Ins And Outs: Bed Picking, Positions And More

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Choosing A Bed (Frame)

Beds are some of the most important pieces of furniture in a house, because people spend a damn good percentage of their life sleeping, so you should pay close attention to all the factors when shopping for a new bed such as the material of the frame, size, and appearance. Learning about these things early on will make life a lot easier for you.

Type of Bed Frame

The main function of a bed frame is to provide support for the mattress and box spring. Not only that, a bed frame has a wonderful impact on the design of the room. Choosing a bed frame with an elaborate design or canopy is a good way to infuse life in a bedroom. Since bed frames vary significantly in style and design, it is essential to decide on the type of frame you are interested in before considering other aspects.

Four-Poster Bed Frame

This classic type of bed frame comes in a huge range of versions, in materials such as metal or wood. The frame has a post on each corner and is suitable for box springs. Four-poster bed frames come in all sizes, being suitable for almost any kind of bedroom.

Platform Bed Frame

A platform bed frame works well without a box spring because it sits low to the ground. Platform bed frames are ideal for bedrooms with contemporary looks and can be chosen them in wood or metal.

Sleigh Bed Frame

As the name states, a sleigh bed frame features outward curls at the footboard and headboard, resembling an old-fashioned sleigh. Mostly available in solid wood, these bed frames are elegant choices for traditional bedrooms.

Canopy Bed Frame

This bed frame type features tall bedposts with a top frame that allows users to attach drapes or curtains. Canopy bed frames are very decorative and work well in traditional bedrooms. This style will have you feeling regal in no time!

Correct Size

When choosing the size of your bed frame, buyers should take into account both the space they have available in their bedroom, as well as the size of the mattress. People who have a spacious bedroom may decide on a king-size bed, whereas those with a smaller bedroom would do better with a double bed instead.

Material Of The Bed Frame

Bed frames are available in a wide range of materials, with the most popular being wood, metal, and leather.

Wooden bed frames are very versatile, as they tend to work well in both traditional and contemporary environments. Some of the different types of wood used for bed frames include oak, mahogany, pine, walnut, maple, and more. Each of these types of wood comes with different textures and have multiple shades.

Metal bed frames add a touch of sophistication to bedrooms. These frames are solid and sturdy, and buyers often choose them when they want bed frames that last for the years to come. Metal bed frames are also available in a wide selection of finishes.

Leather bed frames are available in both genuine and faux leather. They are a good option for contemporary bedrooms and come in an extensive range of colors, with popular options including brown, beige, and black. But this all depends on your personal style.

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Choosing A Mattress

A great sleep starts with the best mattress out there! You cannot have an amazing sleep if you have a bad mattress. There are so many different styles out there, suited for all different people. Whether you suffer from back problems, or you just want something super comfortable, you have your choice of everything.

If the mattress is too firm, it will push on those main pressure points and take you out of alignment. If it's too soft, those pressure points won't be properly supported, so your whole body flops back. Both of these scenarios can lead to an achy body in the morning. So when choosing the right mattress - don't just look at it! Lie down, stretch out, roll around if you have to! Don't be scared to see how it feels underneath you. (And bring your own pillow!) You have to try and replicate exactly how you would sleep in it if it were in your bedroom.

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Now after you have decided on a bed, you get to sleep and have many lovely dreams. But how do you sleep? People sleep in all sorts of different ways, which can say a lot about what kind of person they are when they are awake. Studies show us that specific personality traits have been linked up to certain to sleep patterns. Which narrowed down means that the way you sleep is down to how you act. Pretty cool huh? If you would like to find out more, here are a few to get you started.

Fetal

The fetal position is probably one of the most popular among sleepers. This position is where someone sleeps on their side with their legs curled up. When said, it does seem like an uncomfortable position for people to do, but it happens to be a comfortable sleep style for the majority of people. You may not even know that you are sleeping like that, but our bodies seem to pull us back to this position, just like when we were tiny, little babies. Those who sleep this way are described as having a fairly tough exterior, but on the inside, they are very shy and sensitive.

Log

This is a pretty funny sounding position, (and looks funny too,) this sleeping style has people lying on their side, but they have their legs extended straight down and their arms by their sides. Log sleepers are apparently very sociable people who love to engage with all different kinds of individuals. They are said to be very trusting, which can sometimes leave them very gullible.

