What You Need To Know Before Buying a Historic House

Buying a historic house is appealing in a lot of ways. For one, most historic homes are beautiful and unique in their architecture and design. It could also be fulfilling to know that you have a hand in redeveloping or improving upon a town and its economy. Before you go out and buy there are a few things you need to know.

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The Benefits
There are many benefits to owning historic property. The first thing is knowing your contribution to the preservation of history. Who knows what opportunities will open up because of your preservation of the historical building. You can give back to the community by allowing local residents to rent the space out. Just make sure you know all the laws and permits you need. Some homes are permitted to host weddings and events, while others can only be used in a museum setting. Some historical buildings are also retrofitted with a commercial quality kitchen for catering. The possibilities are endless. You also receive tax benefits. They are gorgeous additions to any neighbourhood because of their unique architecture, in addition to the tax benefits, you may also get lower interest loans to restore these historical homes and sometimes to even buy and preserve them.

You May Have Some Restrictions
When you own a historic home, there may be some restrictions that come along with it since it is a historical building. There may be some prior guidelines imposed by your local and state government when it comes to modifying the building. As a general rule of thumb, as long as the integrity and style of the home are maintained, you are good to make changes to the home. It goes without saying that the guidelines have to be met.

Make sure you have a proper home inspection by a professional who has a specialty in historic homes. When trying to figure out what you need to invest in, make sure you get estimates from at least two contractors to cross-reference the repair work needed before you move in. Another part of that is making sure the home meets all the health and safety standards.

You may also need a certain type of home insurance that covers historic properties. Typically these are more expensive than the regular home insurance of a newer home.

Do Your Research
Make sure that your historical property is actually a historical property. Do research on why the home is significant. It is important to note that your historic building has to be up to a certain code. You can do this by having your home inspected by a professional. Have a full understanding of what you can and cannot do with the home. It is very important to get a home inspector and have the house thoroughly looked over. You should also get estimates from local contractors on how much all of that will cost.

These are a few things to keep in mind before you purchase a historic building. Be sure to search for a historic building conservation East Devon, or wherever you are local.

Holiday Dreaming And The Inspiration For Next Year

There is no denying that many of us will have holidays on our minds right now, partly because they still feel a little impossible right now. But as lockdown eases and restrictions become less, holidays will be possible once more. Whether it is later this year or next, you may be looking for some inspiration. With that in mind, here are some of the options for you to consider.

A rental cottage

One of the first options to consider would be a cottage somewhere different. A staycation this might be, but looking online for cottages for hire may highlight parts of the country you have never thought of visiting. It avoids you having to worry about any potential restrictions and allows you to enjoy a holiday that feels more home from home. There are some beautiful parts of the country to explore, so this might be the ideal incentive to stay closer to home and see it. 

A road trip
Now more than ever you may have been thinking about seeing more of the world we live in. When the option gets taken away from you it can often reignite a passion to try it once more. A road trip could be the ideal solution. Planning your trip and where you stay, seeing more than one place and exploring new countries. It might not be the first holiday you are able to take, but it is certainly one to plan for the future.

A cruise 
Cruising was extremely popular, but right now those floating hotels on the seas are not a possible option for a holiday. But that doesn’t mean to say it will never be. Cruising will come back, and it is certainly going to be popular once those ships sail the seas once more. A cruise gives you the chance to see multiple destinations and countries in one holiday, so it may be worth planning which one you want to do once the opportunity arises again.

A fun time adventure 
Who doesn’t want a bit of fun and excitement in their lives and a holiday to somewhere like Disney World or Lapland could be the ideal one to plan. These fun locations will start to open up once more, and enable you to enjoy the festivities that surround them. Again this might be a holiday you plan for the future, but it could certainly be fun counting down to that special holiday when the opportunity comes.

An active holiday
Finally, the last spot of holiday inspiration you might need is one for the active person in your life, be that yourself or your family. Holidays don’t always mean lounging by the pool or the sea, so why not choose an adventure instead? A hiking holiday, a boating trip or something like skiing could all be possible options for amazing vacations away with your nearest and dearest.

Let’s hope you are full of inspiration to start dreaming, planning and potentially booking those holidays so we can all start to see the world we live in once more.

8 Ways to Take Better Care of Yourself

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You’re going to have more energy and not feel as sluggish when you put your health and wellness first and foremost. Putting these essential to-dos off for another day may leave you feeling stressed out and lacking the motivation to reach your goals.

