How to Squeeze Water out of Stones: Maximizing Square Footage in Your Home

Are you longing for more space in your home like Mary Poppins did with her bag, yet lacking stylish exterior styling but providing endless amounts of room within? Finding more square footage is a shared sentiment among homeowners. Here are some ingeniously creative methods of expanding it!

Photo by Aaron Huber on Unsplash

Think Vertical, not Horizontal: The Sky Is the Limit 

Before making drastic changes or incurring costly extensions, remember that your home is three dimensional space. Just as ambitious skyscrapers reach for the stars, so too should storage solutions. Don't limit yourself to looking in only one direction when looking at storage solutions: try swapping out low-slung coffee tables for tall, slim ones for immediate expansion of space - and enjoy increased headroom! Install shelves right up to the ceiling or use stackable storage; it may just make up one room of extra room that you never knew existed above you!

Portable Barns: Your Moveable Feast of Space 

Looking to add more space into your life but can't seem to find it? Portable barns provide an easy, cost-effective way of expanding square footage without extensive construction projects. Plus, the added bonus? Bringing holiday decorations indoors without risking theft! Move or rearrange them as your needs change for maximum flexibility on your property. They offer true versatility in this respect: having your cake (your new spacious barn) and eating it too (using it). Get our analogy?

Furniture With Hidden Talents: Space Agents

Just when you thought your furniture had revealed all its secrets, we offer this guide on discovering their unexplored abilities. Dual-purpose pieces are an innovative solution to space constraints. Sofa beds serve as discreet guest bedrooms while an ottoman with hollow interior can act as an inconspicuous storage bin. And don't forget about wall-mounted fold-down tables: space-saving marvels that save both floor space and time! While not in use, they become part of the wall art and later transform into full dining tables when dinner rolls around - not only saving space but also creating it! Now isn't that worthy of a spy novel?

Sky-High Dreams: Lofts as the Ultimate Space-Savers

Now let's raise our ambitions a notch higher. Lofts provide us with an opportunity to expand vertical space. Let your creativity flourish on this new stage of vertical growth! Imagine this - your room's footprint has not altered, yet you have miraculously created an entirely new floor! Convert that attic into an inviting bedroom or add a loft bed in your studio apartment; with endless options at your fingertips, nothing stands in your way of making it happen! Are you dreaming of a reading nook, extra storage space or bird's eye home office space? Look upward and let a loft bring your loft-y dreams into reality! Just think: like pulling a rabbit out of a hat... but the rabbit here represents more space; so as a metaphoric example this should work just fine!

Mirrors and Colors: Illusionists of Interior Design

Designers know all too well the power of smoke and mirrors when it comes to creating the illusion of more space. Strategically placed mirrors reflect light to make rooms seem larger than they actually are - like magic tricks by David Copperfield! Adding another magical trick, light hues have long been used by interior designers as part of an illusion strategy; making rooms appear open, airy, and larger without actually changing size.

Conclusion: The Great Space Creation Show

Expanding your living space doesn't involve breaking down walls or expanding into neighboring yards (though we wouldn't advise this!). Instead, it involves clever furniture, lofts and design illusionists working together to put on an amazing show. Your desire for extra space was always there but hidden away under cape of some magician; now that we've revealed all its secrets why not give it a try yourself? Remember not "abracadabra", but rather "smart use of space".

When to get help with mobility issues

 

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Many of us experience mobility issues as we get older. Some of us may even develop mobility issues when we’re younger as a result of injuries, illness or conditions. While we may try to maintain our independence at first, there may eventually reach a point when we need help. It’s important that you don’t delay this help and end up neglecting your basic needs. Below are some signs that it could be time to look into hiring some help.

Getting around is becoming slower and more difficult

Crutches, walking sticks, walkers, wheelchairs and mobility scooters can all help us to get around - but they have limitations. If you need to drive somewhere but can no longer drive yourself, you will need someone who can drive for you. Relying on taxis could get expensive, and so you may want to consider looking into services that can help you get around.

Some people with mobility issues even find that they struggle to get around their home. If moving isn’t an option, you may need someone who can help you climb stairs or get to the bathroom. Having someone to do errands could even be useful if you find walking short distances to be painful or exhausting. There are care services that can carry out tasks for you like shopping for groceries or posting letters. 

