12 feature plant ideas for your new home

Twelve feature plant ideas for your new home. Find out more about which plants work best indoors to create a statement for inside your new home.

More people are considering having plants in their homes. Plants have been proven to improve one’s mood. They also improve air quality as they absorb pollutants, as well as increase humidity.  Oxygen in the air is also increased, allowing you to breathe with ease.

Aside from their health benefits, plants are also great decorations. They make empty spaces livelier. They can change bland-looking atmospheres by adding pops of colors. Designers also use plants as home décor because of their natural aesthetics.

Taking care of plants is also a low-maintenance hobby. Being a plant mom or a plant dad can be a very therapeutic past time. Plants can bring happiness and joy, just like how traveling in nature brings.

Furthermore, there are many indoor plants that are great for your new home. Here are some of your best options:

Succulent

Succulents are low-maintenance plants that require little watering. They’re great indoor plants and they require little to no sunlight. They also thrive even in the shadiest places. Some grow very small, just like a drinking glass, so they make for great desk plants.

There are many types of succulents you can choose from. Interestingly, cactus comes from the family of succulents, thus, you can start by having common succulents, such as bunny-ear cactus, prickly pear cactus, and cabbage cactus, among others.

Succulents are easy to find in local garden shops, as well as online through sites like FloraFolia.

Pothos

Pothos plants are very versatile and they can thrive anywhere. They also don’t need much care, like succulents do.

Some varieties have very green luscious leaves that resemble vines. Pothos plants have long vining stems that grow downward. They can also be great hanging plants. Most people put them on higher shelves or high areas because their stems grow downward like hair.

Bonsai

Bonsais are miniature versions of small trees. The term ‘bonsai’ is a Japanese technique of keeping trees small for ease of maintaining them.

Bonsais are great indoor plants to put on windows, center tables, or desks. Also, like any indoor plant, they require minimal sunlight. Watering them around twice a week will do, too.

Rubber Plant

Rubber plants prefer indirect light that’s not too harsh on their leaves, the reason why they’re some of the most common indoor plants. You only need to tend to them once a week, and they also don’t need a lot of watering.

There are many varieties of rubber plants. They can go from having very green leaves, while some have maroon or purple looking leaves. But, all rubber plants require the same care.

Rubber plants also make for great accent plants in homes. You can put them beside console tables or shelves. They’d also look great on hallways and doors.

Snake Plant

Snake plants are some of the most common indoor plants. Why not?  They’re easy to find and relatively cheap.

They’re very versatile plants that you can cultivate indoors and outdoors. You can also let them grow on direct soil or pots.

Snake plants have sword-like looking leaves that grow upwards. They also don’t like harsh sun and require minimal watering.

Spider Plant

Spider plants make for very good indoor plants. They usually have long, thin green leaves that have yellowish outlines. What’s great about these plants is that they’ll thrive even with minimal supervision.

Like most indoor plants, they only require minimal sunlight. They also prefer dry soils, so watering them once a week is recommended. They are tough plants that can survive even with the most neglectful owners.

ZZ Plant

The Zamioculcas zamiifolia or ZZ plant usually has dark green leaves, and it can grow up to two feet.

ZZ plants don’t require that much sunlight, and they need watering up to two times a week. However, take note that ZZ plants are poisonous when ingested. Just make sure they’re out of pets and children’s reach.

Aloe Vera

Aloe veras belong to the succulent family. They have pointy leaves that grow upward. Like other succulents, they require minimal sun and watering, too.

People usually keep aloe veras in their homes because of their hair and skin benefits. You can just cut out an aloe vera stem and squeeze its sap. It can be used on the hair as a conditioner.

Pilea

Pileas are also known as Chinese money plants. They originated in China, but their popularity quicky spread around the world. They have circular coin-like leaves and soft stems. They should be watered only once a week, and they only need ample sunlight.

Peace Lily

Peace lilies are great indoor plants. They’re one of the few flowering plants that require low sunlight and minimal watering. They have white flowers, with yellow, brush-like erected centers called the spadix.

They’re great air purifiers as well. They grow about two to three feet, and they’re great accent plants. You can put them on large pots beside doors or along hallways.

Asparagus Fern

Asparagus ferns have hairy light green leaves. They thrive in humid places, and a little water is required to keep them alive.

They grow laterally instead of vertically, and are great for square flat pots. You can put them anywhere in your house, but it’d be best if you keep them on hanging pots.

Orchids

Orchids make for great house plants, too. Some varieties only require minimal sunlight and watering. Taking care of orchids needs a little patience, although some types require more care

In addition, orchids are great decorative pieces that even designers use them as decorative plants. Orchids can be ideal table centerpieces as well. They’d also look good on vases, or you can hang them on windows.

Get Planting

Having indoor plants has many benefits for you and your family. They purify the air and they uplift the mood of the house. Taking care of plants is also a great hobby and a great way to relax.

These are some of the best indoor plants for your new home. However, you can always choose the plants you like; just make sure you know the proper way to take care of them.

5 Materials and Equipment to Prepare Before Building Your Greenhouse

Here are 5 materials and equipment to prepare before building your greenhouse.

A greenhouse is a structure with walls and a roof made of transparent material. It is designed for growing plants that require controlled climatic conditions. A greenhouse is a great way to protect and sustain the needs of growing plants and vegetables in your backyard.

There are different types of greenhouses, ranging from tiny sheds to massive buildings. If you’re interested in building a greenhouse, you can find many different inspirations from websites like Maze greenhouses. Before you can build a greenhouse, you need to prepare all the materials and equipment you need. Here is a list of some of those needed: 

1. Foundation Material

The foundation is an integral part of the greenhouse. Ensure that the ground is level so your greenhouse will be stable during storms and anchor it down so the structure won’t fall over. 

After measuring the space, you should prepare the soil underneath the greenhouse. After this, you should add material on top of the soil to fill the gap. Ideally, you should use three to four inches of material, such as sand, cement, or a concrete mix.

Once the ground is level, you can cover the ground with slabs. In some cases, a concrete slab will be enough for your greenhouse foundation.  

2. Framing Materials

Once you’ve chosen your foundation material, you need a frame to hold the greenhouse together. You can use wood or metal for framing.

For the best results, wood should be treated with pressure-treated lumber. For durability, you may also want to consider galvanized steel or aluminum.

For a more affordable framing material, you can use inexpensive PVC piping. Regardless of the type of material you choose, you should ensure that it is strong enough to withstand the greenhouse’s temperature and the weather. 

3. Glazing Materials

Glazing materials cover the greenhouse frame and there are several types of it. For example, acrylic is one of the most common and widely used for greenhouse glazing. It is flame retardant, high impact-resistant, UV-stabilized, and has excellent clarity and transmittance properties.

Its textured surface is easy to clean and reduces condensation drips. Some also use glass or polycarbonate materials. 

It would be best if you considered different factors when choosing the most appropriate glazing material for your greenhouse. It will depend on your location and the plants you want to grow.

