Monthly Archives: December 2014

Decrease Your Stress by the Fire

Revolutionmother.com knows that stress comes with the territory when you’re the mother of a young child. Before the stress of running a household and keeping the children fed and clean you should try to take some time to yourself in some capacity. Curling up by a fireplace with some tea and nice book can melt away the stress of the day in just a few minutes if you give yourself the necessary time to relax. There are even reports that adding a fire to your routine can help stave off those winter blues.

While this stress relieving tonic sounds great, it isn’t feasible for every mother since not everyone has the luxury of a fireplace in their home. Thanks to modern engineering and science you can turn your home into a stress-busting dream home with a bioethanol fireplace. This is a revolutionary fireplace that requires nothing other than the proper fuel and a lighter. To find one of these gems, visit imaginfires.co.uk for bioethanol fires as it is a great place to start.

The Facts Behind the Fireplace

While bioethanol fireplaces aren’t exactly new, there are still questions about how they work and what they can and can’t do. Bioethanol fireplaces are stand-alone fireplaces that run purely on bioethanol fuel. The fuel burns clean and leaves no residue, like ash, behind. The fireplaces don’t produce smoke, either, making them permissible in areas that may be considered smoke controlled zones. There are also no harmful fumes emitted from the fireplace, so you don’t have to worry about harming your children’s health while you relax after a long day of cooking and cleaning.

The bioethanol fireplaces don’t require any additional construction or home modifications. The freestanding options can be placed anywhere in your home and are easily moved when desired. They come in a range of stylish designs that are sure to fit your personal style and existing home décor. All you have to do after purchasing a bioethanol fireplace is simply set it up where you like, add the proper fuel, and light the fuel with a normal lighter. There is no installation necessary and most fireplaces come fully assembled. If you’re short on space and would like to keep whatever floor area you have clear there are also wall mounted fireplaces available. These fireplaces mount to any wall and take less than an hour to mount properly.

These fireplaces don’t have any electrical or gas-powered components, either. This saves you money, too, since you won’t be adding to your utility bills in any fashion. All you need it the bioethanol fireplace, the recommended bioethanol fuel, and something to light the fuel.

Since there are no harmful fumes, smoke, or particles left behind by the bioethanol fireplaces there is no need for a chimney or any vents or flues. This means that you don’t have to modify your home in any way. The fireplaces are also safe as long as the normal precautions regarding flames and heat are taken and the product is used as the manufacturer advises. To add to the safety there is also an adjustable flame on the fireplaces. You can adjust the flame size as well as the heat output for your fireplace so you create the perfect setting for your needs. If you live in the Liverpool area have a look at www.chimneysweepliverpool.co.uk

If you’re ready to get cosy by the fire and are interested in getting a bioethanol fireplace for your home, you will be pleasantly surprised by the diversity of options in the online shops you search. There really are lots of styles.

5 Tips to Help Parents Manage Their Kids’ Phone Use

Phone use has accumulated a very bad reputation among kids. Many parents feel that their children spend too much time on their phones, and that the time their kids spend on their phones not in the least bit productive. Most parents would agree that phone use is an issue in their kids’ lives. A phone can be a very valuable piece of equipment in a child’s life, or a very serious distraction. It is the parents’ job to make sure that a phone is used only as a tool to improve their child’s life.

Setting boundaries with children and phones can be extremely difficult for a parent. Most children have their mobile phone with them at all times, and some kids will even protect their accounts with passwords that even their parents would not know. Parents should not only know how their children are spending their time on their phone, but they should also help their children use their phones in a safe and productive way. Here are five tips to help parents manage their kids’ phone use.

Do the children need their own phone line?

Many parents see other parents buying their young children their own phone, so they think that they need to do the same. Parents should judge to see if their children are really ready for their own phone yet. Most parents think that a child is not ready for a phone of their own until high school, but parents can judge their children’s own responsibility and maturity levels to decide.

Help children understand basic phone safety

Phone safety is extremely important to go over with any child. Parents need to make sure that their children understand what practices are OK on a phone and what practices could get them into trouble.

