Robert Hodges
Making the most of what space you have
Not everyone likes hanging baskets, but they have remained a mainstay of many a gardener and bring a cheery splash of colour to any garden. When planted carefully they can be the perfect frame for many types of flower – you can even grow fruit and vegetables in them!
The first thing to think of is where you intend to hang your planters and that will help you choose what kind of flower or plant to place in them. For instance, attaching one outside your front door to greet you every time you step outside can be very uplifting – almost like getting flower deliveries every day!
Make sure that they are secured to an appropriate surface as they can be quite heavy when filled with soil, plants and then water.
What would you like in your planter? Of course there are many flower options, but herbs, fruit and vegetables can also do very well and provide you with an immense sense of satisfaction to grow.
Bear in mind your planter could get quite heavy once it has liners, compost, plants and water in it so choose one wisely.
Next, give some thought to the kinds of flower, fruit or veg varieties you would like to plant. The most common fruit to be found in a hanging basket are strawberries, but passion fruit can also be successful.
If you are feeling adventurous try growing soft fruits, salad plants or peas. flower choices include: Roses, Begonias, Marigolds, Lobelia and Busy Lizzies. Thumb through some seed catalogues, investigate nurseries or scour the internet for further inspiration, but make sure to plan your fruit or flower deliveries to coincide with the season and growing requirements of the plant.
Top up the compost and top off with some moss to help keep the water in and to make it look nice. Remember it will be heavier now so take care when placing the baskets and make sure you water the plants in well. Other than that if you keep them watered daily you will find they should give you colour and joy throughout their growing season.
Looking to find more information about creating a wonderful hanging garden and getting your flowers delivered by Interflora.
Enjoying your garden this summer
Summer is when you can sit back and enjoy all the effort and hard work that went into maintaining your garden during the harsh winter months and it is never too late to create your perfect summer garden. Summer is when your flowers are in full bloom and the grass is a soft green velvet carpet.
Whether you are an expert gardener or just a beginner, creating your summer garden or adding to an existing garden design is simple. To create your summer garden from the beginning you need to be considering your plans and design in the autumn, October through to November tends to be the best time, before the first winter frost has arrived.
When considering the layout of your summer garden, it will be best to design it on paper first, as this will give you the opportunity to play around with your design until you are completely happy with it. If you are unsure what type of flowers you can expect to prosper in your garden, check out your neighbours flower choices for ideas, or if recent flower deliveries have had a bloom that has struck a chord, choose one of those.
Design complete, you will need to make soil preparations. Plants and shrubs sometimes need differing pH levels, but as a rule the best pH levels seem to be between pH6.5 and pH7.5.
You will need to clear your chosen area of weeds and debris. If you want to be really sure that your weeds have completely gone, then after initial weeding, wait a few days to see what weeds return until you are convinced that they are completely eliminated. The time and effort you give it now will reap rewards when your flowers bloom in summer. It is always nice to see the smile on someone’s face when they are sent flower deliveries, but to give them in person may make all the difference and there is no greater gift than fresh cut flowers for your home every day.
It may be the case that you are looking to create an extra special summer retreat area in your garden. An extra quiet peaceful area that you can read your books and just wile away those summer days. This can easily be done by adding a few containers with an extra burst of colour. Early summer is the perfect time to plant your containers and hanging baskets. Remember to turn your containers and baskets frequently in summer to avoid over exposure to the sun and equal measures of sun all round.
Summer is a great time for al fresco dining and you can easily create yourself an area that would be perfect for this purpose. Temporary decking is a good choice and can be laid over a lawned area. You will need to move the decking frequently in order to mow the lawn and avoid the grass dying.
A cut flowers garden is a great way to save on flower deliveries. You can grow your own fresh flowers and give them as gifts to friends, family and loved ones.
Learn more about getting flowers delivered to that special someone, visit Interflora.
Need ideas for a party this summer?
A Fancy Dress party is always the best way to make your celebration stand out from the others, so what is better than to throw one of these in the party season, the summer. The sun is out, people don’t want to stay in any more, but go out and have fun. We can think about our clothes again and not just about keeping warm, so let’s celebrate with an elaborate party that encourages people to create outrageous Fancy Dress Costumes.