This is because plants usually grow receiving 75 percent of available light. If you live in a hot summer area, you need a glazing material that regulates the light entering the greenhouse.   

Most greenhouse builders would choose polycarbonate glazing material for hot weather. This is because the insulation ability of this material is high, and it helps maintain the temperature inside the greenhouse. It also doesn’t experience problems with shattering condensation, unlike glass materials. 

4. Flooring Materials

The right greenhouse flooring can make the difference between a successful and a failed greenhouse. This is because choosing the best flooring material will offer sufficient drainage, insulation, durability, and easy maintenance.

It also serves as a weed barrier to keep these harmful plants out of your greenhouse. Choosing the best flooring also plays a significant role in managing the overall atmosphere of the greenhouse, whether you’re designing it on your own or following some DIY greenhouse plans.  

A concrete slab is a good option for greenhouse flooring. It’s easy to clean and will keep your plants warm. You can also use gravel or a plastic mix to create a low-cost greenhouse floor. This type of flooring also keeps out rodents and improves drainage. You can also use a porous plastic cover to prevent weed growth and let the moisture soak through. 

Bricks and lumber can help contain gravel if you work with a small greenhouse. You can also install commercial vinyl flooring in a greenhouse. It is usually polypropylene and polyvinyl, the two most popular materials for constructing floors.

5. Ventilation Equipment

Proper ventilation is crucial for the health and growth of plants. It also helps regulate and manage the condition inside the greenhouse even when the weather outside isn’t favorable. That’s why it’s also important to have ventilation equipment for your greenhouse. 

There are two basic types of greenhouse ventilation: natural and mechanical. Natural ventilation relies on the natural forces of wind and thermal buoyancy to circulate air and heat in a greenhouse. In contrast, mechanical ventilation uses fans and mechanical devices to control airflow.

A mechanical ventilation system is more convenient since they are automated. It can help maintain the ideal temperature for your plants regardless of the weather outside.

Final Thoughts

If you want to live sustainably, having a garden shed and a greenhouse that ensures your produce is growing no matter the season is a great investment. 

Besides the obvious financial benefit of growing your fresh produce, it also allows you to help the environment. If you’re planning to build a greenhouse in your home, you need to take note of the materials and equipment mentioned above. They will ensure that your greenhouse is sturdy and safe enough to maintain your plants’ growth. 

Pegs: Why stainless steel clothes pegs are best

Do you still hang your clothes out on the clothesline? Yes, same here but it seems to be a little old fashioned now and not many people have the time, opting to use the clothes drier to get the laundry dry.

There are many reasons why using the natural sun to dry your laundry is best but why are stainless steel clothes pegs the best? This is why I think they are.

Is your climate right for using clothes pegs

I’m extremely lucky that I happen to live in a sub-tropical climate here in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia so we have pretty much all year round sunny weather.

Except for a couple months a year when the temperature might drop to under 20^oC (68^oF) in winter, we have the perfect weather. Even in winter, the sun shines warm enough and long enough for us to get our laundry dry. (Maybe thick doonas and blankets need a dry, windy day in the middle of winter.)

For those who live in snowy conditions, hanging your laundry outside isn’t probably ideal but definitely worth it in the summer months.

Stainless Steel Pegs are environmentally friendly

Unlike plastic clothes pegs, stainless steel pegs are made from marine grade steel so are easily recyclable unlike plastic pegs.

Plastic pegs deteriorate from being in the sun, from wear and tear, age and those with a metal spring just give up over time.

Wooden pegs also contract mold and mildew if left out in the elements.

The stainless steel clothes pegs are made from marine grade 316 1.7mm stainless steel so they won’t rust. They have been constructed as one piece so the spring of the peg mechanism forms part of the entire peg.

They are also good for the environment in that they are fully recyclable.

Stainless steel pegs have many uses

Just as I am with food and anything else I buy, if a product has more than one use, I’m happy.

Stainless steel pegs have been great for many other uses in the home including:

• paper clips
• clips for using in sewing, quilting and other craft projects
• use to guide creeping plants and vines
• hanging children’s artwork
• hanging Christmas cards
• strong enough to hang washed shoes and toys on the clothesline
• keeping packets closed in the pantry and freezer and I think a few have gone missing in the shed for my husband’s various home DIY projects.

Conclusion

For the price of the stainless steel clothes pegs compared to cheap plastic pegs, you’ll have the stainless steel pegs for a lifetime with the ability to use them in many ways in all areas of your home. They’d make a great practical housewarming or wedding gift for someone.

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How A Well Maintained Lawn Can Enhance The Look Of Your Property

Do you want to know how a well maintained lawn can enhance the look of your property? Having a lawn is a great thing to have for your household as you can use it for different purposes that you desire.

You can use it as an outdoor living space, camping, yoga, gardening, and other activities, to name a few. While you plan to allow your yard to be a functional area, you shouldn’t forget to regularly maintain them, allowing them to be beautiful and useable. 

One way you can maintain your lawn’s look is by mowing and trimming down the edges with a trimmer edger combo kit like from the examples provided by urbanorganicyield.com, as it helps you to keep your lawn clean, polished, and well-maintained with a single device.

A Well Maintained Lawn Makes It Look Neat and Livelier

Maintaining your lawn can be challenging work, especially if you own a large yard. While the amount of work can be tremendous, it will allow your yard to look neat and beautiful that surely be appreciated by you and your guests. 

When you have successfully maintained your yard’s look, you’re providing a fresh and look that’ll surely make your yard feel like one with nature.

You’ll be able to see the crisp look for the freshly-cut grass, the uninterrupted walkway where no grass is tickling the ankles of your feet, the flowers and plants growing healthy and strong. With those in mind, it’ll indeed add vibrancy and life to your yard rather than an unmaintained yard. 

If you’re able to maintain your yard’s look, you’ll be able to see an even structure of the landscape where everything is adequately proportional with each other; it’ll give you a clean-cut vibe. Along with this, it can help you feel luxurious and grand when your lawn is beautifully crafted and always polished.

Moreover, if you fail to maintain your yard, expect that your plants will soon wither and might attract more pests, which could be unhealthy for your lawn and your family once you contact them.

How to Maintain Your Lawn to Enhance the Look of Your Property

When you have a lawn, it’s your responsibility always to keep it clean and well-maintained as poor sanitation will attract harmful effects to your family and your neighborhood. With that, you must know the proper ways on how you should maintain your lawn as listed below: 

1. Water Your Lawn Deeply

When it comes to tending for your grass, you should water it deeply but only on an occasional basis. Your grass has deep roots, and it requires getting enough nutrition that it needs until it reaches the end. You should continue to water when the top two inches of the soil are completely dry. 

To eliminate the possibilities of fast water evaporation, especially during summer, you might want to consider watering your lawn in the late evening or early morning to secure the water within the grassroots. 

2. Cut Tall Grass

While you may want to have shorter grass from your yard, allowing it to be taller can benefit your lawn a lot better. When it comes to mowing your yard, you should set it to the highest setting, around three and a half to four inches tall. 