Establish ‘no phone’ times

Many children who have their own phone will have that phone with them whenever they possibly can. Parents should set up times that their children are not allowed to have their phones in order to give everyone a break from technology, like dinner time. Parents can better control this with https://www.vonagedeals.com/.

Use the phone as a tool when kids leave the house

Mobile phones can be very useful for parents when their children leave the house. Parents can use their children’s phone to know where they are at all times and make sure that they are safe. This is a great way for parents to feel safe letting their children go out on their own for the first time.

When necessary, just say no

Sometimes, parents just need to set boundaries with their children. Saying no to phone use is something that no child will like hearing, but in some situations, it is the only solution. If a parent notices their child is spending too much time on their phone, the parent might just need to cut the cord for a while in order to teach the child appropriate phone use.

Image: http://pixabay.com/en/friends-girls-cell-phone-selfie-409403/

Dream Home – How a Remodel Can Increase Your Home’s Value

Turning your house into your dream home adds value to your home, not just monetary value into the property. Some projects add more than others, if done the right way. Remodelling projects that add value are the ones that make the home more usable, cleaner, and more sell-able to your home market buyers. Enhance the liveability of your home in the following seven areas with tips from Miketaylorbespokekitchens.co.uk.

Bathrooms

Most bathrooms are overlooked and dated. The biggest issue with older bathrooms is leaking in the tub and toilet areas, which can lead to rotting structures. Further, most older homes have just one bathroom. Upgrading the bathroom gets to the root of plumbing problems, adds more sell-ability to the home, and adds a bit of wow too. Upgraded bathrooms add nearly as much value to a home’s interior as upgraded kitchens. Remodelling and adding a bathroom can add as much as 70% to a home’s value.

Kitchens

The most used room in the home is the kitchen and for this reason it is often considered the heart of the home. In our grandparents’ era the kitchen held the heart, which provided warmth and food. Replacing broken cabinets, sinks, and counters can have a huge impact on the home’s value and newer appliances win out when or if you decide to put your home up for sale. Even if you are not thinking about putting your home up for sale, simply remodelling the kitchen can improve its usability and appeal for gathering family into a clean, warm, and inviting space.

Exterior and Interior – Siding and Painting

Whether you just paint the exterior or decide to replace or add siding, your home’s exterior works wonders for curb appeal. Add another 80% to your home’s value for a fresh exterior by replacing old tired windows, doors, trim, or siding. Retain as much as 85% of the investment if you do sell.

On the interior, painting the walls in fresh hues, replacing wainscoting, mop boards, and chair bumpers can vastly improve how new your home feels on the inside. A fresh coat of paint, along with new light fixtures and switch and plug covers can turn an old dated home into a fresh and modern home. Painting the inside is just one of the 7 projects that add value to your home.

Flooring

Old worn carpeting and floors makes selling a home much harder. Further, old carpets hold on to dust, allergens, chemicals, and everything that has come through that house since its installation. Whether or not you decide to do it to reduce the chances of buyers talking you down in price, or simply to reduce allergies and improve indoor air quality, enhance the attractiveness and comfort of your home by replacing old flooring and carpets and upgrading any wood floors.

Landscaping

Not only does landscaping add a huge value to your home, it can improve your home’s foundation, outside noise filtration, and indoor air quality. By adding evergreen shrubs, landscape rock or bark, and adding in plants that improve air quality, you can improve the inside of your home by improving the outside. Making sure your yard has proper drainage during a landscaping project, as this can prevent dangerous and costly foundation problems later and is a must for older homes just as much as newer homes. Further, landscaping improves your home’s curb appeal, which is great whether you are selling or not.

If you are interested in adding value and liveability to your home, consider at least a few improvements into painting, flooring, and lighting. Address your homes older features, such as plumbing and appliances. Doing so can enhance the current liveability of your home and a pleasant home is a happier home.