What better way to make your mark on the party season than by throwing a truly memorable shindig? Come up with a great idea for a theme and you may be set to throw the party of the summer; an old favourite, like Disney or a mask ball theme, or a innovative new idea set to get those creative juices flowing. Whatever the theme, people will be set to have a great time whilst hidden behind the shield of an alternate persona.
Costumes have long been regarded as a decadent means of having fun and letting your hair down. Charles II is possibly one of the most historically famous men to let his hair down by dressing up and performing to his court. In fact he only introduced the law allowing women on the stage so his mistress could dress up and act with him.
Games of charades took on a new life in the Victorian era when the gentry would entertain themselves by dressing up and performing words and syllables in elaborate versions of the game we now know.
But it was in the 1920′s that the idea of the fancy dress party came about and an interwar generation decided to spend their time in a strikingly modern way: dressing up and partying until the small hours. The Bright Young People (or Flappers) in the era, were so named and immortalised by the tabloids who became transfixed by this group of young nobility who spent their days and nights as well as their money on elaborate and decadent fancy dress costumes.
This group, named the Bright Young People (or Flappers) threw parties with lavish themes that went from simply cross dressing to dressing as animals, gods and a range of other outrageous ideas. It was they who were to set the trend for enjoying one’s self by dressing up in an elaborate outfit that combines creativity with an outrageous determination to have fun.
Surely throwing a costume party this summer would be the best way to honour that heritage? How about a party that honours the glory days of costumes and sets the 1920′s as the theme, but there’s no need to be constrained, they certainly weren’t.
With so much on offer nowadays there is a real chance to choose a theme that can be as outrageous as possible, or to go with and an old favourite; pick an era and celebrate those past decades. Judging costumes is a quick way to judge people’s party spirit, check out who you want to party with for the rest of the season.
Visit party heroes for all your Party Ideas
The Importance of a Decent Nights Sleep
Medical professionals are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of a good night’s sleep, which is so important for our health and wellbeing. Therefore the need to choose the right kind of bed from the wide choice of beds available should certainly not be ignored.
Looking deeper then at the medical evidence that greatly supports the necessity of a good night’s sleep; some researchers are of the opinion that adequate sleep may help prevent strokes and heart attacks as it is understood to help lower blood pressure as well as cholesterol levels, both of which are understood to contribute towards heart attacks and strokes.
A good night’s sleep may prevent some forms of cancer, the reason being that light exposure reduces the amount of melatonin in our bodies which is responsible for suppressing tumour growth.
Stress reduction, feeling more alert and energized the next day and even weight loss may be attributed to getting enough quality sleep – the former being obvious and the latter being because the hormones responsible for controlling appetite are disrupted if one does not get enough sleep. Sleep is also believed to reduce inflammation in the body, boost our memories and help us to process information better, as well as reducing depression and is a time in which our bodies repair themselves on a cellular level, which is vital to good health.
Turning to the type of beds available, the adjustable type, for example, can be useful for people who suffer from back pain as they can be angled correctly for ones back and those with varicose veins as well as people with hernias may find these kinds of bed particularly useful. However, dust mite allergy suffers may find air beds more beneficial, as should persons who simply need a portable bed on which to sleep.
Mattresses are a vital component of a good bed but there is quite a confusing array of mattresses to choose from including memory foam, pocket spring and latex. Mattresses, however, whichever type one chooses to lie upon, should adequately support the head, back and legs whilst still providing enough comfort to allow for a sound night’s sleep.
Bed frames are equally as important as mattresses, however, as they provide the foundation for everything. Like mattresses, bed frames come in different varieties but the solid steel type are particularly recommended, especially when it comes to durability as they can certainly provide the right support for a few beds.
To conclude, beds should not just be viewed as a whole but more the component parts, i.e. the mattresses, bed types and bed frames should all be looked at closely, as when put together they need to make up a bed which allows us to get the best night sleep possible, which is something our bodies should greatly appreciate!
Learn more about beds. Stop by Jemima Rushworth’s site where you can find out all about bed frames and what it can do for you.
Travelling at Easter? Get covered
Moneysupermarket, the UK’s leading insurance comparison website have urged holiday makers not to cut back on their travel insurance this Easter. Just because they are saving right now does not mean you will save in the long run.