Having tall grass is essential for your lawn’s health as it helps to shade the ground, which helps prevent evaporation of water and allow the nutrients to be properly soaked in. Additionally, taller grass blocks the possibility of growing weeds and promotes microbes that are beneficial for your lawn. 

When it comes to mowing your grass, you shouldn’t cut it while it’s wet as it can cause accidents, given that it’ll be slippery. Along with this, you should regularly sharpen your mower blade after every 10 hours of mowing your lawn, or if you noticed that your freshly cut lawn looks ragged and has brown tips.

3. Fertilize Your Lawn to Enhance the Look of Your Property 

One way to keep your lawn looking healthy and fresh is by adding fertilizer to it. There are plenty of fertilizers available in the market that’s intended for your yard. Ideally, you should get one that’s high in nitrogen as it’s what your lawn needs the most. 

When fertilizing your lawn, you should keep it away from your lawn edge, water, and flower and plant beds to avoid pollution. Ideally, you should fertilize your lawn once a year, preferably during late fall when the cold weather helps with root growth. 

4. Remove Pests and Weeds

Depending on the condition of your garden, there might be a chance that it’ll develop weed and attract insects and other pests. When that moment happens, you should get rid of them immediately as lack of attention would only invite more, making it extra challenging to remove in the long run. 

If you’re having difficulties with removing them, you can always ask for help from a gardener in helping you to restore the health of your yard. You can hire them for an additional cost, but they’ll help keep your yard’s condition in the perfect shape. 

Conclusion

A well maintained lawn can enhance the look of your property. It will help boost your property’s look. Plus, you’ll be having a higher property value, which’ll benefit you a lot. Along with this, you’ll be having an amazing outdoor space that you’ll be spending your day with your family and friends.

While maintaining your yard can be hard work, you can choose to hire a gardener to tend to your lawn, allowing it to be wonderful and neat, free from any weed and pests.

Three Tips For Removing Leaves Off Your Lawn

Here are three tips for removing leaves off your lawn. The sight of all those leaves covering your lawn fills you with dread. Excuses to procrastinate run through your head, chasing each other, like words on a teleprompter. But, you discard them just as quickly.

After all, leaving dead leaves could suffocate your lawn—they could prevent the grass from receiving sunlight. But, it doesn’t have to be tedious. You may already have the tools hidden somewhere in your house or garage. If you don’t, you can find them at your favorite hardware or any home improvement store.

Having an immaculate lawn can be a lot of work, but it need not be. Below are tips on the most effective and efficient methods of clearing your lawn, so that when spring comes, your lawn will have healthy grass.

1. Use Leaf Blowers

Leaf blowers are easy to use. They’re also one of the most versatile landscaping tools you can own. Moreover, you don’t need training to use a leaf blower; they’re safe and user-friendly.

If you don’t own one, it’s high time you should. You may visit sites like properlyrooted.com for a reliable selection of leaf blowers.

Don’t go firing up that leaf blower just yet, however. You’ve got to have a plan of attack. First, make sure the leaves are dry. Wet leaves stick to the ground, and if that happens, they won’t be easy to blow around.

You don’t have to use your leaf blower immediately after a rainstorm. You can at least wait a day before clearing your lawn of dead leaves. Leaves should be dry by then.

Next, walk around your yard. Pick up large items and loose objects, like kid’s toys, twigs, gardening supplies, and others. Large items should be pushed out of your way so as not to hinder your movement.

Don’t go blowing leaves without a plan. Follow a pattern. Funnel those leaves towards a designated area where you plan to pile them up. And, remember to wear protective gear: boots, gloves, safety glasses, and earmuffs for the noise.  

2. Mulch The Leaves With Lawn Mower

Mulching is among the easiest ways to deal with removing leaves off your lawn. Just use your lawnmower to shred the leaves. Mowing over fallen leaves can turn them into a mulch-like matter that could serve as a natural fertilizer for your lawn.      

For an effective mulch, the dead leaves should be cut into debris less than an inch in diameter. Make sure they’re spread out evenly all over your lawn.

The mulch shouldn’t be excessive or it might suffocate the grass. There should be at least a half inch of grass peeking out from a layer of mulch.  

Probably, the best lawn mower model for this is one of those with a side discharge. You can set the lawnmower to mulch if your lawnmower has that setting.

This setting is effective especially for grass with normal length, and the leaves are dry, but not too dry. Leaves with a little moisture are the most ideal for mulching.

Use the ‘stripes’ technique when mowing. This way, you can go over the leaf clippings from your earlier passes, reducing them further, turning them into debris more suited for mulch. You can also mow in concentric circles as it’s also an effective method of shredding the leaves for mulching.     

3. Use The Hand Rake

The first two methods can make removing leaves off your lawn faster, but you can also use a hand rake. Old fashioned it may be, but it’s still a perfectly fine tool for removing leaves.

A hand rake is affordable and is easily procured in any hardware store. Sure, your lawn-clearing job might take longer, but you’d do a more thorough job. You can clear every nook and cranny of your lawn using a rake.

Using a hand rake to clear leaves off your lawn can be tiring, but you can use a few techniques to turn the chore from back-breaking to something simpler and easier.

First, get a proper hand rake. The old, rusty rake in your garage might no longer be as effective as the newer models. Rakes, too, have evolved over the years. The new models could give a better and easier experience than your old, standard rake.   

Get a rake with an ergonomically designed handle, and one that’s also lightweight. A heavy rake will tire you out quicker and you might not finish the job. Rakes with an uncomfortable feel would just strain your back and shoulder muscles. Also, get a rake with a wide end so you’ll pick more leaves with each sweep.

Conclusion

Leaving leaves on your lawn is bad for the grass. The tools you can use for an easier time clearing your lawn are readily available. Leaf blowers and lawnmowers would get the job done quicker, but a hand rake is fine, too.

Why You Should Have A Rainwater Collection Tank

Why you should have a rainwater collection tank. Water is an essential natural resource like air. It helps animals and people maintain their body functions and regulate their temperature for them to perform their daily activities well. Human beings and other living organisms will die without water for more than a few days. However, there has been a decline in the availability of fresh water in many places. This is where rainwater collection becomes a useful idea.

Rainwater Collection And Its Benefits

It’s good to have a rainwater collection tank for your business or home and enjoy the benefits of harvesting rainwater. Rainwater tanks are great for storing all the water that falls on the ground, without having to worry about having to deal with the sewage and garbage that come from rain runoff.

Visit this link if you want to learn more about rainwater collection tanks. Meanwhile, here are some reasons why you must have a rainwater collection tank:

1. Helps You Save Money On Utility Bills

An obvious benefit that you’ll experience if you have a rainwater collection tank is saving money on your water bills. The average household in the United States uses approximately 50,000 gallons of water every single day.

With this kind of usage, you can easily spend several thousand dollars in a year. With a rainwater collection system, however, you’ll be able to reduce your water consumption by 50% or more. This will help you save money on your utility bills.

