Category Archives: Totally Random

Repair it, don’t replace it! Save time and money with these quick fixes!

These days not everything is built to last, and many of us don’t think twice before throwing out items that have suddenly broken or when we have appliances that we don’t know how to fix. Everything from shoes and clothing to electricals and personal items, even household possessions such as sofas and chairs, everything we own has a shelf-life, and the amount of wear and tear these items experience dictates how long we get to enjoy them for.

The truth is, if we all altered our mindset and moved away from landfill culture and embraced a “repair don’t replace” lifestyle, then we’d all save a little more money and the planet would benefit too!

Here we’ll explore some quick fixes for items you can repair instead of replacing. Read on to find out more.

Your household appliances

When your fridge breaks down, your dishwasher is no longer performing the way it should, or your oven has gone kaput, the subsequent expense of replacing these items can be financially crippling. Thankfully, there is another option! By opting to repair these electronic appliances yourself, you can save yourself time and money searching for a replacement. A quick search online will help you find appliance parts, and a quick chat with a local repair person will give you the information you need to fix your appliance. Alternatively, you can source the parts and have an expert repair your household electricals for you.  

Your shoes

Your trusty pair of winter boots are supposed to last you more than one winter! Even if the sole is coming apart from the shoe itself or the heel is looking a little worse for wear, don’t throw these shoes away! Reaching out to a cobbler (yes, they still exist!) will help breathe new life into your favourite shoes and potentially replace those worn away features and replace them with newer, better quality pieces. A trip to the cobbler may be a little more than you were expecting, but it’ll be much more cost-effective than buying new shoes every six months.

Your clothes

The effect of the fashion industry on the planet is eye-opening, with fast fashion, in particular, raising questions over its environmental impact and its ethical practices. If we all learned to look after our clothes a little better, avoided the purchase of new clothes for every occasion and stopped throwing away items that have missing buttons, broken zips or holes, then the planet and our wallets would be happier places! Learning some simple sewing skills can help keep your clothes in good shape and following the care instructions on the label will ensure they last longer.

And finally, household furniture

You might be in love with your current sofa, but if the frame is damaged or the upholstery has seen better days, it’s tempting to move on and purchase a new, expensive suite. Sofas are incredibly costly, with many people purchasing furniture on a pay-per-month agreement. Furniture isn’t really worth getting into debt over, not when you can reach out to an upholstery shop or a furniture restorer and ask for help! A few adjustments and replacements could see your old sofa look just like new.

Gifting Tips for Around the World

All over the world, we show our love, appreciation, and friendship in a multitude of different ways. However, one of the easiest ways to show someone you care, is to get them a gift that they’ll truly love. This is something that human beings do in virtually every part of the globe. However, the way that we deal with gifting does vary depending on where you are in the world. 

In just about every country, the most important part of successful gifting is making sure that you choose the gift with care and attention. It’s important to put plenty of thought and time into picking something that the other person will love. However, if you’re keen to learn more about presents in other countries, here are some insights. 1. Refusing Gifts is Common in the East

In East Asia, it’s surprisingly common for someone to refuse a gift at least a few times before they’re willing to accept it. If someone in your social circle happens to be from Japan, China, or Singapore, then that person would usually be expected to refuse a gift a few times to avoid seeming as though they’re impatient or greedy. 

If you’re being offered a gift by someone from one of these cultures, be prepared to say “no” politely once or twice before you accept. Additionally, when someone does receive a gift from you from one of these countries, you’re expected to thank them for taking the gift, rather than them thanking you for giving it. 2. Show Care in Asia and the Middle East

In all parts of the world, something as precious as a gift probably deserves a little bit of extra care and protection. However, if you’re in the Middle East, East Asia, or India, then how you handle the gift is very important. In various parts of Asia and the middle east, the left hand is usually seen as unclean so you will need to use your right hand for giving and receiving gifts. 

If two hands are required to accept the gift – try not to worry about this too much. In eastern China, you should always offer or accept gifts with both of your hands, and keep your palms facing up when you do. Don’t be afraid to ask for some advice if you’re not sure about the cultural rules here. 3. Gifts are A Good Thank You

In Russia and Asia, people give gifts as a way of showing gratitude more than simple friendship or love. Russia considers thank-you cards to be impractical and useless, so you’re intended to give a gift to anyone who hosts you for a dinner party or an overnight stay. 