Insurance experts at the comparison site published a statement encouraging anyone going on holiday this Easter not to overlook travel insurance, breakdown cover, bicycle cover or camping insurance in an attempt to bring down the overall cost of a holiday.
Travelling costs are going up around the UK and everyone is trying to save money where they can. A lot of people are trying to cut costs by ignoring travel insurance, but they don’t realise what it can offer asides from financial peace of mind. If you get into trouble whilst on holiday, travel insurance could cover a lot of different things that you might have to pay big bucks for.
The travel insurance expert Bob Atkinson from www.moneysupermarket.com had this to say “With family finances still being squeezed, it is vital Brits holidaying in the UK or abroad don’t think going without travel insurance is a good cost cutting measure. Having travel insurance in place gives peace of mind that you’re covered should any mishaps arise, so safeguard yourself and your family.”
The best form of insurance for anyone travelling is travel insurance. This compensates you for any lost luggage or personal liability along your trip. As well as this, any form of delays or cancellations are taken into account.
Moneysupermarket’s insurance experts constantly scour the market for the cheapest cover available, and the comparison site currently claims that a family of four holidaying in the UK or any European destination for one week can find cover for as little as 9.
Travel insurance is particularly useful when travelling to parts of the world where healthcare might not be as readily available as it is in the UK. For example, NHS cover does not apply on the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, so holidaymakers there will need travel insurance to cover the cost of any emergency treatment they might happen to require.
The weather in the UK is finally getting warmer and thousands of Brits will be holidaying this Easter and Royal Wedding period. The most popular destinations will be campsites during the school holidays and around the Easter bank holidays.
Since camping is a cheap holiday option, many people don’t consider that it would be advisable to add on insurance to this. Camping insurance can cover all possessions and equipment from as little as 16 a year.
Bob Atkinson from Moneysupermarket had this to say: “Protecting expensive camping equipment should also be a priority. Tents can be left unguarded for hours at a time, so it’s unwise to leave valuables lying around. Check with your provider about the terms and conditions of your home insurance policy to see if it covers you for possessions away from home, it may be something that you have to add to a standard policy so double check this with your insurer.”
Another popular holiday option during Easter is a cycling holiday. Whether you are staying in a tent, a hotel, a villa or a lodge on your holidays, you may well want to take your bike along with you to explore the local area. If so, you can cover yourself against theft, loss and accidental damage to your bike for 56 per year with AUA Insurance.
Bob Atkinson had this to say “Insuring your bike is crucial and not something cycle enthusiasts should go without. Adding a bike onto your home contents insurance can be a cost effective option, but if you are unsure of the procedure, or have any queries on the level of cover offered, it’s always worth double checking with your provider.”
Need travel insurance compare loads of different companies with moneysupermarket?
What Happens During Pregnancy?
The length of your pregnancy is calculated from the date of your last period. A pregnancy calculator can help you work out the stage of your pregnancy and track your pregnancy week by week for information on how your baby is growing and developing. Early pregnancy is the fastest time of growth for your baby and although you won’t be showing for a while you may notice some small changes in your body.
Towards the middle of your first trimester you will experience a surge in hormones which can cause symptoms such as morning sickness, tiredness and heartburn. Your baby now measures around 5 cm and their brain, spine and nerves are developing fast.
Towards the end of your first trimester your baby measures around 6 cm. Their digestive system is developing and facial features can be seen in an ultrasound scan. Your baby has fully formed fingers and toes and begins to kick. They can bend their arms and legs and their heart is beating around twice the speed of yours.
Most women have an ultrasound scan at 12 weeks. Your baby will measure around 6cm long. You will see hands and feet and be able to make out facial features. Their digestive organs are forming and their heart is beating quite fast.
As you come to the end of your first trimester you may get some aches and pains as the ligaments and muscles in your pelvis stretch to make more room. Your morning sickness may start to wear off as the placenta takes over hormone production and nourishing you growing baby. You can use a pregnancy calculator to find out what is happening inside your womb.
Your baby will soon be able to hear your voice. During this trimester you will begin to feel your baby move and by 21 weeks will have short periods of activity while they explore their surroundings.
As they continue to grow their eyes and ears will fully form and they may begin to respond to your voice.
