Nov15

The Top Ways Your Smartphone Could Be Entertaining You

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The Top Ways Your Smartphone Could Be Entertaining You

Almost everyone has a mobile phone these days. And of the people who have them, a smartphone is the popular choice. While some people choose simpler phones or don’t have one at all, smartphones are taking over. Many people who own a smartphone don’t use it to make calls too often. They might text and message on it as their main methods of communication. They also use it as a media center, from internet use to listening to music. Even if you use your phone every day, you might not be making the most of it. There are some great ways that it can entertain you and you might not even be using them.

Play Games: Playing games on smartphones is something people have been doing for a while now. Some of the most popular ones include Angry Birds or Candy Crush Saga. However, playing games on your smartphone doesn’t have to involve only small apps like these. With many smartphones, you can play games that are more sophisticated. If you want to play games on a smartphone, one with a larger screen will serve you well. You get a better picture, and it will be easier to control. You can also use your smartphone alongside your computer or console, such as with FIFA 17.

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Watch Movies: Many people are moving away from the traditional model of having a television with aerial, cable, or satellite reception. Fewer people own DVD players or similar machines, too. It has become more common to stream movies or to download them to either a storage device or the cloud. Smartphones are excellent for watching movies. You can use them to store them or find apps that allow you to stream them. There are some great apps that offer free movies for Android. With some of them, you can hook them up to Chromecast and similar devices to put them on a larger screen. You can also use your smartphone with a projector.

Learn New Skills: Smartphones don’t have to be all about passive entertainment. You can also engage in some apps that will improve your education. For example, you might want to learn a new language. There are lots of apps that you can choose from, several of which gamify the process of learning. Apps like Duolingo can help you to learn the fundamentals of a language, although you still have to use other materials.

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Be Your Music Library: Your phone can make a great music library, too. Many people don’t bother having a separate media player anymore. They can just put their music on their phone. And it’s easy to hook it up to speakers. You can put your phone in a speaker dock, use Bluetooth, or use Apple AirPlay to play music from your phone. The music doesn’t need to be on your phone, either. You can just use it to stream, assuming you have a decent internet connection.

Your phone could be much more useful than it currently is. Make sure you use it to its full potential to get your money’s worth.

Featured Image By: Public Domain Pictures

Nov14

Dental Disasters And What Can Be Done About Them

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Dental Disasters And What Can Be Done About Them

Our bodies are like machines and sometimes things go wrong with the parts. Our teeth are no exception and there is a whole host of dental issues that you might face at some point in your life. Good dental hygiene and generally taking care of your teeth of course goes a long way but even if you’re rigorous with your oral care routine you might experience issues for other reasons. Here are three dental disasters you might come up against and the best ways to go about getting them sorted out.

Abscess: A tooth abscess can either be caused by dental decay or by trauma to the tooth. When the tooth enamel opens, bacteria can enter and infect the ‘pulp’ in the center of the tooth and, in some cases, the infection can spread to the root of the tooth and even the bone. A collection of pus will then form as the body’s response to fight the infection. An abscess will be very painful and won’t go away on its own and so if you experience one it’s important to see a dentist right away. Don’t wait until Monday if it happens over the weekend, you could look for a local out of hours or Saturday dentist.

Chipped Tooth: This goes to show that even if have the best dental hygiene, things can still go wrong with your teeth. Whether you’re in a sporting or motor accident, you trip and fall, or are even involved in a fight you could suffer a chipped tooth. While a chipped tooth can cause you a lot of anxiety particularly if it’s one of the front ones, it’s not too much of a big problem to repair.

Providing no damage has been done to the nerve, and it’s not been loosened, it can be fixed in just one visit to the dentist using a procedure called ‘bonding.’ A composite resin matching the color of your natural tooth is applied, and an ultraviolet light is used to harden the material. Looked after well it should last ten years and is neither a painful or expensive treatment.

I actually chipped a tooth a couple of years ago and went to a new dentist to have it fixed. The procedure was quick and easy but what made the biggest difference was the dental hygienist who assisted. She was so patient, kind, and gentle and it helped so much as I have a phobia of the dentist. Indeed, an excellent dental hygienist can make a lasting impact. If you are in need of a new one or are interested in switching, simply enter a search for “Dental Hygienist in Weybridge” (or your local area). Read reviews carefully and be sure to ask your friends and family for recommendations too.

