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Mar13

Where People Go Wrong With Pests

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One thing which often leaves homeowners filled with dread is the thought of pests in their property. They can do a ton of damage to the structure of your home. And not only that, but they can harm your family. Things like fleas and bed bugs can end up irritating your skin. And once you have the annoying bugs in your home, it can be a nightmare to get rid of them. A lot of people make errors which tend to mean that they become a regular occurrence in their home. Here are some ways that people go wrong with pests:

They try and find DIY ways to get rid of them: A lot of people make a vital error when attempting to get rid of pests by trying to cut corners. They think that they can easily find a DIY solution which will get rid of the pests from their home. For one thing, they do it to save money. But while there are some ways you might be able to say goodbye to them, doing it yourself is bound to lead to a return visit. You might get rid of a few of the pests with a homemade spray, but you might not catch them all if they are hidden.

Not only do DIY methods tend to be inefficient and ineffective but it can also pose a safety hazard. This is especially true if you are trying to get rid of insects that sting like hornets or bees. If you are dealing with a beehive on your property, countless pest control companies try to remove the hive in the most ethical way possible by relocating it. As bees are crucial to our environment, this is certainly something you will want to look for when you enter a search for “Bee Removal Doncaster” (or your local area). You might also want to find a service that can help rebuild the structure that may have been compromised when accessing the hive. That way, every process of the removal is handled with one appointment.

Therefore, it’s best to do a search for “effective pest solutions in Toronto” or your local area and call a professional to come and remove the pests. For one thing, they have done it so many times before, so they know where the pests might be hiding. And they will use a permanent solution so that you won’t have to worry about a return visit anytime soon! Hunt down a pest management company who can come out to your home quickly and get the job done in an efficient manner.

They forget about outside ones: You might be surprised to know that a lot of people make an error of thinking pests can only occur inside. We hear most often about pests like bedbugs and mosquitoes becoming problems in your home. But you also need to consider that pests might be in your garden, too. It’s easy to get fleas and ticks in your lawn if pets are in the backyard. And they could soon get inside your home if they are not dealt with quickly. When it comes to dealing with pests outside, again it’s best to get a professional to come and remove them quickly. That way, it will stop them from entering your home and causing your family a lot of trouble!

pest.jpg Pixabay Image

They don’t find a solution quickly: When someone notices a minor infestation, they think it might just be a one-off, so they might not opt to find a solution quickly. But this can be a big error if you do just leave it. The longer they are left without treatment from pest control services, the more of a chance they might spread around your home. And then you might struggle to get them under control. As soon as you spot a gathering of the pests, find a local company that will remove them immediately. That way, you can eliminate them before they become a huge problem!

And remember to watch out for signs of pests in your home. You might not see the pests in their form, so it’s best to look out for signs like the ones described in this article.

Mar8

Jetting Off To Sunnier Climates? Make Sure Your Home Is Safe and Secure

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Jetting Off To Sunnier Climates? Make Sure Your Home Is Safe and Secure

With January and February out of the way (easily the dullest and most depressing months of the year!) many of us are looking forward into 2017 and planning some of the fun things that we want to do. For some, this will mean an annual summer holiday, a week or two of great weather, delicious food, and plenty to see and do. However, as a homeowner, there’s always the major worry of home security when you go away. When your property is left unoccupied for a period of time, it dramatically increases your risk of a break in. Here are some of the ways that you can protect against this and get your home safe and secure by the time your summer vacation rolls around:

Get a Burglar Alarm Installed: If you don’t already have a burglar alarm installed, this should be high on your list of priorities. Not just useful for vacations but for day to day use, too. Did you know that most burglaries take place in the daytime? Being able to set the alarm when you go to work will thwart thieves who simply won’t stick around once the noise starts going off. It’s worth doing some research on the best home security systems and seeing which one suits you best.

Do you want an alarm that’s monitored? This means that if it goes off the security system call you (to see if it’s a false alarm) and if it’s not, they call the police. There’s a charge for this, but if you believe yourself to be especially high risk, it’s a good investment. Do you need an alarm which can be used with pets? This means that you can set it and your cat or dog won’t set it off. Either way, having a look at what’s on the market is your first step.

Invest in a High Quality CCTV System: CCTV is useful as it deters burglars (who want to minimize their risk of being caught) and if someone does try it, you have evidence. CCTV is also useful if you have vehicles outside of your home because if any damage or theft occurs, you will have video proof of what happened. Go with a system that records footage to a cloud-based server. That way if someone breaks into your home, they can’t just take the computer that the footage is stored on. You need a camera that records clearly because police won’t accept grainy recordings if you ever need to use it as evidence.

