The Kate's Vine

Wood is a natural material that brings unmatched warmth to any area, which is why many people like to use it in their homes. While wooden  floors , furniture and other accessories can add to the beauty of the interiors, the downside of the material is that it can get scratched easily, doesn’t handle moisture well and can get warped over time, especially when it is exposed to the natural elements. However, with proper care and maintenance, wooden flooring and furniture can last a lifetime. In today’s ideabook, we provide you with wood care tips that will help you to maintain this material to perfection so that it looks good for years. Understanding the needs of wooden flooring HOMIFY In modern homes, wood has become a popular choice for flooring as it creates a luxurious and cosy ambiance in the interiors. However, wood is not suitable for the flooring in every room or for that matter, for every home. If you have pets, then wood may not be the ideal ...

Magic Vomit Eraser Most people will tell you saving cleanup for later only makes it harder on you, but not when it comes to pet vomit. "Vomit is actually much easier to clean if you allow it to dry and then vacuum," suggests Donna Smallin Kuper, a certified house cleaning technician and a small space lifestyle expert at Unclutter.com. Magic Carpet Stain Eraser Between muddy paws and in-house "accidents," your dog could end up making your house look more lived-in than you'd like. To clean urine or other pet stains from the carpet, Smallin Kuper suggests starting with a Shop-Vac to suction the urine. "Pour 3 percent hydrogen peroxide on the stain and cover with a white towel, then hold a hot steam iron on the towel for 15 to 20 seconds to transfer the stain to the towel. Repeat until no more stain is being transferred. Cover with a clean white towel and something heavy, leaving it overnight to dry," Smallin Kuper advises. Before treating a highly vi...

Calm Your Mind You can take actions to improve the quality of your nighttime rest. In the moments of your sleeplessness and distress, you can work to calm your mind and body through the use of conscious relaxation, cognitive therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy techniques. I recommend that you first consult your therapist, psychiatrist, or doctor to ensure that you have no psychological issues, medical complications, or medication interactions that could be causing your difficulties with sleep. When it comes to sleep hygiene, studies show that a bedtime routine that includes a period of time to unwind can be effective. A common practice is to turn off all electronics after 9:00 pm and then get dressed and washed up for the night. Once ready for bed, do a relaxation exercise and spend 30 minutes reading a book before finally closing your eyes. If you are still struggling to sleep, try to reduce the amount of time you toss and turn by getting out of bed and going to a quiet, co...

Sleep is an essential part of life. A decline in the state of physiological and psychological well-being occur due to sleep deprivation. Research over the last decade has shown the importance of sleep on physical and mental health. It’s frustrating to toss and turn in bed all night while the hours tick away. A lack of sleep impacts our thinking and physical performance the following day. Conditions like insomnia require treatment with better sleep hygiene and the use of sleep aids. Sleep and Physical Health Adequate sleeping hours are critical for maintaining our physical state of well-being. While we sleep, our body restores its metabolic function. Heart rate settles to normal range, and our blood pressure returns to baseline levels. As we relax, our blood vessels dilate and flow smoothly through our arterial system. This increase in circulation helps our brain clear environmental and stress toxins that accumulate during the day. People that consistently experience...

The duties of motherhood lead to a lack of sleep. First, you’re up multiple times a night caring for your baby. As your child grows, the nighttime feedings go down, but it can take a while for them to sleep through the night. Each time you get out of bed is a disruption. Meanwhile, your husband is snoring away undisturbed. You think he’s lucky. But what if he’s not-so-silently suffering from sleep issues himself? Snoring might be a sign of sleep apnea. That loud, chainsaw sound emitting from your partner has always caused you sleep troubles. It could be the symptom of a sleep disorder for him too. Loud, persistent snoring is one of the main signs of sleep apnea, along with paused breathing, gasping and excessive sleepiness in the daytime. Sleep apnea is the result of an air flow issue  — either the air flow is decreased or completely blocked during sleep. Less air means less oxygen is getting into the lungs and elsewhere in the body. Obstructive sleep apnea is the typ...

It is not news to any firefighter or first responder that sleep can be a challenge – what is news is how big the issue of sleep deprivation can be and the negative impact it can have on your health. Interrupted sleep, not getting enough sleep or sleeping at irregular times can have severe implications for health by interrupting circadian rhythms. These rhythms are the physical, mental and behavioral changes that occur over a 24-hour period and regulate the body’s processes through the release of melatonin. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, interruption of these rhythms leads to short term impacts like difficulty with concentration, headaches, mood changes and irritability. In the long term, interruption of these chemical processes can increase risk for cancer, cardiovascular disease and obesity. The sleep issue is challenging to study with firefighters because they do not work the shifts typical in shift work research. Typically, shift work research...

1. Avoid a wrestling match.  Never wrestle with your dog to give it a bath. Gradually acclimate your dog to the concept of a bath by placing it in the tub when it's dry and then giving the dog a treat if it calms down. Repeat the process several times until your dog is completely comfortable sitting or standing in the tub. Then, follow the same procedure by adding a little warm water to the bottom of the tub. Keep praising and offering treats when your dog is calm. You want bath time to become fun for your dog. Be patient at all times. 2. Brush up.  Before you give your dog a bath, be sure to thoroughly brush and comb your dog's coat to remove any tangles that could get worse once they are wet. Brushing your dog before a bath will also help remove loose hair that could clog your drain. 3. Pick the right tub . Always use a tub that is large enough for your dog and provides solid footing. Don't try to squeeze your Labrador into the kitchen sink, and always be su...

A stain on your valuable rug is a little accident but is not the end of the world. Take a deep breath and then decide how to deal with the stain. If you have a particularly stubborn stain on your carpet and you are thinking about using bleach as your last resort, then take a moment and consider the possible damage which bleach can do to your carpeting. First of all, keep in mind that you should never use bleach on a wool, or wool-based carpet. Also, keep bleach away from very bright colored carpets and rugs, because it can cause drastic fading and bleaching of the colors. In fact, bleach should be used mainly on white carpets, which are not made of wool. So, if you have found it absolutely necessary to use bleach for removing a stain from your carpet, there are some steps you need to follow in order to successfully remove the stain without causing damage to the carpet. Before treating a  urine stain  with bleach, make sure you have removed all of the hardened residue...

The menstrual cycle is a normal physiological process that all women experience and is characterised by tightly orchestrated changes in the levels of ovarian estrogen and progesterone. Researchers have confirmed that diverse body systems (e.g., cardiovascular system, central nervous system, endocrine system, female reproductive system, and immune system) are replete with estrogen receptors and that progesterone also acts on numerous tissues. Therefore, cyclically fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone have a significant biological effect on the female body, one with both physical and emotional ramifications. Studies related to the impacts of the menstrual cycle on women’s emotional changes have been primarily conducted among patients who suffer from premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and its severe predominantly psychological form: premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). As mentioned, menstruation is governed by estrogen and progesterone. Researchers have found that these two re...