Missing Tooth: The way a missing tooth is treated depends on how it was lost. For example, gum disease can make the gums inflamed and can result in significant damage to both the bone and soft tissues of the mouth. When this happens, the teeth can become loose and will eventually be lost. In this instance, the first call of action would be to address the gum disease first.

In the later stages of gum disease, there may not be enough supporting bone left to be able to hold a dental implant. In this case, dentures or molar bridges are likely to be the best option. If a tooth has been knocked out due to an accident and the bone underneath is okay, a dental implant could be the best way to go. Here a titanium screw is inserted into the bone and the prosthetic tooth clips into it which is a permanent and long lasting solution.

If your missing tooth calls for implants, be sure to take the time to research the best practitioners by entering a search for “Burton on trent implantologist” (or your local area). This is important, of course, so you can have the most successful results but is also especially helpful if you are fearful of getting it done. Reading reviews and seeking recommendations can help identify which practitioners are most tentative to anxious patients and can make the process much smoother for you.

What are some of your dental horror stories? Who suffers from the classic teeth falling out dreams? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Featured Image By: Pexels

Nov14

Why Your Smartphone Could Be Damaging Your Health

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Why Your Smartphone Could Be Damaging Your Health

It’s becoming hard to imagine a time when we didn’t have smartphones. Despite their small size, these devices have become something we cannot leave the house without. They provide us with entertainment, help us stay connected, and give us the ability to capture the world around us. But despite all of the benefits they can give to us, there is a downside to using a smartphone regularly. As our dependence on them has increased, so have the amount of smartphone-related health conditions. While they might not sound severe, they can be extremely damaging to your health. Read through these health issues which can be a result of using your phone too much.

Insufficient sleep: Sleep helps our bodies to repair and regenerate at the end of each day. This allows it to function correctly while also giving us the energy we need for the following day. However, smartphones can prevent many of us from getting the vital sleep our bodies need. The light on your phone screen can trick your body into thinking it is daytime. This can prevent you from feeling tired while also encouraging you to stay up later. It can also disrupt your body’s production of the hormone melatonin which tells your body when it’s time to sleep. To increase the amount of sleep you get each night, keep your smartphone away from your bedroom or shut it off at a certain time each evening to prevent those late night Facebook binges.

Repetitive Strain Injury: Repetitive strain injuries, otherwise known as RSI, is a health condition that has seen a significant increase in recent years. It causes pain and even numbing in the hands, wrists, and arms. It is caused by doing the same task continually over a prolonged period of time. Medical experts believe that texting on a smartphone is the reason why many people have developed this condition. If left to progress, this condition can intensify and could result in a disability. You might need to wear compression gloves, take medication, or need specialist massages to help you manage your symptoms. The best way to reduce your chance of developing an RSI is by reducing the amount of texting that you do on a daily basis.

Depression: Recent studies have found that spending too much time on your phone can increase your chances of developing depression and anxiety. Being constantly connected can make you overly reliant on the comments and status updates of your friends and family. When you don’t get a response straight away, this can cause you to feel anxious and question your relationships. Spending every spare moment on your phone can make it harder to care for your mental health. You don’t have time to cook healthy meals, exercise, or see friends in person because you’re permanently attached to your handset. To reduce the risk of your developing depression and anxiety, you need to decrease your usage immediately.

Each of these conditions can progress and become more severe. While you might not want to give up using your smartphone altogether, make an effort to reduce how often you use it so you can remain both healthy and connected.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov11

They’re Baaaack

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They’re Baaaack

Hi everyone and TGIF! Okay, so this week’s Monday Update involved me freaking out because I broke one of my natural nails that I have been trying so freaking hard to grow out in lieu of getting acrylics. Well, two days after that, another nail broke so I said “fuck it” and went to get my claw babies back on Thursday. After about a year of being talon-free, it felt so good being back in the trusted and true hands of my beloved nail tech, Vinny.

