Tricia's Musings

Random Thoughts about life in general, living in the big city of Toronto



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Is your home well insulated or do you have energy leaks?

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I live in an older home. It was built in 1927, back in the days when house were made without insulation.  Oh it’s well constructed – it’s triple brick so it’s solid, but yes, it could be warmer, especially since it’s an 87 year old house. The walls of my home are lathe and plaster and there is an air gap between my walls and the brick and mortar.   I think it’s time to spend some money to ultimately save some money!

I’ve been considering getting a company like Imperial Roofing to spray insulation into the walls and also to spray insulation in the small attic.  I haven’t checked to see how much this will cost but our government gives tax breaks for energy wise home improvements so I’d likely be able to write off a portion of the cost.  Plus, once the insulation is in, I know the heating bill will go down quite a bit because the house will not be drafty anymore!  Ok I might have a few windows that also need replacing but insulating the walls and the attic will help the most.

I’m including a fantastic infographic in this post about stopping energy leaks by using proper insulation in your home.  It’s quite informative:

 

 





Pet Safety Tips

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Every responsible pet owner should know the activities and whereabouts of their pet each day. However, sometimes our pets get mischievous and out of our sight for short periods of time. They may get into items that can do serious harm. Following a few safety tips can help keep your pet healthy and save you unnecessary anxiety, grief, and medical expense.

Medication

Keep all medication in a medicine cabinet and out of reach. Just as you would keep medicine away from a young child, the same applies for your pet. Even if you have medicine in child proof containers, it is possible for pets such as dogs or cats to get into these containers with their sharp teeth and strong jaws. Avoid leaving pills on a table or counter even if you are in the process of reaching for a glass of water to take your medication. Pets are quick to investigate and can have it eaten before you prevent them from doing so.

Small Household Objects

Whether you realize it or not, small objects can be very harmful to pets. Although some pets can swallow an object and later pass it through their feces, there are some objects that may get stuck in the stomach or intestines. If an object gets stuck in your pet, it can lead to health problems requiring surgery to remove. In rare cases, death could occur. To avoid a costly medical lesson, keep small objects out of reach from your pet.

Household Toxins

It is best to keep household items such as bleach, shampoo, bug sprays, and antifreeze locked up and out of reach from your pet. Any toxic substance can create a serious threat to your pet. If you plan to have your house sprayed for insects, make sure to ask that the exterminator use pet safe products whenever possible. If safe insecticide sprays cannot be used, remove your pet from the premises until it is safe for your pet to return to your home.

Human Food

Avoid feeding your pet human foods.

Although most dogs enjoy chewing on bones, chicken bones can cause choking for a pet if it gets hung in the throat. Chocolate is another food that can be dangerous to your dog’s health because a dog cannot digest chocolate.

Plants

Keep plants such as poinsettias away from your pet. Although poinsettias make an attractive decoration around the holidays, they are poisonous to eat. Sometimes dogs and cats are tempted to eat the leaves and suffer from an upset stomach or develop other health issues.

Mold and Your Pets

Black mold can develop in dark corners or cabinets within your home or outside buildings. Usually this type of mold can develop because of a flooding problem affecting the premises. Mold can cause many health problems in pets such as mild respiratory disease or sever lung problems. Mold poisoning can weaken the capillaries in the lungs of your pets which can cause bleeding. Hemorrhaging of the lungs can develop that can cause death. Make sure to have your home inspected periodically and have black mold problems eliminated through treatment. Other types of mold can grow on foods if left out for any length of time. Mold that grows on food can also be very harmful to your pet. Make sure to throw away any leftover food to avoid your pet from eating the leftovers and getting sick.

Because a pet is a part of your family that you grow to love, it is important to treat them as you would treat a young child. Always be careful to consider their mischievous personality and take the necessary preventative steps to ensure your pet’s safety at all times. By following these tips, your pet can live a long and happy life.

