August 2018 | Page 2 of 5

23 Aug 2018

Easy and Cheap Ways to Improve Your Home Security

With so many burglaries these days, it is a smart idea to take some precautions in order to keep your home safe. Security systems have come a long way and modern ones can be very advanced and provide your home with pretty strong security. However, they can be very expensive as well.

Even though you shouldn’t save money on things like security, there are some easier and cheaper ways to improve it.

Front door

Despite the fact that most people understand the importance of locks, we still hear stories of people leaving their homes unlocked and coming back to find that a break-in had occurred and that they had been robbed. Always be careful and make sure that you didn’t forget to lock your doors, either coming in or going out. Studies show that almost a third of break-ins happen using the front door, therefore, try avoiding basic front door locks as well. There are many kinds of locks that will really improve your safety and they can be quite affordable as well.

Windows

Even if you went out just to throw out the trash or to visit your nearest neighbor, always close all your windows. A window is one of the simplest points of entry and it is used by many domestic burglars. Apart from having your windows closed, you can improve the security by installing window locks. They will provide you with extra protection and peace of mind when you are out of your house. The type of lock that you need depends upon the style and design of the window; however, there are security companies and professionals that can provide you with a great service.

Camera

Security cameras are among the best and most effective when it comes to home security. However, they can be a bit pricey piece of equipment to own. If you want to keep an eye on what’s happening at home when you are away, but you do not want to invest in high-tech and really serious home camera systems, a Wi-Fi connected camera is worth considering. These cameras that are easy to install and use can vary in quality and endurance, but you will find that most are both cheap and effective. The placement of the camera is very important, as you want your camera to cover a big area of space and to be out of reach. To avoid additional costs, look for a cheap scaffolding rental and install the Wi-Fi camera yourself. Most cameras have the ability to detect motion and store video content, so make sure you provide it with a lot of memory space.

Alarm

The most common type of home protection is a house alarm. Security alarms have motion or sound sensors that are connected to a control unit via either hard-wire or radio-frequency signal that interacts with a response device. Most common types of sensors indicate the opening of a door or window, and they are very convenient because they can even detect smoke. Wireless ones are a less costly option, however, they require a frequent change of batteries to maintain their effectiveness.

If you want an alarm with a little more bite, the picture links to a pepper spray burglar alarm.

Lights

Use motion activated lights as a sudden spotlight can often be enough to convince a burglar to give up on his break-in attempt. If there are some areas around your house that get really dark at night, invest in motion activated lights to scare off potential robbers. You can also use lights to make it appear like you’re at home, having your TV turned on while you are away will most likely convince burglars to continue searching for a new target.

Make it appear you’re not away

If you are leaving town for a longer period of time, it’s a good idea to notify the postal service to stop your mail delivery temporarily or to ask a friend or a neighbor to clear up your mailbox frequently. Piled up mail is a clear signal that you are away, and it will make your home a potential target. You can even have your lawn cut while you are away or ask a friend to repark your car in different positions every few days. Also, be careful on social networks, as thieves often invade households of people that have been posting vacation content on social media. The biggest fear of burglars is confronting a homeowner, so make sure your home is not an easy target for them.

Don’t leave valuables in plain sight

This is just a repeat of what should be obvious, but do not leave your valuables like cell phone, wallet, money, jewelry, watch, laptop, iPad, briefcase, backpack, etc. in clear sight right by the entrance or by the window. This way, you are tempting the burglars, and the valuables left in clear sight will serve as an open invitation for theft.

14 Aug 2018

An Effective Guide to Reducing Lower Back Pain

Lower back pain is a common issue that bothers millions around the world. A stinging pain affecting the lower back area- it is one of the worst things to suffer from.

There can be many reasons for this. It could be your wrong posture while lifting weights at the gym or due to the poorly supported old mattress you haven’t changed in a while.

The pain can vary based on the intensity and location of the issue. Fortunately, there are many options available for treating lower back pain. But before you make the doctor’s appointment, why not give these listed remedies a try at reducing lower back pain?

Home Remedies For Lower Back Pain

A Safe Option for Treating Lower Back Pain

Some of us do have the tendency to rush to the doctor in any case of lower back pain. Even if it the pain is mild. Just keep in mind that taking medications for such trivial matters can leave you with complications. So, it is always safer to try some home remedies first.