As I mentioned before, asides from dying my hair, getting my nails done is my absolute favorite way to pamper myself. I love being able to sit back, relax, and let Vinny work his magic and make my nails look pretty. One of the things that I love the most about long nails is how they make my hands look. Naturally, my hands are quite small and stumpy but lengthy nails make my hands look elongated and beautiful. When I had to cut my natural nails after two of them broke, I was so sad to see my hands shrink down to their bitty size right before my eyes. But now, everything is as it should be and having janky nails is one less thing for me to worry about. Take a look:

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The other main reason that I wanted to get my nails done was for my graduation which is coming up on December 15th. I told myself that if I can’t get my natural nails how I like them, then I would treat myself to my acrylics and I am so glad that I did! I do wish that they were a little bit longer but they will do for now and Vinny said he’ll take care of it when I get them filled – he’s such a gem! :*)

Now my graduation ceremony beauty check list for looking fab as I strut across the stage looks something like this:

  • Get nails filled.
  • Dye hair.
  • Get a hair cut.
  • Put together a graduation ceremony worthy outfit!

I am so happy to have my nails back but it has been a doozey of a twenty-four hours while I get used to living my life with talons again! So far, everything is going just fine minus a small scare with my car door. Other than that things are A-okay – especially now that I can put my babies to work on my laptop keyboard again! LOVE IT! ❤

I hope everyone has a super fun and relaxing weekend! What kind of outfit do you think I should wear for graduation? Who else has a passion for long nails? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov10

Invisible Health Conditions And How to Manage Them

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Invisible Health Conditions And How to Manage Them

Some painful health conditions are very visible. Joints swell, rashes appear, and people visibly look unwell. But not all condition manifest in this way. There are a lot of silent or invisible conditions that can make your feel awful yet have no outside symptoms to show others that you are unwell.

Dealing with these conditions can provide an additional strain apart from the issue itself. This strain is that others around us cannot tell that we are suffering, so their expectation of us are likely to be higher. This can lead to a lack of sympathy or even discrimination. That is why it’s important to know about these type of conditions and how to deal with them.

Depression: Depression is a tough thing to go through. It can feel like everything is hopeless and there is nothing left to live for. It can make getting out of bed in the morning one of the most challenging things, let alone getting dressed or getting to work.

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Choose Hope!

One of the problems with depression is that it is an invisible illness. That means that unless someone tells you that they are depressed, you wouldn’t necessarily know. This can be a real problem in society today because there is so much pressure on people to be positive in school or in the workplace. This results in people putting on a mask, which is doubly difficult if you are depressed because it takes up your depleted store of energy.

If you or someone you love is depressed, then it is important to get help. Depression isn’t something that has to be put up with. In fact, there are a lot of things that you can do to alleviate the suffering such as therapy or medications. Of course, a multifaceted approach to treating depression is always best and scheduling an appointment with a therapist San Antonio (or your local area) is a great place to start. You can seek or offer support to those considering therapy by researching a good fit for a therapist together. It’s a small and simple way to show that you care and are there for them. If you are concerned that someone in your life is suicidal, there are also prevention helplines to call.

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 Helloooo

Back Pain: Back pain is another invisible illness. Unless it is so bad that it is changing the way that you walk, it can be pretty hard for people to tell if you are suffering from this problem. Back pain is bad because it can be hard to get comfortable in any position. This can make getting on with your day to day life very problematic. There are different types of back pain that are common such as lower back pain, upper back pain, and sciatica. Each one has a range of different treatments that you can do to help relieve some of the discomfort. For example, for things like lower back pain you can try manual spine manipulation. Chiropractors are well versed in relieving pain and it could be a good option to visit one to improve yours. You will be amazed at the difference it can make after a few appointments. Simply enter a search for “alternative chiropractic center denver” (or your local area) to find a well reviewed practitioner near you. Be sure to seek recommendations from friends and family too.

For sciatica, some people rely on a heating pad and others try things such as yoga. Sometimes back pain is caused due to injury of the spinal cord itself. If you are having prolonged pain with no relief, it is a good idea to see a specialist. Surgery like the ones offered at Deuk Laser Disc Repair (or a similar practice in your local area) might be recommended. Living life pain free will have you feeling like a brand new person!

