Protect Your Pooch

Once you get a dog you’ll quickly realise that they’ll become everything to you. They’ll look to you as a source of protection and happiness, as will you look to them. You’ll form a bond so quickly that is like no other. So you want to make sure you’re protecting them no matter what. They’ll quickly become like another child to you, except it’s a little harder to protect them. There’s things that will happen to them that will seem out of your control, and they can’t always tell you when they’re ill. But there’s a few things you can do to try and make sure they’re as healthy as possible. Here’s a few of tips for you.

Fleas
Fleas are just a nightmare for the both of you. Imagine the itchiness of head lice on a human, that is how dogs would feel but on a bigger scale. Not only is it really unpleasant for them, your home will quickly become infected with them if your dog does. It isn’t hard to treat, all you need to do is get some flea treatment and use it two or three times a year to keep them protected. Be careful though, make sure you’re using a brand that has little to no side effects. Some have nasty ones that can be quiet worrying, just read more here to find out. Fleas are usually spread from other dogs, or just on walks from other animals like flies. It is easy to catch them, and easy to spread them. So early prevention is key if you don’t want an infestation on your hand. If you do notice your dog having fleas treat it right away to take out the discomfort. You’ll also need to use a flea treatment on your house as they can be irritable to human skin as well.

Diet & Fitness
Their diet and fitness is just as important as our diet and fitness would be. They need just as much of it as us. In fact, they need a lot more in terms of fitness. What diet they have is ever so important as well. Whether you feel like a good owner or not, a diet full of human food just isn’t any good for them. They’re a lot more sensitive to foods than are. You’ll often find them having a bad belly off of things they’ve ate on the floor on a walk, let alone the food we give them. There’s the obvious things that you can’t give them, such as chocolate. Chocolate really is poisonous to dogs, even the tiniest bit can have them in the vets for days and feeling extremely ill. As for fitness, you want to make sure you’re taking them for regular walks, but don’t overdo it. Whilst dogs are extremely active, they do also need their time to rest. Overworking their joints could lead to problems you don’t want early on.

So there we go, easy ways in which you can protect your pooch in the main areas that might affect them. Love and care for them with all your heart, and they will give it back in abundance.

Household Horrors: What To Do When Your Washing Machine Goes Wrong

Whether you lease or own your home, it’s likely that you have encountered the stressful situation where something has broken down, gone wrong, or stop working altogether! In particular, washer dryers seem to get a lot of use and so can quite often stop working properly. Of course, you can’t do without clean clothes, so it’s an issue needs to be sorted as soon as possible. Luckily, there are some ways of dealing with this crisis while keeping a cool head. Read on to find out what they are.


When your washer breaks down, it can cause chaos!

Identify the issue
The first task you need to complete if your washer has broken down is to identify what is actually wrong with it. This isn’t as difficult as you might think, as there is plenty of advice on Google that can help you work out what has gone wrong.

I’m not suggesting that you fix it yourself though, as anything that combines electricity and water should be looked at a by a professional. It should also be switched off as soon as you think it’s going wrong for safety reasons. Instead, finding out what the issue is is about knowing whether it’s worth getting the machine repaired or whether it’s more cost effective to buy a new one.

Launderette
Don’t forget too, that while your washer is out of action, there are alternatives that you can use to clean your clothes. One is taking your items to a launderette and using their washer and dryers.

The second is to hand wash items in the bath or sink. Yes, it a bit more time consuming than you are used to but it convenient and will allow you to wash the clothes that you need quickly, even if your washer is broken.

Repair or replace?
Once you have an idea of what is wrong with your washer you can make the decision to repair or replace it. Of course, it is going to be more expensive to buy a new washer. However, if you are sensible about it and consider personal loans with low interest rates to pay for the device, it can be more cost-effective in the long run. The reason being that washer repair people often charge quite a lot, and there is no guarantee that these will work properly or last for a long time. Something that means it can be easier all round to just invest in a new one.

Prevention is better than cure
Last of all, once you have your new or repaired washer sorted remember that taking care of it is vital to ensure that it last as long as possible.