Consider Smart Lighting: ‘Smart home’ devices are becoming increasingly popular. Lighting is particularly useful from a home security perspective as it allows you to turn the lights in your home on and off without you being there. You control everything from an app on your phone so that you can give the illusion of someone being home and moving around in the property. Alternatively, you could use classic timer switches which are a much cheaper option. You can set lamps, televisions, and radios to go on and off at different times to further enhance the “I’m here but secretly I’m not” appearance.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Mar7

Sore Throat When You Wake Up?

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Sore Throat When You Wake Up?

Do you wake up from a refreshing night’s sleep only to find that your morning has been ruined before it’s even got started as you feel that familiar pain when you swallow? Having a sore throat in the morning is a fairly common complaint and although it’s irritating, it is rarely a cause for concern. Of course, just because a sore throat isn’t going to kill you doesn’t mean that it can’t be really annoying when it happens, which is why you need to know what you are dealing with so that you can put your morning sore throats to bed once and for all. Here are some of the most common causes of sore throats upon waking:

Snoring: When you snore, your mouth is open and your throat can get quite dry because of all the air that you are taking in. If you wake up only to find that your throat is hoarse and dry, it could be that you are snoring and should try to record yourself sleeping for a few nights or ask your sleeping partner to listen out, if you have one. If you are snoring a lot, take a look at http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/easy-snoring-remedies#1 to sort the problem out and start waking up pain-free.

Dehydration: If you don’t drink enough fluids before you hit the hay or if your room is too dry, you could become dehydrated through the night. This, like snoring, can cause your throat to dry up and become sore.

Acid Reflux: If you wake up not only to a sore throat but also to an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, there is a good chance that acid reflux could be the problem. Acid reflux is a condition in which the acid in your stomach partially comes back up through the esophagus. It can cause stomach pain, heartburn, and sore throats (and bad breath!!). You can deal with acid reflux by following the steps at https://chriskresser.com/get-rid-of-heartburn-and-gerd-forever-in-three-simple-steps/. If reflux continues to be a problem after this, see a doctor

A Swollen Uvula: The uvula is that small bit of skin that hangs down at the back of your mouth. It can become inflamed and swollen when you are sick with a virus or infection, or when there is too much bacteria in the area. Although you are likely to experience throat pain all day when you have a swollen uvula, it could be the case that some of the other factors mentioned in this post can increase your throat pain when you wake up in the morning. You can find out more about the uvula at https://safesymptoms.com/swollen-uvula/ .

Upper Respiratory Infection: If your upper airway is infected, your nose will begin to produce more mucus than before as a form of defense against the invading virus. Sometimes, this mucus trickles down to the back of your throat when you’re sleeping and it can inflame, irritate, and dry out the area – meaning that your throat will be pretty sore in the morning.

If you continue to experience a sore throat upon waking for a prolonged period of time, you should definitely have it checked out by a doctor. Chances are it’ll be nothing serious, but it’s always best to know. And waking up ache free at the start of your day will also be an added plus!

Featured Image By: Flickr

Feb24

Warning Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Job

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Warning Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Job

It’s important to remember sometimes why it is that you work. You work so that you can live and enjoy your life. But for too many people, their job is the reason that they hate their life, and it seeps into everything else that they do. It ends up ruining their evenings, weekends, and holidays.

According to Ryan Kahn, the star of the MTV show Hired, people generally fall into two categories. For some people, the reasons why they should leave their job are completely visible. They get to the point where they recognize the need for change and that the time has come to move on and send resumes with cover letters to new employers. But for other people, the reasons aren’t so obvious. Many people, it turns out, sleepwalk through their lives, not taking account about how they really feel about their work and not recognizing that it is making them deeply unhappy.

These people suffer from what is known as a thinking rut. They compartmentalize their lives, thinking that they cannot grow beyond the walls that they have erected for themselves. The good news is that there are some common warning signs that are a clear indication that it’s time to leave your job, some of which are shared below:

You’re Not Passionate About What You Do: It’s pretty hard to get up day after day and go do a job that you don’t care about. In fact, it’s soul destroying. When you’re not enjoying work, you suddenly become aware that time is passing. This creates resentment because you’d much rather be doing something else that is fulfilling.