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Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition with no visible symptoms. That means it can get a bit better or worse at any time but will never go away completely. It causes pain all over the body and can also be linked to conditions like IBS, sleep problems,and an increased sensitivity to pain.

Fibromyalgia is usually diagnosed as a result of ruling other conditions out. If you experience muscle weakness and pain across different sites in the body, it is worth asking for a doctor’s opinion on what it could be so that you can get the right treatment.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov9

Coping With Christmas: Ways To Live Up To The Ideals You Have In Mind

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Coping With Christmas: Ways To Live Up To The Ideals You Have In Mind

We are now less than seven weeks from Christmas! Let that sink in for a moment. Less than fifty days away (http://emailsanta.com/clock.asp). Are you excited yet?

Of course, Christmas itself is a joy in most ways. But the thing about Christmas is that it happens in December. Right there in the winter, in the cold and the rain and, yes, the snow. So we can be excited for the season while simultaneously having a few fears about it.

What we need to do is focus on making Christmas as wonderful as the legend has it. To make sure that that happens, it’s important to meet the challenges that the season throws at you. And challenges there will be. So are you ready to roll up your sleeves and give it the best you’ve got? Of course you are! You might just need some guidance in that – and a refresher course in enthusiasm.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow: There’s no getting away from it – in the heart of winter the chances of heavy snow increase. It’s not the case everywhere but if you’ve got a White Christmas, then it may look like a picture-book. It may be what you want but it is also something you need to be ready for. Your yard can be treacherous to walk in – especially for elderly relatives. Snowblowers from the likes of http://snowshifts.com can make a big difference to keeping everyone safe.

Too Many Guests For Comfort? Christmas is a family holiday and it stands to reason that if you have a big family, you want a big family Christmas. Of course, if you happen to be the host for that gathering, it means your home gets fuller. And you may not see the damage until everyone else goes back home.

Your home is built for a certain number of people. When more cram into it and stay for a few nights, that’s more food being cooked. More dishes being washed, more showers being taken, and more people utilizing the throne room. It means pipes can easily get blocked – especially as colder temperatures could lead to freezing. So keep a plumber on speed dial. Overnight, turn off your main water supply – it makes freezing less likely.

Emotions Run High, For Better Or Worse: The fact that you have a lot of people in the home together can lead to some of the best memories you’ll make. And if the weather permits, it means the chance for some trips out and walks in the snow. But the longer a lot of people are cooped up together the more chance there is for discord.

So there has to be metaphorical cooling-off as well as the literal kind. If there tends to be tension between certain people, allocate cooler heads to them so groups can separate and steam can be let off.

When everyone has gone home after the family gathering, you want your home to still be that cozy refuge from the winter weather. But more than that, you want it to be somewhere you can feel happy and relaxed so you can enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

Featured Image By: PixaBay

Nov8

Not-So-Obvious Things Which Could Happen To You When You Have Sleepless Nights

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Not-So-Obvious Things Which Could Happen To You When You Have Sleepless Nights

It’s easy to end up experiencing sleepless nights, especially when you are a mom. You are up half the night with the kids so it’s hard to get some decent shut-eye. It means the next day you are walking around like a zombie! But if you encounter sleepless nights on a regular basis, it could be causing more damage than you think. Here are some not-so-obvious things that could happen to you when you have sleepless nights.

It Can Affect Your Thinking and Learning Skills: Unfortunately, a lack of sleep can affect your brain in many ways. We all know it’s easy to be forgetful if you have had a sleepless night. But you might not realize it affects your attention and your alertness. Therefore, you are more likely to make silly errors when driving on the road. In fact, a lot of people get into accidents as they were tired when behind the wheel. Also, having regular sleepless nights can affect your concentration skills. You might struggle to listen to others and think of solutions. It can jeopardize your work if you are not thinking effectively. Try and get enough sleep so you can ensure that you can think and learn every day!