Four Reasons Why Moving Home Is Not Always the Best Option for an Expanding Family

As a family grows the temptation for most is to move home to accommodate the new family members, but this is not always the best approach. It seems that all of your friends and family’s advice centres around the need for extra space to cope with a new child, but is this the best advice to take? It is wise to weigh up the pros and cons of moving home before making any final decision, especially as moving home is the biggest expense most people will ever face. Before reaching that final decision, here are a few reasons that I do not believe a move is always necessary.

Property Cost

With the arrival of a new family member, your finances will already need to stretch a little further, and adding the cost of a larger mortgage to your finances could put you in a precarious position. A larger house will usually mean larger bills too, as you need to regulate the temperature of a larger house as well as maintain it and pay tax on it. Is this really the best time to be increasing your outgoings?

Floor Space

The reason to change your home is usually related to increasing floor space, but how much extra do you really need? Will an extra child really mean that you need a bigger lounge area or kitchen? The reality is that all that is usually required is an extra bedroom, and you can easily achieve that without moving home. Lofts and basements have long been used to create extra bedrooms, but creating a new room in your garden (click here for some great examples) is a possibility that many people ignore but is often the perfect choice.

Relocating

The stress of moving should be enough to change anybody’s mind about moving, so think carefully before deciding on your move. The logistics of moving all your belongings is hard enough, but the added worries of breakages and insurance claims can magnify the problem exponentially. If you are moving any distance, keeping the kids entertained on the journey, though possible, can be a nightmare; as can settling bills and closing down utility services be while setting them up at your new property. Moving is not for the faint hearted, and should, in my opinion, be the last choice.

Schools and Work

If you already have children, and they are in school, you have to consider the effect of moving on them too. You could be moving them to an area that means they need to start at a new school, and will have to leave their old friends and make new ones. For teenagers, this can be particularly troublesome; but will affect any child that has to relocate. Your new home could also cause problems relating to work, and whether it causes longer hours traveling, or difficulties while commuting, it is a problem that could be averted by simply not moving.

Perhaps your family really has outgrown your home; and if that is true, a move may be the most sensible option. However, moving home is seldom vital when a family expands, so consider these points before you commit to a new property.

When Should You Move Your Toddler Out of Their Crib?

One question parents tend to begin to ask around the 18 months mark, is when is the right time to transfer a child from a crib to a child’s bed. As with just about everything else about children, there is unfortunately, no ‘one size fits all’ answer to this, but there are some ways to assess whether it is time with your own child. Some children don’t move from sleeping in a crib until they are nearly four years old, so there is no rush to do this, but usually by this time kids are either too active at night or too big for this to be the best sleeping solution. Here, we look at some of the considerations when it comes to migrating your toddler out of their crib.

Do They Seem Ready?

A child who is constantly trying to escape from their crib may be telling you something – they are ready for something a bit more grown up. Equally, kids with older siblings tend to want to make the move earlier so they can be more like their brothers and sisters, rather than feeling like ‘the baby’. On the other hand, if your child really loves their crib and sleeps very well in it, then there is no reason to move them before they are ready – some children, particularly only children who don’t have a frame of reference about what older kids do – are fine in the crib until they naturally outgrow it.

Is There a Necessity?

If you are expecting another baby, you may feel it is necessary for your toddler to graduate to a big kid bed before the arrival, so the crib can be free for a new occupant. This can often make sense, but make the transition to the new bed either a few weeks before or a few weeks after the new sibling is born, rather than at the same time (the new baby will most likely sleep in a basinette until then anyway). A new baby can feel like a threat to your toddler, and feeling like their bed is being taken away from them to accommodate them can make this harder. Additionally, as you make the transition your toddler may have a few sleepless nights, and you don’t want to deal with that at the same time as a newborn!

Making the New Bed Appealing

Make sure the new bed is attractive and comfy, so your child will see it as a better alternative than their crib. With older toddlers, you can even let them help choose the bedlinen – Threel.co.uk have a great selection for children that you can choose and order online. Show them that their favourite toy loves the new bed and wants to sleep there too, or even add a new cuddly friend in there that they can only play with if they get in the bed!