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Top 10 Most Fundamental Yoga Poses For Beginners

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Yoga

Introduction

Yoga is a type of workout that integrates the power of meditation.  It is mind boggling to say that our brain is powerful enough to command the body what to do.  Thus, with the correct meditational skills, our bodies can perform through various yoga poses.  Being a skill of mind and body, yoga is absolutely effective in reducing our stress level and eventually improves our energy.  Aside from that, it is also known to improve flexibility, balance and strength.  It is noteworthy that yoga poses will depend on your skill and on how long you have been doing yoga.  Beginners usually perform easy poses giving their bodies the appropriate leeway to get used to the exercise.

The Top 10

The positions below are arranged in a particular order that you gracefully change to the next position in a smooth and fluid-like manner.  It is to be noted that you must stay within each of the poses for five breaths before moving on to the next.

  1. Mountain Pose- This position is called as such because you just stay still as a mountain.  You can do this either by sitting or by standing.  This pose will make you bring yourself to your body.

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  1. Standing Forward Bend- After doing your mountain pose, you bend your body forward as you exhale.  Tuck your chin toward your chest and extend your head towards the floor.  Make sure that you straighten your legs and put your entire weight on your toes.  Place the palms of your hands on the mat lining up with your toes.
  1. Four-Limbed Staff- This is the next step after the Standing Forward Bend position.  As you exhale, put both limbs back as if you are doing a push-up.  Bend your elbows; make sure that your shoulders are parallel to your elbows.  Your body must also be in parallel with the floor.  Pull your navel to your spine to protect your lower back.
  1. Upward Facing Dog- Once you have achieved the Four-Limbed Staff, you slowly inhale and scoop your chest forward.  Face up and let the posterior part of your head touch your back.
  1. Downward Facing Dog Pose- As you inhale, tuck your toes under your heels.  As you exhale, lift your hips and form an inverted letter V.  Stretch your arms forward with your palms facing down.  Spread your fingers and make sure that your middle finger is in line with your elbows.  Relax your head between your arms.  Make sure you stare at your legs or on your navel.
  1. Three-Legged Dog- Shift your weight onto your hands and slowly lift your right leg into the air.  Put your gaze to your left thigh or to your navel.  You do the same with your left leg.
  1. Dolphin or Puppy Pose- Put your elbows down on the mat with your palms facing the mat.  See to it that your middle finger is in line with your elbow.  Make an inverted letter V; ensuring that your legs are straight.  Your heels must be touching the mat.  Relax your head in between your arms and direct your eyes to your legs or navel.
  1. Chair Pose- Go back to the Mountain Pose and bend your knees.  Your thighs must be touching each other.  Raise your arms with your palms facing each other.  Put your weight on your heels with your eyes gazing up your ceiling.
  1. Warrior 1-With the arms up and both knees bent forward; slowly stretch your left leg backward with your heels touching the mat.  Lift your torso up; stretch up your arms; and spread your fingers.  Your palms must be touching each other.  Put your gaze up to the ceiling.
  1. Warrior 2-From the Warrior 1 pose, twists your upper torso such as it is facing your left side.  Extend your arms out in a way that it is doing the letter T position.  Your gaze must be on your right hand.

Conclusion

Yoga is a very interesting exercise that involves the mind and body.  Once you have mastered it, you will not only keep yourself fit but also induce inner peace.

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Will My Interior Décor Stand The Test Of Time?

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Custom slipcover in Thomas Paul floral fabric

I am redecorating my home at the moment and it is not the first time I have given the place a facelift. Every few years I tend to survey my domain and wonder what the hell I was thinking of! I have often been left believing that I have appalling taste but in reality tastes do simply change and we all want the latest in thing. We then start frowning on the styles of previous decades. This leaves me asking myself what features of my new decorative schemes for 2013 will I be looking at in horror in the years to come.

Current Trends

At this point in time it is all about neutral tones and an altogether less fussy and more organic approach. Today’s stylish rooms have plain walls, wooden floors, solid wood furniture and feature just accents of colour. The clean lines and functionality of Scandinavian design are all the rage and clutter, over ornamentation and busy wallpaper are most certainly out of favour. It is difficult to imagine shrinking back in horror at the sight of my cream walls and simple oak furniture in the future but who knows? Maybe we will all find this approach rather boring in retrospect and the psychedelic patterns and bright hues of the 1970’s will return to favour. I hope not because I didn’t like 1970’s décor when it was the height of fashion and I am still haunted by the hideous blue swirly tiles that were a prominent feature of my last home when I bought it.

