Category: Tips

Top Tips For Nesting While Waiting For Baby To Arrive

Parenting / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Many couples find themselves nesting like crazy in the weeks and months leading up to the big day with a new baby on the way. Nesting is instinctual for expectant mothers – it’s their way of preparing their home for the arrival of their little one. If you’re finding yourself nesting too, here are some top tips to help you get prepared for your new arrival!

Via Pexels

Clean Your Home From Top To Bottom

This is an excellent opportunity to give your home a good deep clean. Tackle every room in your house, and be sure to clean all of the nooks and crannies that tend to accumulate dust and dirt over time.

If you’re short on time, try using a steam cleaner to clean your floors and surfaces quickly. Steam cleaners are great for getting rid of built-up dirt and grime, and they don’t require any chemicals. You can use them on various surfaces, including carpets, tile floors, hardwood flooring, and countertops. 

Declutter your living spaces

Once your home is clean, take some time to declutter your living spaces. This will make it easier for you to move around once the baby arrives, and it will also give you a little peace of mind knowing that there’s less stuff for you to worry about in the weeks leading up to the big day.

Stock Up On Supplies

Once you’ve decluttered your home, it’s time to stock up on supplies! Make sure you have plenty of diapers, wipes and other essentials on hand, as well as newborn clothes and blankets.

As well as stocking up on baby supplies, be sure to try stocking up on some groceries as well. When you are out shopping, pick up an extra pack of dry goods or frozen meals to put aside for those days when you won’t make it grocery shopping.

Setting Up The Nursery

This is what all parents look forward to the most, but it can also be the most stressful. It is important to remember that your baby will be tiny for a long time, and you will soon outgrow the nursery. Therefore, you do not need to go overboard with the decor, especially if it’s a boy or girl theme, because they won’t look at it anyway.

The essential items are, of course, the nursery furniture. You may want to invest in a few pieces of furniture for the nursery – a crib, changing table, and rocking chair are a few essentials. These may cost a bit more than what you had expected, but they should last years and see through a few children!

Set Aside Some Time For Yourself

Although it’s essential to get your home ready before the big day arrives, you should also set aside some time and space just for yourself! Take advantage of this opportunity to relax, unwind and pamper yourself – after all, and it won’t be long until your little one is here and you’re up all hours of the night with them!

Try reading a book, watching your favourite show, or taking a nap. You can also spend time with family and friends – it will help keep your mind off things like baby showers and other stressful tasks that need to be done before the big day arrives. Plus, having fun is good for your mental health!

Nesting is a great way to prepare for your new arrival, but it’s important to remember to take some time for yourself as well. Relax and enjoy this special time in your life!

The Big Benefits Of Giving Gifts

Physical and Mental Health / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Image Credit

We all like receiving gifts, but giving can be just as enjoyable. When you give a gift, or you contribute to a charitable cause, it increases the feel-good hormones in your brain and helps you to think outside of yourself. These are just some of the benefits of giving; there are lots more that you can find out about in the article below. Read on and remember to dig deep.    

It Makes us Happier 

If you were given the choice to spend your money on yourself or spend the same money on someone else, which would you choose? Chances are you would choose to spend the money on yourself; after all, you worked for the money and earned it, you deserve to reap the rewards. 

But not so fast, what if you found out that spending the money on someone else was going to make you happier, so in a way you are using your money to improve your wellbeing, would you still buy that new item of clothing instead of giving to charity? Studies show this is the case. 

It Benefits our Mental Health 

Mental health issues come in different shapes and forms, but chances are most people have felt anxious or depressed at some point in their lives; we have some idea of how it feels to be so preoccupied with your life and your thoughts that nothing else matters. But giving can help. 

Giving is one of the ways you can break the cycle of self-obsession and introspection, two characteristics that are common in people with mental health conditions. Making an effort to step out of your zone of self and think about someone else creates a positive change in mood. 

It Creates Connections 

There are different ways to give and receive, you can give money to help a good cause, such as Sadaqah | Islamic Help, or you can volunteer your time or resources to aid the community. Whatever way you decide to help, you will create connections with your culture of giving. 