Moving a toddler into their new bed can either be an exciting time for them, or one they resist, but eventually, all kids grow to love their soft, comfy beds (just like adults!).

Why you should use steel kitchen cabinets in your home

Steel kitchen cabinets are a great idea if you are interested in transforming your kitchen to a modern masterpiece. It is not a surprise therefore, that home owners looking for how to transform their home into their dream home are increasingly going for this look. Why have steel cabinets and stainless steel become one of today’s kitchen design trends?

Durability

“Unlike wooden cabinets, your steel cabinets will never crack, warp or get defaced by mildew or mould” says Gary, expert at Cannonsteelsltd.co.uk. “The industrial look that is common with well-crafted steel kitchen cabinets can fit in with any modern-styled kitchen.” Gary’s company distributes trade steel for fabrication and industry. However, the steel used in kitchens has many of the same properties as that which is used for heavy duty projects. It is certainly true that steel is one of the most durable materials that you could use in your kitchen.

Compatibility

Another great reason why you should embrace steel kitchen cabinets is that they can easily combine with just about any material to create a beautifully finished kitchen. When combined with lightly stained wood for instance, the end product is a kitchen that is bold, bright and full of life. Steel cabinets can also fit in nicely with a variety of wall and floor finishes, so you can be sure that they won’t look out of place. The monochrome appearance of the steel cabinet will particularly enhance the personality of the kitchen when combined with red, green or blue walls and floors.

Combination with glass panels

Glass panels offer an attractive balance for steel edges so you can easily use leaded, opaque, patterned or clear glass in the design of the steel cabinet doors. This style will help you keep track of what is stored in the cabinets, and makes the kitchen feel open and full of character.

Cleaning your steel cabinet

One of the main reasons why steel cabinets, perhaps haven’t taken on as much as they could have in the past is because people have been unsure how to clean them.

To make cleaning your steel cabinets straightforward, you need to care for it regularly by actively trying to prevent scuffs and marks. You can prevent these by:

Cleaning any spills as soon they occur (helps avoid permanent marks)
Rinsing surfaces with water after using chemicals on them
Always keeping the cabinets dry

Fortunately, there is no need to use overly strong chemicals to clean your steel cabinet. In fact, cleaning steel kitchen cabinets with abrasive agents of bleach may deface them. To maintain the finish of your cabinet, all you need is a little bit of elbow grease.

Whether you are looking to clean-off light marks, or just doing general cleaning, treat the steel cabinet with some hot water and a cloth or sponge. You can add some washing liquid to the mix, depending on what type of stains you are dealing with.

If you notice your steel cabinet is losing its shine, you can restore its appearance and rebuild its protective surface by polishing it. Here are a few tips to help you achieve this:

Get some steel polish
Use natural cleaning agents. This can be applied after using your chosen steel polish and rinsing it. Utilise natural cleaning agents like vinegar or lemon juice on a cleaning towel and wipe over the surface. You can also pour a concentrated solution into an empty spray bottle and apply that way.
Use olive oil. Simply put a decent amount of oil onto a dry cloth and rub it all over the cabinet. Wait for a few minutes and wipe the oil off with a paper towel. You can also use baby oil for this purpose.

Steel cabinets look set to be a major trend in 2015, so should be on your shortlist to consider.

The Real Deal: 6 Ways to Cut Costs on Coffee K-Cups

Those new single-serve coffee makers are very convenient, but they are not exactly cheap. If you buy your coffee pods in a retail store, you could find yourself spending just as much, or even more, for each cup of coffee as you would at the local coffee shop. Since one of the best things about brewing coffee at home is the money you can save, it makes sense to look for more economical options if you own a single-serve coffee maker.

With a bit of creativity and know-how, you can enjoy your favorite brews at home — one cup at a time — and still save money. From buying your coffee pods in bulk and using discount coupons to checking out different brands and signing up for a subscription service, there are plenty of ways to cut the cost of your morning coffee without sacrificing great taste.