Lynn Taylor, an author who writes about office politics, says that people should think back to how they felt the day that they were given their current position. Usually, they feel utterly elated for having secured the position and they are really excited about the possibilities that the new job will bring for their professional careers and their lives in general. When this passion is gone, she says, people are rarely able to tap into their true potential.

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Blahhh!

You Wake Up Miserable Every Morning: In simple terms, this means that you hate work. You’d rather be doing anything other than the job and you only haul yourself out of the house because you know you’ve got to pay the bills. This is no way to live one’s life, especially when there are countless other career options that you could look in to.

You’re Consistently Negative: Another warning sign is that you feel negative or anxious all the time, especially on Sunday evenings, before you have to head back out on a Monday morning. This feeling is an unconscious warning from your mind that all is not well with your job. Often, job stress leads to family stress which can harm your relationships in the long term.

Your Performance At Work Is Suffering: Another way you know that the time has come for you to leave your job is when your performance starts to tank. People who get worse at what they do over time are usually suffering from an extreme case of apathy. Often, you’ll know that you’re completely capable of carrying out the tasks that have been asked of you, but you don’t bother to do it to the best of your ability because you’re no longer willing or able to put your energies into projects for the company.

Your Work/Life Balance Has Disappeared: Different people have different tolerances when it comes to work. Some people like to work every hour that God gives, while others would prefer to work as short a time as possible. Many companies, however, don’t see things from the worker’s perspective. Instead, they demand lots of their time. If you find yourself not able to commit to the hours that are being asked of you, it might be time to consider taking another job. If you’re finding that you’re unable to spend the time with your family that you’d like – again, it might be time to find another job.

Your Duties Have Increased, But The Pay Hasn’t: Some unscrupulous employers will try to give you extra responsibilities but not increase your pay. Taylor says that this is a common tactic used by companies to try to keep their wage bills down. Of course, you have to be careful when it comes to things like pay. Sometimes the company can’t afford to pay more, simply because it isn’t doing enough business. But more often than not, the company is doing fine, it’s just not willing to increase your salary. This is a sign that the company doesn’t respect you and that you should take your talents elsewhere.

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Wikipedia Image

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb24

Make Immediate Savings On Those Home Bills

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Make Immediate Savings On Those Home Bills

For a lot of us, we only truly see how much we’re spending when we decide to put together a budget. We might think that we’re doing well and then suddenly realize just how much we’re spending on standard household bills. If you want to free up a little cash, there’s a good chance that those bills are the place where you could do just that. Spending less per month isn’t too difficult, either. A few changes and an investment or two could result in you keeping more money per month:

Things Are Heating Up: It should be no surprise that among the biggest bills for most people are those pesky heating bills. Especially in the winter, they can be gigantic. The same goes for keeping the home cool in the summer. But while you do need to control those temperatures, you don’t necessarily need to spend quite as much on it. For one, you should look at how well airflow travels through the home. Air vents in the home clogged by dust can stop the heat from traveling through the home, just as it can stop the cool from dispersing when you’ve got the AC on. Thoroughly insulating the home is important, too. Make sure that you caulk any sources of drafts in the home and pay particular attention to the roof. A missing tile or two won’t only get in the way of your attempts to control your environment but are a major risk of damp and mold, too.

Get Appliance Savvy: Heating and cooling aren’t all that can impact the energy bill. All the different appliances and electronics have a big effect, as well. If you need any new appliances or fixtures, then you should do your research. Things that you can look into include spotting a more efficient fridge thanks to Energywise rating labels to giving traditional bulbs the boot for LED lighting, instead. You also need to know when it’s a good idea to replace an old appliance. Things begin to work less than their best over time and that goes for their ability to stay energy efficient, too. It’s an investment, but one that will save you more money in the long-term.

Give Your Service Providers A Call: Besides the resources that you use to keep the home livable, you have to think about all of those other little services and subscriptions that you have, too. Take a look over your bank statements for the past month. It’s easy to forget that you might have subscribed to that video service or this audio book library. If you’re not using them, it might be time to call up and cut them off. Then, there are those deals like your TV packages and internet providers. With a bit of research, you should figure out if there are any better deals on the market. If there are, you don’t necessarily have to make the switch. You can use that as your bargaining chip to call up and negotiate yourself a better deal (it works like a charm!).

A closer look at just where you’re spending your household money can show you the upgrades, purchases, and even phone calls that can result in you keeping a lot more cash. Let those expenses go unchecked, and you could find them swallowing up most of your budget and spending money.