Since ancient times, human beings have cooperated to form communities and economies; this is one of the features of the species that makes us so successful; we are reliant on other people as much as we are on ourselves. Today, giving is one way to carry on this ancient tradition. 

It Builds up Gratitude 

One way to lift your spirits when you’re feeling down is to think about what you are grateful for; everyone is grateful for something, even if it’s only a cup of tea. When you start to cultivate gratitude, you start to realize how reliant you are on others and how they rely on you as well. 

Gratitude is an intensely positive feeling that creates more joy and happiness in your life and the lives of the people around you. It’s a good practice to give something to someone every day and to feel a sense of gratitude that you are in a position to help. Think of some things you can give.  

Giving is Contagious 

Human beings like to imitate each other for entertaini=ment and communication, so when someone starts to give more freely and increase their happiness and wellbeing levels, the situation is contagious. Before you know it, your friends, family, and neighbors will give too. 

If you work in a cutthroat industry like investment banking or venture capitalism, it’s easy to start thinking about the world in a narrow way; there are haves and have nots. In reality, the world is based on cooperation and kindness, people make efforts to protect others in difficulty. 

It Improves Physical Health 

Studies show that giving is good for your mental health, but it’s also good for your physical health. As mentioned, giving allows you to think outside of yourself about the situation of other people; this reduces the amount of stress you have in your own life leading to physical benefits.

Stress is one of the leading causes of physical issues such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, asthma, and more; not only that, stress makes you uncomfortable and unproductive. If you have issues with stress, you need to resolve them as a priority; giving is a useful way to begin.  

It Helps Other People

It might seem like an obvious point, but it’s worth reiterating as an end-note, the purpose of giving is to help other people, and it works. Without the charitable contributions and humanitarian efforts of people, there would be far more suffering and crises on the planet. With that in mind, remember to dig deep the next time you are asked for a charitable contribution.  

For Better Mental Health, Try To Improve Your Habits

Physical and Mental Health / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

We all have habits, some of which are good and some of which are less so. The fact is that these kinds of habits can very often disrupt one’s mental health, whereas there are also a range of habits that are particularly beneficial for one’s mental health. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the ways in which you might want to improve your habits – as doing so is going to help you to have much better mental health on the whole. You might be amazed at how well this works.

Image Credit – CCO License

More Mindfulness

One of the most important habits that you should try to develop for better mental health is mindfulness. This word is used and abused in our culture, but at its core it’s a relatively simple – if difficult to execute – activity. It simply refers to the ability to pay attention to your mind’s objects, the thoughts and feelings and so on which go through your mind all the time. The more aware of these things you are, the easier it is to cope and manage your mind, so this is a hugely important thing to be aware of. Try to meditate for twenty minutes a day and see if it helps.

Fewer Drugs

On the other side, there are also substances which you should try to avoid having in your bodily system, as they are generally going to disrupt or interrupt your mental health in some way or another. If you have a problem with a drug in particular, then you might want to think about getting some professional help from the likes of Sunshine Behavioral Health. Overcoming an addiction not only means that you are going to have a lot more chance of good mental health, but you’ll also be proving to yourself that you can take the necessary steps for better self-care.

Controlling Sugar

One of the most common habits – and addictions – that most of us have in some form or another is sugar consumption. It’s in everything, and most of us are given it very young, so this is hardly surprising. If you try to control your sugar intake a little more effectively, you might find that you are going to have some huge benefits from that – including the ability to regulate your emotions better, which is in itself one of the most important mental health traits there are. Be sure to control your sugar intake as best as you can.

Image Credit – CCO License

Social Media

If you spend a lot of time on social media, this too is something that you might want to think about curtailing. It’s incredible how much even a small amount of usage can disturb your mental peace, and you might not even notice it happening because it happens so slowly and subtly. Try to go a month without social media and see what happens. You might find, like most people, that you are going to have a much better mental health in general after you do this.