Before you go shopping for more affordable coffee pods and single-serve packs, it is important to first determine how much you are currently paying. Many owners of single-serve coffee makers underestimate just how much they are spending, and that can be a costly mistake. The next time you head to the grocery store, take note of how much the coffee pods you use are costing you. Once you know how much you are currently spending. The following six tips can help you get started.

#1 – Warehouse Clubs

Saving money on coffee pods and other single-serve items might not be as hard as you think. If you belong to a warehouse club, you may be able to save money simply by buying in bulk and storing the extras in your pantry. Many warehouse clubs sell large packs of coffee pods for much less than the grocery store.

#2 – Try a New Brand

Switching brands and trying new flavors can also save you big money on the coffee pods you need. When a new flavor is introduced, the manufacturer often runs a special sale or offers it for a special price. You can find some great flavors to make your morning extra special.

#3 – Subscription Services

Signing up for a subscription service is another excellent way to save money on coffee pods for your single-serve coffee maker. Both online and offline retailers offer subscription services, and they make restocking your supply fast and easy. Just sign up for the service here, pick the coffee pods you want and wait for them to arrive.

#4 – Couponing

If you love to coupon, you can save even more when you stock up on coffee pods. Clipping coupons from the newspaper and printing coupons online are both great ways to save some serious money. You can combine your coupons with the savings at the local warehouse club, or use them in combination with the subscription services you signed up for earlier. No matter how you shop, a few coupons can save you a lot of money and let you enjoy your morning coffee for less.

#5 – Money-Saving Codes

Online codes can save you a lot of money if you buy your coffee pods online. A simple search should reveal plenty of money-saving codes for the retailers where you buy your single-serve coffee products.

#6 – Get a Reusable Filter

A reusable filter can make using your single-serve coffee maker a lot more economical and better for the environment. You may give up a bit of convenience, but the money you save will make it worthwhile.

Deborah Hunter is an avid cook who loves a great cup of coffee. An avid blogger, she enjoys sharing her passion for all things food and drink. Look for her interesting and informative posts on a variety of websites and blogs.

5 Surprising Reasons You Might Be Struggling To Conceive

If you are struggling to get pregnant then you should not automatically assume that you are infertile. There are many factors that contribute to successful conception, and fertility is not as straightforward as you might imagine. Many factors of fertility have been identified, and it is worth understanding what could improve your chances, and what can diminish them. Here are 5 surprising reasons why you might be struggling to conceive:

1. Blood Type

A recent study at Yale University suggested that women with blood type O may be more likely to display a hormone profile that effectively caused their ovaries to act older than their age, keeping a lower egg reserve. In the study female fertility patients with O type blood were twice as likely to have this problem.

There is nothing you can do about your blood type, and therefore there is nothing to worry about. Forty-percent of people have O type blood, and it is not an indicator of infertility. It could, however, be useful to know that it may take you longer to conceive. Changes to your health and lifestyle will help.

2. Too Much Stress

Stress is widely known to effect health in many ways, and recent research has suggested that it could be damaging for your chances of pregnancy. Researchers studied 510 couples with no known medial problems, and found that women with high levels of the hormone alpha-amylase, which is linked to stress, were twice as unlikely to conceive within a year.

Stress, unlike blood type, is something that you do have control over. You should try to reduce your level of stress by taking plenty of relaxation time. Try activities such as Yoga to calm down your body and mind. Also, do not add stress to conception; enjoy the sexy time without adding too much pressure.

3. Sperm DNA Damage

Initial fertility tests for men look at sperm concentration, count, volume, mortality, and morphology, but not for DNA damage. In a recent study researchers found that sperm DNA damage accounted for 80 percent of cases of idiopathic fertility, an alarmingly high rate which suggests that men could have problems conceiving even after they are tested positively fertile.

There are sperm DNA tests available, such as the comet assay. These tests are young and experimental, but if you have your doubts then it is worth finding out.

4. Nasty Chemical Pollutants

Certain chemical could have a huge effect on your fertility, and you could be absorbing a lot more than you think even if you live a relatively healthy and natural lifestyle. Take the plastic softening estrogen mimicking chemical BPA, which can be found in water bottles, cans, and unfortunately your sex toys. Levels fluctuate throughout the day with exposure, and your body does a pretty god job of flushing BPA, but high levels have been shown massively reduce fertility. Women with high levels produced less eggs, and the eggs were less likely to be fertile.

