It never fails but as soon as I wrote all my Weight Loss, Weight Gain, Fitness and Nutrition type of tips I had a few left over that couldn’t really be placed into these categories.But as you will see they are right on the money for your general health and fitness and can be used in your everyday activities.Lets take a peek:What Is A Healthy Diet – A healthy diet satisfies two criteria: It contains enough fibre and a number of micronutrients including vitamins and minerals to maintain a healthy body. It is balanced in forms of fat, protein, and carbohydrates and micronutrients.Don’t Train With The Flu – This is one of the biggest exercise blunders you can make A number of temperature raising viruses, including the flu can affect the muscles.People often forget that the heart is also a muscle and can be weakened by the flu virus. Normally our hearts can cope with the strain of this, but exercising on top of an already weakened heart is potentially fatal. After a bout of the flu, you should wait at least 48 hours before exercising again.Cool Down – When you do a strenuous workout the blood vessels in your muscles dilate to deliver more blood for the muscles to operate. The skin vessels also dilate to increase the heat loss from your body, which is why you get flushed after exercise.If you don’t give your blood and skin vessels enough time to recover, and jump straight under hot water your skin vessels will dilate even further. Then your heart goes into overdrive trying to pump blood throughout the body.Ultimately you might notice symptoms like faintness, dizziness or at worst, you could even collapse.Don’t Eat Before Exercising – Always try to eat two or three hours before your exercise and not after that. If you do eat before exercise you can develop what is known as “dumping syndrome’ where the blood supply that normally goes to your muscles during exercise is diverted to your gut.This means that you’re not getting enough blood to your muscles, which can cause you to become lethargic and faint.Try to Give Up Smoking – the best and easiest way to give up smoking is to replace it with another habit. Unfortunately, quitting has been associated with weight gain if you replace your cigarette habit with a candy or snack food habit.So replace the smoking with the habit of exercise!! Nothing tough or painful at first and build up to it. A five minute walk instead of a cigarette and aim to build it up slowly and easily.Before, you will be fitter, you will be healthier and your body will be more you realize tight and toned.You will feel better in the morning, your breath will be worth being near again and fingernails, hair and skin will take on a much younger fresher look!! Of the people who die from lung cancer, 95% of them smoke.Protein Power – Carbohydrates supply the sort of calories easily burned during cardiovascular exercise, but protein plays an important part in building muscle mass – or rather in not storing food as fat. “This is largely because the bulk of protein that is eaten will be used to build muscle”.Further the average male will lose 500gms of muscle – not fat – every year once he stops regular exercise. While older men and women are usually touted as the beneficiaries of strength training so to are the young.Planned Exercise – I suggest you start with 100 minutes per week of mildly puffing exercise be it 2×50 mins, 3×35 mins, 4×25 mins, 5×20 mins all of which produce the same results.Mix up your aerobic activities in the gym; use the treadmill, bike, climber or any other training gear available to you.Keep A Training Log – Keep a training log for all your fitness requirements, keeping account of the reps you are using, how many sets, what weights you are using and also the date, time and where the workout took place is imperative for gauging your day to day progress.Also recording all cardio- vascular activities is just as important.In conclusion, these general health and fitness might have been left to last but the are still right up there as far as your health and fitness is concerned.
