A Railway-side Eating Place

Before taking flight back home that day, we stopped by at this place for having lunch. The driver of our rented car said that this meatball eating place (Malang, East Java) is very famous. For us, the food taste was just average, perhaps its unique location is the main attraction. While we were there, no train passed by. Fortunately, I saw many yellow touches -outside and inside :)

Bakso means meat balls

The interior

 

Monday Mellow Yellows

Shadows in a Dining Room

Captured at a resort last week when we had a short trip and spent three nights there. The dining room is near to the breakfast room where we and other guests were having breakfast that sunny morning. 

Interesting shadows

Closer look

Different shadows

The Weekend in Black and White

The Benefits of a Steam Shower

Steam showers are not a new concept. They have been used for thousands of years by Ancient Romans, Native Americans and various other cultures for their cleansing, healing, rejuvenating and soothing benefits. However, it has only been in the last few years, that installing a steam shower in one's home has become a viable option and an increasingly popular design idea.

 

Basically, a steam shower is a steam room that provides you with the usual features of a bathroom shower. It unites the capability of a standard steam room with lots of extra features including a shower. When you consider the benefits of a steam shower combined with the convenience of having such a special feature in your home, you will probably want to immediately find more information on how to incorporate one in your master bath design.

From a physical standpoint, steam showers are an ideal way to remove toxins and dirt from your skin. Steam showers also have health benefits such as clearing the sinuses to make breathing easier, easing bronchitis and increasing blood circulation. One of the benefits almost anyone can appreciate is the relief a steam shower provides for sore, aching muscles.

In addition to its pain-relieving benefits, steam showers are revered as a means of reducing stress. The time spent in a steam shower can provide a renewal of energy and rejuvenate your body. Steam showers are available with a variety of special features such as mood lighting, body sprays, aromatherapy, bench seating, music and various other special features.

Having the opportunity to cleanse your body, clear your mind and enjoy the many benefits of a steam shower without having to leave home can be considered one of life's ultimate conveniences.

The Beginner’s Guide to Smart Lawn Care — Salt Lake City, UT

Properties with the best looking lawns generally fetch a pretty good price on the market. People want to live in homes where they have access to a beautiful outdoor area that they can use for parties and celebrations and moments of relaxation. But beyond enhancing lifestyles, the best lawns also contribute to cooler homes during summers.The thing about lawns, though, is that they can be a lot of work to maintain.

From cutting and cleaning to watering and feeding, lawns require the best of care. Without the right lawn care, Salt Lake City, UT residents should know, the green outdoor space will be overrun with weeds and ruin curb appeal for any property. If you need some help, try the following tips for a greener, better lawn.

Know the basics.

Watering and mowing — there is a right way of doing both things. When you overdo it, in your haste to take care of your lawn, your yard may become vulnerable to weeds and diseases. So know the basics first.

When you water, do so in the morning and never in the evening. Nighttime watering can leave water sitting on the thatch, which creates the optimum environment for diseases. Also, instead of watering every day, water deeply using a schedule. Utah’s Division of Water Resources has a guide that varies according to weather conditions and locations.

For example, northern Utah residents can water their lawns once every three days from July to August and water once every six days in September. What this means is that the lawn care Sandy, UT residents practice may differ from that in other parts of Utah.

Another key lawn care practice is mowing. The basic care is easy to remember: Never mow more than 1/3 of your grass. Cutting more off the top could leave your soil exposed to more sunlight and create more room for weed seeds to thrive.

Know your limitations.

While caring for your lawn on your own can be relaxing (and, depending on the size and features, give you a great workout), there are some things that may be better handled by professionals and experts in lawn care. Draper, UT residents (and various parts of Salt Lake City) could easily get more out of their yards by choosing the right lawn treatment services.

From maintenance to re-landscaping, the right lawn care services will keep your front yards greener and better. Best of all, you won’t have to do any backbreaking work. And you will be left with one beautiful lawn that elevates the look and value of your property, while giving you plenty of outdoor fun.

About the author: Kenneth Lawrence is a passionate "handyman". He shares guidelines as well as tips about stuff on home improvement. He writes in behalf of http://www.slclawnservices.com/.           

Make Your Bedroom Somewhere You Want to Spend Time Awake

A bedroom is functional. It's where you sleep, but with a few careful changes and some thoughtful planning, it can become a stylish haven that you seek out to relax and spend time in before you go to bed.

Colour it beautiful

There is no right or wrong, but the impact of colour in your bedroom can make a big difference. Soothing tones in blue and green have long been favourites because their tranquility promotes restful sleep. Beware they aren't too 'cold' though as this could sub-consciously put you off spending time there.

Stronger colours are in vogue at the moment. Don't let colour scare you. If you fancy something more dramatic but are nervous, try colour on one wall only and use paler tones in the rest of the room, leading to crisp white bed linen.

Get the linen right

Bed linen is a great place to show your personality and is the easiest place to experiment with a new colour or pattern. You might even start with /your linen and work from there. There are many online retailers selling a wide range of designs. ((http://www.dunelm.com/category/home-and-furniture/bedding/duvet-covers) If you find a design you like, you can pick out accent colours or themes to continue on the walls and wider decor.

Natural fibres will be more comfortable to sleep in, so beware the polyester content in the bed linen you choose.

Add texture to your bedroom by layering cushions, blankets and throws on your bed or armchair if you have room.

Wallpapering is the other obvious option for adding pattern to a room, though you might choose to seek professional help to ensure the pattern sits correctly. The human eye will easily pick up any errors in the pattern.

If you are getting any structural work done, a professional tradesman is certainly advisable and there are many skilled people around. Try asking friends and neighbours for recommendations.

In case it doesn't all go to plan, organisations such as Citizens Advice  are on hand to help and advise.

Image credit

Clever tricks

Few of us are fortunate to have a 'big enough' bedroom, or one that is perfectly proportioned for everything we want to put into it. Take 'the rules' into account; paler colours will make the space appear bigger, and darker shades will make it smaller. It's the same principle as clothes - black is slimming - but in your bedroom, you probably want the space to be as big as it can.

Use pattern carefully. Large prints could swamp a smaller space, for example, and mixing too many patterns could make the whole scheme too 'busy'.

Mirrors make the space look bigger. Use mirror-fronted doors on a wardrobe, or hang a full-length mirror if you have space. A free-standing mirror can act as a great feature in the bedroom.

If you do have space, an easy chair is one of the most indulgent additions to a bedroom. Fill it with comfy cushions and soft throws, put a table lamp beside it and light a scented candle and you've created a relaxing sanctuary to spend awake time in as well as sleep.