Walking For Cardiovascular Health And Fitness

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for health and fitness. One reason for this is because it can provide you with an effective workout for the cardiovascular system. Also called aerobic exercise, brisk walking performed two to three times per week will not only strengthen your heart but will help you burn fat, as well.One of the ways that walking can help you lose weight is that your metabolism stays high for up to 2 to 3 hours after your workout. Additionally, it also helps to redistribute stored fat to your muscles, giving you a well-toned physique when performed on a regular basis.Moreover, even if you are not concerned about losing weight, walking helps you to keep your heart and lungs strong and healthy, giving you more stamina for your activities.Another benefit of walking is that the stress it places on your joints and bones helps to strengthen them against breaks, fractures and osteoporosis.Although walking is one of the easiest forms of exercise to engage in, there are a few things you should keep in mind before engaging in a walking program.Watch Your FormOne thing that you need to keep in mind as you walk for fitness is to watch your form. To get the most from your walk, it’s important to keep your feet hip length apart, your toes pointed forward and your arms bent at the elbows and close to your side. Additionally, you should keep your stomach pulled in and your back straight. As you walk, plant your heels on the ground and then roll to the balls of your feet and push off with your toes. By keeping the proper form as you walk you will ensure that you get the most benefit out of your walk and the best possible workout.Vary Your RoutineAlso important to any walking program that you engage in, is varying your routine each time you workout. If you walk at the same pace for the same amount of time each and every session, your body will eventually get used to the routine and your exercise will not be as effective. To challenge your body, try to vary your routine. For example, try mixing up your routine with short bursts of fast walking, jogging and normal walking; another way to vary your routine is to carry small weights in your hands as you walk. You could also wear leg or ankle weights as you walk or jog. All of these ways of varying your routine will help to keep your body from getting used to your workout and keep you challenged.The Right Foot GearLast, but not least, before you engage in a walking program, be sure you wear the right foot gear. The comfort of your feet is of utmost importance when you are walking. Make sure that your foot gear has a good, supportive arch to avoid any foot pain or injuries during or after your walk. Additionally, your shoes should hug your feet without feeling too snug or tight. If you are unsure about what kind of walking shoes to use during your walks, check out a store which is geared towards athletes or sports. There, you will be able to find a number of athletic shoes for a variety of sports. A knowledgeable salesperson should be able to explain the differences between the various types of sports shoes and tell you which one is the best for you.

How to Survey Property Like a Professional and Save Yourself Thousands of Pounds Every Year!

The art of knowing how to survey property correctly is a skill that many property investors and developers would give their right arm to learn. As a property professional one of the annoying little expenses that you constantly have to pay is that of the property survey.Wouldn’t it be great to cut down on the amount of in-depth surveys you have to pay for each year? This article will go into detail about how to survey property yourself. It will give you a checklist of vital things to look out for when surveying property. By the end of it you will have enough knowledge to be able to make educated decisions on the state of any given property.The first thing to do is to make sure you are prepared. Below is a list of a few items that you might want to take with you when you go to view a potential investment property.
Camera/Video camera
Pen
Notepad
Voice memo
Binoculars
Any details of the property you already have from the estate agent, Internet, vendor or through other means
A useful tip (though not always practical) is to try and do the survey in wet conditions. This way you can spot problems with down pipes, a leaky roof, faulty guttering or any other wet or rain related problems.You don’t necessarily have to do the survey in the order that is specified here. However, it might be wise to firstly start off by taking a walk around the property and trying to get a general feel for it and the location.External Roof