Yearner

This sleeping position is when a person is sleeping on their side with their arms stretched out in front of them. This is also a very common sleeping style for many. Studies reveal that people who choose this position are usually very open and inviting with people. Although, they can be a little suspicious of people sometimes and are may be very cynical at times. Yearners tend to be very slow at making a decision, but having said that once their mind it made up about something, they stick to it.

Starfish

The starfish isn't a very common sleep style, but it does exist. Sleepers in this style lie on their backs with their legs stretched out, and their arms stretch up by their head. People who prefer this position usually have an unconventional style are very loyal friends, and make their friends a huge priority in their lives. They love hearing the problems of others and go out their way to help then any way then can.

Soldier

This is a kind of military stance sleep style, which is characterized by a person who sleeps on their back with their arms straight down at their side. While this may not be the most popular of the sleeping styles, quite a few sleep patrons have said that this is a position they get the most sleep in. Soldier sleepers live up to their name; they are mostly people who tend to take themselves very seriously and are very structured. They most likely have high expectations for themselves and others around them.

Soldier-Starfish

Some sleepers resemble the Soldier or Starfish sleepers, since they sleep on their backs, but don't keep the rigidity of the Soldier or the sprawling of the Starfish. These hybrid sleepers are characterized by an attitude of flexibility and an easy go-with-the-flow nature. They tend to be easily persuaded by others.

Freefall

Freefall sleepers spend most of their time resting on their stomach, usually with their head turned to either side and hands near their pillow, as if the were freefalling from an aeroplane. As the name says, freefall sleepers have very free personality types. They can be very sociable people and can also be brash at times. Although they show such a free spirit, freefall sleepers are secretly nervous on the inside and maybe a little too over sensitive towards criticism.

Pillow Hugger

While not really a sleep position in itself, the sleeper can be in any sort of position, but hugging their pillow, this action does reveal the nature of the person. As you might expect, Pillow Huggers place high importance on the bonds in their lives, regarding family, friendships, and relationships. They can be real people-pleasers and may attempt to help others instead of themselves first.

Snorer

Again, this is not a sleep position, but whether you actually snore or not can reveal something about you. Researchers have found that people who snore are more likely to have extreme emotions, which manifest into hyperactivity, aggression, or depression. Snorers are known for their passion and their ability to live each moment to its fullest.

How Healthy Is The Air You Breathe?...

Most people today try their best to maintain their health by eating healthily and getting some exercise in here and there. We all know about the dangers of eating unhealthily and lazing around too much, but there are certain, more subtle dangers facing modern people, such as substances in the air we breathe! Here are some of the most toxic chemicals that you may be exposed to.

Tobacco Smoke

From Wikimedia

There’s no debate anymore: smoking is bad for your health. Tobacco consumption has been attributed to thousands of deaths over the years, and remains one of the leading causes of cancer, coronary heart disease, and a range of other terrible conditions. Even if you’ve quit, or never smoked in your life, you don’t need to put a cigarette in your mouth to be affected by the severe toxicity in tobacco smoke. Second-hand smoke is a very real problem, and one which countless non-smokers are being affected by every day. When you passively inhale smoke, the polyps of the lung become irritated and enlarged. The larger a person’s polyps, the greater the risk is of them metastasizing into cancer. Try to cut down your exposure to secondhand smoke by asking your partner or other family members to take it outside, standing up-wind from smokers, and avoiding bars that don’t have a smoking ban in place.

Exhaust Fumes

Exhaust fumes are another major health hazard which countless people breathe in every day, and to make matters worse it’s something that you can never really cut out altogether. There are a lot of dangerous chemicals found in car exhaust, but the main chemical is carbon monoxide, which is also among the cancer-causing ingredients in tobacco smoke. As if this wasn’t enough, exhaust fumes are also brimming with nitrogen oxide, benzene, sulfur dioxide, and a range of other chemicals. Each of these substances are pathogens, and have the potential for very severe health effects, both immediately after exposure and in the long term. Benzene exposure in particular has even given rise to a lot of niche legal firms, which specialize in benzene lawsuit resolution. Unless you want to live in the woods, you can’t avoid exhaust fumes entirely. However, you can make a point of avoiding enclosed spaces with running cars, or supporting the gradual shift towards hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