Featured Image By: Pixabay

Feb23

Homeowner’s Hit List: What Upgrades Should You Make To Your Property This Year?

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Homeowner’s Hit List: What Upgrades Should You Make To Your Property This Year?

Home is where the heart is and every homeowner will be looking for ways to bolster their properties over the coming months. And let’s face it, there are usually two factors that we demand from any upgrade project. Firstly, we want the work to improve our lives. Secondly, we want those improvements to add financial value, too. If your next home upgrade project can achieve both of those things, it’s probably a wise choice. Still struggling for inspiration? Here’s all you need to know:

Give Every Room A Purpose: There’s no greater mistake than letting a room go to waste. You’ve paid good money for your property and you should be eager to make every last inch matter. A decluttering session will certainly add the perception of more space, but nothing will beat repurposing a dormant room. The most likely candidates will be the guest bedroom or the garage. Whether you turn it into a man cave, a she shed, or a second living space doesn’t matter. Giving the space a purpose will surely be better than letting it collect dust. Alternatively, you could look into converting the attic space into a home office. It might cost a little time and money to complete the transformation, but your property value will increase dramatically.

Add Modern Tech: You don’t necessarily need to transform an entire room to breathe new life into the property. Technology and home gadgets have completely transformed the way we interact with our properties. Leaving yours in the past could be reducing your enjoyment and may limit the resale value, too.

First and foremost, you should prioritize the essential comforts of a modern home. A suitable HVAC system, high-pressure shower, and washing machines can all have a telling impact on your daily life. Home audio visual solutions can upgrade the way you interact with the property as a family as well as on an individual basis. Let’s face it; most homeowners will desire that type of advanced tech, too. Having it in place now will make the home more attractive.

Finally, there’s no greater feeling than safety. Investing in home surveillance and other tech-based security could work wonders. In addition to increasing home value, it could reduce your insurance premiums also.

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The bat cave!

Go Green: If your next project can improve your life as well as your finances, then that’s great. But if it can additionally reduce your damage to the environment, then it surely has to be a winning solution. Greener living doesn’t mean you have to become a hippie. It doesn’t even mean that you need to make huge investments like roof solar panels. Small upgrades like eco-friendly toilets and new windows will work wonders for energy bills and emissions. On top of that, you should see the value of your property gain a serious boost.

In the meantime, LED light bulbs and eco-friendly cleaning materials can make a noticeable impact. If nothing else, it will provide another incentive to follow through with those slightly larger planned upgrades.

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Go green!

Featured Image By: Google

Feb23

Make Your Time-Worn Home Sparkle Like New

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Make Your Time-Worn Home Sparkle Like New

When it comes to retail therapy, shopping for little ways to improve your space – whether furniture or paint – always seems to bring about the flutter of excitement. It’s that chance to renew your space with something wow, whether it’s just a little knick knack or big pieces of new treasure. A piece of something new can make your home feel like it just got a makeover. But what happens a couple of months down the line, when your dog has chewed the sofa cushions, your kid has drawn on the walls, or feet have scuffed the upholstery?

Well, before you tut and head out of the door, ready to spend more money on the same thing, why not learn how you can maintain what you have and help your old house sparkle like new again. All it takes is a little ingenuity and some tender, love and care.

A Little Bit Of Polish: There is no simpler way to make your old wood furniture look brand new than to give it a good old polish. Chances are you haven’t done this in a long time, or ever before, in which case you are going to be blown away by the results. However, before you get started, you are going to need the right polish to get the right finish. As a general rule of thumb, if your furniture is well finished, then use a wax or paste, whereas if your furniture is old teak, then a lot of the time oil alone is the best option.

The Relaxation Room: Yes, we are talking about your bathroom. This is your chance to soak in the tub, relax amongst the bubbles, and escape the stresses of life. However, the simple addition of a house plant isn’t going to be enough. So why not give your bath, basin, and shower a good scrub and really make them sparkle. The other thing you can do to upgrade this sanctuary is to go with some renovations by Tile Regrouting. And then, as a little extra something to make your bathroom pop, hang a big, bright, and gorgeous piece of art on the walls. The results will be stunning.

