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Use Caution When Using Insect Repellents

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Many types of pests are not just irritating. Some creatures are scary not because of how they look or how much damage to property they can bring; these animals are terrifying because they can transmit life-threatening illnesses to people. Mosquitoes, for instance, are well-known vectors of several forms of viruses that cause encephalitis or brain inflammation. Other species cause malaria, dengue, and other dangerous diseases. Ticks also transmit microorganisms that cause typhus and Lyme disease. This is also the creature that carries the dreaded Crimean-Congo Viral Hemorrhagic fever virus that can easily decimate mankind in a few years.

With all these virulent organisms being carried around by common household pests, it’s really very important to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and especially our children from insects. However, we must also use insect repellents cautiously because these contain chemicals, such as permethrin, DEET, P-menthane 3.8 diol, and other alcohol derivatives. Such elements, in large and continuous applications, can cause not only skin irritation, but also cancer, kidney lesions, muscle spasms, seizures, and other grave disorders. So, here are some safety tips when using insect repellents.

1. Follow recommended use.

When instructions say that a product must only be applied every 4 hours, then do so. Do not reapply every 15 minutes because, generally, saturation will not improve a product’s effectiveness. In addition, you’ll be exposing yourself and your loved ones from higher doses of dangerous chemicals. In case you’re using permethrin or other chemicals that should not be applied on the skin, then be careful during application. Do not spray products on the clothes that you’re wearing, and make sure that you don’t spray the inner part of your clothing because this section touches the skin.

2. Be cautious when using repellents on children.

Always ask your pediatrician about what sort of repellents can be used on your kids. Some insect repellents, such as those that contain DEET, must not be used on infants. In addition, children below a certain age must only be exposed to a certain concentration of DEET. Therefore, ask your doctor about the level of DEET concentration that you can use on your child.

3. Obtain more information about insect repellents.

For more information regarding insect repellent use, you can visit the AAP or American Academy of Pediatrics website. The site has a lot of information regarding types of insect repellents, recommended frequency of application, and several safety tips. There, you’ll also be able to read about some common and serious adverse reactions that could be caused by regular and improper use of repellents.

AAP Recommendations:

– Repellents used on children should not exceed 30% DEET. Generally, the higher the DEET, the longer the protection lasts. But studies show that products that contain more than 30% DEET don’t provide extra protection.

– Insect repellents should never be used on infants, especially babies that are younger than 2 months.

– Insect repellents must never be sprayed directly onto the face. Also, it should not be used on open wounds or cuts.

Claire Brent is a freelance writer and a mother who also uses insect repellents on her child for mosquito and tick protection. She’s written this article in hopes of offering more information to everyone regarding the proper way to use insect repellents, especially on children. She also blogs for Preventive Pest Control, which is a reliable company that can help you out in case you’re place or grounds are inundated by ticks or mosquitoes.





Knife Skills: What You Can Learn From Cooking Schools

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Admit it. The most impressive parts of any cooking programme are where the TV chef fillets a fish or finely chops a bundle of fresh herbs, showing off their rapid and adept knife skills. Slicing and dicing with speed and accuracy isn’t just extremely useful from a technical, time-saving perspective; it also looks fantastic. Whether you’re looking to save time in the kitchen or simply show off to your date, it makes sense to learn how to use a knife expertly. Whilst it’s possible to read about these methods in cookery books, it’s undoubtedly more effective to get some hands-on experience.

Knife Classes at Cooking Schools

For professional chefs, the ability to wield a knife efficiently is a core skill, being amongst the first assignments they are given in the kitchen. It makes sense, then, that amateur foodies receive some instruction in cutting – allowing them to slice and incise rather than hack and slash. You’ll learn the techniques involved in preparing herbs, spices and vegetables first. Whether it’s potato julienne or carrot brunoise, precisely cut plant matter is an essential part of a well-presented and tasty dish. Once you’ve got this aspect of knife competence under your belt, you’ll be able to move on to meat and fish. This is where the magic happens. Keen students will learn to adroitly portion these staple foods, deboning fish and seeking out the best cuts of chicken or beef. A good knife skill course will also teach you how to select the right knife for each task, and let you know what’s involved in keep them in tip top condition, meaning that you’ll be able to keep a keener edge for longer. If you’re interested in getting to grips with proper knife technique, you’ll want to look for a reputable class – cooking schools in London are probably the best bet at finding high quality suitable courses.

Cooking Schools in London: a Real Experience

A good cooking course will be an adventure that students undertake together. Keen cooks will have the opportunity to make new, like-minded friends as they take part in an interactive learning experience. As you would expect, a knife skills class is very hands-on! The course will be taught by an accomplished professional chef, with the class size kept at an appropriate level so that each student is able to fully benefit from their tutor’s knowledge. As well as specific direction from the head of the class, the teacher will be able to offer individualised hints and tips, ensuring that everybody is able to refine their technique. Everything you dissect will be provided by the school, making the class easy to fit within your timetable – no need to go shopping in advance! What’s more, you’ll get to consume your creation at the lesson’s conclusion alongside your new acquaintances, making it an ideal tasty prelude to a night out.