How To Make the Most of Your Home with Limited Space

Tips / 2 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

What happens when you don’t have much space to live in? One of the most common problems people living in small areas face is how to make their homes look as spacious as possible. These tips will help you maximise your square footage and feel like you’ve got more space than you do.

Image credit

Room layout and design

It doesn’t matter if your space is on the small side; you can still make it look and feel than it is. The tips can help you to maximise the layout of your room.

  • Add a piece of furniture in the middle of your room. This will give a sense that there is more room and provide more visual interest.
  • For smaller rooms, keep furnishings and decorating to a minimum. You don’t need much to make the most of your space.
  • For smaller rooms, try to add windows or large mirrors on the walls near each other to appear as if there is much more depth.
  • For smaller rooms with shorter ceilings, hang artwork high on the walls or above the door. This will create a sense of grandeur and make it seem like you have much more space than you do.

The importance of lighting

Lighting can make a big difference in how your space feels. You probably use light fixtures to illuminate your area if you have a small room. But what happens when the light doesn’t reach all of the corners of your room?

To make the most of your space and get more light in the corners, consider using higher wattage bulbs to illuminate those areas. This will give off more light in those hard-to-reach areas without taking up too much extra space. It’s easy, efficient, and can make a huge difference in how you feel and your home looks!

Interior design

When you have a small space, the most important thing is to focus on your comfort. Try to find compact furniture and can fit into any corner or nook of your living space. Or maybe try moving some furniture around, so it doesn’t take up as much room.

A great way to make a small place feel bigger is by adding in-ceiling speakers. This will give you more sound for movies, music, or even phone conversations. It also makes the room appear more significant because the sound comes from above instead of other places in the room.

Furniture.

You want your furniture to be a way for your space to feel bigger. Look for pieces with clean lines and natural colours. You can also go with transitional pieces that are in the style of your home but won’t take up too much room. If you’re looking for an extra seat, try stacking two coffee tables on top of each other.

Getting creative with your space can bring out the most of your home and allow you to feel like you’re living in a bigger space. However, if you have outgrown your home, you can check here to find out your next options.

The Importance of Car Maintenance & Servicing

Services / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Do you know the importance of car maintenance & servicing? It prevents terrible accidents happening which could easily be avoided with regular vehicle checks and tyre care.

The Importance of Car Maintenance & Servicing

Importance of Car Maintenance & Servicing

There are so many things that can go wrong with a vehicle and if unnoticed this can cause life-threatening accidents. You should always consult a professional who can do full vehicle checks to ensure your vehicle is fit for the road. Ensuring this is done regularly and before long trips can prevent accidents and costly repairs.

Why Car Tyre Safety Is Important

As the main point of contact on the road, tyres need to be kept in perfect condition to ensure safety on the road. Ensuring tyre health is up to standard helps to improves fuel economy and minimises carbon emissions. This reduces the cost of driving and helps the environment too! Illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres can cause serious road traffic accidents.

How To Ensure Car Tyre Safety

You can keep an eye out for warning signs that your tyre may be unsafe on the road, however, consulting an expert is always highly advised. Always buy tyres and have them checked by a  trusted professional. Buy tyres online at Jet Wheel Tyres.

Warning signs include:

  • An unsteady, rough drive
  • Lots of vibration
  • Cracks in the sidewall
  • Bulges or blisters on tyres
  • Low tread depth
  • Weird noises such as thumping, whining or squeaking
  • Aged tyres
  • Low/High Tyre Pressure

40% of road accidents are due to faulty tyres, this can be reduced if we are more proactive when it comes to car maintenance and servicing. 

Other Important Vehicle Checks

Always ensure lights are in fully working order before setting off. Check all fluids are topped up including fuel, coolant, brake fluid and oil. These small checks can save on costly repairs and breaking down on busy motorways. Keeping MOT tests up to date ensures your vehicle is checked for any issues you may not notice yourself.

Do you know the importance of car maintenance and servicing?

MOT Testing – Why Is It Important?

Cars and Bikes / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

MOT testing is important when it comes to car care and passenger safety. October is fall car care month, as winter approaches it’s essential to ensure your vehicle is completely safe.