Trend towards Property Investment
Property investment in South Africa is simple as well as secure and can offer tremendous profits in respect to other forms of investment which often prove to be unstable and unrewarding. One of the many incentives that may sway an individual towards property investment is the well acknowledged fact that typically, every seven years, the value of a property doubles.A great deal of investors realise that even though the stock market presents opportunities for large proceedings, it does not alleviate the hitches of its erratic and risky traits. Many investors are now becoming more inclined to choose property investment over other forms of investment as it’s proving to be a somewhat more stable option, offering far more rewards.South African Property InvestmentAside from the extraordinary lifestyle and climate South Africa has to offer, there are an abundance of advantages from which property investors can benefit.Investors will find opportunities for lucrative investment in numerous areas in South Africa. Commercial projects and present regeneration projects in places such as Muizenberg in the Western Cape are offering exceptional returns; investors from various countries are being drawn towards similar projects due to the tax breaks available.Experienced investors are reaping the benefits of the real estate market in South Africa at present, with many potential opportunities in buy-to-let, pure investment and land options.For Foreign InvestorsOn the African continent, South Africa has one of the strongest economies. Aside from this, today’s overseas investors realise that South Africa is a spectacular country with regard to standard of living and ambience alike.In the past few years commercial property has enjoyed considerable growth and this seems to be a trend set to carry on with government motivation now in place. Arrays of opportunities present themselves for profitable returns from South African property, especially in particular areas.The government is dedicated to creating a strong tourism industry in South Africa. This has become an increasingly important revenue sector and also forms a part of the government’s job-creation strategy. The country is popular with foreign visitors because of its favourable climate and amazing natural scenery.Another perk of property investment in South Africa is that there is a shortage of property due to its political past; ultimately this factor has generated long-term growth prospects in the property market. There is also a relatively stable democracy and all kinds of investment are encouraged, with foreigners being prompted to invest in South African property as there are no restrictions on ownership.The economy is growing and consequently focus is now on initialising a strong middle class economy, thus increasing demand for homes. Considerable taxation breaks are put forward for real estate developers and with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, demand for rental properties is also on the rise.The housing property market is displaying a stable growth and in metropolitan areas and the commercial property market is out shining many markets in Western countries.Proven Perks of Property InvestmentThere is no other investment which permits an individual to make a purchase using other people’s money, this being the bank’s, and then pay the money back using the money of other people, this being the rental income from tenants.When you buy property exclusively for investment purposes, any form of sentiment is eradicated from the purchase and the property can be seen strictly as an investment. If you own property, equity can be released against it as even though there is no guarantee your property’s value will increase annually; it is widely acknowledged that property in a satisfactory area, that is well maintained, will certainly increase in value.Trend towards Property InvestmentProperty investment in South Africa is simple as well as secure and can offer tremendous profits in respect to other forms of investment which often prove to be unstable and unrewarding. One of the many incentives that may sway an individual towards property investment is the well acknowledged fact that typically, every seven years, the value of a property doubles.A great deal of investors realise that even though the stock market presents opportunities for large proceedings, it does not alleviate the hitches of its erratic and risky traits. Many investors are now becoming more inclined to choose property investment over other forms of investment as it’s proving to be a somewhat more stable option, offering far more rewards.South African Property InvestmentAside from the extraordinary lifestyle and climate South Africa has to offer, there are an abundance of advantages from which property investors can benefit.Investors will find opportunities for lucrative investment in numerous areas in South Africa. Commercial projects and present regeneration projects in places such as Muizenberg in the Western Cape are offering exceptional returns; investors from various countries are being drawn towards similar projects due to the tax breaks available.Experienced investors are reaping the benefits of the real estate market in South Africa at present, with many potential opportunities in buy-to-let, pure investment and land options.For Foreign InvestorsOn the African continent, South Africa has one of the strongest economies. Aside from this, today’s overseas investors realise that South Africa is a spectacular country with regard to standard of living and ambience alike.In the past few years commercial property has enjoyed considerable growth and this seems to be a trend set to carry on with government motivation now in place. Arrays of opportunities present themselves for profitable returns from South African property, especially in particular areas.The government is dedicated to creating a strong tourism industry in South Africa. This has become an increasingly important revenue sector and also forms a part of the government’s job-creation strategy. The country is popular with foreign visitors because of its favourable climate and amazing natural scenery.Another perk of property investment in South Africa is that there is a shortage of property due to its political past; ultimately this factor has generated long-term growth prospects in the property market. There is also a relatively stable democracy and all kinds of investment are encouraged, with foreigners being prompted to invest in South African property as there are no restrictions on ownership.The economy is growing and consequently focus is now on initialising a strong middle class economy, thus increasing demand for homes. Considerable taxation breaks are put forward for real estate developers and with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, demand for rental properties is also on the rise.The housing property market is displaying a stable growth and in metropolitan areas and the commercial property market is out shining many markets in Western countries.Proven Perks of Property InvestmentThere is no other investment which permits an individual to make a purchase using other people’s money, this being the bank’s, and then pay the money back using the money of other people, this being the rental income from tenants.When you buy property exclusively for investment purposes, any form of sentiment is eradicated from the purchase and the property can be seen strictly as an investment. If you own property, equity can be released against it as even though there is no guarantee your property’s value will increase annually; it is widely acknowledged that property in a satisfactory area, that is well maintained, will certainly increase in value.
