Garden

How a Fence Adds Security and Value to Your Home

Posted on
Fencing

My Fenced in World
When I bought my new house in a nice little community, I discovered what life was like with a wooden privacy fence…and the maintenance that comes with it.

My little backyard with its hardy trees and pretty flowerbeds was great for me and the butterflies that visited. But mowing the grass? Not really. But it’s nice being in my own little world that is what you get with having a privacy fence.

Why have a fence?
Landscapers advises clients that the most practical reason is that it marks out the perimeter of your property. Your fence can also make your yard feel like an extension of your home. It’s provides a safe place for the kids and the dog to play, and when you have an event like a BBQ, you can show off your landscaping and gardening skills.

When deciding on a fence, the first thing to consider is the reason you want one installed, is it to add to your landscape design or for security purposes? Once you have found the reason, the next question is: How much are you wanting to spend on it? Costs vary, depending on the area that needs enclosing, and the materials on which you have decided. The beauty about fencing is the wide variety of materials and what best fits your budget, lifestyle and property.

(more…)

Parenting

How to Make a Bathroom Child-Friendly

Posted on
How to Make a Bathroom Child-Friendly

Even though you will ultimately be carrying out bathroom renovations for yourself, it’s worth factoring your family into the decision-making process. The more they are catered for, the more convenient your bathroom will be for everyone – including families with children who may purchase your property. So, what makes a bathroom child-friendly? Some of the following things just might.

Double Vanities
Two vanities or a Jack and Jill sink can add much convenience to the average family bathroom, especially if there is only one bathroom in your home.

Rather than have to wait for the kids to brush their teeth, you can brush yours at the same time. Sure, you now have two sinks to clean, but you now have double the functionality, which ultimately makes up for that minor inconvenience. 

Pullout Steps
Most bathroom vanities are not designed for young children – but we still want to encourage youngsters to wash their hands. Rather than storing bulky plastic stools in your bathroom, consider investing in custom vanities with pullout steps. These are tucked away in the kickboard area of the cabinet – out of sight. With one pull, they can become a functional and safe stool for kids to use. 

(more…)

Events

What will Your Bridesmaids Wear?

Posted on
Bridesmaids Wear

Most brides think about their wedding dress before making any decisions on what the bridesmaid’s will wear. But when you get to this question, don’t forget to think about the morning of the wedding day. If you can provide bridesmaid robes or personalised pjs for them to wear, it will certainly be a help for them to change into their outfits without damaging their hairstyles or makeup.

In addition, any before photos will look really wonderful if all the bridesmaids are wearing such robes or silky pjs, rather than their pj’s or jeans and shirt. Of course, the bridesmaid’s outfits should in some way reflect the choice of wedding dress so that the overall look becomes cohesive rather than piecemeal.

To do this, bridesmaids dresses can be styled in a similar way to the wedding gown, but they could be short frocks instead of long. Or they could have one feature on them the same as the wedding dress. For instance, if the wedding dress had a ruffled frill around the neckline, then the bridesmaids frocks could have that same feature, even if the skirts were different.

(more…)

Health

What Type of Treatment Methods Do Rehab Programs Use?

Posted on

Understanding the treatment methods used in rehab programs is crucial when embarking on the journey of recovery from addiction. At Seasons Bali, a residential drug rehab located in Bali, Indonesia, we pride ourselves on offering a wide array of treatment methodologies, each designed to address the multifaceted nature of addiction. Our comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of an individual’s journey to recovery is supported and nurtured.

A Multi-Modal Approach to Treatment
Recovery from addiction is not a one-size-fits-all process. At Seasons Bali, we understand this and offer a variety of treatment methods to cater to our client’s individual needs. This multi-modal approach ensures that every client receives a personalized treatment plan.

Evidence-Based Therapies
One of the cornerstones of our treatment approach is the use of evidence-based therapies. These are treatment methods that have been scientifically researched and proven effective in treating addiction. They include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps clients understand and change the thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to their addiction.

(more…)

Food

A Question of Soy

Posted on
A Question of Soy

There are so many questions when it comes to soy. Do you believe the cardiac health benefits soy provides? Or do you avoid soy because of the phytates? Are you unsure about it? Most importantly, what are we talking about when we say the word ‘soy’?

Traditionally, soy was eaten as fermented foods but now nearly all the soy we see & eat is genetically modified (GM) & unfermented. 91% of soy grown in the US is GM. While this increases farming efficiency & provides cheaper soy, the downside is that your soy is loaded with toxic pesticides. (Think Monsanto) Current research indicates that GM soy is linked to an increase in allergies & even more frightening may have the potential to cause infertility in future generations.

For centuries, Asian people have been consuming fermented soy products such as miso, natto, tempeh, & tamari safely. After a long fermentation process, the anti-nutrient levels of soybeans are reduced. These antinutrients, called phytates, are compounds that interfere with the absorption of nutrients & are what can cause unpleasant tummy upsets.

(more…)

Health

What Are Probiotic Foods?

Posted on
What Are Probiotic Foods

A healthy gut has hundreds of different bacteria living their everyday life keeping you healthy, happy and safe from infections and illness. That is until poor diet and lifestyle, exposure to toxins such as pesticides, use of antibiotics as well as stress impact our gut bacteria causing dysbiosis.

Dysbiosis is when you have more bad bacteria than good bacteria in your gut which can cause bloating, gas, indigestion, diarrhoea or constipation. A healthy digestive system should have over 1.5kg of good bacteria in it so if you don’t have those good bacteria working hard to protect you from disease you are going to feel very unwell!