What is it made of?
Go into the loft and check for light and/or water coming through.
Check the ceiling of the room below the loft for signs of water damage or any other problems that might have resulted from a problem with the roof.
What is the roofs general state of repair? Be sure to look at the roof from all angles as sometimes problems are only visible when seen from a certain direction.
Look at the Chimney Stack. Check for signs of loose bricks or damage. This is where the binoculars might come in handy.
External Walls
What type of construction are the external walls i.e. solid brick, stone or something else.
Is the pointing okay? What type of finish is there on the walls? Is it pebble dash, stone, brick or something else? Sometimes the finish that has been used will help to pinpoint the age of the property.
Look out for bulges in the Wall or signs of damp or staining.
Look for cracks or signs of movement around the corner of doors or window frames. If you find cracks in these areas it might be the sign of more serious problems. If you notice anything that seems strange then make sure you take a look at the other properties on the street to see if they have a similar problem. Take particular note of any cracks below the damp proof course as this might indicate major issues with the property.
Out BuildingsCheck the condition of any outbuildings associated with the property. That includes sheds, garages, outdoor offices, barns, stables, toilets or anything else.AlterationsCheck the state of any alterations that have been made to the property. Check extensions, loft conversions, basement conversions (be especially mindful of any problems with damp in basement conversions since, if they have not been built correctly, these conversions are notorious for damp problems, ).It is crucial that you check any relevant paperwork and ensure that things where done according to building regulations and that planning permission was obtained where necessary. It is also a good idea to view any current guarantees or warranties the vendor has.Internal
Is the property new build, established (older) or refurbished?
What is the general state of repair of the inside of the property? Does it appear to have been looked after well?
Is the decoration trying to hide something? Be mindful of ceilings painted in a dark colour that might hide some sinister secret, such as, water damage, underneath the paint work.
Is there any sort of sound proofing in the ceiling, floors or walls?
Does the property have original features that will add to its value?
What is the state of the Windows and what are they made of? Are the Windows double glazed? Do they look like they need replacing or repairing? Windows in disrepair can be great for helping you to negotiate a cheaper price with the vendor.
Is there a damp proof course. You can sometimes tell this by checking the walls outside the property. If there is a black line about two or three bricks up, this would normally indicated that there is a damp proof course present.
Other Things to Check If you are trying to be meticulous in your property survey, then you will probably also want to check the seven things on the list below.
What’s the state of the fixtures and fittings in the property?
Is there central heating? How old is the boiler? Are there records available to show the service history?
Is there a shared main water supply and has there been a water meter fitted.
Check there is adequate ventilation in the property, especially in areas such as the kitchen and bathroom.
Does the electric supply have some sort of trip mechanism? How old is it? Does it seem like it will need replacing or repairing in the near future?
Try and take a look behind any furniture or appliances that seem out of place. They may have been put there to hide a problem lurking behind them.
You should flush the toilets and run the water to check that the water drains away well and to check that there are no strange noises, such as, a loud knocking when the water is run.
Lastly, do not forget to check the land registry to find out the actual price that comparable properties in the area have recently sold for. There are many free websites on the Internet that you can get this information from.All the items listed above can be checked and verified by you just as well as they can be by a surveyor who comes into a property and walks around it for 25 minutes. Learning how to survey property yourself is not necessarily something you need a degree to be able to do. However, if you have a builder that you work with regularly, or that is a friend, then I would advise you to try and drag him along to your property visits – especially the first few – until you gain more confidence.The fact is, most surveyors are not stretched very much in their day to day jobs and the skills that they use to do the average run of the mill property survey, only touch a fraction of what they spent years studying.This article was not written to put the humble property surveyor out of business. Surveyors are vital cogs in the buying property wheel and even if you don’t employ them, lenders always will. When you need them, surveyors can be an invaluable lifeline. If you are dealing with a property that is not standard build, that is not your average property, or that you just feel might have problems, then you need to organise a comprehensive survey by a professional.The reason this article was written was to try and educate the average property investor and developer so that they can judge the condition of a property themselves before having to call in the surveyor. That way, if the vendor is not willing to come down in price, they can eliminate a number of properties they are looking at, before they spend money on a property surveyor.

