Floating Candle

This floating candle was put on our table. Captured when we had lunch at a restaurant. It functions to get away flies around our table.

Mellow Yellow

5 Ways Lighting Can Improve Your Home

If you are looking to sell your house, or if you simply want to improve the atmosphere for your own enjoyment, there are several things you can do to make the most of your house. And these improvements don’t have to break the bank. The most common ways to make your home look its best, without making major changes, are using fresh flower arrangements and good lighting. Although you might not have realised it, lighting has a huge impact on the look and feel of our homes, and it can make a world of difference.

Lighting largely comes from two places – windows and electric lights. Buyers often look for places that have good natural lighting, with big windows. Additions such as skylights add to this and bring an aura of nature that can’t be obtained artificially.

Nevertheless, artificial lights can dramatically impact a space, so don’t despair if your home is not blessed with lots of natural light. Hotel are a prime example of this, they use both flowers and good lighting design to make the best of rooms that may not have much light or personality otherwise.

So how can lighting improve your home?

1.       Security

The most obvious improvement comes in the form of security. While fancy back-to-base systems, and home automations provide amazing security, lighting around the exterior of the home, operated by sensors, will alert you to a guest – wanted or unwanted – immediately. This improvement in security is all from the simple act of flicking a switch.

2.       Feature

Lights can either become a feature of your room, or highlight it. A beautiful lighting display, unique floor lamp, or even a just a shade can change the look of your entire room, and command the attention of your guests.  Likewise, a spotlight directed onto an artwork can make it a true highlight.

3.       Ambience

Lighting can also help you achieve your design desires. If, for example, you are holding a sophisticated dinner in a dining room influenced by formal English dining rooms, soft lighting will go a great way to achieving what you’re aiming for.

4.       In the Bedroom

It is not often spoken about, but lighting plays a big role in the bedroom. For those with less confidence, soft, background lights provide a subtle, sensuous mood. Rather than turning the lights right out, good lighting can be used to make you feel better about yourself and enable you to see your loved one.

5.       On the Bills

Electricity is rising in price. Solar power and wind turbines aren’t at full strength yet but that doesn’t mean that lighting your home has to be expensive. ‘Dollar saver’ light bulbs save an amazing amount of energy and last a long time, meaning that your lighting choice can actually play a role in decreasing your bills.

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Inside a Japanese Restaurant

My husband and I had lunch at this place last Tuesday. I saw interesting decoration inside. But as my husband is a smoker, we prefer to eat outside. Our lunch was so nice. Good place, good food.

The Weekend in Black and White

Making Your Home More Water Efficient

Water conservation is not only important for the environment; it can save you a lot of money as well. The good news is that it is not so difficult to make your home more water efficient. From making sure that your pool pump is a recirculated pump, to turning off the water in the shower while you shampoo, here are a few effective ways to create a more water-efficient home:

Monitor Your Water Bill

The first step towards water efficiency is to make sure you are using only as much water as you need. Water conservation goes hand in hand with water efficiency, so you’ll want to make sure that you monitor your water usage on a monthly basis. When you monitor you monthly water usage, you can analyse how your water is being spent. You can also determine whether or not there are any leaks you may be unaware of.

Turn Off the Water!

Without even thinking about it, we waste water – whether it’s by keeping the water running while brushing our teeth or leaving the tap on when washing dishes. It is important to make a conscious effort to turn off the tap when it is not necessary to have it on. So next time you’re shaving or washing your car, make sure you’re only using as much water as you need.

How to Water Your Plants

Many of us don’t realise how much water our plants need to remain healthy and vibrant. Something as simple as planting in the wrong season can double the amount of water your plants consume. The best time to plant is in spring, when it’s not too hot and when springtime showers sprinkle some natural rainwater on your plants. Also, use organic mulch as it holds in more moisture and saves water. And always remember that over-watering kills plants more than under-watering.

Don’t Pour Water Down the Drain

There are a few things that you can do to save water that you may not have thought of before. For instance, if you drop an ice cube you wanted to put in a glass of lemonade, don’t just throw the ice-cube into the sink, throw it into a potted plant instead. Also, keep a bucket in your shower to catch excess water. You can then use that water for plants or even to clean items like your car tools.

Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS)

Finally, you’ll want to make sure you buy products that have the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS). These labels can cut your water bill in half, without compromising performance. By 2021, it is estimated that Australians will save over 800,000 mega-litres of water thanks to conservation schemes like WELS.

Making your home more water efficient can seem like a difficult endeavour at first, but if you implement these water-saving tactics you will be saving money on your utility bills and helping the environment.