You’re struggling to look after your personal hygiene

Maintaining personal hygiene is important for our physical health. It is also important for our mental health, as it can affect the way we feel about ourselves. If taking a bath or shower is becoming challenging, it may be time to accept that you need to hire help.

There are options you may be able to explore before this such as installing a walk-in shower with a seat and grab rail if you currently don’t have one. However, this is still not enough, you may have to accept help from a carer. There are at-home care services you can look into to help with your personal hygiene needs. 

Preparing food and drinks is becoming harder

You need to be able to feed and hydrate yourself. Mobility issues combined with issues like parkinsons could make it hard to cook and prepare basic meals. Things could be particularly bad if you are struggling to pour a drink for yourself or open basic packaging. Certain kitchen modifications may be able to help make these tasks easier. However, if this is not enough or you cannot afford such modifications, you will need to look into help. 

There are care services that can come into your home and help prepare you meals or simply make a cup of tea or coffee. There are also meal delivery services that you can look into to save someone having to come into your home and cook - especially if you are unable to supply ingredients. 

Your are unable to keep on top of other basic housework

Being able to clean your home and carry out basic repairs is important. If you can no longer keep on top of housework because of mobility issues, it could be time to hire some help.

From gardening to general cleaning, there are many professional services out there to choose from. This includes services that are focused towards those with disabilities. Even if you’re just hiring someone an hour per week to carry out a few basic housework tasks, it could have a big impact on your quality of life. 

Loved ones aren’t able to cope with helping you

Loved ones may be able to step in and carry out many of the above tasks for you. However, if they do not live with you and have other commitments such as work and kids, there may come a point when you can no longer solely rely on them for help. 

None of us want to be considered a burden to our loved ones. If you feel that loved ones are helping you begrudgingly or are trying to get out of helping you, it could be time to look into some professional care to help reduce the strain. Your loved ones may be able to help you select someone appropriate. 

Of course, if a loved one is eager and willing to help you and does not want you hiring professional help, there’s no need to look into paying anyone. It will depend very much on the relationship you have with your loved one and how much time and energy they have to give.

The Shift- Movie review

From Angel Studios (The Chosen, Sound of Freedom) comes The Shift! Get your tickets to see #TheShiftMIN in theaters starting 12/1! Featuring Sean Astin (The Goonies, Rudy, The Lord of the Rings), Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers), and Elizabeth Tabish (The Chosen), THE SHIFT is a movie you and your friends won’t want to miss!

After a tense encounter with a mysterious stranger with otherworldly powers, a man is banished to a tyrannical, parallel Earth where he fights to get back to the woman he loves. In #TheShiftFilm a dystopian drama and sci-fi thriller, one man is faced with infinite worlds and impossible choices. When Kevin Garner meets a nefarious adversary known as The Benefactor and refuses his offer of wealth and power, he must escape an alternate totalitarian reality. With survival on the line, Kevin fights to make it back to the world he knows and the woman he loves.

Want to check out some more info, you can do so at the link to the website below. 

Website

Do you know a single parent who needs a night out, buy them a ticket so they can go see this movie - Pay-It-Forward

Great outing for the whole family- Buy Tickets

Watch the Trailer

Disclosure:

Many thanks to Angel Studios  and  #MomentumInfluencerNetwork for providing a sample of the product for this review.

Opinions are 100% my own.

The Best Physical Activities To Help With Mental Health

Even though you might not think about it at first, it’s important to know that your mental health is just as important as your physical health when it comes to your overall wellbeing, plus, you can take care of your mental health by doing things that are good for your physical health; it’s a win-win because you’ll be doing all the things that are good for you in one simple exercise (that you’ll hopefully enjoy as well). 

There are some exercises that are better for your mental health than others (although anything that boosts your endorphin levels is good, to be fair), so let’s take a look at what they are so you can make sure you pick the right one for you if you want better mental (and physical) health. 