Try these home remedies to quickly get rid of back pain. Most back pains don’t linger on for more than six weeks.

1. Apply Ice or Heat

For the first two days of pain, apply a bag of frozen food or ice packs on the area of pain. Apply several times each day. Try to keep it for around twenty minutes.

After the initial two days, try applying some heat. You can use heating pads for this purpose. The frequency and duration of the application will be the same as before.

You may wonder how the whole thing works. You see applying something cold helps to numb the pain receptors at the affected area. It also helps to reduce the swelling.

Heat application, on the other hand, increases the blood circulation and oxygen flow, thus bringing relief to the affected area.

2. Wear Specialized Shoes

Depending on the structure of the foot, different designs of insoles and orthotics are available in the market. Getting the right support from shoes can reduce pressure on your lower back. Thus, it ultimately helps in reducing your lower back pain.

Consult a podiatrist to know which shoe is right for you. You don’t necessarily have to purchase a new pair of shoes. A change of insoles or orthotics may be sufficient.

3. Consider Changing Your Mattress

Mattresses play a big role in supporting your lower back. Old mattresses often sag in the middle.

Purchase mattresses suited for your back, something that provides you a nice combination of comfort and support. Use a mattress topper for added benefits if necessary.

Remember: A mattress with an age of above six years is starting to get old and inadequate.

4. Do Some Light Physical Activities

Physical activity will ensure that your muscles are in the best shape possible. It will also warm up your entire body. Regular physical activity also keeps the blood circulation on point, keeping lower back pains or headaches in check.

You don’t have to go all berserk on your first day though. You can start with some walking, cycling or yoga. And don’t forget to stretch. Especially, if you’re a desk worker. It is always wise to stand and stretch the whole body in between the long working hours.

5. Keep a Positive Mindset

It is important to think positively in case you are suffering from pain of any sorts. If you are anxious or tensed about your pain, the situation can get worse. Over-anxiety and worries can amplify the pain according to studies.

Thus, we recommend keeping the body calm and relaxed. This will definitely help you while you are trying to treat your lower back pain.

Suffering for More than Six Weeks? Seek Help from the Experts

You should consult a doctor if the pain is unbearable or if it lingers on for more than a month.

Your doctor might conduct various tests on the affected area to find out the underlying problem. Based on what has actually happened, he might give you the following recommendations:

1. Ointments and Creams

Topical medicines such as these are applied to the area of the pain instead of being swallowed or injected. These medicines can have side effects on your skin and can cause temporary discomfort.

2. Oral Medications

Your doctor can also prescribe generic drugs to alleviate the pain. If that doesn’t work, you might be prescribed drugs specialized to address muscle inflammation.

These drugs too can have a wide range of side effects including stomach problems. So, don’t take these without any doctor’s consultation.

3. Anti-inflammatory Shots

These will be prescribed only in case of emergency. These shots do provide relief but only a temporary one.

4. Consult a Physical Therapist

A physical therapist will study your body and look for any misalignment in the body structure. Active release therapy, exercises, stretches are some of the many different tools he might use to alleviate the pain.

There are other alternative approaches to treating back pain too. But make sure the one addressing your back pain issues knows what he’s doing. He should be qualified and well trained.

Some Final Words

Often times many people think that drugs or surgery are the keys to solving back pain.

But taking this route can leave you suffering from multiple side effects. It is better to try the safer options first.

Lower back pain can be irritating and troublesome but luckily has a number of solutions. There are awesome equipment on the market to help you get rid of this pain. Combine that with our tips and you can enjoy life with a painless lower back.

14 Aug 2018

4 Things to Teach Your Child before College

Last year, my son went to college. It was the most exciting year of his life. It was the most challenging year of my life.

At one point, I started feeling like a complete failure of a parent. Did I fail to prepare my son for college? I know that he’s not a kid anymore. I know that he’s a grown-up human being who’s supposed to take responsibility about his own actions. But still… I wished I’d done things a bit differently.

From my own experience, I realized it was important for teenagers to learn four things before going to college. Hopefully, I can give you some tips on things to teach your child before college.

College Is Not Just a Place Where You Get Your Diploma

My son is an overachiever. I’m mentioning this as a flaw, ‘cause that’s exactly what it was.