MOT Testing - Why Is It Important

Why is MOT Testing Important?

With the clocks going back in October the days are much darker often with adverse weather. The UK has had increasingly colder winters with more flooding & snow than recent years. Adverse weather can take it’s toll on your vehicle and may cause damage.

Ensuring your MOT is up to date can prevent a road accident. Putting off your MOT test could seriously impact yourself, your passengers and other road users. It’s always better to catch issues early on and have them fixed. 

MOT Testing

An MOT test is carried out by a  professional and should be done so yearly. This is required by law. The professional will need to check several things including:

  • Tyres 
  • Windscreen wipers and washers
  • Indicators
  • Brake lights
  • Exhaust system
  • The general condition of the body structure and chassis.

These are vital checks of the overall vehicle safety, roadworthiness and exhaust emissions of your vehicle. If any of these fail to meet the standards your vehicle will fail the MOT. To obtain an MOT certificate you will need to ensure any necessary works are carried out.

How To Book An MOT Test

There are several ways you can book an MOT test including online, by phone or in person. You can schedule your MOT test online today with Iverson Tyres from the comfort of your own home. The test takes 45 minutes to complete with Iverson Tyres. If the vehicle passes the inspection you will be issued an MOT certificate on the spot. If there are any issues Iverson Tyres can suggest the necessary work needed.

Have you had your MOT test yet?

Vehicle Safety Checklist

Cars and Bikes / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
Vehicle Safety Checklist

Having a vehicle safety checklist helps keep yourself, your passengers & other road users safe. Many accidents on the road are often caused by vehicles not being regularly checked over. Small problems can quickly lead to big problems if left unfixed. There are several things you can do to ensure your vehicle is in perfect condition.

Tyres

Tyres are the most important part of any vehicle as they are the main point of contact with the road. 40% of road accidents are due to faulty tyres so ensure you check your tyres before each journey. Ensure regular repairs, maintenance and tyre fitting are carried out to avoid costly accidents. Always make sure you have your tyres fitted by a professional tyre fitting service. You can find an authentic tyre fitting service in Stirling available at Fife Autocentre, book now!

Vehicle safety

MOT Testing

MOT testing is an important part of owning a vehicle, they check your vehicle is safe and roadworthy. MOT tests check the brakes & fuel system, lights, mirrors, seatbelts, windscreen wipers & the exhaust system. This ensures every aspect of your vehicle is safe to use.

Car Servicing

Servicing your vehicle before a long trip is important as it can help to avoid any major complications. Having someone experienced service your car is always the best. Issues can be costly and more so if left too long. If an issue were to cause an accident it would cost much more to replace your vehicle than to fix issues as soon as possible. If you are planning a long trip having your vehicle serviced is essential for yours and other road users safety.

It’s better to be proactive rather than reactive when it comes to owning a vehicle. Dangerous, costly accidents can easily be avoided by keeping a checklist and ensuring your vehicle is regularly maintained and tyres are fitted professionally.

Do you have a vehicle safety checklist?


Vaping for Beginners: Tips and Ideas

Helpful Ramblings / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Vaping is considered a better and much safer alternative to smoking. This is because vaping eliminates exposure to dozens of toxic compounds that come from the combustion of tobacco.

Vaping For Beginners

Only nicotine is delivered to the system hence giving you the satisfaction you need without putting your lungs and the respiratory system at risk. You also have a wide range of flavours at your disposal as well. Although a gratifying experience, many beginners struggle to adapt to vaping. This is mostly attributed to the fact that vaping is a lot different from smoking, and the user’s lack of knowledge on how to approach vaping. This article, however, outlines some of the basic ideas, tips, and tricks on how to start off your journey as a vaper.

Vaping For Beginners

1. Choose the Right Starter Kit: Don’t Go for the Cheapest Ones

The starter kit you opt for will define your experience as a first-time vaper. Although there are both cheap and expensive mods out there, the idea should be to buy the best quality starter kit you can afford. This however doesn’t mean you should break the bank for the starter kit, but instead do some research on the same before picking one.