2. Provides A Good Source Of Water

Rainwater is an excellent alternative water source. Your household may use rainwater, especially if it’s stored inside a collection tank.

It contains no harmful chemicals that won’t endanger plants and animals, so you can use rainwater for various purposes. Rainwater collected by the tank can be used to fill bird baths and gardens, help with landscaping, and for filling fish tanks.

There are many places in the world where groundwater sources are becoming scarce. Making deep wells is both environmentally exhaustive and expensive. Thus, it’s more sensible to collect a natural resource like water and store it for future use.

3. Reduces Water Usage And Helps The Environment

When you have a collection system installed, the water that falls on the ground is captured, cleaned and then recycled so that it can be used to water your plants or yard. This means that you’ll be able to eliminate water usage in your yard because the tap water you have isn’t your only source of water.

If you’re concerned about saving natural resources, consider having a rainwater collection tank because of how it can protect the environment. With this type of system, you can help make the environment cleaner, on top of saving money on your water bills.

This works because collecting rainwater reduces water runoff from your property, which stops the contamination of surface water with metals, sediments, pesticides, and fertilizers.

Through reducing stormwater runoff, collecting rainwater can lower a storm’s peak flow velocity and volume in streams, creeks, and rivers, while also reducing the potential for erosion.

Another way that rainwater harvesting can help the environment is that it can reduce flooding in many areas. Rainwater also doesn’t create scale and corrosion, unlike hardwater. Thus, it’s more beneficial for plants and many other uses.

4. Make Rainwater Clean For Household Use

In order for you to enjoy rainwater and enjoy its many benefits, collection should be done properly. The water that you use should be filtered in a way that all of the perceivable contaminants are removed.

These harmful elements include metals, such as lead and copper. This filtering method helps ensure that you’re able to produce water that’s safe and won’t harm any species.

Chemical contaminants are present in all forms of tap water, and no matter what kind of filtration system you have installed in your home, their presence is likely to occur in some form or another.

It can be in the form of sediments, which are usually present in large lakes, streams, or rivers. You don’t want to have any of these contaminants in your water, so the tank can be your best way to get rid of them for good.

Water collected from your rainwater collection tank can be used for various purposes, such as for showering, and cleaning your kitchen sink or shower. Rainwater can also be used to wash your clothes.

Final Thoughts

No matter what your reasons are for having a rainwater collection tank, you’ll be able to enjoy its benefits for years. No matter where you live, a rainwater collection tank will provide you with water that’s free harmful bacteria and pollutants, and which can be used for different purposes.

5 Key Things To Consider Before Cutting Down A Tree

Planting trees on your property can provide countless benefits. Having trees can boost your property value and enable your home to stand out from the neighborhood. Trees also provide shade that can be utilized as another living area and encourage kids to play outdoors. Here are 5 key things to consider before cutting down a tree.

Trees can do wonders for you, your family, and property, but only if they’re well-maintained. Trees, when left alone to grow too large, can cause damage to nearby properties and injuries to family members.

Once you notice that the trees in your property have already become potential hazards to your family, you may decide to cut them down to avoid accidents. Listed below are the things you should consider before cutting down a tree:

Look Out For Any Nearby Structures

Trees can look good on any property, but planting them too close to your home or garage can be dangerous.

If you experience strong winds in your location, for example, these trees can fall and damage nearby structures, such as your garage, shed, and even your home.

Also, branches of trees that are growing near utility poles may get entangled in wires and cause power interruption. 

Once you see that your trees are growing near structures, immediately call for tree removal in North Bay or in your local area. The longer you leave this problem unaddressed, the more adverse the consequences can get. 

Check For Any Dropping Branches Or Limbs 

The branches or limbs of the trees are some of the many reasons why these greeneries look majestic. Green leaves on the branches or limbs can certainly add a pop of color to any property and can become home to birds and small animals. However, when these branches or limbs start to fall, there’s no reason to continue having them around. 

Dropping branches or limbs is a sign of a dangerous tree. Dead branches or limbs will usually carry brown withered leaves or no leaves at all.

Aside from being an eyesore on your property, dead branches or leaves can eventually fall into the ground and cause injuries to whoever is underneath. These branches can also fall into your roof and other nearby structures. 

Pay Attention To The Condition Of The Trunks 

You don’t have to be a professional or invest in countless pieces of equipment to determine the health of your trees. Merely paying attention to the appearance and texture of the trunks is enough for you to determine whether the trees in your property are dangerous or not. 

Deeper cracks, cavities, and splits in the trunks are indicators that the trees are diseased and about to die. These problems are often caused by unstable soil, bacteria, or fungi. 

Growing trees with too many deep cracks in the trunks can eventually lead to danger as they no longer have strength and stability. These trees can easily tumble or fall over, especially if you live in a city or country that often experiences typhoons and strong winds. 

Assess If The Trees Appear Damaged Or Unhealthy

As mentioned, there are no specific requirements before you can effectively assess the condition of your trees. As long as done regularly, you can easily tell the health of your trees simply by looking at them even from a distance.

If you notice that your trees seem damaged or unhealthy, it’s a sign that these can eventually cause danger to your family and around your property.

Damaged trees, such as those affected by typhoons and floods, are weak and can fall any minute. Unhealthy trees, on the other hand, can affect other healthy trees in your property and cause more danger. 

Determine If The Trees Start To Shift Or Lean Over

With the number of trees you can plant today, it’s common to find ones that don’t grow straight. In fact, more and more homeowners choose to plant trees that have branches that grow in different directions as these can add more drama and personality to any outdoor space.

However, if your trees used to grow straight in the past, but are now starting to shift or lean over, you should be wary.

Trees that suddenly shift or lean over are a sign of danger because these can eventually be detrimental to people or properties. This problem is often caused by poor root systems and can become the reason why the trees will die in the long run. Trees can’t thrive if their roots are unstable and don’t absorb essential minerals. 

Hire Professionals 

After you’ve spotted dangerous trees in your property, call professionals to have them removed or maintained. It’s best if you hire pros to handle all of these things for you as doing these tasks on your own can only do more harm than good. This is especially important if you don’t have any experience in removing or trimming trees. 

How To Create An Outdoor Space Ready For The Summer

Your outdoor space is an extension of your home where you can transform it into a relaxation spot. With the summer approaching, you’ll need a place to relax when the heat indoors becomes unbearable. Here’s how you can create an outdoor space ready for the summer.

Outdoor spaces offer the unique advantage of being in the open air. They provide somewhere you can sit or lie down to watch the sunset or feel the evening breeze. If you’re yet to transform your outdoor space into a summer spot, here’s how to get started.

Clear Out Your Outdoor Space Ready for Summer

The first thing to do is to clear out your outdoor space to prepare for summer. Most people convert their outdoor spaces for other uses, like storage space or a dumping ground for junk.

Other times, the yard is left unkempt after the long winter. Whatever the case, you need to get your outdoor space in shape for what you have in mind. 

