Trish — Page 15 — You are in My World Now

9 Low Cost Ways To Save On Your Winter Heating Bills

October 15, 2012 by Trish

Winter can be financially crippling for many families, with the kids going back to school, christmas, new years and the freezing temperatures. Sadly, due to the rising cost of energy and budget cuts winter looks set to become even tougher in upcoming years. Luckily there are some simple solutions you can take to save on your monthly heating bill. Don’t worry I am not going to suggest you spend £5000 on double glazed windows all these solutions are either free or at most cost £40.

Closing the Curtains When the Sun Goes Down – this is a subtle action that can make a big difference.
Layer up! You may like wondering around with just your underwear on, but maintaining those kinds of temperatures are expensive. Socks are absolutely essential in winter, you lose a large proportion of your body heat through your feet.
Close Up All Gaps – you may be shocked by the number of spaces that air can get through in your house. If you have a fireplace, make sure to close the flute when it’s not in use. Window and door frames are often filled with gaps – light a candle and follow its movement to spot them. Gaps are easy to fill, you can use simple caulking for gaps in the windows and a sweep.
Upgrade your radiator valves – Thermostatic radiator valves regulate the flow of hot water to the radiator, controlling the temperature of a room.
Lowering the base temperature of your house by a few degrees is unlikely to be noticeable (assuming you haven’t already done it), you should consider taking similar action with your water heater.
Regulate the times your house is heated, there is no point keeping the sofa warm while your at work or asleep.
Closing your bathroom and kitchen fans when they are not needed will prevent unnecessary heat escaping.
Make use of all the heat you create! Leave the bathroom door open after you shower and the kitchen door open while you cook so the released heat can help heat the house.
Get maintenance done on your house! Your local electrician can improve the efficiency, of your heaters and you personally can ensure that your filters are clean, further reducing heating costs.

Hopefully this list will make your Christmas that little bit merrier and your new years that little bit happier. Keep in mind that while reducing the energy cost of your heating you also reduce you carbon footprint. So you can go forth knowing that you have done that little bit extra for the world as well as your wallet.

Written by Jacob Catt on behalf of Heated Towel Rails, suppliers of towel rails for the whole of the UK.

photo by: Five Furlongs

5 As Seen on TV Products People Still Find Useful

October 13, 2012 by Trish

Am I the only one who thinks I need to purchase every product I see a commercial or infomercial for? Man, they really know what they’re doing with their marketing that’s for sure. I live my life totally fine, completely oblivious of a particular product. And then I see a commercial for it… and my whole world changes. I need that product NOW. I begin to wonder how I ever survived up until that point without the use of that product in my life.

Whether you are a sucker like me, or you think most “As Seen on TV Products” are kind of a joke, one thing is for certain. There are definitely at least a handful of As Seen on TV products that really are quite useful. Really when it comes down to it, all I can say is this: don’t knock it till you try it.

Here are 5 As Seen on TV products that people find useful:

1. ShamWow

Most of us, when we first saw the commercials for the ShamWow, probably kind of made fun of them. I mean, really, I’ll just use paper towels, thank you very much. But then we saw them hanging out in the grocery store checkout lane and we picked them up. And once we got them home, we realized that these cloths really are super absorbent, and it’s nice to have a product like this that we can wash and use over and over again.

2. Insanity Workout

Again, most of us have probably made fun of these commercials. I mean, sometimes it seems like every other commercial is advertising for some sort of workout video or in-home workout equipment. But then we started hearing the reviews. And for people who have used the Insanity workout program (and a few others that are similar to it), they can all agree on one thing: it produces great results!

3. Snuggie

Every single one of us has made fun of their commercials. When I was forced to continually see that woman throwing her blanket off in frustration when she couldn’t answer the phone, I swore I would never own one of these items just on pure principle of how much I hated the commercials.

Then I came across one in the store. And as I really started to think about it, I began to realize that this could actually be a pretty useful product! Having those sleeves in the blanket as you try to read, use the remote control, or talk on the phone, really could be pretty nice. So, I will admit it, I broke down and purchased one.