A good quality starter pack should have a decent atomizer capable of producing a smooth vaping experience. Go for anything cheap, and you will probably find the vaporiser isn’t as efficient nor does it satisfy your needs. It would therefore be wise to invest in a good quality starter kit to make the journey exciting and enjoyable.

2. Consider Sub-ohming

Sub-ohming is very common with experience vapers. Although an enjoyable experience for experienced vapers, it isn’t entirely recommended for beginners. This practice involves massive airflow creating big, dense vapour that delivers a mouth-watering flavour. All this is thanks to organic coils that improve the vapour density.

One of the reasons newbie vapers should be careful with sub-ohming is that the vapour and flavour produced can be so dense causing you to choke in the process. If you’ve never experienced dense vapour before, it would be a wise idea to avoid it or have someone experienced show you how to do it. It only takes some bit of practice and experience to get used to the dense vapour.

3. E-Juice Maintenance

E-liquids are created differently. One therefore needs to consider several factors before going for a e-liquid. For instance, you need to understand the concentration percentage of both VG and PG, as well as nicotine concentration in the e-juice you opt for. It would also be advisable to shake the e-juice well before using it. This ensures the contents mix correctly thus guaranteeing an optimal experience.

E-juice also tends to degrade when exposed to direct sunlight. Consider storing your e-juice in an enclosed cabinet away from direct light. You also should ensure the bottle is tightly closed after use. Doing this helps preserve both the nicotine quality and flavour as well. Leaving the bottle open only causes the e-juice to lose flavour.

4. Manage the Batteries

Batteries are among the most important parts of the mod. Whether you chose the £20 or $250 mod, you need to ensure the cells are in their top condition when using the mod. Every manufacturer provides instructions detailing how the battery should be maintained, and its lifespan. As a rule of thumb, you should never allow the battery to discharge completely before recharging it. Be sure to connect it to its charger each time the low-battery indicator shows up. Be sure to disconnect it from the charger once charged overcharging only damages the battery.

If your mod uses 26650 battery packs, you then should ensure these aren’t overtasked. Overtasking these batteries cause them to become extremely hot. If the mod starts feeling warmer than it should, that is an indicator that something is wrong and should be checked immediately.

5. Always Stock Up

Always have the right e-liquid, a charged battery, and coils ready. You don’t want to run out of e-juice when you desperately need to vape. Having these ready and within reach can, therefore, help avoid a situation in the future. Among other risks, running out of e-juice, for example, can cause/tempt one to go for a cigarette pack just to quench the ‘thirst’.

6. Choosing the Right E-Juice

Determining the right e-juice to fit your needs and preferences can be a little intimidating even for an experienced vaper. Making the wrong choice on these can have a huge impact on your vaping experience. It would, therefore, be best if you try out several of them, or have the vendor help you find just the right one. This entails all elements are in the perfect proportions for an optimal vaping experience. You may have to try 3 or 4 combinations before identifying one that suits your needs.

E-liquids come in a variety of flavours ranging from food, tobacco blend, fruity, and other cocktails. The wide choice gives you the freedom to try different flavours, or even use these for separate occasions. Experts recommend trying out several flavours to determine your most preferred one.

Nicotine strength, or concentration, is another important factor you should consider before picking a starter pack. You can have the e-juice with varying nicotine concentrations depending on your needs. Light smokers can start with 6mg or lower of nicotine, with medium smokers going for 9mg or 16mg concentration of the same. Heavy smokers should, however, go for a much higher concentration, preferably 24mg – 36mg nicotine to ensure they get the satisfaction desired. Making the right pick or decision on nicotine strength and paring it with a preferred flavour holds the key to enjoying every bit of vaping.

Are you a vaping beginner?

Contacting HMRC Shouldn’t Be A Struggle

Tips / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Contacting HMRC shouldn’t be a struggle whatever the reason for needing to contact them. I have had so many issues contacting HMRC over the years and find it so frustrating. Whenever I know I have to call HMRC for whatever reason, I have a panic attack. Often I have to ask for the Mr to talk for me as I just can’t cope by the time we finally get through.

Contacting HMRC shouldn't be a struggle

I’ve blogged before about my struggles to claim ESA & PIP before, it is mentally draining from start to finish. It can be so difficult to get in touch with the correct HMRC department to start. Then trying to find out what is going on with claims or why payments are delayed can take hours of trying different numbers. I often struggled to get through to the correct department. It impacted my mental health terribly, contacting HMRC departments shouldn’t be such a struggle. It shouldn’t cause people to have breakdowns when they already need help.

Talk Tax is really helpful for finding the correct numbers along with lots of useful information to help with anything HMRC related. I wish I had found them sooner, they have so many useful guides available. From guides on benefit entitlements, tax returns, car tax costs and more, they have everything you need in one place. If only HMRC’s site was so well presented! 

Everyone has to contact HMRC for one reason or another, council tax, child benefits, universal credit etc. It really shouldn’t be such a struggle & I hope Talk Tax will be helpful to my readers too! I see people day in, day out, tweeting how they’ve been on hold for ages just to find they have to call yet another department yet Talk Tax makes it clear which number you need for applying, complaints & more.

Have you struggled with contacting HMRC?

 

Warning Signs You Need To Change Your Car Tyres

Cars and Bikes / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Warning signs that you need to change your tyres are extremely important to look out for. Tyres are the most important aspect of a car and ignoring warning signs can cause serious problems.

Warning Signs You Need To Change Your Car Tyres

Why Healthy Tyres Are Important

Tyres are the only point of contact on the road and need to be kept in perfect condition to ensure safety whilst travelling. Ensuring tyre health improves fuel economy and minimises carbon emissions. It not only reduces the cost of driving but will help the environment too! Illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres can cause serious road traffic accidents. In 2016, 8 people were killed and 120 people seriously injured due to unsafe or damaged tyres.

Having seen the devastating results of damaged tyres myself, tyre safety is really important to me. As a child, I was in a few road accidents, including losing control in the snow due to poor tyre tread. We stopped inches from a tree and set of stairs down to an underpass and it was terrifying!

Warning Signs You Need To Change Your Car Tyres

There are a few warning signs you can look out for that will indicate you need to change your car tyres.

Warning signs include:

  • Your car feeling unsteady on the road and isn’t driving smoothly
  • Too much vibration may indicate an alignment or balancing issue
  • Lookout for cracks in the sidewall
  • Bulges or blisters on tyres
  • Low tread depth
  • Weird noises such as thumping, whining or squeaking
  • Aged tyres
  • Low/High Tyre Pressure

Importance Of Buying The Right Tyres

Contacting your local tyre centre can make buying tyres much easier. With expert advice from local tyre centres, you can save a lot of time and money. Finding new tyres can be difficult and you might want to continue using the old ones – which is not the right thing to do. So if you don’t want to expose yourself to any road safety risks you can buy car tyres online in Manchester (or any other locality where you live) from Point S.

What happens if you don’t go to an expert and ignore warning signs

Whilst you should keep an eye out for warning signs yourself, consulting a tyre expert is always the best option. Without regular checks, the quality of your tyres may suffer and lead to future tyre issues.

Over time the rubber in tyres degrades and may lead to a serious accident. Bald tyres are dangerous, especially on wet surfaces. Worn tyres should be replaced with a new equivalent well before the legal minimum tread limit. The minimum tread limit is 1.6mm but tyres should be replaced, as soon as they reach 3mm. It’s best to check your tyre tread regularly and consult an expert if you are unsure.
Car manufacturers set the type, make, size, profile, load carrying capacities and speed ratings of each car. You should only change the type of tyres on your vehicle based on expert advice to ensure your care is safe on the road.

Because tyre pressures vary, it’s always best to have an expert check the tyre pressure to avoid premature wear. Low pressure leaves the sidewall exposed as the tyre has to compensate to stabilise the car.

Any tyre issue should be checked over by an expert to ensure the safety of yourself, loved onesand other people on the road.