First, clear off all the junk in your backyard and on your patio. Thoroughly sweep, clean, and remove all cobwebs. Also clean any dust and mold on furniture or exterior walls.

Aside from the dust and dirt there’ll also be heaps of leaves to clear, especially if you have trees and plants near your outdoor space.

You’ll also need to clean the porch railings and the siding to create the perfect outdoor look. Once you clean and clear out everything, then you can begin designing and decorating.

Work on Landscaping

Landscaping is an essential part of creating the perfect outdoor space for summer. Landscaping your outdoor space will change the scenery and the physical features in your yard.

You can choose to do your landscaping yourself or hire a professional service. Doing it yourself will require that you get some needed landscaping supplies like grass, soil, stones, pebbles, and gravel.

You’ll also need landscaping ideas and knowledge of the various soil types, and how to go about the decoration and general beautification. This involves dividing the space, arranging, and putting choice items like vases and walkway stones to decorate your area. Other tips you can do include:

• Create a textured look by choosing contrasting pavers – this can be dark and light pavers. Marble pavers are also a great look if you’re hoping for a more natural stone effect.
• Add plants surrounding your outdoor space which are durable. Tall plants in pots around the main entry area offer a natural feel that you’re entering a private outdoor area.
• Add a small garden or patio fountain to help make the area seem tranquil.
• Use decorative pots or paint pots to help bring colour to your area.

These are just some great ideas you can use to help bring life to your outdoor space.

Decide on Flooring and Furniture for your Outdoor Space

To make your outdoor space a truly relaxing spot, you’ll need to add some furniture and flooring. Flooring is optional if you’ve already completed your landscaping. However, if you’re not satisfied with just stones on the floor, you can try adding a rug or a carpet.

Carve a small area out and lay the rug down. This is also where you’ll place the furniture. Always buy comfortable and low-maintenance furniture when doing outdoor spaces. Outdoor furniture can range from cushions to chairs, couch, rocking chairs, and a small table. You can also add throw pillows for more comfort. 

It’s natural to want a comfortable outdoor space. However, avoid overcrowding with a lot of furniture; it defeats the whole purpose. Apart from two or three permanent sitting structures, any other seats should be temporary. For instance, you can consider using folding chairs as add-on furniture

You can also introduce a swing set for your kids to play within the outdoor space if you have young children at home.

Plant a Garden/Add Potted Plants for Summer

Planting a small garden is another way to prepare your outdoor space for summer. You can plant beautiful flowers and other plants in your yard that’ll create beautiful scenery and add a pleasant mix of flowery fragrance to your outdoor space.

Another significant advantage of planting a garden is the plants will increase the fresh air during the hot summer season.

If you can’t go through the stress of planting a garden, add potted plants at strategic points in your outdoor space. Potted plants add beauty to any space and will bring your yard to life. To avoid the need to water the plants, you can buy faux potted plants. It works just the same.  

Summer Lighting for your Outdoor Space

Natural lighting is usually enough for outdoor spaces during the day. However, if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the evening, you’ll have to make plans for artificial lighting.

Lighting not only beautifies your outdoor space but also provides illumination at night. That way, you can enjoy lounging in your outdoor space long after the sun is gone.

You can place lights to strategically light up the lawn. However, you should downplay bright lighting where you set your furniture, to prevent insects from flooding the area. 

Add A Grill for Summer

Although this last tip is optional, it’s a fun way to enjoy your outdoor space during the summer. Place the grill far from your sitting arrangement and your home.

Different laws regulate the use of grills at home. Make sure to check the one for the area to know the appropriate distance to put between the barbecue stand and your home. You should also have access to a fire extinguisher or at least water the prevent any fire outbreak.

Conclusion

It’s not yet too late to prepare your outdoor space for summer. Following the tips above will help you create a personal space where you can relax during the day and even invite friends. So, what are you waiting for? Start getting that space ready for summer today!

5 Easy Ways to Make Your Kitchen Greener

The kitchen is the heart of the home. Our lives and routines revolve around the meals we make and the food we keep in this bustling space. So it makes sense that this room produces most of our household waste. What can we do to make our kitchens more eco-friendly? Here are 5 easy ways to make your kitchen greener.

Reuse glass jars

Glass jars are easy to reuse in your kitchen. They are great for storing spices, dried herbs and grains in your pantry.

Glass jars make perfect containers for homemade jams and jellies (to keep in your kitchen or gift to a friend). My favorite way to reuse glass jars in the kitchen is to make overnight oats for breakfast in them.

Join a CSA/grow your own vegetables and herbs

CSAs (or community-supported agriculture) is a great way to support your local farmers. You commit to buying a portion of the farm’s harvest and receive fresh and local produce all season long.

This not only supports the small businesses in your community, it also helps save the planet by eliminating the environmental damage that comes with mass food shipping and storage. Check out Local Harvest for a database of farms that offer CSAs near you.

Growing your own vegetables and herbs is as easy as adding some quality organic soil, seeds and water to a pot or a spot in your yard with ample sunshine. Start small and you will be encouraged to see how simple and satisfying it is to be a green gardener.

Invest in eco-friendly, reusable food storage containers

Quality food storage that’s leak-proof, compact and durable is essential in the kitchen.

Choose glass or BPA-free plastic containers that can be microwaved or frozen, and try to find stackable storage so that it takes up minimal cabinet space when not in use. I like this plastic set from Pop It! for its airtight locking lids and variety of container sizes.

How to pack an eco-friendly lunch

Another great green container option is the bento box, which has separate sections so you can perfectly portion your lunch. Check out how to pack an eco-friendly lunch for more info on bento boxes.

Recycle and compost for a greener kitchen

The best thing you can do to be green is to reuse as much as possible. Let’s be honest, in the kitchen it’s not easy to get to zero waste. Recycling and composting are important ways to help reduce our eco-footprint.

It is essential that we understand how to recycle properly. Simply throwing every piece of glass, plastic or cardboard into the recycling bin can actually do more harm than good.

Take a few minutes to educate yourself on the recycling guidelines in your community so that your efforts are helping, not hurting, the planet.

Composting may sound intimidating, but it’s really quite easy. Start by adding your food scraps to a countertop compost bin. When it’s full, find a small spot in the corner of your yard where you can combine the food scraps with carbon-rich matter like dried leaves, branches and coffee grounds.

Let this mixture break down and – voilà! – you’re a composter. Composting yields wonderful soil (to grow those herbs and veggies we talked about) and greatly reduces kitchen and landfill waste.

Be aware of your appliance energy consumption

Upgrading your kitchen appliances with Energy Star-certified replacements will save you 30% on your energy bills and eliminate more than 5,500 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Moreover, running your dishwasher on eco mode and only when it’s full will prevent 100 pounds of carbon pollution.

I hope these tips will help you make sustainable swaps and informed eco-choices so that wasted food and empty containers don’t find their way to the trash, and green living becomes the standard in your kitchen.