Photo by JESHOOTS.com

Running And Jogging

Running and jogging are fantastic activities that can really benefit you when it comes to all aspects of your health, including your mental health. There are actually a few different reasons why this might be the case, and one that people often talk about is the fact that it’s a repetitive action - you’re just taking one step and then another and then another and so on (at varying speeds). Because you don’t have to put much thought into what you’re doing, you can let your mind go blank - which is exactly what you need to do if you want to practice mindfulness - and when that happens, all your worries and stresses can melt away, helping you feel better. 

That same repetitive motion will also trigger endorphins, which you can think of as the body’s natural mood enhancer. So you’ll feel great during and after a run, and you’ll be less stressed too - it’s perfect. 

Disc Golf 

Disc golf is a unique sport and one you might not have heard of, but it’s a lot of fun, and it can be just the thing for your mental health. The game takes the idea of traditional golf but adds the fun of throwing frisbees, which is why it’s so different and something that, once you start, you might not want to stop! 

You’ll be playing in a scenic spot with plenty of space (so you’ll feel at peace, and it’ll be relatively calm and quiet - a brilliant way to calm a busy mind), and you’ll also need to focus on what you’re doing if you want to score any points. Although having an empty mind is great, as we mentioned above, focusing on just one thing so you’re not thinking about whatever’s worrying you is also great, so disc golf is a good option for better mental health and something fun and different to do. 

Yoga

Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind when you’re thinking of physical activities that can improve your mental health is yoga, and you certainly wouldn’t be wrong - yoga can do a lot for the body and mind. 

Yoga is about moving your body, holding poses, controlling your breathing, and even meditating, and if you combine all those things together, you’ll find that it adds up to good mental health. Many people use yoga as their preferred way to reduce stress, and what’s really great about it is that anyone can do it, no matter what level of physical fitness you might be at. 

Fun Hobby Ideas To Pursue In Your Spare Time

Many people will turn to cooking, reading, or scrolling through their phones in their spare time. Although these things can sometimes allow us to switch off, which is a good thing, they do not always challenge or fulfill us.

It is a good idea to pursue a hobby during some of your spare time so that your life can feel more abundant and full. 

If you are stuck for ideas when it comes to hobbies, here are some great ideas to become hobby happy.

Photo by Steve Johnson: https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-focus-photography-of-paintbrush-near-paint-pallet-1047540/

Hunting

If you have a passion for spending time outdoors and hunting, it makes sense to take up the hobby if you have a local place to do so and the right legalities in place. 

Not just anyone can own a gun. You must have a license and a safe to ensure what you are doing is legal.

Liberty Gun Safes is the best place to invest in legal safes for your hunting guns. These can be added to your home to guarantee your hobby is safe and legal.

You might wish to create a blog and write blog posts for your hobby. If so, boosting your blogging skills and working out what you want to write about will enable you to maintain successful posts and gain more benefits from blogging. 

Although you might simply wish to write blog posts for fun, you can earn money from blogging. Brands might wish to sponsor you, and you can earn a profit from affiliate links. Therefore, boost your skills and make your effort worthwhile, as in the future, you might be able to earn a good passive income from blogging.

Arts and crafts to unwind your mind

If you enjoy being creative, it can be a great idea to pursue arts and crafts. You can draw, paint, create posters, and more.

Arts and crafts is a great hobby to do after work as it allows you to release any inner creativity that you have been holding back. Plus, arts and crafts allow most people to fully unwind.

Learn a new language with a friend or tutor 

If you wish to enhance your life and cultural skills, learning a new language is a great thing to do in your spare time. 

You could use the help of a friend or hire an online tutor. You could spend a few hours a week learning a new language and, in a few months, be able to have a conversation with friends or strangers and test your skills.

Gardening and making use of your outside space

If you have a garden at home and do not often use it, it can be a great idea to garden in your spare time. 

You can learn how to grow flowers or vegetables and make your garden somewhere more convenient and fun to spend time in. It will allow you to make more use of your outside space and guarantee that you spend your time doing something mindful yet purposeful. 

Surprised by Oxford- Review

Surprised by Oxford is the movie of the year in my opinion.  I enjoyed it so much, I also got the book immediately.

• You can now watch SURPRISED BY OXFORD from the comfort of 

your own home! Rent or buy today!