Even though we’ve all made fun of snuggies’ commercials, when you really start looking into it, at this point most people you know probably actually own one of these products. And we’ve all enjoyed not having to throw off our blanket in frustration when the phone rings.

4. Neck Pillow

We’ve all seen these on commercials, in gas stations, and in the airport magazine stores. The neck pillow. Anyone who has ever been on a long airplane ride, or a road trip, will all agree: these neck pillows are a lifesaver!

5. Slap Chop

Again, this is yet another one of those As Seen on TV products that many of us have made fun of… until we own one. These little handheld choppers really do save quite a bit of time over having to chop those items with a knife.

Nicole is a writer for StarReviews.com, where they review websites, software and services. Check out Star Reviews 2012.

photo by: randomcuriosity

Fun Resources to Make Posters Online

October 7, 2012 by Trish

A poster is a very versatile medium – a poster can fit perfectly in a teenage girl’s room, a CEO’s office, or any public location. They’re excellent for marketing or for just expressing yourself. If you want to create a custom posters, here are five fun online resources that will help you do it.

Zazzle.com

Zazzle is a print-on-demand company that allows you to create many different types of materials, including posters. It’s easy to make your own poster with Zazzle, and you have lots of options to customize it. You can choose from five different types of paper finishes. You can create custom framing or choose from a selection of custom frames. Your posters can be up to 40in by 60in, and you can get them in less than 24 hours. If you want, you can even decide to put your posters on sale in the Zazzle marketplace where you can set your own price and set up your own Zazzle shop.

Vistaprint.com

Vistaprint can help you design your poster with an easy-to-use interface. There are tons of customization options, including size, font, color, paper, and much more. There are hundreds of templates you can select from to use as a starting point for your poster. If you prefer, you can also just upload the poster you’ve already designed, or you can start with a completely blank poster. Vistaprint makes it easy for you to add your own photos to your posters, and they are very reasonably-priced.

CafePress.com

CafePress is another print-on-demand company with tons of different types of products you can customize. You can create posters, banners, yard signs, and more. CafePress is fun to use because you are literally given a blank canvas, and you have a tool bar of options like text boxes, graphic boxes, colors, fonts, and more. If you’re not great at designing things it could be a little challenging, but it’s an excellent choice for people who want to start their poster from scratch. Like Zazzle, if you want to you can sell your posters through your own CafePress online store for the price you choose.

Fathead.com

Fatheads are wall graphics that began as life-size posters of athletes and sports-related graphics. They’re made of die cut vinyl or canvas, and they’re a unique, memorable way to create a poster. You can design your own custom Fathead in an easy six-step process. Upload the photos or images you want to use, choose a layout, add effects or text if desired, and order. There are 13 sizes to choose from. While Fatheads are a lot more expensive than other types of traditional posters, they make a big statement.

PosterBurner.com

PosterBurner is a poster-making company that can help you create the exact poster you want. There are countless options for size, paper type, backing material, layouts, text, and more. Just start with an uploaded image of your choosing and work around it to design your poster. PosterBurner has a quick turnaround time, and its blog also provides insights on how to make great posters.

This article was prepared by M.P Brown. M.P writes about enhanced site solutions by Icon.

How to Care for Your Skin Type

October 6, 2012 by Trish

Following what’s right for your skin type is the secret to an effective skin care regimen. If you try products that don’t suit your skin tone, chances are your skin would look worse, or you might experience some skin health problems- from simple pimples to dreaded skin cancer.

Basically, there are three skin types based on the colour or tone: fair, medium and dark. Before using a skincare regimen, you must identify your skin type first so your skin would be healthy and glowing.

Fair Tone

Caucasians and many Latinas fall in this category. Some Asians such as Koreans, Chinese and Japanese also have fair skin. The fair tone type is usually described as pale, bisque and porcelain.

Fair skin is usually very sensitive to sunlight and too much UV exposure since there is a low amount of melanin on the skin. Melanin is a hormone that’s responsible for the dark (brown) pigmentation of the skin that is necessary for body protection against ultraviolet rays and other environmental hazards. But, don’t worry – there’s something good about having fair skin. Possessing this skin type means you can have a uniform complexion much faster and easier than medium or dark skin tones.