When my son started college, most of the complaints were about studying too much. He was spending all of his free time in the library… studying. He couldn’t stand his roommates because they were making too much noise. He was only focused on classes, projects, exams, and credits.

But college is not only about the degree. It’s mostly about building interpersonal relationships.

Believe it or not, I advised my kid to take things lightly. Yes; I was the one suggesting college homework help when I realized he was spending too much time in the library. I just wanted him to find some balance between his studies and his personal life. Just as we need our work-life balance, students need their time off, too.

Your Roommates Can Be Your Best Friends

My college roommates were my best friends. We shared our struggles and our joys all the time. Of course we had disagreements, but we were able to sort them out in a civilized manner. As I could understand, this was a rare case. Most students are having troubles finding common ground with their roommates.

Some of the most problems include lack of personal hygiene, messy habits, eating the other person’s food, borrowing stuff without permission, and making too much noise. My son was mostly complaining about the noise.

He told me his roommates had no idea what roommate etiquette meant. Well guess what: my son had no idea about etiquette, either. Why did someone leave a bag of chips on his bed? Why didn’t his roommate pick up the dirty socks? He turned everything into an argument instead of trying to have a civilized conversation about it.

Etiquette means leaving things in order, but it also means being as friendly as possible even when you have some remarks to share. They don’t have to argue about everything. Most people are reasonable enough to understand what they are doing wrong if you’re willing to tell them through a calm conversation.

You Have to Manage Your Money

My son doesn’t cook and he absolutely hated the food in the dining hall. He was buying food every single day. He was ordering pizza most of the time. Add the desserts and soda, and there you have it – a huge amount of money being spent on unhealthy food.

As a parent, I was sorry seeing my son struggle. But I stopped sending extra money at one point. My help wasn’t teaching him how to manage his money. He had to tone his expenses down, and he managed to do that, eventually. It was a harsh lesson, but I did what I thought was the right thing to do.

You Have to Manage Your Time

At college, there are four main activities to occupy your day: classes, studying/writing, partying, and sleep. It seems like too much to handle, so students are often eliminating one of these activities (it’s usually the classes or the studying part).

College students have to understand that there is time for everything. So what if the classes take most of your day? You can learn while you’re there. Just be more attentive and take your notes. Go through the notes and studying materials as soon as you get out of class, so the knowledge will stick with you. Then you’ll rest, do some more studying, and spend some time with your friends. Reserve the partying for the weekend. If you get stuck, outsource some of the writing or give up on the parties before exam week.

See? It looks so good when someone organizes your time. The problem is that you have to organize your own time, and you have to stay on track with the schedule.

Are we prepared to teach our kids how to become grown-ups? It’s a real test for parenting, and that’s an understatement.

13 Aug 2018

5 Maintenance Tips for Common Household Appliances

Did your household appliance just whirl, sputter, and boom give up on you? No matter how hard you stare it down, you know that it is not coming back to life. It’s farewell time for this device and a welcome party for another to replace it. But, hang on, what about the bucks?

New appliances can shoot a hole in your budget with their pricey tags. Most of all, the ninja attack on your budget strikes as a bolt from the blue, unknown and unforeseen. Most homeowners invest between $173 and $379 on their kitchen appliances. On top of that, the share of kitchen gadgets chips in 10% of the total cost of a kitchen remodeling project.

If you’re lucky, you may still resuscitate your appliance. Home Adviser points out that the average repair cost is $201 in the US. That’s the average though. The repair cost can spike to anywhere near $350, or it could cost $50 on the low end.

However, you wouldn’t have to meet these expenses if you took some appliance maintenance measures. Let’s walk you through some of the best maintenance tips for common household appliances. These will not only help you save money but also boost the efficiency of the gadget.

1. Clean the refrigerator’s coils and gasket

Let’s begin with your fridge, which is your lifeline in the summers. A vital trick to extend its life is to clean it. You need to focus on two areas namely the gasket and coils. Firstly, clean the gasket periodically. The gasket is the plastic seal that runs between the fridge and its doors.

This plastic seal is responsible for conserving the cool air inside the refrigerator. It also helps save energy. Wipe the gaskets thoroughly to maintain its elasticity. Once you remove all the residue, coat the sticking layer with Vaseline. Be sure to use only a thin film of the lubricant.