Discovering how to start making money online legitimately and for real can be a difficult task. This is especially true if you’re new to the idea that you can earn an income from the internet. However, this should also be an exciting journey for you to venture into. Making money online can be a very rewarding experience and can be done in the comfort of your home or wherever you have access to the internet.If you are just starting out, you need to be aware of the many scams and get rich quick schemes that are polluting the internet. These types of programs draw people in only to leave you disappointed with a poorly make product with little value. They are all hyped up with claims saying that you can make X amount of money in X amount of day.Although you can make quite a bit of money in a short period of time, it will require you to learn all the necessary skills to get you going in the right direction. Once you start learning ways to make money online it is vital that you take action. Many people get stuck with this part. You need to take consistent action and treat this like a business because essentially that is what it is.No overnight millions are going to be coming to you at the push of a button. There is work involved. However, the work that needs to be done is not hard at all and I’m sure it’s a lot easier than what you’re doing now for work. If you invest only a few hours a day on your online business you will start making money online for real.This is an opportunity for you that can really be a life changer. Just imagine, a few months down the road from now, you can start generating a nice consistent income all from your computer. You might even be able to quite your job and start living a more comfortable lifestyle all from your online efforts.One of the best ways to start making money online is through internet marketing and to be more specific, affiliate marketing. This is where you can find products to promote and in return get a commission. It really is simple and the great part about it is that you can start with little to no investment. Affiliate marketing is something that can help you to generate a full time income and there are many people just like you who do.There are many other ways to make money online but affiliate marketing is one of the easiest and can be very profitable. If you would like to start making money online for real then you will need to learn how to do it as a mentioned before. You next step will be to find a program to teach how to do this. This can be a pain sometime due to all the hyped up products that are out there.
Whether you’re in the market for a major interior overhaul or you’re simply looking to give your home a quick and easy update, chances are you’ve spent some time online hunting for ideas and inspiration. That said, it can be pretty deflating to stumble upon a look you love only to discover the price to achieve it is well above your budget.
Fortunately, there are some killer home decorating blogs that show you how to refresh, revive, and fall in love with your home anew without breaking the bank. For a home that looks far more expensive than it costs to create, check out the following blogs for all of the interior inspiration and DIY tutorials you’ll ever need.
Welcome back to the week 5 update for the One Room Challenge. Check out the blog posts and updates for week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 if you missed them. It’s crunch time now and I’ll be honest… I don’t know that this project will be completely wrapped up for the reveal date. The great thing is the reveal and hitting a deadline is not the only goal of reason for this challenge. Ultimately having a fully functional and hopefully beautiful bathroom is where we want to end up even it things are a bit delayed.
Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.
When we left off last time the countertops had been templated, the trim was freshly painted and the hardware had been ordered. The hardware took about 1 week to arrive. We chose the Menlo Park 4″ pull from Schlub in chrome because I think the pull has the perfect mix of square and some rounded elements that make it a great transitional hardware option. We went with all pulls for the drawers and doors since the knob option in that line weren’t our favorite.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
The quartz countertops are now installed and things can be put back together. Rectangle, undercount sinks were also purchased through the fabricator. The Marble look quartz from Pental and it is gorgeous with the warm gray veins running throughout. For the edge went for a flat polish eased edge for a clean, simple look.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
Two days after the quartz countertops were installed the tile installer came back to finish up tiling the niches, installing the tile base and grout everything.
Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5
The electoral is being relocated for the new lights. There are some drywall and painting touch ups to do and plumbing fixtures to be hooked up. Plus adding all the finishing touches ???? All those little things like towel hooks, curtain rod, and accessories will bring this whole thing together.