It Can Lead to Skin Aging: We all try to ensure that our skin stays in good condition. After all, we want to prevent wrinkles for as long as possible. But when we have regular sleepless nights, it can lead to skin aging. When we have a sleepless night, our body releases more of the stress hormone, cortisol. It breaks down skin collagen which keeps our skin smooth. Therefore, you may notice a wrinkle on your face. As well as this, sleepless nights can give us dark circles under our eyes. You can get eye creams which you can use to hide your lack of sleep. Or some people even go for dermal fillers under the eyes which can help to improve the tired and drawn out look! To ensure you avoid eye bags and aging skin, head to bed earlier at night!

It Can Lead to Depression: It’s easy to start your morning feeling down in the dumps after a sleepless, restless night. But you might not realize that a lack of sleep can contribute to depression. In fact, research has found that the sleep disorder insomnia is linked with depression. Therefore, your moodiness from lack of sleep may turn into something more serious if you don’t do something about it quickly. Try and figure out why you can’t sleep and solve the problem to protect your mental health!

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It Can Cause Hallucinations: People can start experiencing hallucinations if they are sleep deprived. It might be something as simple as seeing something flicker in their vision. Or they might see something which doesn’t exist!  As this article says, this indicates the brain isn’t working properly as you are exhausted. Therefore, you need to head to bed before you become clueless over what is real!

You are also more prone to catching the flu if you are not getting enough sleep. So get snuggled up, catch some Zzz’s,  and avoid human contact till you have had some decent shut eye!

Featured Image By: flickr

Nov8

The Grapes Of Bath – Stop Getting Angry About Your Bathroom And Do Something About It!

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The Grapes Of Bath – Stop Getting Angry About Your Bathroom And Do Something About It!

Is the smallest room in your house a real bone of contention? Do the kids treat it like a play room? Is there mold where there shouldn’t be? Is it a nightmare to keep clean? If so it’s no wonder that you are annoyed. Keeping the bathroom in a decent state can be a trial. But there are some things that can help you on this epic quest. Keep reading to find out what they are.

Gadgets: First of all, if you have a family bathroom, then you need to take into consideration everyone that will be using it. Unfortunately, it is not just your own personal retreat for some ‘me time’ and to escape the hardships of the day. Especially if you are sharing it with your kids.

Luckily there are a few gadgets that can help you keep your bathroom a bit nicer for everyone that needs to use it. Try out something like a toothpaste squeezer. Not only will it get all the paste from the tube, saving you money, but it will also stop the kids from getting it everywhere.

Or how about using a reminder like the Amazon Dash button? All you have to do is press the button next to the item that you are running low on. No more running out of hand soap or toilet roll in your house!

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Decor: Some bathrooms are just beyond the pale if they look dirty no matter how much your scrub them. Or, if they are looking a little dated compared to the rest of your house, then it might be time for a new bathroom suite.

You want to go for the best quality that your budget will allow so your new throne room will last as long as possible. You will also need to consider your style options. Will you go for a sleek modern bathroom or something with a bit more character?

Whatever you do, don’t forget to check online bathroom shops that stock items such as luxury baths and showers.

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Cleaning: Hands up who likes cleaning the bathroom? No one? Shocker! Seriously though, cleaning the bathroom can seem like a major bore and a horrible chore. But you want it to be clean so it’s hygienic and pleasant to use. So how can you reconcile these two things?

Well, you can get everyone that uses it into a good routine. If you use the last piece of toilet roll, then you have to change the roll. If you spill something, you have to mop it up. Not only will this make your bathroom a much more pleasant place to be. But it will also get your family into good habits for when they are older.

You can also do small regular cleans instead of trying to take on a filthy bathroom all in one go. Take 10 minutes out of your day to wipe down and disinfect the bathroom work surfaces. Then, the next day, use a bathroom foam to clean the surfaces quickly and without much fuss.

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Featured Image By: Pixabay

Nov7

Monday Update: NAIL HELP!!!

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Monday Update: NAIL HELP!!!

Hey everyone and happy Monday! I hope all of you had a fab weekend. So as you guys know, I was beyond obsessed with my stiletto style claws back when I was wearing acrylic nails. But, because I am ballin on a budget as a college kid, I decided to cut back on my favorite way to pamper myself besides from dying my hair. I haven’t been wearing acrylics for about a year but in the past four months I have been attempting to grow my nails out because I’ve been missing them badly.