Bathrooms

Talking of bathrooms, having rid my life of several coloured monstrosities over the years and replaced them with simple white affairs, I am really hoping that some style guru somewhere doesn’t start a trend for avocado and pink. It always seems that after a few years the stylists become restless and have to start experimenting. The goal posts get moved and we are all suckered into thinking that we must make changes but they are not always for the better. Who decided that a brown bathroom suite was a good idea? Well clearly someone did because when I was last viewing houses I stumbled across a few of these shockers.

Cupboards

My biggest issue with interior décor is fitted cupboards. I have never liked them and almost certainly never will and so have pulled out all the cupboards in my house and replaced them with free standing furniture. I know that at some point these things will be all the rage again and my home will look like an anachronism and a monument to poor taste. Whatever we do in our homes and no matter how hard we try to achieve timeless elegance the results will always be of their era and at some point are going to look dated. The trouble is we can never know which things are going to fall out of favour.

The Future

I guess I can see the day when I will grow tired of neutral walls and I may fall out of love with my bright nautically themed bedroom but I am never going to have a coloured bathroom suite again and that is final. I also refuse to contemplate the return of swirly patterned tiles, carpet in bathrooms and the ultimate nightmare – a lava lamp! My stylish Porta Romana lamps, simple white bathroom and plain tiles should stand the test of time but then again I said that about my old floral curtains in the living room!

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Outdoor Furniture- Spicing Up Your Backyard

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Outdoor Furniture Can Spruce Up Your Backyard

When you want to add extra living space to your home, look no further than your backyard. You can create a comfortable and attractive space just by adding outdoor furniture. The area can have multiple uses. Use it for parties, as an outdoor office area, or just for relaxing.

Tables

When choosing an outdoor table, consider what you will use it for the most. Will it be used as a breakfast table, a party table or as a worktable? A breakfast table to seat two people can be just a small pretty table. It doesn’t need to be as sturdy as a party or work table.

The type of table you should choose also depends on if you have a screened-in patio or not. Some outdoor tables have glass tops. These are attractive and easy to clean, but could be damaged during a hailstorm if left out in the open. If you want a similar look to glass but without the fragile nature, choose a table with a Plexiglas top.

Wood, vinyl or wrought iron are also popular items and more durable than glass top tables.

If you plan to host large parties or picnics, your best option may be to buy a few picnic tables. These seat several people at once and hold up well to the weather.

You should also purchase end tables or coffee tables if you are buying outdoor sofas or loveseats. You will need these as places to set drinks or other items.

Seating

Outdoor seating has come a long way and is far beyond plastic lawn chairs. While there is nothing wrong with lawn chairs, keep comfort in mind when creating your backyard living space. Wrought iron, wicker, resin and teak are among the materials to buy for your outdoor sofas and chairs. Washable cushions are often included. If not, you can buy them separately.

Hammocks and hammock chairs are a great idea if you want to create a relaxing space for reading or napping. If your yard lacks trees, you do not have to give up on having hammocks. You can purchase hammock stands or poles for hanging these.

Swinging chairs are not just for porches. You can find freestanding swinging chairs for your backyard. Most sit at least two people.

Accessories

Unless your patio is already covered, you should consider buying a patio umbrella or canopy. This way, you will be able to enjoy your backyard even when the sun is glaring down or on rainy days.

Some patio tables come with patio umbrellas, which are usually removable. Another option is to purchase a freestanding patio umbrella. These can be more convenient as you can move them to any area shade when desired.

Adding an outdoor rug can make your new backyard living area feel more inviting. There are many styles made of weatherproof or weather resistant materials.

After you have purchased your outdoor furniture, the only thing left is to add some decoration. This can be a simple as adding a few potted trees or plants to the area. However, you can make it as simple or as elaborate as you want.

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