Care About The Wood: Leave your house and then walk back into the front door. If you are wowed, then that is great. But if it all seems a bit flat, then why not get the oil and wax out and bring your wooden floors back to life. Make them shine. This is the first thing you will see when you come home and it will therefore have a huge role to play in how your house feels. But don’t stop there. Head into the kitchen and look at your counter tops. Chances are that they are plagued with scratches and stains of all sorts. The way to bring them back to life is to get the sandpaper out and rub your tops new. Just make sure that you use some food safe oil to protect them from staining easily and to protect you from getting ill.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Feb22

Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

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Think Spring Guest Bloggers Series Conclusion

Hello everyone! I hope that all of you enjoyed my Think Spring guest bloggers series and are now looking forward to the wonderful season that is on the horizon. Thank you to all of my amazing guest bloggers that took part in making this series a success and all of you are welcome back on lifewithlilred anytime! BUT WAIT. There’s more…

I mentioned on a previous post that one of my darling friends, Angela, was creating a special spring time fragrance for the series and that still is a go. Unfortunately, we couldn’t tack it on after Nida’s post because Angela had quite a busy month moving into her new home! But, nevertheless, she is experimenting with scents as we speak and there will soon be a gorgeous spring roll on oil on her Etsy shop for my readers. We will also be offering a promo code, as well, so be on the lookout for the post announcing it! Congratulations on your move, Angela!

Thank you again to my guest bloggers and the scent queen herself, Angela, for helping to create such a fun series on my page! What is your favorite season? What is your favorite part of spring? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb21

The Hidden Dangers In Your Home

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As a parent, your kids are your life. After the responsibility sets in, everything you do, whether directly or indirectly, becomes a part of making sure your kids are as happy and healthy as possible. We’ve all heard the horror stories about kids injuring themselves on apparently harmless things around the house. If you want to avoid one of these, here are some of the biggest hidden dangers to think about:

Blinds & Cords: The boundless curiosity that every child is born with is great in many ways, but it can backfire majorly if it’s applied to the wrong thing. Blinds, in particular, are one thing that’s been found to put a child’s safety at risk. The cords that hang from blinds can become a dangerous trap for curious toddlers, who can become tangled in them, leading to nasty falls and even strangulation. You should be applying the same caution to less obvious cords around the home, as well. Cords connected to your toaster, kettle, and other appliances can be tugged, causing the heavy appliance to fall off the counter and onto a child. From here on, keep any kind of cord out of reach wherever possible. There are many companies like Intercrown which supply child-friendly blinds to avoid such frightening fiascos.

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Practice cord caution!

Pesticides: Getting pests in the home is very irritating and can cause a major hygiene concern. Naturally, you don’t want your child’s health to suffer in a home that’s infested with creepy crawlies, and may think that you’re protecting them by using a strong pesticide on various spaces around the house. Wrong! All pesticides contain some toxic chemicals, and children are much more susceptible to them than grown adults. Your child’s brain won’t be fully developed until they reach the age of 12 and if they’re exposed to some of the more common chemicals on the pest control market, it can seriously stunt the development of their central nervous system. It doesn’t help that children have more skin surface relative to their size, and will absorb much more of a given chemical than you or me. Try to avoid pesticides wherever possible, and look for alternatives like this Green Tech Bug Heat treatment. Putting up with a few bugs in the home is much better than long-term exposure to poison.

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 Flickr Image

Batteries: Children ingesting small items or choking on them is a major fear for any parent, but batteries are one “small part” that need to be kept away from children more than any other. Once these are swallowed, they’ll actually be digested by the stomach’s acids. This releases the heavy metals in the battery, and can cause some serious health problems. It’s pretty rare for parents to know that their child has swallowed a battery immediately, and it’s only when the aggressive and severe symptoms come up that they seek medical attention. Make sure that all of your batteries, particularly smaller button ones, are out of reach and sight of your kids. It may also be worth thinking about the battery-powered things your child has access to, and how easily they’d be able to take one out.

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 Beware of batteries!

Feb11

5 Gadgets That Can Make Your Life Easier

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Hi everyone and happy weekend! This post is compliments of my friend, Amelia, from thetrustcompass. In a world full of gizmos and gadgets, this article is dedicated to helping you pick out the best new toys possible to make your day to day life a total breeze. Check out Amelia’s author bio and then read on for the latest in the technology that you need ASAP:

Hello, Amelia here from thetrustcompass.com! I am a technology expert and have experience writing for several websites. When it comes to anything technology related, Thetrustcompass is your one stop destination. It has useful posts on a wide range of topics and detailed reviews of products related to technology, outdoor games, and health to help buyers make informed choices and spend their money wisely.

5 Gadgets That Can Make Your Life Easier

Today, more than ever, we are highly dependent on tech gadgets to help us run our life, and luckily, more and more smart products are doing just that. They connect to our phone, so we can operate them remotely, which gives us more time to focus on chores that need winding, or grab a few more minutes of rest and recuperation.