As you enter the third trimester your baby has fully developed lungs and may react to loud noises. They may begin to suck their thumb and will have longer periods of activity. Movements will become smaller as they begin to run out of space. Their bones will harden from cartilage to bone and they will begin to put on fat.
A pregnancy calculator can help you to find out what to expect in these final weeks. As your baby grows larger they will begin to move into position ready for birth.
If you want to find out more about babies, then visit Bounty.com
More than a Holiday
India is a spectacular place full of amazing sights and sounds. One way to enjoy these fabulous Indiaholidays is to take a Gap year travel around the different places and experience life in India.
India has its own unique experiences to offer a person who is willing to give up a year or less of their time and to help others. Travelling to these countries and volunteering can help this dream become a reality.
India holidays are such an amazing experience that you can learn whilst visiting the country by volunteering to help teach the under privileged children in many of the cities. They are enthusiastic and willing to learn English as their second language.
Being able to enhance peoples understanding about the environment and to achieve something special is important. Looking after the children making sure that they are safe is only one aspect of the trip, gaining confidence and experience from many different cultures is just as important.
It is not just child care and teaching that is required. Medical skills are in demand and if you have a medical background then you can enhance you experience on your gap year travel around the country giving the people the benefit of your knowledge and helping them to understand more about their health and well being. Another skill that will take you around the country is an internship as a journalist. This amazing experience will allow you to see deep into the lives of the people and help to tell their story to the world. Help will always be on hand to give you the support needed.
India is exciting and could spear you on to try Borneo holidays. This fascinating island is home to some rare and beautiful wildlife, including the endangered orang-utan. These spectacular creatures need to be cared for along with their environment which during Borneo holidays you could volunteers to help look after these amazing creatures.
During Borneo holidays you can assist in the building of many eco buildings that are being constructed, helping evolve your skills and pump water and electricity to remote places. You could also help in fixing many of the bridges and paths that have been destroyed by floods, or inspect the trail and recreate maps if they need diverting.
Experiencing different cultures and opportunities is what gap year travel is all about, meeting different people and gaining knowledge and understanding of their way of life is rewarding. What every the experience it will remain with you long in to the future and will give you plenty of stories to recall when you return home to your friends and family.
Borneo holidays has lots to offer people from all backgrounds. They have some of the best safaris in the world.
Choosing Your Style
When buying a new bed, deciding on the perfect style to fit in with the rest of you home can seem like a difficult task; here are some tips to get you started. Bear in mind that when purchasing a new bed, new mattresses may need to be bought as well. This may affect your budget as mattresses can be relatively expensive.
One of the first things one must consider when thinking about buying beds is, where is the bed going to go? If it is in a room other than your own, maybe a teenager or a child’s room, then their personal style must be taken into consideration along with the general theme of the decor in the house.
The style of the room itself must then be examined; more than likely, it is in a similar vein to the look of the house’s decor in general. Perhaps you prefer crisp, minimalistic and modern designs, or maybe you adore the homely, welcoming look of shabby chic. If you prefer the modern look, then consider buying leather beds. These have a certain simple, yet elegant feel to them and would fit in nicely.
Headboards made from white coloured iron or even wooden beds are far more traditional and perfect for those whose houses are decorated in a shabby chic style.
For a darker, smaller room, beds and headboards like these are a great idea; simply paint them white to create the illusion of more space and light.
Mattresses are yet another consideration when buying a new bed. Although they will of course be hidden by the bed linen, things like comfort, budget and the practicality of the mattresses that you look at buying must be though about. There are lots of different kinds of mattresses to choose from; just ensure that they are the right length if you are considering buying new headboards as well.
After you have chosen the perfect style of bed that will fit in with the rest of your home, it is time to think about bed linen. This is a simple yet very effective method of sprucing up the look of your bedroom whilst tying in the decor with your home in general. If you want to go all out, you can even create a luxurious look by matching the bed linen to the curtains, shams as well as the canopy of the bed if you have one.
In summary, make sure that the beds, bed linen or headboards that you purchase have both structure and colour tones which blend in with the other parts of the house.
Want to find out more about beds, then visit John Drake’s site on how to choose the best mattresses for your needs.
Finding the right name for your baby
Choosing your baby’s name is one of the greatest joys of having a child. However, some people find it a very difficult decision to make. There are many things to take into consideration when deciding on your baby names. Do you want a classic or traditional name, something contemporary and fashionable or a completely original name? What does a baby name say about your child? Will the name suit an adult as well as a baby?