Secondly, dirty fridge coils can restrict the appliance’s airflow, encouraging it to overheat. Dirt or dust on the coils can also result in a breakdown of the device. Service experts claim that almost half of their repair calls occur due to dirty coils. Start by removing your fridge’s front grille. Next, clean the coils with the help of a handheld vacuum.

Other tips for maintaining the health of your refrigerator include:

Clean your fridge completely at least once or twice in a year
Don’t put hot dishes directly in your fridge

2. Clean the oven with the correct cleaner

Following in the footsteps of a refrigerator, ovens also don’t work well without a proper seal. In fact, a non-sticky gasket can result in the loss of close to 20% of the oven’s heat. In this regard, it is best to keep the seal clean.

However, you should inspect the seal from time to time to learn of its condition. If you notice that the gasket is not doing its job despite cleaning it properly, it’s time to replace it. It is budget-friendly to spend on a new seal than on a new oven.

What’s more is that cleaning the overall oven is essential. Most of us go wrong in selecting the cleaner, which can lead to damage. The ideal cleaner depends on the type of oven that you use. It’s best to inquire about this when you first purchase it.

Generally, vinegar or warm water is a good choice. Some pro cleaning tips for your range or oven include:

Use soft cloths for cleaning
Don’t use overly harsh chemicals for cleaning
Apply the cleaner on the cloth before using it on the oven’s surface
Don’t spray around the knobs as that can lead to a short

I have a pretty good way to clean you microwave also. I use vinegar, but steam from water also works.

3. Don’t over under load the washing machine

In most cases, we think that we can save some time by loading some extra laundry in the machine. However, overloading a dryer or washer can culminate in damage to its moving parts such as belts, motors, and more.

Some of these repairs can be so expensive that you would want to change the machine altogether. This does not mean that you choose to add only small loads to your laundry partner. Small loads can exert strain on the drive components of the appliance.

Small loads are also the recipe for energy and water wastage. Thus, the best call is to add a moderate load in your washer as well as dryer. Some other maintenance tips entail:

Don’t put heavy objects on the washing machine
Check all the pockets before putting clothes in the washer
Use washing machine detergents instead of hand-washing detergents

4. Clean the dishwasher’s filter

Often a food-filled filter is a culprit behind a failing dishwasher. You need to pull out the lower rack to fix this. Then, remove the filter cover in the dishwasher and use a vacuum to clean the screen.

It is helpful to read the manual for correctly spotting the filter. Secondly, a clean gasket can be a problem here as well. Clean it regularly with water and soap for maintaining a watertight seal.

Lastly, don’t excessively pre-wash the dishes. Washed dishes are wet and a little soapy. This can cause the appliance to overseed and overflow. It can also leak on your kitchen floor. Hence, avoid over-washing the dishes in advance.

More dishwasher care tips include:

Position dishes upside down only
Clean the fat residues before loading them in a dishwasher
Remove any stickers from your utensils to prevent the filter from clogging

5. Clean the lint trap in the dryer

We have already discussed that it is best not to overload the clothing dryer. Apart from this tip, clean the lint trap in the dryer. You need to do this after every load. Chances are that you already do it. But, if you don’t, it is high time that you start doing so to add years to the dryer’s life.

Besides, go to the back of your house and clean the air exits. This is crucial to ensure that the vent is not clogged with lint. Don’t add dry or almost-dry sheets to your dryer. This can increase the chemical residue on the sensors in a dryer, leading to excess strain. These moisture sensors stop the dryer from over-drying clothes.

However, if chemical residue collects on them, the dryer can get damaged in the long haul. It is wise to clean the moisture sensor occasionally. Some other maintenance tricks include:

Remove the lint trap yearly and wash it
Don’t slam the appliance’s door
Use a vacuum to clean any stray lint on the floor and wall behind the dryer

Take home message

Despite these tips, you can still find yourself in a repair situation that may lead you to Dial an Appliance Man Edmonton. However, it is a better alternative than getting a new piece that can derail your budget for the month. It is best to follow these appliance maintenance tips though. Just a little care can go a long way in extending the performance and life of your everyday household appliances.

12 Aug 2018

How to Reset to Remove Tension and Shakiness When Shooting

How to Reset to Remove Shakiness and Tension When Shooting — Buy at Amazon

Some people can aim and shoot flawlessly, hitting their target instantly. Other people have hands that are so shaky; they will hit a target five-feet-away just a bit to the left.