The good news is it’s relatively easy to fix! We can help our good gut bacteria to thrive by taking probiotics and prebiotics. We may assume that prebiotics and probiotics are the same things as they sound much alike but although they both help to keep your gut healthy, interestingly they aren’t the same. Confused? Let us explain!

(more…)

LifeStyle

Top 5 Bridal Party Activities While Wearing Robes

Posted on

Many brides-to-be decide to purchase bridesmaid robes because they are the most affordable, practical, and thoughtful bridesmaid gift idea. However, they can also be an ideal gift due to how desirable they are for bridal party activities.

If you’ve been thinking about fun activities to do in the lead-up to your big day as a ‘thank you’ for your bridal party, you can do many of them in bridal robes. We’ve included a few helpful ideas below.

Have a Slumber Party

When was the last time you had a slumber party? It was probably back in your childhood with a few of your closest friends. Before you enter a new world of married life, there’s no harm in trying to bring back some of that childhood fun with your bridal party.

You can all wear your robes and settle for a night in your living room. You can crack open a few bottles of wine, make some popcorn, and watch some of your favourite movies. Such an activity is made even easier in bridesmaid robes because no one has to worry about stopping the movie so that you can all get into your pyjamas.

Photo Sessions

As you get older, the harder it becomes to get all your nearest and dearest together for photos to cherish forever. Purchasing bridal robes gives you an excuse to do just that.

If everyone is wearing similar or the same robes, you can gather everyone for a photo. You can then look back on it in years to come as one of those special moments before you became a married woman.

(more…)

Travel

Facts You Must Understand Before Applying For A Parent Visa

Posted on
Facts You Must Understand Before Applying For A Parent Visa

Australia has many appeals for those who live overseas and who wish to live here. However, as with any other country, Australia, does have an open door policy allowing everyone and anyone to live, work or study here. Instead, several requirements and eligibility criteria must be met. This applies to all visa types, including Australian work visas and parent visas. If a parent visa is something you are considering, here are facts about them you must know.

Who A Parent Visa Is For

In simple terms, a parent visa is for parents who wish to join their children who already live in Australia. The children of a parent seeking a visa must meet one of three criteria: 1) Australian Citizen, 2) Permanent Resident of Australia, or 3) New Zealand Citizen.

Different Classifications Of Parent Visa

There are a range of parent visa types and subclasses depending on the individual’s circumstances, and whether they wish to stay permanently or not. Here are the details for each of them:

Subclass 884: Contributory Aged Parent Visa

This is a temporary parent visa that lasts for 2 years. The applicant’s age must be that of the Australian state pension age, currently in Australia, and not currently within the application process for the parent visa subclass 870.

(more…)

LifeStyle

Top Tips To Prepare Your Home For A Puppy

Posted on

Long before you take your puppy to its first day of puppy school at madamemas.com, there are many other tasks you need to undertake first to ensure their wellbeing. Examples include getting them jabbed at eight weeks, and there is the crucial matter of choosing a name for them, which we know has caused many a family argument.

Another series of tasks are for making your home ready and suitable for your puppy. There will be many aspects of your home which you currently take for granted but, when a puppy is introduced, some can become a danger to them which we are sure you do not want to see happen.

For those who have raised dogs before you may well be well-versed in how to prepare your home for a puppy although it may be several years since you did so. In case you have forgotten, and for those who have never had a puppy before, below are a few tips that will help you make your home a safe and welcoming place for your puppy to thrive.

Have A Meeting With Your Family

This applies whether you have young children, older children, or it is just you and your partner or spouse. Everyone needs to be prepared for the new puppy’s arrival, and they all must know what the ground rules are with regards to taking shares in the puppy being walked and letting them out to poo and pee. Everyone should also be aware of where the puppy is and is not allowed to go, and what dangers they should all look out for.

(more…)

LifeStyle

7 Dog Grooming Myths You Should Dismiss

Posted on

People love their dogs passionately which is why whenever subjects like dog grooming are being discussed, their views and beliefs relating to them are often ingrained. Unfortunately, this often leads to dog owners accepting advice about dogs they have been told without checking its validity, presumably because they believe that the person relating this advice being a dog lover would surely know what they are talking about.

The problem that exists is some of the so-called advice about dogs, and particularly about dog grooming, is complete nonsense. Worse, if followed, that erroneous advice can lead to the health of the dog’s coat and skin, and potentially their overall health, being compromised. For that reason, we have decided to highlight 7 of the most common dog grooming myths in the hope that if you currently believe any of them to be true, you will subsequently know to ignore them.

Myth #1 – Short-Haired Dogs Do Not Need Grooming: Simply not true. Whilst they may not have some of the problems that longer-haired dogs have, short-haired dogs still need baths, they still need their nails trimmed, still need their ears cleaned and brushing a short-haired dog regularly is still beneficial to their coat. Having a short-haired dog might be simpler in terms of grooming them but it does not negate the need to groom them completely. You can have help with your grooming at professional places, so you know your dog is in great hands. 

Myth #2 – Dogs With Long Hair Always Shed More: Contrary to this myth, it is the type of coat that a dog has, rather the length of their coat that governs how much they shed. This is why some long-haired dogs shed very little, and some dogs with shorter coats shed considerably. The health of their skin and coat also play a significant role in shedding

(more…)