Sharp Skills

No need to be jealous of those famous chefs anymore. With some interactive teaching provided by one of the many cooking schools in London, you’re sure to impress your friends with your new abilities. Here’s to a fillet-filled future!

URL Image: http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd378/tlblazer/chefknife.jpg

Michael Doherty is a blogger with a passion for food. After a spell as the head chef of an acclaimed gastropub, he has settled into life as a full-time writer.

The Art Behind Receiving Freebies

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Everyone loves a freebie, what’s not to love right? If it’s easy to access and won’t cost you money to claim, then why not. There are however some rules to stick to when freebie collecting, the obvious being don’t go out of your way to get something for free or you might just end up spending money you wouldn’t have otherwise. Another useful tip is to only claim freebies when they relate to your lifestyle and can be used, what’s the point of collecting a sample diaper pack if you don’t have a kid right? Of course there are exceptions to these rules, when freebies could be saving or even making you money in other areas of your life.

The Great Karmic Clearance Sale - Image courtesy of Dr Stephen Dann from Flickr

Selling On

Some freebies will be so sought after that people are willing to actually pay for them. On sites like Ebay or Amazon you’ll often find freebie-sized makeup samples being sold for a bit of cash, it’s worth trying to flog what you get because every penny in this case, every penny is a profit!

Gift Giving

So you might be thinking this sounds a little stingy, but just imagine you received a bag full to the brim of samples of your favorite perfumes/makeup/dinner vouchers/snacks? I don’t think you’d be complaining too much about the cost of said present would you? This tip can even work on a larger scale, just look at the quality of freebies you can get when you take out your phone contract these days; laptops, cameras, games stations and sometimes even cash could see you winning best present giver of the year, and it cost you nothing!

Refurbishing

Free-cycle networks are becoming ever popular at the moment; someone uploads a picture and a description of an item they want to give away and consumers ‘bid’ by saying how much they want the item and when they can collect it, a genius solution to the expensive task of refurbishing your home.

Holidaying

Technically couch surfing isn’t a free holiday, as you still have to pay for the flights, but with so many couch surfing networks around you no longer have to worry about accommodation costs. Couch surfing sites are usually registered and as such are generally safe to use, they feature testimonials from other surfers and way to contact potential hosts. You may even find that couch surfing enhances your holiday, as many of these couch-lenders are often keen to show you around their hometown, giving you a more traditional experience of where you’re holidaying. It’s also worth noting that more often than not couch is a loose term here and often hosts are more than happy to provide a room for you.

What Now?

Being frugal doesn’t mean you have to be stingy. By using freebies in sensible ways you can save money for the bigger things in life and the things that will ultimately make you happy. Whether you use your freebies to re-gift, sell on or just save yourself forking out for something you need freebies are a great way to maximize your saving potential, just make sure you use them wisely.

Author Credits | Amie is passionate about personal finance – in her spare time she enjoys looking for the best savings account rates(fairinvestment.co.uk/savings-accounts) and high interest savings accounts such as fixed rate bonds  (fairinvestment.co.uk/fixed-rate-bonds).  Follow her @amielaroux on Twitter for more of her money saving tweets.

 

3 Tips When It Comes To Choosing the Right Bedding

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Since almost one-third of your life is spent on your bed, it is only natural to make it a pleasurable experience and this can be achieved by choosing the right bedding. Getting an appropriate bedding can help improve the quality of sleep and provide comfort to the body whenever necessary. If the bedding is stylish enough, it could also add a relaxing and harmonious atmosphere to the bedroom.

Choosing a duvet
Aside from the bed and mattress, a duvet is another essential item for your bedding, so it is necessary to find one that can provide you exactly what you need. Duvet fillings can either be synthetic or natural and both types have their own advantages and disadvantages that you should also be aware of. Synthetic fillings, such as polyester, can be washed and dried easily, affordable and can provide you the warmth you need. Aside from that, this is a great option for individuals with allergies, as synthetic fillings are hypoallergenic.

However, duvets with synthetic fillings are less breathable compared to natural fillings and the former can easily trap moisture and heat. This means you might wake up clammy, especially on summer nights. Natural fillings, such as feathers, goose down, fibers from wood pulp or wool are naturally breathable. This, on the other hand, is advisable for individuals who tend to get hot in bed easily or those who are living in places with hotter climate. Choosing the right material for your duvet is necessary to ensure that it could provide you the comfort you need.