Learn about eight ways you can take better care of yourself so that you can reap all the benefits that come along with doing so. Changing your habits can be time-consuming and challenging initially but try to stick with it and notice how over time it gets easier for you. Take action now so that you can experience more gratifying days ahead.

1. Make Sleep & Rest A Priority
You can take better care of yourself by making sleep and rest a priority. Get on a schedule by going to bed and waking up around the same time each day, even on the weekends. Also, take the time to configure your room for optimal sleep. For instance, make sure it’s at a cool temperature, that you have a comfortable mattress and sheets, and that the room is dark enough. You should not only focus on getting more and better sleep but also taking breaks and resting when your body tells you that it’s tired.

2. Pay Attention to the Products You’re Using
Take better care of yourself by paying attention to the products you’re using on yourself and around the house. There are many toxins in your everyday purchases that you should be aware of and try to avoid. For example, you can make your own house cleaners at home with natural ingredients. As for your beauty routine, look for skincare lotions and nail products such as those at ciennarose.com that are vegan and that have nourishing ingredients that aren’t harmful to you.

3. Take Breaks & Time Away from Work
You’ll also be doing yourself a huge favour by practising work-life balance and not overdoing it at your job. It’s vital that you set boundaries and take breaks and time away from work if you want to stay well. Go on a holiday with your family or friends or have a staycation at home where you can rest and participate in activities you enjoy. You’ll likely return to the office feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and find that you make fewer mistakes while at work. Plan ahead and prioritise your work tasks so that you can leave the office each night at a decent hour and don’t have to bring your work home with you.

4. Get Daily Physical Activity & Exercise
Daily exercise is good for both your mind and body. It’s an excellent way to tone your body and manage any stress you’re feeling. Find activities that you enjoy and mix up your routine so that you don’t become bored or disengaged in working out. It may help to find an accountability partner who you can count on to keep you motivated to continue exercising and taking care of yourself. Once you start exercising and you notice how good you feel you likely won’t want to miss a day. Also, be sure to stay hydrated and stretch so that you can recover more quickly.

5. Cook Nutritious Meals at Home
Another way to take better care of yourself is to cook nutritious meals at home. It’ll be cheaper than going out to eat, and you’ll likely consume fewer calories. You can control your portion sizes and what ingredients you use better when you’re the chef. Your clothes will fit better, and you may not have as many health issues when you eat well. Make a grocery list and shop and prepare food on the weekends so that your weekdays aren’t as busy. You may even want to think about making meals that you can cook ahead and pull out and serve when you’re short on time.

6. Spend Less Time on Technology
While technology is useful and makes your life easier, it can also be addicting and hard on your health. You may have eye strain, a sore neck or back, and pain in your hands if you type and stare at a computer screen a lot. Therefore, monitor how much time you’re spending on technology and take breaks away from it so you can feel better mentally and physically. Think of all the other activities you could be doing, such as getting outside or participating in a hobby. You’ll likely find you feel less stressed and anxious and that you don’t sit around comparing your life to other people as much when you limit your time on social media and the Internet.

7. Connect with Friends & Family
Another way to boost your health and well-being is to build and nurture your relationships with others. Make it a point to connect with friends and family members more frequently and open up and get to know people on a deeper level. It’ll be nice to have people in your life who you can turn to when you need advice or to engage with when you need a good laugh. Pick up the phone on your days off or ask a friend out for coffee to catch up. These connections are valuable for your well-being, and you’ll likely find that you’re a lot happier when you have people who you count on to brighten your day or who will listen when you have a problem.

8. Make To-Do Lists & Journal
Take better care of yourself by attending to your mental health and finding ways to manage your stress. You may find it helpful to make to-do lists and keep notes about what you want to get done each day. There will be less information floating around in your head, and you can stay on track with tackling your responsibilities. Also, keep a journal of what you’re grateful for and what you like about yourself so you can maintain a positive outlook and uplifting self-talk. These are small actions you can do that will make your life easier and bring you a lot of joy.

The Things That Are Keeping Your Home From Smelling Fresh

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You invest a lot of time and effort in making your home perfect. You sweep, mop and polish your floors until they sparkle. You apply a liberal dose of elbow grease to your windows to the point where guests question whether or not they even contain any glass. You vacuum your carpets and rugs to keep them fully, lustrous and free of dust and crumbs of yuckiness. Yet, no matter how much you scrub, wipe, mop and sweep there’s something that’s keeping your home from looking and feeling completely clean.