Caro Drake, a brilliant but emotionally guarded American student, arrives 

at the University of Oxford with the goal of attaining her PhD. Through a turbulent 

friendship with a charming young man, she begins to open herself up to mystery, 

vulnerability, and love.

 Step inside the beauty of Oxford University and discover a timeless story about asking life’s big questions. Mark your calendars for November and do not miss your chance to see this beautiful film!

Buy or rent #SurprisedByOxfordMIN during the month of November!

Giveaway:  Leave a comment and I'll pick a winner to watch this movie for free. 

Website/Buy Link: Here

Disclosure: 

Many thanks to Evolve Studios and #MomentumInfluencerNetwork for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

review- Journey to Bethlehem- a musical

This is one of the best Christmas musicals and I am not normally a musical fan, but this one caught my attention from the start. 

A young woman carrying an unimaginable responsibility. A young man torn between love and honor. A jealous king who will stop at nothing to keep his crown. 

This live-action Christmas musical adventure for the entire family weaves classic Christmas melodies with humor, faith, and new pop songs in a retelling of the greatest story ever told—the story of Mary and Joseph and the birth of Jesus. A unique new entry into the collection of holiday classic movies, this epic Christmas musical is unlike any before it. See #JourneyToBethlehemMIN in theaters beginning November 10.

• Moms, buy tickets TODAY to see this family-friendly, uplifting, joyful film in theaters opening weekend, November 10!

• Whether you like musicals or not, you’ll love the brand new music in this film, Journey to Bethlehem, starring Antonio Banderas, Milo Manheim, and more!

• Christian music fans, this movie is for you! Watch Joel Smallbone (For King And 

Country), Lecrae, and Möriah in Journey to Bethlehem, in theaters starting November 10!

• This is a perfect movie to invite your friends and family to! 

Buy tickets here

Listen to the soundtrack album here

• Give the gift of giving and make someone’s Christmas brighter by providing tickets 

for JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM! 

Disclosure:

Many thanks to AFFIRM Films, Inc and #MomentumInfluencerNetwork for providing a sample of the product for this reviiew. Opinions are 100% my own.

Home Maintenance Tips Everyone Should Know'

When you own a home you want it to be beautiful and comfortable. There are a few things you're going to have to do to make sure that it lives up to your expectations. 

Over time almost all houses become run down and there's no getting around this

except to make sure that you do regular home and maintenance. Here are some of the major things that you should be doing every month to make sure that your home stays in tip-top shape. 

Make Your Yard Look Good

Photo by Pixabay

Want to make sure you're keeping up with your home maintenance? Taking care of your interiors and exteriors can be a challenge, but you need to rise to it. Here are some maintenance tips you should consider.

Beautify Your Yard

Your yard is the first thing that people's eyes see. You should not make their jaws drop because they are shocked that it's in a shabby condition. Instead, you should aim to have their eyes popping because your yard is looking great. 

Keeping up with the yard work can be a chore, so you need to schedule this by putting timers and reminders on your phone, or you can outsource it to a company. Either way, you have to keep your yard looking well-dressed.

Fire Safety

You must ensure fire safety is a part of your regular maintenance checklist. Check your smoke detectors to make sure that the batteries are still working. 

You should also test your carbon dioxide detectors while you are at it. Make sure that everything has good batteries. Failure to do this can have some dire consequences. 

Check your fire extinguisher, and look at the expiration date. Also, check the parts and the components of the extinguisher as well. You want to make sure that it's ready to get up and go when the need for quenching arises.

Maintain Your Kitchen

It's a good idea to keep kitchen maintenance at the top of your list as well. The kitchen is the most used room in the home. 

This is where all the meals are prepared. It is considered the heart of the home. While you're baking those delicious apple pies and trying out several mouth-watering dishes, make sure that everything is working well in the kitchen.

Check under the sink and make sure that the plumbing is fine and not in need of maintenance. If all is not well you will need to get plumbing services. 

Keep track of your appliances as well. You want to make sure that everything is in good working order. If you find some repairs necessary, don't hesitate to pick up your phone and call for help.

These are the three of the major things that you should be focusing on. You might find that your home needs more attention than this. Every month you can schedule something new to keep track of, just make sure that you keep a schedule,     so you can't keep this all-important room on the pedestal where it should be.