Aside from that, you also have to make sure that you choose the right size of bedding for your bed, whether it is single, double, king or queen sized. In case your cover is too large for the bed, this can easily slide or slip off. If it is too small, it will not be able to cover you properly and this is not good during cold seasons. Checking the tog rating is also important, as it indicated the thermal or the warmth rating of the duvet. Low tog rating, normally at 3.0, is great for hot weather or for kids who easily get hot while in bed. High tog rating, on the other hand, is great during cold winter and this is normally at 13.0.

Choosing a pillow
Getting the right pillow is also important if you want to avoid having a stiff neck and if you want to have a restful sleep at night. Soft pillows are great for cradling your head but in case you have broad shoulders, it would be best to opt for firmer pillows for extra support. Individuals with narrow shoulders are advised to go for a single pillow for adequate support. Pillows also come in natural or synthetic and just like the duvet, it is necessary to know the pros and cons of the materials for pillows before deciding which one to go for.

If you want a firm pillow, you can opt for a memory foam pillow. Visco elastic pillow or memory foam pillow molds perfectly according to the shape of the head and neck, thus providing great support and to reduce pressure points to improve comfort when sleeping. It is also important to remember that not all pillows have the same shape. Pillows wit curved neck support can fit comfortably around the neck while a V-shaped pillow can be placed on your back while sitting on your bed.

Choosing bed linen
Various ranges of bed linens are also available and you can easily find one that will suit your budget. Pillows, sheets and duvets can be made from various materials like cotton or polyester. If you want something softer, you can opt for Egyptian cotton. Another material that can be opted for is percale, which is closed to woven fabric with luxurious feel.

Ken is a freelance writer that contributes to Outdoor Cover Pros where you can get some useful resources pertaining to  durable patio covers.

5 Habits That Will Improve Your Marriage

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We all want a happy, healthy marriage. We all want to feel fulfilled, loved, and needed in our marriage. We want to find joy from our marriage. We want to know that we bring joy to our spouse.

But, not all of us have that in our marriage. Not all of us know how to achieve that happy, successful marriage. And even for people who do have great marriages, we can always do better. We can always find more ways to improve that love and companionship.

Below are 5 habits that we can all adopt that will help to improve our marriage.

1. Go on dates

Marriage should be fun! Yes, there are always going to be causes for stress, and disagreements, and busy lives. But our marriages should bring us joy. Go on dates to strengthen your marriage. Have fun with your spouse. Find activities that you enjoy doing together. They don’t have to be expensive. Just the act of putting each other as a priority, and spending time together, will help to improve your marriage.

Going on dates provides dual benefits. First, it helps us to have fun with each other. It’s good to remember that we enjoy being with our spouse! On top of that, it helps us to get away from the stresses of life. Relieving some of this stress will help us to be less anxious in our lives. This will help us to be in better moods, think rationally, treat each other better, etc.

2. Give compliments

We all want and need to feel loved, appreciated, special, needed, good looking, talented, etc. And in your marriage is the best, and most important, place to feel that. Complement your spouse. Let them know that you appreciate them. Let them know that you are attracted to them. Let them know that you need them, and you think they are special. Say I Love You.

Be specific. Tell them WHY you think they are special. Tell them what they do that you appreciate. Tell them why you can’t live without them.

3. Never talk bad about your spouse

It’s not just about the good words here. Complements aren’t enough. It’s also about avoiding the bad words. Don’t speak negatively to your spouse. This will just frustrate, hurt, and anger them. They are supposed to be receiving encouragement from you, not the opposite. On top of that, never talk badly about your spouse to others. This not only paints them in an unfair negative light, but it helps to foster and encourage you to have negative feelings towards your spouse.

As much as possible, try not to think bad thoughts about your spouse. And never vocalize those thoughts. When you do think negative thoughts about your spouse, immediately replace them with positive thoughts about your spouse.

4. Never say “I”

Your spouse should always be your number one concern and priority. You should always put your spouse’s needs over your own. When making decisions, thinking about perceived grievances, never say the word “I.” Don’t think about yourself! Don’t say “I want to do this,” or “I didn’t like it when they did this to me.” Instead, always think about your spouse first. Think “my spouse would love this,” or “that may have been hurtful to him/her.” Try to understand their feelings and needs more.

Serve your spouse. Put them first. Do the dishes. Even if it’s their turn, or their job. Do an activity that they enjoy doing it, even if it’s not your favorite. As they recognizing you doing this, their attention and priority will also change. As you both work to put each other first, you will notice your marriage strengthening, growing, and improving immediately.

5. Listen

If you just listen, your spouse will tell and show you the things they need from you. Watch the things they do for you. Odds are, they are the types of things they would like you to do for them. Don’t think of their feedback as nagging or whining. Instead, take it as an invitation. Listen to the things they’d like you to do more. And then work to do those things. As you work to listen (and follow up) to the things your spouse is telling, hinting, and showing you that they need, they will feel more of a love for you. They will recognize and appreciate your attempts more. They will work to return the favor.

Nicole is an article writer for The Rehab Advisor. Find addiction treatment and get answers now.

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