Author Bio

Erin Dalton is a freelance writer and editor and the founder of The Slow Green Movement which serves a growing community looking to incorporate simple sustainable changes into their busy lives. As a mother of three, including a daughter with a peanut allergy, Erin is always looking for easy ways to be greener and healthier. Connect with Erin at on her blog The Slow Green Movement, on Instagram or at erin@slowgreenmovement.com.

Garden Sheds and How to Know What Type to Choose

According to an annual survey conducted by the National Gardening Market Research Company in 2015, more people spent their money on gardening that year compared to the previous one. This only means that gardening has been experiencing a resurgence, as it is only natural for some people to want to do something using their hands. You might be into gardening as well – though you’ve noticed that there’s one important thing missing in your garden: a shed where you can store all your gardening tools in one place. With a lot of garden sheds to choose from, how would you know which one is right for you? You’ll want to ask yourself the following.

How much is your allotted budget for a garden shed?

Money usually trumps everything else as a factor in deciding which garden shed to buy for your backyard. If money isn’t much of an object to you, you could go for either a wooden or metal garden shed. Otherwise, you’ll want to opt for a plastic garden shed instead – though the next question to ask yourself might make you think twice about buying one.

How durable would you want your garden shed to be?

The allure of affordability that a plastic garden shed has to offer unfortunately comes at the expense of durability. The appearance of a typical plastic garden shed can easily wear down over time. An initially good-looking plastic garden shed can turn decrepit faster than you can harvest the rewards of your gardening hobby.

A wooden garden shed may look more rustic if you’re into anything vintage. But like those made of plastic, a wooden garden shed can also easily degrade over time, especially if you’re living in an area where it rains a lot. A couple of problems that you’ll have to deal with once you install a wooden garden shed in your backyard include warping and rotting.

Thus, if you want your garden shed to last a long time, you should choose one that’s made of metal and doesn’t easily corrode.

How much time are you willing to spend on your garden shed upkeep?

Plastic garden sheds aren’t generally built for long-term use, so maintaining one is out of the question.

On the other hand, you’ll have the unfortunate task of dealing with pests should you choose to install a wooden garden shed in your backyard. You might even find yourself getting rid of termites and other bugs in your wooden garden shed instead of doing actual gardening.

So if you want to spend less time maintaining your garden shed, you should set up a metal one. Even if your metal garden shed gets its fair share of dents from time to time, you can easily fix those and still take care of gardening afterward.

All of your gardening tools scattered outside of your house are a ghastly sight to behold, not to mention that you can very easily lose any one of them that way. That’s why you need to have a shed where you can organize and safely store gardening equipment. But whether you plan to buy garden sheds online or build one from scratch, figuring out which one to set up in your backyard can prove to be difficult. The above-listed things will help you know as to which type of garden shed to choose and should make setting one up easier so that you can spend more time tending to your plants instead of fussing over some storage for your gardening tools.

Over 100 me time ideas for women and how to incorporate them into your every day

I’ve put together over 100 me time ideas for women and how to incorporate them into your every day. If you mentioned ‘me time’ to me over 13 years ago, when my first child was born, I wouldn’t have know what you were talking about. I was of the belief that once children came into your life, that was it. You were 100% devoted to looking after them. Looking after me? That didn’t happen. It wasn’t until over 8 months ago that I decided that it was time to find out who I was, before kids, and incorporate some ‘me time’ into my everyday.

My earliest memories of my mother were that she was 100% devoted to raising myself and my 2 sisters but what I didn’t know, in hindsight, was she was also taking care of herself and taking plenty of time out to do the things she loved.

 

My definition of ‘me time’

When I think of ‘me time’, it’s not necessarily spa treatments, indulgent lunches, intensive one on one workouts with a personal trainer or taking yourself out to the movies, sans kids. Not that there’s anything wrong with any of those things.

My definition of ‘me time’ is more about finding time in your day to remember what it’s like to be YOU. Before kids, we were maybe working full time, taking regular vacations, playing a sport, doing craft, lunching with friends, having weekend barbecues with family and friends or, more to the point, it was whatever the hell we wanted to do. We didn’t have to think of anyone else.

Bringing a new baby into the home, looking after your home, your partner, perhaps still working full time and any other children, really takes it’s toll. There is barely a minute to remember why you walked into a room let alone finding something to do that you really like.

Taking some time out for YOU, even if it’s just 5 minutes per day will help clear your mind. In fact, since I’ve been doing this I’ve been able to reminisce about the children when they were babies and I think of those times more fondly. It makes me love them even more  now as they are growing up.

It helps you also remember that sweet thing your partner did for you that you may have overlooked because you were elbow deep in the dishes or changing a dirty nappy.

Sure, that’s hard when you bring a new baby home but there are still ways you can find time for yourself with a newborn. Check out my list and see which ones you can incorporate into your every day. You might be surprised just how easy it is.

Relaxing

That might seem a strange concept when you’re a busy mother but even 5 minutes a day working on your mindset or feeling calm can restore your spiritual self.

• Nap: Even a 20 minute power nap, just closing your eyes does wonders.
• Sleep: Sleep when the children sleep.
• Meditate: It might sound ‘airy fairy’ but it’s not. Meditation has been proven to have so many benefits to your overall health. There are many relaxing guided meditations on Youtube from sounds of the ocean, the rainforest or a subject you might what to improve on like making money, getting fit or feeling slim.
• Phone apps: One of my favourite apps for relaxing is called Calm. There is a free 7 day trial but for $60 per year, you’re worth the investment, right? There are always plenty of free clips to listen to as well. Most of the clips only last 5 minutes so put on your headphones, shut your eyes and relax.
• Lie down: Just lying down while watching your kids play can help you feel relaxed. You’re resting your body.
• Massage: Whether you go out for one or get your partner to do it, a 10 minute massage of the shoulders will ease any tension.
• Play calm music in the house: I’ve often got relaxing music playing in the background. It helps keep the whole family calm. In fact, my 11 year old son requests the rainforest music. If you shut your eyes you really feel like you’re there.
• Yoga: Not that I’m personally a fan of yoga but it has such a restorative effect on your mind and body. Check your local guides for your nearest class.
• Tai Chi: A very relaxing and gentle activity that is also good for the body, mind and soul.

Physical Activity

What was your favourite sport before kids? Is there a new sport you’ve always wanted to try? Ever wanted to get back to the gym?