What You must Know about Dental Implants

In the recent years, the field of dentistry has seen significant improvements. A few decades ago, there was no satisfactory solution to the problem of loss of teeth. This is no longer the case today. If you have lost your teeth and are suffering from it, dental implants are the best solution. There are also other solutions like bridges and dentures but dental implants are much more advantageous.

Dental implants are artificial teeth made of titanium or titanium alloys. Titanium is the metal of choice to make dental implants because it is highly resistant to corrosion. It also displays a unique property known as osseointegration. When a titanium implant is kept in contact with bone, the cells of the bone fuse with the titanium implant and make it very strong. The stability of dental implants is due to this phenomenon.

Dental implants are very advantageous when compared to other dental restoration techniques. Some of the advantages of dental implants are as follows:

Better appearance: Dental implants look very natural. If you are afraid to smile due to lost teeth, you can completely solve this problem by using dental implants. Dental implants look so natural that you cannot tell the difference between dental implants and natural teeth by merely looking.

Better speech: Loss of teeth can cause speech abnormalities. Dental implants can cure these abnormalities. With dental implants your speech will no longer slur and you can speak confidently.

Easier eating: Dental implants not only look like natural teeth but also function like them. With dental implants, you don't have to worry about your teeth slipping when you're eating. Dental implants are very strong and so you can eat normally.

Improved oral health: When dental implants are placed, nearby teeth are left untouched. This ensures that your oral health is not affected. Dental implants also don't require excessive maintenance. With normal maintenance, they last for a long time.

Dental implants and success rates

Dental implants are highly successful. Statistics indicate that dental implants are successful in 98% of the cases. There are a number of factors that affect the success rate. Some of the common factors include the health condition of the patient prior to surgery, tobacco use, oral infections and oral hygiene. If proper oral hygiene is maintained, dental implants can last for a long time without any issues.

Conclusion

Dental implants are an excellent option for lost teeth. They have many advantages. The only drawback with dental implants is that they are relatively costly. And in most cases dental insurance companies will not provide cover for the procedure. You have to finance it by using other means. Nevertheless, dental implants are an excellent option for lost teeth and are worth the investment.

About the author:

Aditya Venkatesh is a computer-enthusiast who is fascinated by computer technology, gadgets and the Internet. He writes frequently on computers and other topics on www.AdiWebs.com. In the past, he worked as a technical writer at a leading web development company in Hyderabad, India. His other interests include photography and DIY projects.

Common Household Spending Problems

There are several common household problems that many families don’t even realise is having an impact on their finances. The only way to find out where you could be wasting money; is to start by identifying exactly where your household’s earnings are being spent.

Look at your budget

Don’t have one? This is your first mistake. One of the best ways to be able to identify seemingly black holes in your spending is to outline what all of your expenses are. Draw up a budget outlining how much you are spending on your car and home insurance, your electricity bills, your groceries, right down to how much your child’s sporting activities cost. Leave nothing unaccounted for.

Not looking for a better deal

Once major mistake many families make is not shopping around for the best deals when it comes to credit card interest rates, home phone and Internet packages, car insurance, health insurance and even their mortgage.

Take the time to go through your policies and find out if you can get a better deal elsewhere. Call around, research online and get quotes. If you didn’t put in the hard yards to make sure you are getting the best rates, then you will probably be able to save yourself hundreds just by shopping around.

Not taking advantage of bundling services

Many companies, whether they be insurance or telco providers, offer discounts for package deals. So if your home phone and Internet is from one provider and your mobile phone services are with another, see who can offer you the better deal and bundle your services. Not only will this save you money, but it’s also easier when everything is in the one place. It’s also good to do this with your insurance as well.

Spending too much on electricity bills

Are your power bills through the roof? Many families struggle to keep their electricity bills down for a number of reasons. Here are a few ways to dramatically reduce your household energy consumption:

●  Educate your children about how to save electricity. For example, put on warmer clothes rather than turning on the heater and keep blinds closed during the hottest parts of the day to keep an area from heating up from direct sunlight.

●  Turn off appliances at the switch; everything from microwaves to televisions are still using power even when they are in standby mode.

●  Use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, The higher the star rating, the more energy efficient the appliance. As you need to replace each item, buy a replacement that’s really efficient. It will save you money in the long run.

It’s easy to let household spending get out of control if you are not entirely sure where the money is actually going. But the good news is if you create a budget, and take steps to reduce the amount of outgoings, you can rectify your spending habits easily, and get your family’s finances back in great shape, fast.

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