Paint Fumes

From Wikimedia

At one time, it was normal for paints to contain poisonous substances such as lead and mercury. The glaring health risks associated with this have been addressed, and these substances have been banned in most of the developed world. However, modern paint formulas still contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) which are harmful when inhaled. Without the right protective equipment like respirators and face masks, people who work around paint for extended periods of time can experience a build-up of toxins, leading to liver damage and severe migraines. The best way to avoid exposure to these kinds of chemicals is to shop around whenever you’re buying paint, varnish, lacquer, or anything else that’s been known to contain VOCs, and find products with low or no concentrations.

Partner With Your Dog For Fitness

As the new year approaches, we all start the dreaded list of resolutions for 2017. Even if we are happy with our lives, there is always something that we want to improve, or that we’d love to change about ourselves and how we present ourselves to the world. It is not uncommon that elements such as ‘do more sport,' ‘lose some weight,' or ‘be more active’ end up on the list of resolutions, as modern society has made us very sedentary. When one thinks that we only need a few clicks to order dinner or get a home cleaner, it is not surprising that we, as a society, have become less active. If for the new year you want to inject some sport back into your life, here is our ideal guideline of how to do it and make sure you stick to it. In short, how to plan workout with your dog.

Why Team Up With The Dog?

Dogs are notoriously playful, so if you are looking for a motivated partner in an outdoor activity, you can bet that your dog will always be happy to go outside and play. This is half the battle, when at least one of you is ready for a run! You can count on your dog for not cancelling on you at the last minute, which is its way of supporting your fitness resolution for 2017. Besides, you can easily combine your daily walk outside with some fitness activities, not only does this kills two birds with one stone but more importantly, this is an excellent way of creating a deeper bond with your darling pet.

Bonding with dogs through sport

How To Prepare For Outdoor Fitness With A Dog

Once you are convinced that you could happily get fitter with your dog, you need to consider all the preparation process before being ready to go out and play. First of all, a health check is essential at this stage: Book an appointment with a doctor to get yourself checked for anything that could represent a risk as you are planning your outdoor workout. This could be weak articulations, hay fever, asthma, etc. Make sure that you are well prepared for all eventualities, and that you have all you need at hand. For example, being asthmatic doesn’t mean that you can’t do any sport, but you will need to pack your inhaler with you. You will also need to book a similar checkup for your pet at your local vet. Do ask as well for flea treatments, such as frontline flea for example as your dog is likely to catch parasites when being outdoors.

What Outdoor Activities Are Best Suited?

Many think that the best outdoor activity with a dog is a workout jog, and even plan running routes in advance. However, this is an agenda that is difficult to keep if you are not a runner. There are plenty of sports that you could practice with your dog and that don’t involve jogging. If you live by the water, you could go surfing (http://surfdogevents.com/), for example. If you enjoy ball games, you could train your dog to play ball with you; many dogs love throwing back the ball with their nose, and this is guaranteed to keep you fit. Or why not going swimming? The possibilities are infinite!   

Surfing dog by Unsplash

Budget Nights Out: How to Have a Great Time Without Breaking the Bank

We all love a good night out. We love to spend time with friends and family, we love to attend parties, and we enjoy meeting new people to socialise with. It’s part of our human nature to engage with others, so it’s understandable that we spend a lot of money each week on nights out to buy alcohol, food, and even gifts.

However, it's a cost that can add up and make huge dents in our weekly budget. Drinks cost incredible amounts of money at fancy bars (or even your local pub) and the food is even more expensive. Add in the cost of entry fees or taxi fares, and you’ve got a weekly expense that’ll leave your wallet crying. Instead of splashing out all the time, take a look at these money-saving tips to help you get the most out of your money.

Image Source: Pexels

Set a Cash Limit

Instead of carrying your card with you, carry cash. When we carry around our credit or debit cards, it’s easy to lose count of how much we’re actually spending and we could easily go overboard. With cash, you have a set limit and you can’t go beyond that. Just keep in mind to save money for the journey home—you don’t want to be stranded in the middle of the city!