So far, my nails have been doing pretty good. I began a regimen of taking Biotin and Calcium vitamins and I really think that they have been helping. I have also started soaking them in olive and coconut oil as a moisturizing treat. My nails are now quite strong as opposed to the brittle, flimsy mess that they were before. I am a little less than halfway to the length that I would like them to be at but then…the unspeakable happened. The nail on my thumb broke clean off yesterday. 😦

I am genuinely at a loss of what to do. There was no salvaging the nail and now I have nine long and beautiful nails and a mere stump on my right hand thumb. What do you guys do in a situation like this? Do you cut the rest of your nails and let everything start fresh? Or do you just wait it out and let the broken nail grow again? I suppose it’s a matter of preference but I have no clue what to do and I feel like I would benefit greatly from hearing what all of the amazing beauty gurus out here have to say.

As a reminder, this is where I last left my nails in acrylic land and I am a little less than halfway to that length now. Ironically enough, I’m wearing those exact same colors right now! All I need are my middle finger crosses and I’ll be all set! #thosewerethedays

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I am in desperate need of advice and also some comfort because I am so upset about this nail breaking. The worst thing, though? About an hour before the nail broke I literally told my mom “wow, it sure would suck if one of my nails broke now”. FML!!!

As of now, I’m leaning towards letting my little thumb stump grow out because it is not as noticeable as say, if the break happened on a pointer or middle finger. However, this is subject to change! So what do you do when a beloved nail breaks? Let it grow or hack off (so violent!) the rest? I want to hear from all of you, so PLEASE leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

^^^ Acrylic nail jams! 😉

Nov7

Welcome Home! How To Spruce Up Your Hallway

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Welcome Home! How To Spruce Up Your Hallway

It’s the middle of fall, which means it’s the time of year that we’re all focusing on our homes. Because of bad weather, cool temperatures, and unpleasant conditions, we spend a lot more time at home over the winter than at any time of year. It’s important, therefore, that we make our homes inviting, warm places to be – and what better place to start than in your hallway? It’s the first room you see when you get home from work and the last glimpse of your house that keeps you going through the day and yet a lot of us don’t bother to make our hallways look good. Here are some tips to improve your space.

Adjust Your Lighting: What you want to see when you’re coming up your path at night is a gentle, golden glow emanating from your front door window. A lot of the time we come in to darkness before we have to fumble for the light switch. To change this, add a standing lamp with a warm-colored shade and set a timer so it comes on at around 5pm. Not only will this make opportunistic intruders think that there is someone home and leave your house alone but it also means that there will be a warm, cozy glow to welcome you home each evening.

Add Some Plants: Plants are good for the body as well as the mind. They provide your home with more oxygen and they are also aesthetically pleasing. Buy a couple of freestanding plants like a yucca, a palm, or a fern to add some greenery to your space. Not only will guests admire you for being competent enough to keep spectacular plants alive but some greenery will also add freshness and decoration without breaking the bank. hall2

Pretty!

Invest In New Pieces: If you invest in a few new pieces, you can make your hallway look modern and chic. If you have bare floorboards, add a rug to warm them up. You could also get a nice coat rack to prevent slinging your favorite jackets over the banisters and a porcelain umbrella stand to prevent you from dripping all over the house after you’ve come in from a rainy autumnal evening.

Look out for furniture in thrift and antique stores and get a small dresser to place in the hallway or move something out from your den or bedroom. Not only does this provide extra storage for you in the hall but you can also drop your keys on it when you get home every night to stop you from losing them and being late for work the next morning!

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Add More Storage: If you’re anything like me, you kick off your shoes the moment you get through the door at night. No one wants to walk dirt through their house and it feels good to kick your heels off and walk around in comfort for the rest of the evening. Get a shoe rack to put beside your front door so you don’t end up with a tangled heap of shoes that you have to hunt through. You could also keep your out of season shoes like your sandals and flipflops in a chest to make sure that they’re out of the way during the winter.

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LOVE!

 Featured Image By: Pixabay