Other chemicals to avoid include the hormone altering chemical PCB, which is found nearly everywhere, but is particularly concentrated in animal fat. You should cut off fat when cooking, and avoid consuming a lot of animal products in general.

5. Health

Okay so this is the least surprising reason you might be struggling to conceive, but it could not go unmentioned. Health drastically effects fertility, and so while trying to conceive you should pay even more attention to your well-being, and your partner’s. A healthy diet will assist you during pregnancy, but will also help you to conceive, so make sure you take in plenty of vitamins and nutrients. Exercise improves fertility, while negative health behaviors like smoking and drinking drastically lower your chances. Live healthily and your chances of conception improve dramatically.

If you are still struggling to conceive, and have controlled all of the factors that can be controlled, then it doesn’t not mean you cannot get pregnant, or have a child. Jenny, in vitro fertilization expert at IVI Fertility, explains that there is a great source of information on their website. She also says that “95% of couples conceive within the first 2 years of trying. 30% of couples take more than 6 months. If you are struggling, and at the end of your tether as a couple, then maybe it’s time to try and find out what is wrong, and whether a little help may be the way forward.”

Who is Really Conducting a War on Women?

Accusing an individual, group, or political party of conducting a war against women is extremely inflammatory. If such a claim is to be made, it’s important that a full understanding of what is meant by it be carefully examined – particularly if there is any truth to the assertion.

The Allegation Appeared During the 2012 Campaign

Image via Flickr by steevithak

The accusation that there was a war on women by the Republicans was first leveled during the 2012 presidential election. The Democrat’s allegation consisted of two components: Republican’s opposition to abortion on demand for convenience, and mandatory tax-payer funded birth control. Their disapproval of the Republican position led to what most considered over-the-top rhetoric.

Weakness of the Argument

The right of women to kill the unborn should include the point that at least half of those unborn children are female. Couldn’t preventing this atrocity be considered an attempt to stop an actual war on women, since real war results in the taking of life? It’s difficult to see how denying women the “right” to destroy the body of another is an attack on them.

The notion that not paying for another’s birth control is somehow an attack upon a woman, defies reason. Republican’s never attempted to make birth control inaccessible – they merely opposed paying for it.

What an Actual War on Women Looks Like

Aside from taking a woman’s life, there are real forms of outright aggression against women which could be seen as a form of “warfare.”

For example, attempting to prevent women from being educated, pursing an online MBA degree, or forcing them to dress according to a code. But the worst example would be those who sexually prey on women. They would truly be at war against the freedoms and security of womanhood. And those who protect aggressors are in an unholy alliance with such female adversaries.

Accurate Account of a War Against Women

During his time as Governor of Arkansas, and while president of the United States, Bill Clinton was repeatedly accused of exactly the despicable behavior described above. He used his position of power to force sexual encounters with multiple women, and using this same power went on to persecute, slander, intimidate, and where possible, silence these women.

Dolly Kyle, Elizabeth Gracen, Juanita Broaddrick, Kathleen Willey, Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones, and finally, Monica Lewinsky all claimed to be victims of Bill Clinton’s sexual predation. In the case of Monica Lewinsky, physical evidence proved the accusation, as did the president’s own confession, (given after he perjured himself). In fact, his behavior led to his eventual impeachment.

Future Presidential Candidate’s War Against Women

Instead of denouncing her husband for his reprehensible conduct, Hillary Clinton helped lead the attempt to malign these women and protect her husband’s reputation.

She helped persecute and discredit them when she appeared on national television calling them liars for falsely accusing her husband. And finally blaming the whole thing on a “vast right-wing conspiracy.” Her defense of his actions only served to implicate her in the only real “war on women” ever conducted by a political party.

A war against any group is incendiary rhetoric. It shouldn’t be used unless the accuser has substantial evidence to support it.

Revolution Mother