Make Money Online Fast From Home

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If you are looking to make money online fast from home there are a number of different options for you to choose from. No matter how much time you have to devote to your online money-making opportunity or how much startup capital you have, there are ways to make money at home fast using the power of the internet. Some endeavors require more time, money, and effort than others, but there are many options for you to choose from regardless of what your talents, skills, or education level is.
Commenting/Forum Posting – Posting comments in forums is a great way to make a buck. There are tons of websites that will pay you to comment on their articles or blogs.
Google AdSense – If you own a website you need to have a Google AdSense account. Posting Google AdSense ads on your website will allow you to make money every time that someone clicks on them. You do not have to lift a finger once you strategically place your ads on your webpage. Choosing ads that are relevant to your website’s niche is the best way to entice visitors to click on them.
eCommerce – Opening your own online store is a great way to make some extra cash. You might have to devote more time, energy, and startup capital to opening an online store than you would One of the most important things that you need to be concerned with when it comes to making money online via an online store is providing your customers with a safe and secure checkout system. You can hire the services of a professional freelance web designer at an affordable cost.
Online Survey Panels – Survey panels will pay you for your opinion about certain products, goods, and services. Survey topics can range from cell phone providers to baby wipes and everything in between. The amount of money that you get paid to take an online survey can vary from fifty cents to twenty bucks. The amount of time can range from just a few minutes to an hour-long. There are many survey panels that are legitimate, fast, and easy ways to make money online. It is completely free to sign up for an online survey panel membership.
Forex Trading – Trading on the forex market is a great way to make money without having to do a lot. You can use a forex robot and make money while you are at your other job. Forex robots predict when stocks are going to rise and fall. Robots can make smart trading decisions for you so that you can enjoy the perks of trading on the forex market without needing to know a lot about stocks.
Affiliate Marketing – If you want to make fast and easy money online and you own a website you can become an affiliate of a company or product. All you need to do is post an ad for a product, good, or service on your website and earn a commission every time that someone clicks on your ad and makes a purchase.

The Best Budget Decorating Blogs for All Your Interior Needs

Whether you’re in the market for a major interior overhaul or you’re simply looking to give your home a quick and easy update, chances are you’ve spent some time online hunting for ideas and inspiration. That said, it can be pretty deflating to stumble upon a look you love only to discover the price to achieve it is well above your budget.

Fortunately, there are some killer home decorating blogs that show you how to refresh, revive, and fall in love with your home anew without breaking the bank. For a home that looks far more expensive than it costs to create, check out the following blogs for all of the interior inspiration and DIY tutorials you’ll ever need.

Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

Welcome back to the week 5 update for the One Room Challenge. Check out the blog posts and updates for week 1, week 2, week 3, and week 4 if you missed them. It’s crunch time now and I’ll be honest… I don’t know that this project will be completely wrapped up for the reveal date. The great thing is the reveal and hitting a deadline is not the only goal of reason for this challenge. Ultimately having a fully functional and hopefully beautiful bathroom is where we want to end up even it things are a bit delayed.

Disclosure: this post contains affiliate links.

When we left off last time the countertops had been templated, the trim was freshly painted and the hardware had been ordered. The hardware took about 1 week to arrive. We chose the Menlo Park 4″ pull from Schlub in chrome because I think the pull has the perfect mix of square and some rounded elements that make it a great transitional hardware option. We went with all pulls for the drawers and doors since the knob option in that line weren’t our favorite.

Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

The quartz countertops are now installed and things can be put back together. Rectangle, undercount sinks were also purchased through the fabricator. The Marble look quartz from Pental and it is gorgeous with the warm gray veins running throughout. For the edge went for a flat polish eased edge for a clean, simple look.

Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

Two days after the quartz countertops were installed the tile installer came back to finish up tiling the niches, installing the tile base and grout everything.

Guest Bathroom Reno: Quartz Countertops and Grout – One Room Challenge Week 5

The electoral is being relocated for the new lights. There are some drywall and painting touch ups to do and plumbing fixtures to be hooked up. Plus adding all the finishing touches ???? All those little things like towel hooks, curtain rod, and accessories will bring this whole thing together.

