Julia9102

I adopted a dog 3 years ago and before you knew it, I adopted a second one because "the first one was probably lonely during the day". 

Just from that, you would know I am crazy about my pets and I have did a lot of reading to try to make the house more comfortable to them, all the more when I am away all day.

Where I live, it gets really cold in Winter and can get quite hot in Summer so the first thing I did was making sure had thick beds where we had cold floors like the tiles in the bathroom and kitchen and thinner ones where we had carpet in the living room and bedroom. 

I bought a ton of toys meant to distract them and stimulate their curiosity while I was away, like the kong toys, sniffing mats and so on. 

One of my dogs decided to dig was his thing and after talking to a dog trainer - who was definitely on the dog side! - got to have his own allowed digging area in the garden. basically I took the grass out and replaced it with sand so he could just dig all day and I wouldn't get upset. It ended up working well, as he never dug anywhere else.  Mind you, I have a big garden so this isn't a luxury everyone could afford.

When the time for renovations I replaced some of the carpets with some vinyl planks so I wouldn't freak out whenever we would come back from a long walk. Keeping a beige carpet clean in a house where dogs like to dig and won't brush off the mud of their paws before coming in is simply a lost cause. I replace the pebbles on my driveway and entrance with exposed aggregate so it was nicer on the paws (and feet).

Shutters helped keeping the sun heat away from the main room so it was still fresh and I wouldn't have to program my aircon unit to blast cold air all day long when we were away. It also kept the heat during winter. 

When it comes to my car, because we are often going camping, I bought the latest trendy 4x4 accessories: no it's not a bull bar, it is... dog seatbelts! It still allows them to move around and enjoy the air from the window and allows me not to freak out whenever they put their head out a little bit too much for my taste!

These are only a few of the things I did for my dogs and I sure hope I was as committed to their happiness as I was to my chores or fitness schedule! We are crazy about them though and it is all worth it! 

I don't know for you but I used to jump from dental practices to another, putting the priority on pricing, convenient location and how quickly they could take me for whatever problem I was facing.

Truth be told, I was always going for a check-up and clean when I knew something was wrong like I had a cavity or I suddenly grew sensitive to temperatures. I'm sure I am not the only one but it doesn't make it any better. Even before I was the one making the appointments, my mum would bring us for a check-up every year or so, apart from the time I had to get my wisdom teeth removed. 

All in all I think I had over 10 dentists in my life which feels like a lot but I also moved around a fair bit. 

I stopped doing that the day I realised I had a crack in two of my teeth and the first dentist I went to see showed me the pictures. Quite frankly I panicked. The way he brought things up was a little bit too much to hear: "You have two cracked teeth, the cracks might be too deep for a dental crown and we might end up having to do a root canal". I went from feeling completely healthy one day to completely overwhelmed the other. So I left that place and went to another one a few days later to have a second opinion and find someone that could help me better. 

I found another dentist since then and I intend to stay there. They took care of my crowns, are nice and have everything on file so they can whether anything has changed over the past few months. I am now going every 6 months like it is recommended, brush properly and even floss a lot more regularly. 

I'm basically doing my best because I have realised, through this ordeal, that healthy teeth are a blessing and won't stay that way unless you actively take care of them on an everyday basis. I am not looking forward to the day I might need teeth replacements like a denture or dental implants and I will try my best to push the date as far as possible!

There is nothing worse than dealing with overflowing water coming from your toilets due to a blocked drain. When the time comes to leave the parents nest, most of us, unfortunately, have no idea of how to take proper care of a kitchen, bathroom and toilets. 

However, it's never too late to learn a few tricks! the first obvious thing to do when it comes to pipes maintenance is to check for leak signs every few months or so: puddle, wet walls, marks, noise within the wall can indicate you have a water leak. Pay special attention to spots like under the sink, near faucets and the shower. Test your water pressure, if it is low, then you might have an issue with your shower head pipe, a burst or blocked pipe.  

A leaking toilet will also cause troubles when it stops working so check for water around the toilet pan and test your toilet's flush button. 