For your basic skin regimen, use a skin cleanser depending on your skin type – normal, dry or oily. It is important to include an SPF 30 sunscreen in your routine to prevent unwanted UV damage. Retinol or creams containing alpha-hydroxyl acid (AHA) are perfect to put on your face and skin before going to bed.

Gentle micro dermabrasion kits are recommended for fair-skinned ladies like you. Since wrinkles and age spots are first seen in fair-skinned people, make sure that you prevent these by putting creams and other topical solutions specified for these skin problems, such as wrinkle-reducing creams and age-defying products.

Medium Tone

The skin tones that belong to the medium category include those that are from light beige to tan shades. Most people who live in the Middle East, Mediterranean countries, Latin nations and East Asia showcase medium skin tone. The medium tone contains more melanin compared to fair tone, which makes it better since you have more natural protection against the harsh ultraviolet rays. The signs of skin aging appear later on them than on fair-skinned people. The problem with medium tone skin is that it tends to produce more oils and show enlarged pores and visible pimples.

The basic skin care regimen that medium toned people need includes a salicylic acid wash, blotting papers to reduce oil, and high SPF sunscreen facial cream and lotion. Prescription hydroquinone creams recommended by your dermatologist can be helpful in solving hyper pigmentation problems.

Dark Tone

Coffee brown skin colours to rich ebony shades are included in the dark tone category. The dark skin tone is common among South Asians, Afro-Caribbeans and African-Americans. Among the three skin tones, the dark tone possesses the greatest production of melanin and thus, the best protection against sun damage. The common problems that dark toned people face, however, include hyper pigmentation and acne scars.

For the basic care for dark skin tone, salicylic acid wash and creams should be included in your daily skin care regimen. These prevent acne and other skin breakouts. Also, never forget to exfoliate at least three times a week to deeply clean your pores and remove ingrown hairs from the skin.

RejuvaDERM offers an extensive range of skin care products, which are available from their skin care store.

5 Tips For Large Item Disposal

October 3, 2012 by Trish

Living in an apartment leaves a renter with the difficult task of where to dispose large items. Most apartment complexes will not allow tenants to place anything bigger than a bag of trash in the dumpster. These five tips will help any renter discover how to rid themselves of large personal items.

Donate:

If the item has value, a renter may donate it to a thrift store. Thrift stores gladly take an assortment of different items and will even come and pick donations up. Before donating make sure that the items are not stained or torn. Donations to a thrift store help the community and the thrift store support themselves. Renters may find a thrift store in their area by searching the following websites such as www.thethriftshopper.com.

Sell:

Any large item that may have value to someone else has the possibility of being sold. Place an ad on www.craigslist.org or in the local newspaper. Odds are good that someone will need that sofa or bed that needs to be disposed of. Be honest with buyers about any potential problems with the items being sold. Remember that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.

Hire Someone:

Large items that are not able to be sold or donated will need to be disposed of another way. A company like www.1800gotjunk.com will come to a persons residence for a fee and remove and dispose of any type of item. Renters may be able to find an independent company or individual who specializes in removing large items for a fee. Lower the cost of hiring a company by asking neighbors if they need to rid themselves of some possessions and split the costs.

Ask Landlord:

Landlords have certainly dealt with this problem before. Ask them what they suggest for disposal of the items. The possibility exist that they will allow renters to place large items in the dumpster if they are broken down or they know of a good manner of disposal.

Yard Sale:

Have a community wide yard sale with other residents of the apartment. Joining forces with other residents will draw a big crowd to the yard sale. Avid yard sale lovers will delight in finding huge sales. Large items and more will be gladly purchased and hauled away while those participating in the sale make some money. Seek permission from the landlord before having a yard sale to ensure that the sale is allowed on the property.

Justin Clark is freelance blogger and the current editor of the California Apartments Blog where he focuses on green living. Click here to see some of the recommended green apartment communities Justin has reviewed.

9 Low Cost Ways To Save On Your Winter Heating Bills