Whatever reason you choose for giving your gift, however, etiquette experts agree that gifts should always be wrapped. The kind of wrapping you do, and the colors you choose may vary depending on where you are, for instance. Gifts are only given to the dead in yellow paper in China, and in South America, black and purple colors are associated with death too. In Japan, it may make more sense to wrap a gift in cloth than paper. 4. Choose the Item Carefully

In more parts of the world than you might think, the kind of item you give as a gift is very important. For instance, in China, giving someone an umbrella means that you want your relationship with them to end. In Hong Kong and China, giving someone a green hat also means that that person’s wife is cheating on them, or that their sister is a prostitute. 

Handkerchiefs, clocks, sandals, and various other items can also be dangerous in China and Hong Kong too. Best to  doyour research before you begin shopping. In a lot of countries, it’s also a terrible idea to give anything sharp as a gift. Scissors and knives generally symbolize the cutting of ties and the end of a relationship. 5. Getting the Numbers Right

Finally, if you’re giving multiple gifts in Asia and Europe, remember that unlucky numbers are often problematic. In Europe, odd numbers are usually the preferred choice for a lot of people, this is common in India too. On the other hand, in East Asia, even numbers are deemed lucky. 

In certain countries, even giving zero gifts might be the right idea. In Yemen, for instance, receiving a gift from anyone but your closest friend is embarrassing. You’ll need to be extra careful that you and your friend are super close before you start wrapping. 

4 Beauty & Wellness Tips for Busy Moms

Experienced moms know that when you feel good about yourself, you tend to look good as well. Indeed, individuals who take the time to focus on their health and wellness often improve their appearance in doing so. Unfortunately, moms don’t have a ton of free time to focus on their own health and style. Indeed, between work, family, and social obligations, moms may only have a few minutes to themselves each day. To that end, today we’ll list four key beauty and wellness tips that all moms should know and follow. Check them out here: 

Speak with Your Doctor

When was the last time you scheduled a checkup appointment with your doctor? If it’s been more than a year since you last spoke with your M.D., it’s time to schedule an appointment ASAP. Remember that doctors will be able to provide you with key bits of health and fitness advice. Plus, they can use sophisticated equipment like 2 ml serological pipettes to diagnose and treat certain medical issues that may be bothering you. When it comes to your health and wellness, your doctor is one of your best allies!

Appreciate YOU

No two people look exactly alike. No two people have the same body type, the same hairstyle, or the same physical appearance. As such, it’s important to remember that in order to look your best, you need to prioritize self-care first and foremost. Don’t make yourself miserable with a lifestyle routine that prevents you from enjoying your favorite things –– no matter how busy you may be. Loving yourself is the first step to unlocking your full personal potential.  

Be Patient

It takes time to develop your own style and to foster new looks. Similarly, it takes time to lose weight, find your ideal diet and exercise routine, and discover self confidence –– and that goes double for busy moms! So don’t get discouraged if it takes you a while to hit your stride. What’s more, it’s important to give yourself time to make big lifestyle changes. It could take a person months to get adjusted to a new environment or exercise routine, for example. 

Keep it Natural

Sunlight. Fresh fruits and vegetables. Herbal skin cream. All of these things are good for your body and your appearance –– and they’re all natural too. Keeping your diet, skincare routine, and exercise regimen natural and simple is a great way to ensure you always feel and look your best. Note, ignore supplements and gimmicks that seem “too good to be true” –– because they probably are!

Conclusion

Staying healthy and happy is key to living your best life and looking your best whenever possible. Thankfully, these basic and effective tips are worth keeping in mind!

Worrying ways your children could get hurt and how you can prevent it

We can’t wrap our children up in cotton wool, even though most of us would like to! No one wants to think of their child getting hurt, which is why parents will do anything to keep them safe and sound.

Sadly, circumstances are often out of our control and despite the safety measures we put in place, accidents and injuries still happen. If you want to locate a PI lawyer in Texas after an accident involving another family member or yourself, click the link. 