Townhome Remodel Phase 1

It’s been too long since I’ve updated and even longer since this work has been started. This is me sharing remodel updates, mostly for myself (but also for my nagging family members). I’m sharing photos of the progress that has been made while also document the craziness that has gone on. This is just the beginning of the remodel.

Prior to moving in I had 3-4 weeks where my apartment lease overlapped with the possession of my townhome. This allowed me, with the amazing help of my family, to paint, tear-out carpet and somewhat put back together the upstairs portion of my place so that I could have a clean room to put a bed. At least one that wasn’t completely torn apart. One area that felt more livable that the rest. If you haven’t seen or don’t remember these are the before photos from when I took possession. To list it out here are the main things that I was tacking during those week prior to me moving in.

Phase 1 Remodel Projects
ripping out baseboard, carpet and tack strips upstairs and preparing for new hard surface flooring. (this flooring will go throughout minus the stairs and bathrooms/laundry)
installing flooring upstairs (one of my installers did this)
mostly gutting the master bathroom
installing a new tub and rough in plumbing for the master and powder bath
ordering and installing a rift white oak vanity for the master
Painting (and priming where needed) the ceilings and walls of the bedrooms. Caulking and painting the crown molding in the master
replacing and upgrading the baseboard heater in the master and patch the drywall
painting the hallway and down through the stairwell
adding skirt board to the stairs
installing new carpet and pad on the stairs (my carpet installer from work did this)
removing upper cabinets on the fridge side in the kitchen
partially demoing the wall diving the kitchen (prepare to move switches, outlets, heater and thermostat)
removing drywall on wall next to bar in dining area
painting the downstairs powder bath and removing vanity to prepare for a new floating vanity
Those were the main projects that took place and then I moved in the day after Thanksgiving. Getting rid of the original, nasty cat carpet and new flooring made a huge difference to the upstairs. Also neutralizing and lightening the paint made things feel so much more fresh. I still have no baseboards but I’ll get on that one day! For now here are some photos that I snapped along the way.

I bought a townhouse: The before

It’s been a while since been posting on here but I have some new updates and projects that I have been working on. Last summer into fall I was house hunting while knowing the lease on my apartment would be expiring end of the 2019. It felt a little crazy but was a fun process for me. After a bunch of searching I found and closed on a new home!

I was lucky enough to have a few weeks of overlap with my apartment (I ended up moving out 1 month early) so I was able to get started on projects and updates prior to moving in. I’ll share more about those in the coming weeks (there are still so many unfinished things!) but for now I think it’s best to start with some before photos. Also, follow along on Instagram where I post current project updates more often. The pictures show it in the state I bought it in. It’s a great first place to me and was functional as-is but as you might expect I’m here to make things my own by doing updates that I will enjoy while living here and that will also add value and functionality to the space down the line when I sell… or maybe even keep it as a rental. My dog, Nova, has been enjoying the space as well ???? There are a couple of things to miss about my Bothell apartment but I am very ready to have my own place and space.

Guest Bathroom Remodel Sources

In 2017 the guest bathroom was remodeled. You can see more photos and read about that here. Almost everything came out and all new things went back in. From emails and comments people have been asking for sources so I have rounded up what I could in this post to share paint colors, products and links that I could find for the bathroom.

Bathroom Sources and Details:
Wall color: BM Balboa Mist
Trim and door color: BM Chantilly Lace
Floor Tile: Pental Mark Chrome 12×24 matte
Shower tile: Jeffrey Court Weather Gray 4×12 gloss subway
Niche tile: Daltile clio mosaic
Bathtub: Maax Rubix tub
Cabinet: Spencer Cabinets – painted BM Cape May Cobblestone
Countertop: Pental Quartz Misterio polished 3cm
Cabinet hardware: Schaub Menlo Park Pull in chrome
Faucets: Hansgrohe Metris single handle in chrome
Shower trims: Kohler slide bar kit, wall mount supply and Hansgrohe tub spout in chrome
Mirrors: Homegoods
Towel Hooks: Delta Tolva robe hook in chrome