If you pick up on any issue and aren't really much into DIY, contact a professional plumber so you avoid creating bigger problems down the lines. 

Call me a romantic but I much prefer seeing some greenery than seeing exposed aggregate or concrete. Unfortunately, the trend at the moment is to replace gardens and green lush front curbs with pavers or decorative concrete alfresco areas and patios.
But there are ways to add some green to your exposed aggregate driveway or concrete pool area.

Pots and planters might be an obvious choice but how to choose them and how do you actually plant a seed and what should you even try to grow?

What about vertical gardens? How to start? What plants should you choose? how do tend to them? 
Raised gardens beds could also be a good option if you are looking at growing a lot of flowers, veggies or fruits, provided you have the time to care for them!
For the gardeners out there, build a greenhouse. 

This is a good read for all the drivers serious about 4-wheel-driving in Australia.

Going offroad, whether it is sand or mud tracks, requires preparation and unless you know experienced people that can advise you or belong to a 4WD club, then you are probably not as prepared as you think.

Everything is tackled in this listicle: from car checks to safety gear and 4wd equipment meant to help your 4x4 perform better. This list will help you make sure you are ready to head out for a good trip and not one you're not prepared for. 

Australia is one of those countries where you can't say you have experienced it unless you have at least been camping in the outback at least once. 

It is, however, a country where you need to be prepared. You do not wing a camping trip! So there are a few things you have to bring with you before even thinking of driving your 4x4 away!

1- Pick your tent

If you are not towing a caravan, then you need a tent. They come in all size and shape and can sit on top of your 4x4 or sit on on the floor. the choice is up to you. If you want to enjoy some breeze and look at the stars from the tent, pick on with a resistant mesh but above all, make sure it is easy to mount and waterproof.

2 - Pick your sleeping bag

What comes after you’ve sorted out where you’re going to sleep? What you’re going to sleep on. As much as we’d like to think we could sleep on the ground in a tent, something about laying on the hard exposed ground doesn’t bed well.

You’re sleeping bag willbe determined by where you plan to camp and the season.

Expect to pay around $200 for a decent sleeping bag. You may also want to consider a sleeping pad, which is an air-filled pad, for a softer nights rest.

3 - How are you going to see at night?

If you’re planning on camping somewhere isolated where there less light pollution then you’ll need to consider how you’re going to light up your campsite, other than a fire, and how it’s going to be powered.

As lovely as a campfire can be, they can often be banned in certain areas, and they also aren’t very helpful the moment you leave to go to the toilet. Consider lighting options such as LED torches, battery-operated lanterns, electric gas lamps, or dual fuel.

4 - Tools

You can use it for digging a hole, stirring the campfire, smacking tent pegs, and squashing unsuspecting spiders — the shovel is an essential item you NEED to pack.

5 - First aid kit

When you’re in the wilderness anything can happen so it’s always a good idea to have a fully stocked first aid kit. This can include items such as insect repellent, bandages, snake bite kit, and disinfectant.  Find out what safety gear you should have at all times.

6 - Bring a portable fridge

If you have to bring some food, chances are you'll need something to keep it cool. a big eskies or portable fridge will do the trick. 

7 - Cooking gear

Reliable cooking gear is a must if you plan on surviving out in the middle of nowhere. Unless you’re a well-trained survivalist who knows what mushrooms and berries to eat, not that you’d want to live off these for a few days.

We recommend bringing a 2 burner gas camp stove and some cooking utensils such as a pot or a pan, some cutlery, and basic tableware.

8 - Washing tubs and storage

Have you tried washing the dishes without a sink? Bring a decent sized storage container that can be used to carry essential items and then turned into a washtub.

9 - Rain gear

Have you ever thought of starting a business or a band and looked at your garage as a potential office? You're not the only one. While it's easy to imagine why a band would use the garage space for practice it's less comment to have it converted into an office. Yet, some of the biggest companies in the world started in a garage. 

I know this isn't a book per se but this guide lays out all the steps to go through a class car restoration. If you're thinking of buying one, it is worth a read because fully restoring a car, from windows and windscreen replacement to the paint job, ends up being quite pricey!