However, if parents learn to recognize and make themselves familiar with the most common types of accidents and scenarios that could leave their children injured, then their little ones could be a bit safer. 

Read on to discover the worrying ways your children could get hurt and how you can prevent it.

Car accidents

As mentioned above, sometimes circumstances are out of our control. And even if you’re a diligent and safe driver, if you’re suddenly faced with someone who is distracted behind the wheel or drunk driving, then your own safety or the safety of your little ones is difficult to control. 

Despite not being able to control who else uses the roads, parents can still influence the outcome of a crash. Ensuring all children are wearing seatbelts and are adequately restrained in properly fitted car seats that are the right size for their age, height and weight, will help reduce the likelihood of catastrophic injuries. Advising your children to not distract the driver whilst they’re in the backseat is also a good idea!

Drowning

As a parent, it’s easy to imagine that it’s incredibly unlikely that your child would drown. After all, if you went to a local pool or the beach, you’d be watching your child, there’d be a lifeguard present and you’d recognize if they were in trouble…sadly, that’s just not always the case.

Whenever supervising your children around water, you need to watch them carefully. Stay off your phone and away from other distracting activities. Recognize the signs of drowning – it may look different to what you think, and be wary of letting your children play where water has collected, including the pond at grandma’s house, the bathtub you’re filling up, and even the toilet! 

Choking

Defective and dangerous toys are often the cause behind childhood choking cases. Defective toys that break apart or those that are a serious choking hazard like marbles and balls should be kept well away from children and babies. 

Keeping your home tidy and keeping track of the toys that your children play with can help. Also, ensure any defective toys are disposed of properly. And brush up on your first aid skills so as a last resort, you can help a choking child.

And finally, injuries at school

If there’s one place that your child should be safe, it’s at school. However, injuries and accidents at school can be quite common – cuts and lacerations, trips and falls, head injuries, choking or even accidental strangulation on play equipment.

It doesn’t bear thinking about, but if you want to ensure your child’s safety at school, reach out to the school for a rundown of their safety procedures. 

Is There a Bed Bug-Proof Mattress?

Bed bugs are so small that they are often not noticed until after you’ve been bitten. The problem is that even after you realize you have an issue, they can be extremely hard to get rid of. You need the assistance of an experienced exterminator.

How Bed Bugs Operate

Bed bugs eat your blood. They are generally dormant during the day and sneak out at night. They don’t actually bite as they have a syringe-like extension that sinks into your skin. It will be full up within 10 minutes and you probably won’t even wake up!

The good news is that bed bugs don’t carry disease. But, the saliva they leave behind on the surface of your skin will irritate. Not only will you have red marks on your body, but you’re also likely to experience itching.

If you have a bed bug issue then you’re going to need to click here and speak to the professionals. Because they are so small and hide in any nook and cranny, they can be difficult to eliminate.

The Bed Bug Proof Mattress

As always, the best way to deal with the problem is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This can be difficult with bed bugs as they can be transported between houses without being noticed. They are surprisingly tough and can withstand cold and heat, although only to a point.

That’s why you should consider the bedbug-proof mattress, which really does exist!

A bedbug-proof mattress will probably be made out of memory foam, layered to create the desired thickness. But, what is really important is that the mattress is encased in a protective layer. This will need to be tested to ensure that bed bugs cannot get through it, effectively depriving them of their main hiding spot.

The right protective layer will also prevent spills from getting into the mattress.

Not all mattresses are protected in this way, you’ll want to check their specs to decide if your chosen mattress is bedbug-proof.

The Mattress Is Only Part of The Problem

While a bedbug-proof mattress is useful in the fight against bed bugs it is important to note that this is only one of their hiding spots. It is still possible for them to hide between your mattress and your bed frame or on any of the soft furnishings in your home.

They can even live in the edging of any chair in your room. You may be surprised by how far they can move at night. They may be small but they’ll cross your room and get to your bed when they need to.

To protect against bed bugs you’ll need to be vigilant and clean your bedroom, and the rest of your house regularly. It’s also worth being mindful of bed bugs when staying in hotels or at friends’ houses.

If possible, bag your clothes up and wash them straight away, this will help to stop them being introduced to your home and bedroom.