To do this be sure to include descaling treatments if you are in an area with hard water. Also, remember to check all the pockets of your clothes before you put them in the laundry, as well as the empty the tray at the bottom regularly that is used to catch things that shouldn’t be there like coins, buttons, and collar stiffeners. Then you will help keep your washer working for as long as possible!

Bible Verse of the Day: 1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV)

Hello Wonderful People!

I pray your week has been great so far!
My wife and I are taking part in a 21 day fast with our church.
We are praying and fasting, believing God for supernatural breakthroughs in our life.

One area of our life in which we consistently have on our prayer agenda is for divine health and healing.

1 Peter 2:24 (NKJV) – via YouVersion

Everyday, in our prayer time, we confess healing scriptures over our life. We confess a long life, walking in total divine health and free of all sickness and disease. We confess this over our ourselves, our family and friends, and our doggies as well. We want anyone we know and love to live a long and abundant life.

One of those scriptures which we profess each day is 1 Peter 2:24. This is a foundational scripture that everyone needs to be confessing over their life. In this scripture, we see that Jesus Christ has already bore (taken) our sickness when he went to the cross for us. When He died on the cross, our sins were forgiven and our sicknesses were healed. We just stand in faith to receive it. We know that Jesus can and will heal any sickness or disease that Satan tries to use against us. We have seen many miraculous signs of healing in our life. And we know that many more miracles are our way.

If you are needing prayer in your life for healing, please let us know in the comment section below. We will stand in agreement with you for your complete healing and total restoration of your life; In Jesus Name.

Dealing With Stress And Relaxing

Life comes with stress, there’s no way to get around it. The older we get, the more worries we have; house, car, pets, children. And it’s in the middle of adulthood where we amass all of these things the most. Quite often the most expensive time is when all the kids are still at home, the house still has a mortgage, and you’re trying to support your family in doing all that they can to have the best start in life. And no one can fault you for that. But it doesn’t mean that it all comes stress free.

Stress can be one of the biggest issues you face in your life – it can crush a person if they let it. But you can very easily learn to manage and to even get rid of the stress in your life. The first thing you need to do is to identify where the worries are coming from and then to deal with them individually. This way the problems don’t seem so big.

Finances
From the richest person to the poorest, everyone worries about their income. Albeit some more than others. But if you’re in debt – this is probably where the majority of your stress lies. The way to lessen this stress is to get organized. Budgeting will forever be your greatest asset. Set out a financial plan months in advance, have a clear understanding of your income and outgoings, and you’ll be able to see where money is being wasted. A well-organized budget will reduce your stress immediately. If you have multiple debts then it might be an idea to look into debt consolidation for bad credit. This allows you to concentrate on one payment and one interest rate, making this a lot less complicated.

Work
Work is one of the leading causes of stress, luckily there are a few ways to solve it, but it does depend on the level of stress you are experiencing. A vacation might be all you need to refresh yourself. Or, you might need to combine a vacation with lessened shifts or hours for a while to give yourself time to recuperate. Or, it might be time for you to switch it up and find a new job – either the same role in a new place or something different altogether. Starting a new job is nerve-wracking even without the responsibility of bills and family. But if your current work situation is doing nothing but giving you stress – then a complete change might be everything you need.

Health
Ironically one of the biggest contributors to health concerns is stress. Health is something people agonize over constantly. There are a few things you can do to help, but you need to remember that there is only so much you can do to keep yourself healthy – there are some things, like old age, that no one can control. First of all, get health insurance. That way your stresses over health and money don’t clash. Next look at your lifestyle; your health will only improve if you work at it. Eating right and exercising regularly is the easiest yet the biggest impacts you can make on your health and well-being. If you smoke, quitting will be the best thing you have ever done for your body. The same goes for lessening your alcohol intake. Get a good night’s sleep – and with your lessened stress, this should come a lot easier to you.

 

Increasing the Value of Your Home

Many of us fail to think about the value of our homes until it’s too late. We live happily, making changes we want, focusing on the aesthetic of our home, without giving its value much thought. Why should we, if we don’t intend to leave? Well, you never know. It’s always a good idea to add value to your home. Firstly, because you never know what the future may bring.

