, which has antioxidant benefits. This nutrient helps protect your skin. Vitamin E may also help lower the risk of heart disease.
Almonds also have a high level of magnesium, which helps with blood sugar control. This makes it an excellent dietary option for those with diabetes.
Diet is an essential part of our lives, and older adults know that food choice is a critical part of their health. Putting these three healthy options into their day-to-day food selection can be a great starting point for seniors to improve their nutrition.
About the Author
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey. She frequently works with many home services and lifestyle brands, such as plumbing repair and independent senior living.
We have all had a lot more time on our hands recently, and we have all spent a lot more time in our homes! As such, there is no doubt a lot of you have been thinking about what improvements you could make around the home. We have put together some top tips as to how to plan your ideas effectively.
Make Sure you Have a Budget in Place
You need to know how much money you have to spend before you go into the deep end and start making purchases. Put together a strict budget of what you can afford so you don’t go over it. Make sure that you don’t get yourself in hot water after the project is complete by overspending.
Plan Room by Room
If you are doing a complete overhaul on your home – make sure you plan it out room by room. If you take on too much at the same time it can be overwhelming. The last thing you need is a lot of unfinished rooms, make sure you get one thing done at a time. It’s also a good idea to have a checklist for each room. That way you won’t miss anything along the way. If you want to get a visual, there are also a lot of home interior design apps you can use.
Save on your Bills
One thing that we all forget to do is look at how much we are spending on our utility bills on a regular basis. Money comes in and out – and we all get used to it. Sit down and have a look at how much your phone bills are costing, how much your gas and electric is costing – and see if there are any savings that can be made. There are lots of comparison sites out there where you can find the cheapest rates and uncover any savings that can be made, and this could be part of your home improvement fund!
Look for Inspiration from Others
There are lots of Pinterest ideas, and home improvement magazines to gain some inspiration for your home. There is lots of good info out there, such as how to do a room up on a budget, upcycling and general tips and advice to have your home looking great. Here are 5 interior design trends we think you will love to get some ideas flowing. This should have your home looking on trend.
Shop Around
Don’t make the mistake of buying items straight away if you see something you like. Unless it’s a one-of-a-kind piece, you will find it elsewhere online. Make sure you look around to get the best deal. There are also some great online stores such as Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace where you can get some great finds.
Undertaking a home improvement project is a big job, so make sure you plan ahead in advance so you can easily iron out any kinks on the way.