It’s been too long since I’ve updated and even longer since this work has been started. This is me sharing remodel updates, mostly for myself (but also for my nagging family members). I’m sharing photos of the progress that has been made while also document the craziness that has gone on. This is just the beginning of the remodel.
Prior to moving in I had 3-4 weeks where my apartment lease overlapped with the possession of my townhome. This allowed me, with the amazing help of my family, to paint, tear-out carpet and somewhat put back together the upstairs portion of my place so that I could have a clean room to put a bed. At least one that wasn’t completely torn apart. One area that felt more livable that the rest. If you haven’t seen or don’t remember these are the before photos from when I took possession. To list it out here are the main things that I was tacking during those week prior to me moving in.
Phase 1 Remodel Projects
ripping out baseboard, carpet and tack strips upstairs and preparing for new hard surface flooring. (this flooring will go throughout minus the stairs and bathrooms/laundry)
installing flooring upstairs (one of my installers did this)
mostly gutting the master bathroom
installing a new tub and rough in plumbing for the master and powder bath
ordering and installing a rift white oak vanity for the master
Painting (and priming where needed) the ceilings and walls of the bedrooms. Caulking and painting the crown molding in the master
replacing and upgrading the baseboard heater in the master and patch the drywall
painting the hallway and down through the stairwell
adding skirt board to the stairs
installing new carpet and pad on the stairs (my carpet installer from work did this)
removing upper cabinets on the fridge side in the kitchen
partially demoing the wall diving the kitchen (prepare to move switches, outlets, heater and thermostat)
removing drywall on wall next to bar in dining area
painting the downstairs powder bath and removing vanity to prepare for a new floating vanity
Those were the main projects that took place and then I moved in the day after Thanksgiving. Getting rid of the original, nasty cat carpet and new flooring made a huge difference to the upstairs. Also neutralizing and lightening the paint made things feel so much more fresh. I still have no baseboards but I’ll get on that one day! For now here are some photos that I snapped along the way.
It’s been a while since been posting on here but I have some new updates and projects that I have been working on. Last summer into fall I was house hunting while knowing the lease on my apartment would be expiring end of the 2019. It felt a little crazy but was a fun process for me. After a bunch of searching I found and closed on a new home!
I was lucky enough to have a few weeks of overlap with my apartment (I ended up moving out 1 month early) so I was able to get started on projects and updates prior to moving in. I’ll share more about those in the coming weeks (there are still so many unfinished things!) but for now I think it’s best to start with some before photos. Also, follow along on Instagram where I post current project updates more often. The pictures show it in the state I bought it in. It’s a great first place to me and was functional as-is but as you might expect I’m here to make things my own by doing updates that I will enjoy while living here and that will also add value and functionality to the space down the line when I sell… or maybe even keep it as a rental. My dog, Nova, has been enjoying the space as well ???? There are a couple of things to miss about my Bothell apartment but I am very ready to have my own place and space.
In 2017 the guest bathroom was remodeled. You can see more photos and read about that here. Almost everything came out and all new things went back in. From emails and comments people have been asking for sources so I have rounded up what I could in this post to share paint colors, products and links that I could find for the bathroom.
Bathroom Sources and Details:
Wall color: BM Balboa Mist
Trim and door color: BM Chantilly Lace
Floor Tile: Pental Mark Chrome 12×24 matte
Shower tile: Jeffrey Court Weather Gray 4×12 gloss subway
Niche tile: Daltile clio mosaic
Bathtub: Maax Rubix tub
Cabinet: Spencer Cabinets – painted BM Cape May Cobblestone
Countertop: Pental Quartz Misterio polished 3cm
Cabinet hardware: Schaub Menlo Park Pull in chrome
Faucets: Hansgrohe Metris single handle in chrome
Shower trims: Kohler slide bar kit, wall mount supply and Hansgrohe tub spout in chrome
Mirrors: Homegoods
Towel Hooks: Delta Tolva robe hook in chrome