• Walk around the backyard: While the kids are playing in the backyard you can still watch them by just walking around the backyard.
• Walk around the block: Take the baby in the pram and just walk.
• Walk to the park: Take the kids to the park and slide down the slippery slide. It feels strange as an adult but it’s heaps of fun. Walk or run around the playground while they are playing on the equipment.
• Power walk: Leave the kids at home with your partner and take the dog for a power walk. Put your headphones on with your favourite tunes and smash it out. The levels of dopamine, the feel good hormone that is produced when exercising will last hours afterwards and you’ll feel more energised.
• Gym: Most gyms have creches now so take your kids with you. Do a weights work out or a class. Hire a personal trainer so your precious time isn’t wasted. They can personalise a workout routine for you.
• Outside Bootcamp: Most councils and government agencies are promoting a more healthy lifestyle and there are plenty of free or cheap group bootcamps held in local parks. Check your local government website for details.
• Gymnastics
• Golf
• Tennis
• Squash
• Table Tennis
• Badminton
• Football: You’ll find a ladies team in just about any code these days, eg soccer, rugby union, rugby league or even just touch football.
• Cricket: Yep, there are ladies teams in cricket too.
• Softball
• Baseball
• Hockey
• Dance class: Did you do ballet as a child? How about hip hop or jazz? Line dancing or square dancing? Check your local dance schools for adult classes.
• Running: Learn to run, even if you’ve been a lounge lizard all your life. It has a wonderful effect on your mind and body.
• Athletics: Were you good at shot put, javelin or long jump at school? Maybe you were the age champion? “Masters” or “Open” events are on everywhere if you look. Maybe you could become world champion at the next “Masters Games”?
• Swimming: Find an indoor heated pool and you can go all year round.
• Splashing in a pool with the kids
• Surfing
• Boogie boarding
• Surf Life Saving
• Paddle boarding
• Kayaking
• Sailing
• Fencing
• Equestrian
• Rock climbing: Whether it’s indoor rock climbing or in the great outdoors, if that’s something you’ve always want to try, do it!
• Charity runs/walks: There are fun runs on all the time. Kill two birds with one stone and enjoy some physical activity while raising money for your favourite charity.
• Park runs: There is bound to be a local park near you and an organisation that has regular park runs. A great way to stay in shape and you can run or walk with your babies in the pram (or leave them at home). This is your time.

Craft

Crafting has been known to help you relax. It takes your focus away from what’s going on around you and you concentrate on what’s in your hands. You can still watch the children but the best part, I find, is that you’re creating something useful for yourself or your home. You can also create homemade gifts for friends and family from the things you make.

• Sewing: Sewing clothes for yourself or your family, home furnishings or just mending.
• Dressmaking: Don’t worry about finding the latest styles to suit your body shape. Make them yourself.
• Pattern making: Become your own fashion designer and create your own patterns. There are plenty of DIY tutorials online.
• Embroidery: There are many mediums for embroidery from cotton thread to ribbon to natural fibres. Remember what it was to be creative.
• Quilting/Patchwork: Who doesn’t love a homemade quilt? There are so many designs, fabrics and a whole different world out there when it comes to quilting.
• Applique: An artistic craft where you can create designs out of all sorts of textured fabrics and threads. A great way to recycle small pieces of fabric and other notions.
• Knitting
• Crochet
• Felt making
• Lace making
• Macrame
• Woodcraft
• Leathercraft
• Papercraft: Scrapbooking, Planners etc
• Pottery
• Glass blowing
• Mosaics
• Making jewellry
• Artifical flower making
• Origami
• Mixed media
• Flower arranging
• Paint
• Draw
• Chalk, crayon or other media art
• Enter competitions: Your local fair has craft (and baking) competitions. Why not enter your latest masterpiece into a local exhibition? You might just win something. How proud will that make you feel.

Cooking/Baking

I love cooking and baking so it’s not a chore for me but if you find something that you like to cook or bake or look for something different to cook or bake, it might soon become a good past time and a way to find some ‘me time’.

• Cooking from scratch: I’m not talking about meals but rather ingredients. If you’ve never made something like homemade mayonnaise, for example, learn to make it from scratch. The reward is the taste as it’s so much better than what you can buy in a jar. Think of all the food you buy and how you could make it from scratch. Some people even like to bake their own bread. The kneading is quite therapeutic.
• Baking: Try new recipes. Get out of your comfort zone and learn a new skill like making fancy frostings or French patissierie.
• Cake decorating: This new found hobby could turn into a fun little side business. Everyone wants birthday and celebration cakes but don’t have the time. If you like crafting, working with fondant icing is just the same.
• Canning/preserving: Make your own jams, chutney or preserved fruit and vegetables. It’s such a nice hobby to have and the reward is you have a lot of tasty food on hand that will save you a lot of money.
• Sweet making: Another hobby that could bring in a bit of money. Old fashioned sweets are all the rage. Homemade fudge and other such treats are always in high demand.
• Pasta making: There is nothing like freshly made pasta. With simple ingredients you can create your own delicious pastas at home. I can remember having a pasta maker when the children were really young and they got a big kick out of helping me roll the dough.

Beauty Treatments

• Hair cut: There is something quite special about sitting in a hair salon and having a cup of coffee and flicking through a trashy magazine. It’s amazing how just a trim can make you feel so much better.
• Hair treatments: Go to the salon for a blow dry or deep conditioning treatment. Get a new colour. You can of course DIY these things at home for a lot less.
• Facial: Either at a spa salon or DIY. Treat yourself to a homemade scrub that can be easily made with everyday ingredients.
• Manicure/Pedicure: Find a reputable salon and sit and relax for a while for a special treatment for your nails. This too of course can be done easily at home. Have a bit of fun with the kids while you’re doing it and make your own ‘salon’ at home.
• Soak in the bath: Same as above. There are so many different products you can find in your pantry for a good old fashioned soak in the tub. Put on your favourite music, grab a wine or a coffee and zone out for as long as you can.
• Self tan: There are some really good products on the market at the moment that give you an all over tan without making you look ‘orange’. If you like the tanned look, it will make you feel better and give your skin a certain glow.
• Exfoliation: I can remember when my children were babies, showers with a quick 30 second rinse off and they’d be in their portable cot in the bathroom with me. When you find time, something as quick as having a 3 minute shower with the music on and an exfoliation glove with a good body wash or DIY scrub will make your skin feel alive.
• Shaving: Shaving your legs can be a thing of the past when new babies come home. Take time out for a quick shave of your legs. There’s nothing nicer than slipping into bed with freshly shaved legs. There’s also other areas of the body that deserve our attention too.
• Make up: Practice the art of applying make up in different ways. Try fake eyelashes or a smoky eye shadow. Plenty of Youtube tutorials to practice make up application.

Gardening

When I look back, here I was thinking my mother and grandmothers didn’t have any ‘me time’ and devoted all of their time to us kids. How I was wrong! They were all very keen gardeners. This, of course, was their ‘me time’. My Mum would be up at 4am to water the garden. She had a massive orchid collection that she took great care of. We would help with weeding and doing the lawn edges after Dad mowed (which we hated) but looking back, it was a way of spending time together while she got to keep her garden looking pristine.