With so many names already being used the world over, how do you choose the right name for your baby? There is a lot to think about when selecting baby boy names or baby girl names. Firstly, do you know the gender of your child? If so, this can narrow down the name choice by 50%.
Peruse books of baby names which state the meaning behind the names for inspiration and understanding. Draw up lists of your favourite names and compare your list of names with your partner’s list. Finding your child a name you are both happy with is very important. See it as a fun challenge rather than a reason to argue.
Many parents opt for a traditional family name for their child or name them after a relative or friend. A family name is often given as a middle name. You may want to think about a name which works in different languages and can be pronounced easily in your preferred tongues. Many parents find this a fun and enjoyable decision to make, while many find it stressful and challenging.
Do your best to enjoy the process of selecting baby names. Look at lists of names online, meanings behind the names and tips for choosing names. Look at the current top twenty names and those of the past decades. See which names stand the test of time and those that have come and gone out of favour. If you prefer something more individual and quirky, consider whether it is suitable for both an adult and child.
Think about the various nicknames, shortenings or colloquial names for your chosen baby name and whether you are happy with those too. Remember, you don’t always get to choose what other people call your child! Also, you will probably want to think about middle names and check that the initials don’t spell or mean anything you’re not happy with!
What if you are having twins? Two names to choose! A lot depends on whether you know their genders, but if you don’t you will need to think about two baby girl names and two baby boy names to cover all outcomes and which names go well together.
It is a big responsibility choosing your child’s name and giving them a formal identity. Do your research, make your lists and discuss your views and choices with each other. Remember that your child will have to live with your choice for their entire life (unless they choose to change it!) Above all, enjoy this special time and the choosing of your baby names.
wanting to understand the meanings of names? looking for the perfect name for your newborn? Let bounty help you out with their information on baby names
Guidance for mums-to-be
Becoming a mum for the first time is very rewarding. It is also very stressful because of the new experiences and responsibilities which are imminent. It is important to collect as much information as possible in order to make appropriate decisions. A pregnancy forum will help. In the early stages of pregnancy a pregnancy due date is calculated from the mums menstrual cycle. The actual date of birth may be 2 weeks earlier or later than this. The mum relies heavily on this date to have everything ready.
For all first time mums, their first point of contact is normally their midwife. She is there to support the mum right through the birth and during the first few weeks of baby’s life. She will work very closely to the pregnancy due date. The midwife will often provide a pregnancy week by week diary explaining what is happening during the pregnancy. Antenatal classes help to prepare the mum physically and mentally for the birth. A tour of the delivery suites will help the mother feel more relaxed. A health visitor will monitor baby during its 1st year providing practical advice and support regarding development.
Many books can be purchased about a whole range of pregnancy and childcare issues. The local library will hold much reference material. Mother and baby magazines publish real life parenting stories. Large supermarket chains publish regular magazines offering advice particularly in respect of food development. There are many TV programmes regarding pregnancy, birth and parenting issues.
Internet sites offer an excellent pregnancy forum. Many sites provide a mother and baby service offering invaluable tips and advice. Some sites will talk mums to be through their pregnancy week by week. A pregnancy forum is also often connected to chat sites. This allows the mother to make new friends.
Friends and relatives will be very eager to help. Do not refuse their assistance. Even if it feels they are interfering at first, their help will be appreciated in the long run. People in the street will stop and offer their advice. They are merely trying to be helpful. These people are likely to have brought up families themselves and can relate to their own experiences.
Get to know other local mums in the area. Many churches and community centres have a mothers group who meet on a regular basis. SureStart Children Centres also provide assistance for pregnant women through to the child reaching the age of 5. Meeting up with others will also allow the mum to relax and it gives them a break from their normal routine. A pregnancy forum will be able to advise on the next meetings.
Throughout pregnancy and when baby is born, free gift packs offering samples and coupons are available to all mums. Many supermarkets and shops specialising in baby care also publish monthly magazines.
Parenting advice is everywhere. It is difficult to know what you should listen to. Unfortunately babies do not come with an instruction manual.
Looking to find the best advice and information on what to expect in your pregnancy, then you need bounty’s pregnancy calendar