“Steady as a rock” doesn’t always apply to everyone. While a little bit of shakiness might not be such a great deal, it is still bothersome.

The stronger the “shakes,” the higher are the chances of you missing your target – even if you previously locked on it.

Seems familiar to you?

If so, you probably want to know some tips on how to deal with this. It won’t be easy, as shakiness and tremors can have various causes – but as long as you narrow down on the cause, you should be able to make it more manageable.

In this article, you will find some tips on how to deal with tension and shakiness when shooting, whatever the cause of it.

Understanding the Shakes

The shooting shakes can have various forms. You can have steady hands when locking in on your target – and simply flinch when you pull the trigger. That is simply your body trying to anticipate what’s going to happen, preparing you for the shot. It may be because you’re nervous, so your body is trying to make you adjust.

The second type of shakiness is a bit more troublesome to deal with: shaking uncontrollably at all times. You may be shaking this way no matter if you are holding a gun or a sandwich. That’s just your body trying to give you a signal – one which you have to listen to.

What to Do About the Shakes

If you have ascertained that your shaking is not related to your inability to hold onto a target, then you might have a slight problem. Regardless of the causes, here are some ways for you to reset your ability to hold your target.

Learn the Fundamentals

You may not want to admit this, but if you continuously miss your shots, it may not be because you have shaky hands; you may just be very bad at trigger control or gripping the gun. In this case, you will simply have to work on the fundamentals.

This will take a lot of focus and practice (with your favorite pistol, every day perhaps). If you are practicing with a gun that has a laser target, it might give you a better idea of where your target is going – and what kind of tremor you have.

Focus on your target instead of the gun. Don’t turn shooting into a competition (hitting more targets that your friends do) and train your body to hit the target as much as possible. It won’t be easy, indeed – but none of us is born a genius.

Ignore the Shakiness

We know, easier said than done – but have you noticed that the more you focus on your shakiness and hand tension, the worse it gets? The more focused you are on your wobbling hands, the more focus you will lose on the target.

And considering that we are all human beings, we can’t really focus on more than one thing at once – at least not properly. So, to get a better, steady shot, you need to stop caring. You have to stop thinking about your hands going crazy, and you need to focus on the target zone. If you execute a good trigger press, the rest will eventually come.

Slow Down on the Caffeine

Caffeine will keep you awake and alert, so it’s understandable why you may want to have a cup every now and again. However, caffeine is also a stimulant – which will make you shake, no matter if you have regular tremors or not.

This may be bad news for you if you are a coffee addict enthusiast, but try limiting your caffeine intake. Instead of drinking 3-4 cups per day, keep it at just one cup. Ideally, you should quit completely – but if you don’t want to live in a world without coffee, a morning cup is just enough.

Strength Training

If you have weak arms, it’s obvious that you’ll start missing your targets. Shooting produces a lot of tension around the arms – so without the proper strength, you won’t be able to hold it steady.

Don’t just go with bench presses all the time. Train your arms, your shoulders, your hands and your core. Shooting requires that all your muscles “mingle” perfectly, reducing the tremor and providing you more balance. Regardless of the cause of the shakiness, strength training should make your core stronger – and it should make it much easier for you to hang onto your target.

Drink a Lot of Water

This is something that many of us tend to forget, but water helps our body function properly. If you already have tremors, dehydration will only make them worse – so make sure that you always have a water bottle at hand.

Reduce the Stress

Stress and anxiety can make anyone’s hands start shaking. While not all of us have the luxury of being completely stress-free, you can still make it more manageable.

First of all, try to get enough sleep. Most of the time, stress and sleep deprivation go hand in hand – and those two combined will lead to very shaky hands.

Secondly, you might want to try other alternative methods such as meditation. It has been proved that meditation can help reduce stress and calm your mind – no matter the cause. And all you will need is to practice it several minutes a day.

Final Thoughts

We all have good days and bad days – and we need to be at peace with that. Some days you feel steady, and other days you’re shooting at an object two feet from your target. You just need to understand that this can happen – and try to find the cause.

Take care of your body and make sure that you always practice. If you’re competent in handling a gun, eventually the tension and shakiness when shooting will go away (at least reduce to a unnoticeable amount)– which means no more missed shots.

Monthly Archives: August 2018