• Plant flowers: Start your own garden with a small plot of your favourite flowers. How lovely would that be to be able to bring in fresh flowers from your own garden. Even using pots instead of a garden bed is a great way to start.
• Indoor plants: There are so many wonderful plants for inside that can offer so many benefits to everyone inside. Don’t think of remembering to water them as a chore but as a hobby that will give you something else to focus on.
• Herb garden: I love fresh herbs in cooking. They also have a lot of medicinal qualities. You can dry the herbs for cooking if you have too many or try extracting the oils to be used for other things.
• Non flowering plants: I’m the kind of person who loves an easy, but nice looking garden so I have plants that don’t require a lot of maintenance. Caring for my garden gets me outside and some physical exercise, all while enjoying the fresh air and sunshine and helping to keep our property looking nice.
• Dried flowers: If you are growing flowers or herbs like lavender, you can dry them to be used in other projects.
• Grow your own fruit and vegetables: Think of how much money you’ll save if you grew your own. There is some work involved in setting it up but once they get a ‘go on’ you’ll have an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables at your finger tips. The kids will love seeing how they grow.
• Mow the lawn: If your partner is used to mowing the lawn, swap jobs for the day. Let them look after the children while you have a good workout and mow the lawn. Put your ear phones on and take your mind off any problems.
• Join a community garden: There are a lot of community gardens popping up all over the place that allow you take the rewards of your hard labour home, ie fruit and vegetables, in return for a bit of weeding, fertilising and watering.

Reading & the Internet

• Visit the library: There is a whole resource of reading material at the library. Magazines, novels, biographies or even the newspaper are a great place to start. There are reference books on hobbies and there are usually great activities on at the library for children so you can get 5 minutes while they are being entertained by the librarians.
• Read the daily news: Whether it’s the actual newspaper or online, it’s a great opportunity to grab 5 minutes with a cuppa and catch up on what’s happening in the world.
• Magazines: I must admit, I’m not a big fan of buying magazines but I will borrow older issues from the library or look for my favourites at the thrift shops. There are magazines for a whole range of hobbies or just general interest. Subscribe to one if you must. At least you know it’s coming every month and it’s something to look forward to. You can always find time to thumb through a magazine while you’re children are playing or sleeping.
• Podcasts & Audio Books: Even if you can’t find the time to actually sit and read through a book, most books are available in audio form or there are some great podcasts from all people with a whole range of interests. You can listen to them in the car or on your smart phone or even in the car to take your mind off other things.
• The internet: Subscribe to your favourite websites and find 15 minutes, at least to catch up on the highlights from your favourite sites. I used to do that when my first born was still a baby. I had my favourite bloggers I would read every day.
• Youtube: Subscribe to your favourite channels and watch when you have a minute or two. Listen to music, watch a movie, watch tutorials or how to’s, learn a new language. There is just about anything on the internet now to watch.
• Online contests, quizzes & surveys: Sometimes you might even win something! Some sites even pay for surveys. I can remember being registered for ‘mystery shopping’ when my children were really young. I’d just have to go into a store, ask the sales assistant a couple of questions and fill in the details on the computer when I got home. It was sometimes up to $50 per visit but I think that’s all changed now.

TV & Films

• Youtube: As mentioned above, there are old TV series or new ones, old programs and all sorts of things to watch on Youtube.
• TV: Record your favourite programs and watch them when you can. Sometimes there’s nothing better than a mindless reality program to get your mind off other things.
• Netflix & Subscription TV: One of my family’s luxuries is cable TV. I’m a huge fan of cooking shows. I may not get to watch my favourite shows when I want but when I do find time in my day/week, I can watch them, minus the ads, in a binge session.
• Old movies: Whether it’s a classic from the 1980’s or the 1940’s, old movies are great to watch to reminisce about your time before kids, what you might’ve been doing at the time etc. I can remember going to see “Grease” at the cinema when it first came out and every time I watch it, it reminds me of that time.
• Go to the cinema: Whether it’s a latest release or, for something different, a European film with subtitles, going to the actual cinema, with or without kids is a luxury to enjoy. There are some cinemas who cater for parents with babies so it doesn’t matter if they cry.

Other

• Join a Parent’s group: This was one of the best things I did when my daughter was 12 months old.  It took a little while to find the right one but while you’re children are playing, you can enjoy some adult conversation with women who are going through the same things as you are.
• Join a club: Local clubs like the Lion’s Club or Rotary Club are good to join as they do wonderful things in the community. There are clubs for all sorts of things like crafting, playing board games, learning new languages or skills.
• Learn a new language
• Just sit: Sometimes I find nothing better than to sit in complete silence. Whether it’s at the beach, in the shops just people watching or at home. Sitting for 5 minutes with absolutely nothing to do can clear the mind.
• Furniture restoration: Start a new hobby of making over old furniture or repurposing old things in your home that could do with a makeover. I find this really challenging and a great way to spend some time. The end result can be amazing and you’ll be happy with something you’ve made.
• Home restoration: Thought about repainting a room or giving your kitchen cabinets a makeover? I know these big jobs are hard to leave, especially when you’ve got a baby to tend to but they are jobs that save a lot of money and make you feel good when you stand back and look at your handiwork. (Remember, there are tutorials on the Internet for everything.)
• Redecorate: If you like home reno shows, like me, you’ll be liking new styles or home decor. Try making over rooms in your home using just what you have. Change cushions or a throw. Paint a piece of furniture or make new curtains out of an old thrifty shop doona cover. Try to do it as cheaply as possible and admire your handiwork.
• Go for a drive: I can remember my son was shocking to get to sleep when he was a baby. The only thing that worked was driving around. It meant I could go for an hour or so long drive and just breathe. It was nice to listen to music while he was sleeping or sometimes I would just pull up beside the sea and sit while he slept.
• Window shopping: Not every trip to the store requires a purchase. I can remember when my daughter was a baby, I would get us both dressed up (which made me feel better) and take a walk around the shops. I didn’t buy anything except maybe a coffee but we were out of the house and in a different environment.
• Go for a check up at the Dr: Not to alarm you or anything but a great way to improve your mental or physical health is to go to a Doctor (or Naturopath for example) for a full physical. They will take blood samples and see if you’re lacking anything or just how you are in your general health. If anything is lacking you can create some new healthier routines for yourself so you’re in peak condition.
• Do housework: I’m not being silly when I suggest this but sometimes I do my best thinking when I’m ironing (not that I iron a lot). I do love sleeping on ironed pillow cases to it’s a small luxury I afford myself. It’s a win/win because I sleep better and I get to think while I’m ironing. Housework is a good workout plus your home will thank you for it too.
• Puzzles: Jigsaws, Sudoku, crosswords, Find-A-Word and all of those puzzles are a great way to catch 5 minutes to yourself. You can do them while you’re watching the kids.
• Photography: Just about all of us have a camera in our hands or pockets most times of the day. Why not take up the hobby of photography, whether it’s photos of your children, the landscape or still life.

I trust you will find something that interests you in this list. Even taking 5 minutes a day out of your busy schedule will allow you to remember exactly what it was that you used to love doing or thought about trying one day.

Life’s too short to be waiting until the time is right for you to follow your dreams or do what you love doing. It’s not selfish. You might be a parent but you’re still a woman who has hopes and dreams and can benefit so much from taking a little time out each day or week for yourself. Don’t waste another minute and do what you love.