But do all gadgets truly uncomplicate our lives? Yes, cutting-edge phones and 4K TVs are worth drooling over, but are very heavy on the wallet, too. A fitness tracker might help us live healthier, but being constantly nagged by a device isn’t very zen. A drone might aid in capturing some beautiful angles, but only if you’re adept at not crashing it. A smartphone might let you communicate with anyone in the world, but too much social media can be pervasive and pesky. State-of-the-art VR kits and the best 3D pens are taking innovation to a new level, but a good gadget should not only be solving the problem, but also making life easier.

The best tech devices are ones that make some part of our day easier, whether it’s getting ready for work, cooking a meal, sticking to our walks, or just catching the morning news. There are devices that make all of this possible with no more effort on our part than setting up an accompanying app. Below, we’ve rounded up a few gadgets that can add to our day, but don’t demand much in return and none of them will wind up being ‘another thing to worry about’.

1 – Amazon Echo Dot

The Amazon Echo Dot is a hands-free, Bluetooth speaker that can be operated with voice commands. The Dot can be synced with your wireless router and all of your smart devices including Nest and Samsung SmartThings, as well as other wirelessly controlled lights, fans, and sprinklers. You can tell the Dot to “play my music” to stream Prime Music, Spotify, or IHeartRadio through the device, your headphones, or Bluetooth speakers. The Dot will tell you how bad the traffic is, what weather can be expected, and list movie show timings. You can ask the Dot to tell you headlines from sources like NPR, CNN, Bloomberg, and Discovery News while you’re getting dressed, so that you know the latest buzz before you leave the door in the morning. These features help make everyday tasks a little easier. Tring! That’s your Dot reminding you to take that cake out of the oven- it works as an alarm clock, too.

2 – The Universal Switch

With dozens of tech gadgets buzzing in our instant environment, what if we had one super ‘switch of all switches’ that could turn on or off all electrical activity in a second, at our will, and without us getting off the couch?  Enter The Belkin WeMo Insight Switch! This Switch is a standard plug, but on steroids! It plugs into an existing AC outlet, connects to your WiFi network, and then lets you turn on or off whatever is plugged into the outlets, through its app- a lamp, fan, space heater, or what have you. If you suspect a device is using too much energy, you could have it automatically shut down once it hits a certain cost for the day. It even works with Amazon Echo, which is super convenient.

3 – Power Bank

Picture these scenarios: You’re hiking on top of a mountain, taking panoramic shots of the scenic sights, and as you reach the summit, your phone decides it’s time to play dead. Or you’re trying to drive with your phone’s GPS app, and your phone decides to leave you hanging. Chances are, you’ve probably been in a situation where your phone has died at the most inopportune time. That’s why, a portable battery charger, or Power Bank is something that you should definitely invest into. It gives you the freedom and power to power up to three dead devices while you’re out and about and not near a power source. These power banks are small and super-easy to carry. The next time your phone dies before you can call that cab home, you know what you have to do.

4 – Tile

If you’re forgetful or have too many gizmos to keep track of, the Tile Mate is made for you. This little gadget is designed to loop onto or attach to, well, just about anything else you own. Once attached, the tracker sends location data to an app on your phone. If you don’t know where you put your keys, you can send the Tile Mate command to ring. The diminutive Bluetooth tracker can talk with (and remotely ring) your phone from over 100 feet away, telling you exactly where you left your particular item. If you’re worried you might lose something valuable, throw a Tile on it.

5 – Google Chromecast

The Google Chromecast is one of the best ways to use your regular TV as a smart device. The small, circular device plugs into an HDMI port on your television. Once there and connected to your Wireless internet, it can stream a heady range of entertainment apps, such as Netflix, Go, Hulu, and HBO. Just plug it in, pair it with your phone, tap your app’s Cast button, and enjoy. The $35 price-sticker doesn’t hurt, either. If you’ve ever wanted to smarten up your speakers, the Chromecast Audio is just as simple to use. Chromecast comes with thousands of apps and more than 30 million songs and radio stations. Better yet, it includes a mirroring feature so you can beam what’s on your Android phone to the TV.

Get yourself equipped with these smart gadgets and make your life a walk in the park!

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^^^ Thank you again to Amelia for updating my readers on the latest and greatest technology that’s on the market! What is one gadget that you can’t live without? Do you think you could handle a day without your smartphone? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah