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3 Things You Should Do to Maintain your Lawn

The outdoor beauty of your home or office is complete with a well-cared-for lawn. With the right upkeep, the grass, flowers, hedges, and trees in your lawn will be healthy. Caring for your lawn has a lot of benefits to homeowners such as maintaining your property value. There are many ways you can use to keep your lawn attractive, below are the top three lawn care tips every homeowner should use:

  1. Watering the lawn

Water is one of the basic requirements for the grass in your lawn to grow. When it rains the grass gets water but when it’s doesn’t you’ll have to irrigate it. Watering twice a week is ideal although how frequent you water your lawn will depend on the humidity level in your area. Hot and dry environments will require frequent watering compared to wet areas. Physically watering with a can or horse pipe is tedious, time-consuming and you are wasting water. Built-in lawn sprinklers are more effective since it comes with a smart clock for automatic lawn watering. Also, this irrigation system ensures that the right amount of water is used. With this automatic sprinkler, you’ll always wake up to a green lawn though you should keep checking for any faults. If you find any faults in the system; you need an efficient sprinkler repair specialist like this sprinkler repair company in Henderson, NV. This is a complicated system, don’t let just anyone do the repair, hire a qualified company.

  1. Keep the grass and plants healthy by fertilizing them

Another way to maintain a healthy lawn is by fertilizing it. The soil has nutrients but since grass uses this nutrient for growth with time there will be a reduction in nutrients. This nutrient deficiency will make the grass in your lawn to lose color, have stunted growth and maybe invaded by weeds. Replacing this grass won’t be the solution since the issue is the lack of nutrients in the soil. To replenish the nutrients in the soil needed for the healthy growth of grass and plants in your lawn you’ll need to fertilize it. Consult a landscape specialist on the right fertilizer to use for your lawn.

  1. Frequently mow your lawn

Just like hair looks unkempt when it’s not trimmed so does your lawn. Properly manicured lawns are kept at a uniform height. Mowing on regular basis helps to achieve this and keeps the grass healthy. This is because weaker grass grows slower and with regular trimming only strong shoots that grow fast will survive. Having uniform leveled grass promotes growth since there are an even absorption and supply of required resources such as sunlight. If you have hedges, don’t forget to prune and trim in the shape you like to keep it healthy and neat. Not maintaining you hedge make your lawn look untidy and it will be a habitat to rodents, and pests that carry disease.

With the tips above, you can turn your lawn into a natural paradise that will thank you by providing clean breathable air.

Do You Know Your Soil?

In the world of gardening, there are 5 main types of soil – and yes, soil does come in different varieties. Each of these types are made up of the same materials: silt, clay, and sand.

Soil

However, the different types of soil come in when we get specific with the amounts of each material.

So, what are the five main types? Here they are.

Sandy

Sandy soil is made up of large particles. Out of all the soil types, sandy soil’s particles are the biggest. It’s gritty and dry to the touch. It can’t hold water due to the large spaces between the particles.

When used for gardening, water drains through it quickly and will pool in areas where even the longest of plants roots can’t reach. This makes sandy soil a poor choice for trying to grow seedlings.

However, its benefits are that it is lightweight and easy to work with. It also warms up more quickly during the spring months.

Silty

Silty soil, in comparison to sandy soil, is much softer to the touch and has particles that are drastically smaller.

This kind of soil holds water relatively well and holds a decent amount of nutrients. Because it holds water so well, it tends to be cold and doesn’t drain very well. In other words, it’s not the best for plants that need very specific amounts of water.

Clay

Clay has extremely small particles, which makes it great for holding water. Very little air passes between its particles, therefore, water has a harder time escaping. This means that it holds a large volume of plant nutrients.

However, clay soil is generally colder during the spring months, as its water retentive properties also mean that the water within has to warm up, as well, making the process go more slowly.

When this kind of soil gets dry, it becomes very heavy and during the summer, is known to clump up and be hard to work with.

Saline

Saline soil, much like its name suggests, has a high salt content. This makes it brackish in appearance.

Saline soil can be devastating to crops and plants, as it interrupts irrigation and stalls growth. Too much saline soil in any given area can easily lead to drought.

Peaty

Peaty soil is high in water content and can be compacted easily. Once drained, this kind of soil becomes incredibly dry – so dry, inf act, that it can become a fire hazard in lightning storms.

Regardless, it can be a good growing medium. Its ability to withhold water makes it great for growing plants and flowers during dry months.

Peat, which is part of what is in peaty soil, is acidic but is often used by growers to regulate pH levels in their crops. It’s often used to ward of crop-related disease.

So, what kind of soil does your garden have? With any luck, you’ve learned something new about this crucial growing medium.

6 Ways to Know When Your Diet Has Gone Too Far

Diets, in general, are thought of as being positive, life-changing things. When implemented correctly, they can improve the health of the body and the mind, as well as your self-confidence.

But sometimes, diets can go too far. So, how do you know when yours has reached this point? Here are 6 signs.

You’re obsessed with your scale.

When dieting and trying to lose weight, a scale is important. Checking your weight weekly is best practice. However, checking the scale every day, multiple times a day, or after every meal is a bit too much.

If you find yourself doing this, you’re scale obsessed and your diet has veered off into a direction that could become unhealthy.

Your diet is a secret.

You shouldn’t have to hide your weight loss efforts from your loved ones. You should be happy to share this positive lifestyle change with them.

If you aren’t? There’s probably a reason that you’re keeping it a secret. Maybe you know your diet is unhealthy, maybe you’re exercising too much, or maybe, your diet is causing you unpleasant side effects that you know will warrant worry from your friends and family.

You’re tired.

Being tired is normal – we all experience it sometimes. When you’re dieting and cutting out a variety of “bad” foods, though, it’s incredibly important to consider what your body is telling you.

If you’re tired constantly, you may be cutting out too much and setting yourself up for a negative weight loss experience.

You count calories.

While some diets and weight loss regimes have a points system or calorie system of sorts, there are very few that explicitly tell you to count every calorie. This is because calorie counting is, in many accounts, an extreme practice.

Calorie Counter

This is especially true when you find yourself counting the calories in condiments, the extra piece of cucumber going onto your sandwich, and the small bite of candy bar you stole from your partner at lunch.

You spend time researching food.

Of course, it’s totally fine to research new recipes to try. What isn’t fine, though, is when the majority of your free time is consumed by researching nutrition labels, ingredients, and micro nutrients.

This is also cause for concern when a quick, 5-minute shopping trip turns into a 30-minute trip because you had to stand in the grocery aisle and research each ingredient on the label of a jar of peanut butter.

You boycott social events.

For decades, food has been a social element. Families have been gathering for meals and serving tasty food at events since what seems like the start of time.

If you’ve been avoiding family functions such as birthday parties, Sunday dinner, or girls-night-out because you’re afraid that you’ll end up having a glass of beer or piece of cake? You might want to rethink how limiting your diet is.

6 Thrifty Ways to Save Money on Hotel Bookings

For many travelers, airfare is the most expensive part of any trip. Coming in at a close second, however, are hotels. Most hotels charge by the night and charge more if travelers stay only one or two night, making the hotel bill add up quickly. On top of paying for the room itself, travelers often have to pay extra for amenities such as gyms, pools, internet, and food which makes the entire hotel experience hard on the pocketbook. Luckily, there are a few ways to lessen the financial burden of hotels.

Book in advance.

Booking months, weeks, and sometimes, days in advance can often save you money. Booking in advance allows you to get the best deal, as well as to get the room you want before it fills up. Most advanced bookings are non-refundable, but if you’re looking to save a few dollars on your room, advance booking are the best way to go. The closer you book to the date you want to stay, the higher the rate will be, as you’re ultimately being charged for the convenience of such a short notice booking.

Join a rewards program.

Every major hotel chain has a rewards program for loyal customers. Although you can’t expect a free hotel stay upon sign up, you can earn one for a later date. Upon sign up, you’ll usually get free wifi, complimentary breakfast, early check in, late check out, nd  variety of other benefits that are both luxurious and a bargain. The more you stay with the hotel that you signed up with, the more points you will earn, and the sooner you’ll be able to claim a free stay.

Sign up for a rewards credit card.

Credit cards can be a nuisance. If used properly, however, they do more than just build credit. By signing up with a travel rewards credit card, purchases you make on hotels and airfare will earn you points which can be cashed in for free stays and other benefits. Most reward credit cards also offer points on everyday purchases, but at a lower rate per dollar.

Book directly.

It can be tempting to book your hotel through a third party agent, but booking directly through your chosen hotel can help save you some cash. Oftentimes, hotels have special promotions and deals that are available only on their website and not through any other sources.

Choose your hotel’s location wisely.

As a general rule of thumb, hotels located within popular areas of cities such as downtown, are more costly than their outskirt neighbors. For example, by staying out of the immediate areas of East End London, midtown Manhattan, and Shibuya in Tokyo, you can save yourself a minimum of 25% on your hotel booking.

Compare prices using a search engine.

Using a metasearch engine such as Kayak.com, Booking.com, or Expedia.ca, you can compare dozens of hotel prices at one time. This saves you time searching and researching, and will also help you find the best hotel for the cheapest price.

Instagram Fitness: 5 of Instagram’s Most Influential Fitness Icons

With the recent explosion of social media, it’s no wonder that fitness enthusiasts have moved onto the scene and taken the online world by storm. Fitness models can be found on a variety of platforms, but are most popular on Instagram, where they can share their successes with their followers and the world. If you haven’t came across any of these fitness icons during your daily Instagram session yet, here are a few of the most popular and influential Instagram fitness models.

Michelle Lewin @michelle_lewin

Michelle Lewin has been on the Instagram fitness scene for a decent amount of time. She was born in Venezuela, and has been featured on Playboy covers. Her career started with catwalk modeling but quickly moved to bikini modeling when she gained more than 20 pounds of lean muscle  by working out and eating a balanced diet. She shares pictures and videos of her workouts on both Instagram and YouTube to inspire others to lose weight and be as healthy as they can.

Jen Selter @jenselter

Most of us have heard the name Jen Selter, however, many of us didn’t realize how influential she is. Jen Selter is a popular Instagram model who focuses her account on fitness and health. Her love for fitness started when she was 15, and has since built up a substantial social media following on Facebook, Twitter, and of course, Instagram.She has appeared in television shows, and sold both books and videos showcasing her various workout routines.

Ulisses Jr. @ulissesworld

As a child, Ulisses took an interest in fitness and bodybuilding, as well as sports. However, he was one of the smallest in his weight class. He made up for it by rigorous training at the gym, where he bulked up by using a combination of intense workouts and great nutrition. At 19, he began to compete in bodybuilding competitions and in 2013, switched gears to become a fitness coach and put his knowledge and physique to good use.

Lazar Angelov @Lazar_Angelov_Official

A notable online fitness trainer, Lazar Angelov is one of the most highly sought after trainers on Instagram. He inspires his followers with inspirational photos, quotes, and and pictures of his clients beautifully sculpted, strong bodies. He has created his own diet plan and has written a successful novel related to fitness.

Eva Andressa @eva_andressa

Considering herself to be too skinny in her teens, Eva Andressa started her fitness career by signing up at a local gym. However, she left due to not having fitness guidance. Upon meeting her future husband, she returned to fitness and began to enter competitions. After years of successful competitions, she switched paths to focus on being a fitness model. She has appeared on television and in magazines.

If anyone can inspire today’s sweet-food loving society, it’s fitness models. And with Instagram being such a popular media outlet for a range of generations, it’s the best place to be inspired. What do you think? Who is the most inspiring model on this list? Who should have been included?

What Actually Happens to The Body When You Skip Post Workout Stretching

Everyone knows that it’s important to stretch before an intense workout. Stretching before hand helps to prevent your muscles from being pulled and damaged, and increases your range of motion. But did you know that stretching after a workout is just as important? Some unpleasant things happen to your body when you skip post-workout stretching, and here are a few of them.

Muscle contractions.

When you don’t stretch after a workout, your muscles will begin to contract. Sometimes, the pain in your knees and joints can be the result of these muscle contractions. The pain can be lessened and sometimes even avoided altogether, by a few minutes of gentle, post-workout stretching.

Buildup of lactic acid.

Lactic acid is the worst thing that can happen to many avid gym goers. The buildup of lactic acid can be recognized by the painful burning sensation that it causes within the muscles. Excessive lactic acid can be flushed out of the body more quickly by stretching, and without it, the buildup and burning sensation can last a lot longer and are often more intense and bothersome.

Muscles can become imbalanced.

Contracted muscles will stay in their shortened state if they are not sufficiently stretched out after a workout. Certain common movements will lengthen muscles, whereas others will shorten them, and without adequate stretching the muscles can become imbalanced. That is, some will be longer and some will be shorter after a workout, creating an imbalance that puts strain on your joints and decreases your overall range of motion. Imbalanced muscles can also cause pain and discomfort.

Muscle spasms.

If you’ve never had the pleasure of a back spasm, consider yourself lucky. The lower back muscles can start to spasm after a long run or other full-body workout if they aren’t stretched out. Not all runners experience this, but many do. It can be avoided by a few minutes of cool down stretching. Muscle spasms can also be handled with a combination of stretching and over the counter medications that are specifically designed for muscle spasms and soreness.

Increased risk of muscle damage.

The risk of post-workout muscle damage is increased when stretching is neglected. This is because, as mentioned above, your muscles will become stiff and contract, and then be hard to stretch back out. Trying to stretch stiff muscles can cause pain and can even cause the stiff muscle to tear, rendering the muscle useless and requiring time to heal.

Stretching after a workout, regardless of its intensity or length, is never a bad idea. It prevents muscle contractions, releases lactic acid, prevents the muscles from becoming unbalanced, helps you to avoid muscle spasms, and works to protect you against muscle damage. In addition, post-workout stretching also helps to calm you down and improves your mood, as it allows you to connect with your body and focus on any aches and pains that may need to be addressed.

How to Pack A Travel First Aid Kit

Traveling is supposed to be fun- but what happens when an emergency strikes? If you find yourself sick, injured, or otherwise in health-related trouble and you’re far away from a medical facility, a travel first aid kit can be a life saver. So, how do you pack a good travel first aid kit? Here are a few pointers.

 

Tips

  1. Your first aid kit can contain more than just medical supplies. In fact, it’s a good idea to include copies of relevant prescriptions and updated medical records.
  2. Use a waterproof bag or container to contain your first aid supplies. If you’re in a moisture-ridden climate or caught in a downpour and your first aid kit gets wet, supplies can get ruined, rendering them useless when you need them.
  3. Keep products in their original packaging. This means that bandages, sterile wipes, and any type of coverings such as gauze should be kept in their original box or a sealed zip-lock bag that keeps them away from dirt and germs.

What to Pack

Packing your first aid kit is important. If you pack it the right way, you can be prepared for nearly any non-life threatening situation (and maybe a few life threatening ones, as well!). Here are a few supplies that should always be included.

Bandages

Perhaps the most well-known first aid supply, bandages are essential to packing any kind of travel first aid kit. The most common injury that requires a bandage is a cut or scrape so it’s always a good idea to pack a variety of sizes of bandages. You can also include specialized bandages that are designed for blisters, as well as bandages that are shaped to fit different body parts in case of an unexpected injury.

Gauze

Gauze should always be included. It can be used to apply pressure to a deep wound, clean an injury, soak up blood, stop bleeding, and make up part of a basic wound dressing. The best kind of gauze to carry is individually wrapped gauze squares, however, a roll of gauze will do if you can’t find the individual squares.

Scissors and tweezers

Both scissors and tweezers can come in handy in a variety of situations. The scissors can be used to cut bandages and gauze, while the tweezers are great for sliver removal.

Over the counter medication

Medications that cater to acid reflux, stomach upset, headaches and general pain, and colds/flus are a great addition to first aid kits, as they are all incredibly useful and can be used to treat sudden unpleasant symptoms. Antihistamines like Benadryl can also be included, as well as rehydration tablets. Topical ointments such as Polysporin and aloe-vera are never a bad idea, either.

Sewing kit

Sewing kits are a good idea, too. Small sewing kits that include thread and a variety of needles are ideal. Your travel-sized sewing kit doesn’t have to be fancy, as long as it can be used to do basic clothing repairs.

When packing your first aid-kit, keep the above tips in mind and be sure not to cut corners when it comes to supplies. Being over prepared is better than underprepared.

Working traveling: office? It is not necessary

How many would like to visit new jobs for jobs all over the world! Working traveling is possible, and there are many occupations that allow it. And without paying even the expenses that you normally face on a holiday. It’s much better than being in an office , where unfortunately a trip can only be done with imagination!

For example, a professional photographer. Whether for a newspaper or for his shop, the photojournalist is sent wherever there is a fact to be immortalized, which is a rare example of a lion in Kenya or a war zone, where however there is a high risk for his own safety . Along the same lines also the profession of journalist, like some of the main Italian newscasts, who live in big cities, like Paris or Berlin, even for many weeks.

But there are also jobs that allow you to travel abroad without risking your life, like the two professions mentioned above. The most common figure is that of the hostess or steward . The crew of a plane, generally consisting of five to eight people, flies over the skies around the world and between one flight and another also have the opportunity to visit the country of arrival, in addition to having a luxurious hotel room paid by the airline. The same thing for the drivers, of course.

Even knowing languages well is a quality to be exploited: now all companies that have relationships with foreign countries are looking for people who know at least two languages, so that they can be sent to other countries for different jobs, as simple diplomacy or to conclude important international business. And so, a trip to work can also lead a pleasant stay in four-star hotel in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. In the world of languages, even becoming a tour guide allows you to travel, perhaps relying on companies that promote these occupations. In addition to traveling, you can enter the major museums without paying the ticket price.

Finally, technology and the web also help to work while traveling. Opening a blog where you tell your experiences around the world is a great way to get known. There are many sites that have become known in this way, and as you become famous and acquire an audience, the ticket of the plane or ship and the payment of hotels will no longer be a problem, indeed; the hoteliers themselves will pay for the trip, in exchange for a positive review that encourages customers to stay in that particular hotel rather than in others.

Earn money by traveling, but without a PC: here’s how

You have an unbridled passion for travel and would you like to know how to make some money during the holidays? We will tell you how to do it. And no, a computer is not needed.

Because, although becoming a travel blogger for free travel in luxurious resorts is a bit ‘everyone’s dream, it is certainly not a simple goal to achieve: serving consistency and, above all, need talent. It is not enough to have a certain number of followers on their social profiles, to earn money with their travels. In the best case, you get free flights or accommodation: but how do you get it, the current account?

To earn travel there are several ways. First of all, there is the Working Holiday Visa , a visa – very popular especially in Australia– which lasts one year and which allows you to enter the country legally to work . Other countries that provide for it are Canada, New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and many European countries. Having a visa that allows you to find a job in the country where you travel is definitely the easiest way to earn, but what are the alternatives?

If you like to meet new people, you can propose yourself as a worker for hostels : most of the facilities do not pay, but allow you to stay for free (and tips are on the agenda). Or, you can take advantage of your sporting skills: if you have a license to teach divers , you can do it anywhere in the world there is a beautiful coral reef. On the other hand, if you are particularly talented in dance, yoga or any sport, propose to teach it as a freelancer in the gym or on the beach , making sure that in the country where you are not required a visa for this type of work.

If you are not older than 30, you could also propose as a girl (or boy) au pair : not only is it a way to earn a little, this, but it is also the best choice to live fully the culture of a country, living as a member of the host family. On the other hand, if you are a bit older, you can think of proposing yourself as a guide for a tour operator (if, for example, you know a destination like your pockets) or you can apply to work on board a yacht: there are people who work 6 months a year to travel the remaining 6, and the semester is equally sensational for them. Because if working on board a yacht can also involve a bit ‘heavy duties, it happens that the beautiful ship is anchored for weeks on a beach paradise, and it will be a bit’ like feeling on vacation.

Finally, you can propose to teach English (if you are not a native English speaker, just having passed the TEFL) a “profession” much in demand especially in Asia and South America: TEFL Certificateallows you to work as a teacher anywhere, make very good use! If, on the other hand, foreign languages ​​are not your forte and your destination is at a high rate of parties, ask yourself to sell tickets for disco nights, concerts, musicals. 

In short, there are so many methods to collect some money while traveling!