You may one day find yourself in the position of needing to sell, only to find that changes that you have made have decreased your home’s value and that it’s too late to do anything about It. Secondly, even if you never have to sell, your home is an asset. It’s worth, is your worth. If you ever need to apply for a loan or remortgage, its value will be taken into account. Also, if nothing else, you’ll at least know that you have something worthwhile to leave for your children in the future. A legacy to pass on to the future generations of your family. To use as they wish.

So, whatever your reason for wanting to add value, it’s a good idea that can never hurt. Thinking long-term, it could even be a good idea to take out a debt consolidation loan to free up some cash to allow you to make improvements. As the added value to your home will more than cover your loan. But, what should you do? It can be hard to know whether the changes you’d like to make will add or decrease the value, as we all place value on different areas of the home. But, as a starting point, these are a few changes worth considering.

Add a Bedroom
A four-bedroom home can be worth much more than a three bedroom. Even if that three bedroom has a large closet or second bathroom or the fourth bedroom is tiny. Just remember, to count as a bedroom you must be able to fit in a bed and must be at least seventy square feet.

There are many places you can add a room. Convert an attic or basement, add a bedroom to an unused area. Convert your downstairs bathroom or even your garage; most people don’t keep cars in them anyway. Sometimes it’s less about adding a room, and more about repurposing a room. Think about what holds more value. A house listing might say “four bedrooms”, it will never say “three bedrooms and a small dining room.”

Add Security
Security is vital to prospective buyers, so it’s a great way to add value. An excellent way to add an extra layer of security, as well as more space and to give your curb appeal a boost is adding a porch. You should also make sure your home is alarmed and has secure doors and windows.

Add Insulation
No one wants to live in a cold house. So, whether you want to add value or not, it’s a good idea to add insulation, which can also save you money on your utility bills. If you do ever decide to sell, insulation is one of the first things prospective buyers will ask about. The first thing to think about is loft insulation. Up to 25% of your home’s heat is lost through the roof, so getting it insulated can make the world of difference to the comfort of your home. Next, look at cavity wall insulation before addressing smaller details such as window and door seals, and insulating your pipes to protect them from winter freezing.

Look at the Frontage
When it comes to our homes, first impressions matter. When we visit someone’s home for the first time, whether to consider buying it or as a guest, it’s front garden, front door and the front of the house itself make this all-important first impression. You’ve formed an opinion before you ever walk through the door.

Even if you add a porch, there is still more that can be done. Consider paving the front garden and adding a driveway. Off-street parking is highly desirable. It could even reduce your car insurance costs. This also keeps the garden well presented, while being easy to clean and maintain. Then, make sure your front door is secure and clean, with a visible number or house name. Finally, clean the front of your house up. Have the windows and gutters cleaned, then either paint the front if it needs it or hire a jet washer to give it a deep clean.

Focus on the Kitchen
For many people, the kitchen is the heart of the home. It’s where they spend time together cooking, eating and chatting. It’s one of the most used rooms in the house. So, it needs to be clean, tidy and practical.

If you do ever move, chances are you’ll take most of the appliances with you. So, don’t worry about these, get what you want. Focus instead on permanent fixtures and fittings. A large sink is handy and a kitchen with a large seating area, even if it’s just a long bench and table along a wall, is always enviable. For a quick spruce, change the cupboard doors and give the walls a lick of paint.

Paint
The easiest way to increase the value of your home is to paint. Renovations and big changes can be costly and aren’t always worth it. But, a good coat of paint is cheaper, easier and definitely more cost effective. If you are selling, it’s a good idea to stick to neutral colors. Viewers find it much easier to imagine their décor and style in your home if they aren’t overwhelmed by color and surrounded by your choices.

Whether you are planning to sell or hope to live in your home for many years to come, increasingly it’s value, and so, your own worth is always a good idea. Whatever changes you make, keep value in mind and only go forward if you think they’ll have a positive effect.