Split Taxi Fares or Designate a Driver

Getting to and from the venue can be expensive. The best way to avoid extortionate taxi fares is to drive there yourself or split the cost with your friends. However, just keep in mind that you should never be drinking and driving.

If you designate a driver, then make sure they don’t touch a single drop of alcohol before they drive. If you plan to stay at the venue for a long time, then the driver can have a few drinks—just make sure to let the alcohol’s effects fade before leaving. There are excellent DWI resolutions available if you ever get caught with driving with high blood alcohol content, but it’s best to make sure it never happens in the first place.

Image Source: Pexels

Have a Few Drinks Before Going Out

The most cost effective way of getting into the mood is to have a couple of drinks before you head out. The idea is that you won’t need to buy as many drinks to get tipsy (or drunk) when you’re our. Buying alcohol from a supermarket is far cheaper than the expensive venues that charge ridiculous prices You’ll be making huge savings by having a couple of pre-drinks. Just make sure you aren’t completely wasted before heading out—you might as well stay home at that point!

Stay At Home Instead

Speaking of staying home, how about not heading out at all? You could have an excellent night in with friends and family, some takeaway pizzas, and a movie or some video games. You won’t meet anyone new (unless you throw a party instead!) but you’re going to get the same fun as heading out to an expensive bar. You’ll save loads of money by providing your own entertainment, and you can buy lots of drinks at the supermarket for the same price of a cocktail in a club.

DIY Mosquito Control Methods

DIY Mosquito Control Methods

Mosquitoes can breed in just an inch of standing water, meaning that they can stay in many areas around your home. When there are many mosquitoes in your compound, you need to get rid of them. Here are several ways to do that at home:

Remove empty containers

Start by cleaning out the empty containers in your yard and storing away buckets that are not in use. If your dog must have water in the backyard, make sure that you change it at least once a day. Do you have other containers that must stay outside? Make sure that you punch holes in them to drain water.

Cut your grass and trim your bushes

During the day, these annoying little creatures like to rest in tall blades of grass or in shrubs found in a warm, shady area. When you trim your grass, you will be depriving mosquitoes of a resting place. Moreover, you should rake up any leaves that fall down.

An overturned leaf has the ability to hold enough water for mosquito eggs, giving them a place to wait it out.

Check your rain gutters

As branches, leaves, and other debris often plug gutters, water usually accumulates in them instead of draining out. To avoid this, you should clean your gutters regularly in the summer. If you leave water standing in the gutters for more than a week, mosquitoes will end up laying eggs in them.

Look after your pool

You should keep your pool water clean and chlorinated. When not in use, make sure that you drain and cover your pool – the same should be done for collapsible and wading pools. Any decorative items such as ponds or birdbaths should be refilled with fresh water at least once a week.

You can also choose to stock your pond with fish that eat mosquito larvae.

Fill in low-lying areas

Any depressions in your yard can hold water when it rains or after you water your lawn. Without the right drainage, water will stay in these depressions and give mosquitoes a chance to breed. You should consider installing a drainage system or just add sod and dirt to the depressions.

There is no guarantee that cleaning up the breeding sites will keep mosquitoes at bay. They can always choose a different breeding ground and fly into your yard. Because mosquitoes only feed several hundred yards from their breeding ground, the above measures will certainly help.

Natural mosquito control

If the DIY mosquito control methods do not work for you, you can use biological means to get rid of them: predatory fish, bacteria, and plant repellents. Here are some of the animals that you can keep:

Mosquito fish

Fish such as The Gambusia are surface feeders that will eat larvae and mosquito eggs by the hundreds. If you have 48 surface feet of water, a dozen Gambusia will do the job of getting rid of mosquitoes. This breed of fish is hardy and can survive in stagnant water.

Dragonflies

Although dragonflies may look scary to humans, they are only dangerous to mosquitoes. Their larvae usually feed on mosquito larvae while the adults feed on adult mosquitoes. If you want to attract dragonflies to your compound, create a safe and comfortable environment for them.

You can create a small pond that is deep at one end and shallow at the other, with vegetation growing out of it and flat rocks encircling it – this will work for attracting dragonflies. However, if you do not want to get your hands dirty, contact a mosquito control New Jersey based company to get rid of the mosquitoes for you.