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Improving Home Air Quality During Winter

February 21, 2012 By: Jocelyn Iyog Category: Home Improvement

Air quality during winter is a cause for worry because the home is sealed up during that period in order to preserve heat. The flow of air from the exterior to the interior is thus interrupted. Hence, any chemical build-up inside the home during that period cannot be evacuated. They can easily reach toxic levels. The worst of it all is that most of these toxic substances bear no smell and the air quality could have fallen dramatically without anyone even noticing. Given that most North Americans spend at least 90% of their time indoors during winter, the effect of poor air quality on their health could be considerable.

Symptoms of decreasing air quality
If there are more chemicals in the atmosphere of the home, then there is likely to be some impact on the health of the occupants. Some symptoms include: frequent headaches, nausea, drowsiness or other problems that disappear once you leave the house.

Sources of Emissions in the home
The first source of toxic substances is furniture, carpets and upholstery that give off volatile substances. These substances are thought to cause irritations of the eyes, nose and throat as well as breathing difficulties. They are also suspected to cause cancer in humans. A second source of toxic chemicals is the wood stove or fireplace. These can give off poisons such as carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
How to reduce chemical build-up in the home

There are many steps that can be taken to reduce toxic substances in the indoor atmosphere:

(i) Avoid purchasing new carpets or furniture during winter unless they bear Air Quality labels
(ii) Clean wood stoves and fireplaces regularly so that they do not emit smoke. Consider professional help every now and then to ensure that they are working properly.
(iii) Install High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filters in the vacuum cleaner or the air cleaner. HEPA filters will effectively capture particulate matter in the air.
(iv) Consider installing mechanical ventilation systems.
(v) Open the windows regularly, even if it is for a limited tiME

CLICK HERE to check some HEPA products

Basic cooking tips

February 20, 2012 By: Jocelyn Iyog Category: Cooking, Tips & how to’s

When preparing meals, a few basic kitchen rules apply. It doesn’t matter what is being cooked, these rules are not only good common sense, they could possibly save a life.

  1. Don’t be afraid to use your imagination. Experiment with different tastes and textures. You just might create something spectacular.
  2. Turn pot or pan handles inward so they are not a temptation to curious youngsters eager to see what’s cooking.
  3. Use proper heat settings for the food being prepared. Seldom is it necessary to cook at the very highest setting.
  4. Use care with baking recipes. If your recipe calls for ½ teaspoon of baking power, use that specific amount. It could mean success for failure of your project.
  5. When boiling or steaming foods, use care when removing lids to avoid burns.
  6. When frying foods, make sure to shield the cook and others from splattering hot oil.
  7. Wipe up spills immediately.
  8. Thoroughly clean ovens and stove tops on a regular basis
  9. Wear clothing with sleeves that cannot drape onto cooking surfaces or into food.
  10. Never put water on a grease fire. Use salt instead.
  11. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

If you are planning to purchase some kitchen tools CLICK HERE

Tips on How to Choose Your Hair Stylist

February 19, 2012 By: Jocelyn Iyog Category: Tips & how to’s

When it comes to your hair, you should be very particular about who styles your hair, how healthy it is, and what you put in your hair. You shouldn’t trust just anyone with your hair needs. Needless to say, if you don’t know what you’re doing, when it comes to your hair, let a professional take care of it for you.

The first option you have is to ask your friends for their opinions and what they recommend. Once you get a recommendation, go to the salon and tell the stylist who referred you. Since you aren’t too sure about this stylist, ask for a simple hairstyle and see how everything goes.

During the course of your visit, you should be on the lookout for a couple of things. The first thing that you should take notice of is the stylist’s personality and how they handle different situations.
Next, pay attention to how they handle your hair. Since you are keeping everything simple for now, you won’t have too much to compare or look at, but it’s a start. Notice if the price does or does not exceed the quality that is provided.

If you would rather take another route, you can hop online and take a look at different salon’s ratings and reviews. This should help you out on your quest tremendously. You want to choose a stylist that you can depend on to give you quality service and great looking hair. This is a process that will not happen overnight, so be patient.

Complete Guide to Growing Longer Healthier Curly Hair
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Mixing Nail Polish

June 09, 2011 By: Jocelyn Iyog Category: Beauty, Tips & how to’s

The process of mixing nail polish is no different from the steps an artist takes when mixing paint colors. The only difference is you’re working with a slightly different medium. The artist works with larger quantities and is more accustomed to the process than you are. To get started, you will need a few toothpicks, two small fine tipped paint brushes and a thick piece of paper or some cardboard. Next, pour a few drops of the polish colors onto the cardboard and use the toothpicks and brushes to blend the colors. Then just let your imagination and your eyes be your guide.

Once you get the right color blend, you can mix yourself up a batch and store it in a clean bottle for future use.
Before mixing up a big batch, however, test the color on your nail to be sure that it really is what you want. Many times, what looks good on paper or on cardboard doesn’t look the same on your nails. It may be necessary for you to make a few adjustments before you are done. Just make sure you take notes of the colors you use and the ratio of each so you can mix up another batch when that one is gone.

If you don’t want to be bothered with the muss and fuss of mixing nail polish the way artists do, then you can try this method:
• Apply at least two coats of a dark base color;
• Make sure each coat is thoroughly dry before applying the next;
• Apply one layer of a lighter colored nail polish;
• For a shimmery effect, apply a metallic shade before adding the top coat.

Once you get the hang of mixing nail colors, either on a palette or on your nails you will be doing it all the time, and your friends will be constantly asking where you bought that fabulous nail polish.

If you are interested to check different kinds of nail polish that may suite your taste CLICK HERE

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Update your Decor with Special Lighting

June 09, 2011 By: Jocelyn Iyog Category: Home Improvement

by : Jocelyn Iyog

One of the least expensive ways you can give a room a whole new look is to change the room’s lighting. This can mean anything from swapping out a dated looking chandelier for something new and different, to putting a new lampshade on an old lamp. There are so many options for lighting, you could spend all day browsing lighting websites or dreaming about a new way to light your existing rooms.

home-lighting1

An option that people don’t think of often enough is “up lighting.” This simply means light that is directed upward rather than being directed downward (like a lamp with a lampshade), or omnidirectional (like ceiling light fixtures). These often look like “cans” of light that you set onto the floor or on a shelf to direct the light upward, giving the room a more indirect “wash” of light than traditional fixtures. If you have small children in the house you must place these very carefully, because they do get hot.

uplightingincorner

Task lighting under cabinets and on bookshelves can range from the simple “hockey puck” stick-on lights to adjustable track lighting. Using mirrors strategically to reflect light is another way to “wash” a room in light. A mirror opposite a window can be just the thing to maximize the natural lighting in a room. Light is a very important player in the decorating and design game – it can be almost as room-changing as rearranging the furniture.


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