Yup, it’s that funk that subtly permeates your living space, and undoes all the hard work you’ve put in elsewhere. While we human beings are inherently visual creatures, we tend to judge our surroundings by their scent, as well. It’s how we’ve evolved to know which foods will do us harm and which environments aren’t safe to live in. As such, our sense of smell can affect our moods. So when your home is permeated by pongs, it can make it really difficult to enjoy your down time. Here are 4 things that are keeping your home from smelling, and feeling, as fresh as it could:

Your drains
Be honest. You’re washing the dishes and an errant pea, piece of sweetcorn or nugget of mince gets stuck in the drain. What do you do? Push it down with the butt of a fork? Thought so. But when food waste is pushed down the drain, it isn’t banished to another dimension. It can get stuck in the u-bend, decomposing and bringing the funk to your kitchen. In some cases a little baking soda and lemon juice down the drain is enough to rid your home of funky odours, but when matter accumulates in your drains over time, you may need to get a specialist drain repair service over to make sure your pipes are spotless. And you can cook safe in the knowledge that the only aroma is the delicious food you’re making. 

Pets
As much as we love our furry friends they can be a source of unwanted odours, especially in wet weather or if they're partial to a dip in some water on their walks! Regularly washing pet bedding and blankets will go a long way to stopping any unwanted pet odours as well as replacing them when they become old and worn (because let's be fair they do get to a point where no matter what you wash them with, nothing will get rid of that lingering smell).

Your carpets
You may vacuum regularly. But over time pet dander, crumbs of food waste and other nasties can get trodden deep into the fibres of your carpet and prevent it from smelling as good as it could. As well as getting your carpets and upholstery cleaned annually, you can mix some baking soda and essential oils to make your very own Shake n Vac. Sprinkle it on your carpets, leave it for a few minutes and vacuum it back up for instant freshness.

Your bin
Finally, after a while, your bin may start to smell, even if it’s empty. Sometimes waste can escape your bin bag and linger in the bin itself. Rather than rinsing it out with soap and water, first try sprinkling in a combination of baking soda and your favourite essential oils. Leave it for about an hour then rinse out. Your bin will look and smell good as new!

Always remember to stay safe when cleaning your home!

Tukin Foods Discount Code and Review

The last 10 weeks has been a testing time in more ways that one; we've had to completely transform our lives in a lot of ways and adapt quickly to new ways of living - most of which I will continue with well beyond lockdown because some of it has actually been revolutionary! One of the biggest changes I have made over 10 weeks of lockdown is the way I buy food. I've gone from shopping 3/4 times per week; just picking up a few bits on the way home from work (which by the way, was totally inefficient and used to do my head in!) to relying on a 'big shop' once a week and topping up with other bits and bobs usually from smaller businesses as and when I can.

Tukin Foods is a small business I've been introduced to recently who offer handmade curries delivered to your door which I think is absolutely revolutionary. Sounds a bit daft to refer to a ready meal as revolutionary but I think we all have that image of 'ready meal curry' in our heads as being a bit sad and uninspiring; something that you chuck in the microwave because you have nothing else to eat. Tukin has completely changed my perception of ready meals!

Based in Leicester, Tukin offer a full range of handmade curries, naans and and sides which make for the perfect takeaway treat at home without paying a premium. They were kind enough to send me a care package full of a selection of their products so I wanted to share my thoughts.

I'll start with the curry ready meals: I've tried the Chicken Korma, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Jalfrezi and Butternut Squash and Spinach Curry (all priced at £4.50). These can be heated in the microwave or the oven (I would recommend putting the curry into another container if you are going to use the oven though as I found that the plastic packaging isn't oven-proof). The first thing I noticed about each curry is the beautiful texture and consistency; they are gorgeously thick and the meat curries all contained plenty of chicken. They also do a Lamb Rogan Josh and a Vindaloo if either of those tickle your fancy. 

My personal favourite has to be the Chicken Korma; it was so creamy and coconutty - I much prefer this to the Kormas I've had from restaurants and takeaways because it was creamy but not overly sweet. The Chicken Tikka, again, wasn't as sweet as I've had from takeaways but it was so tasty and doesn't have that luminous red colour that you often get from restaurants and takeaways as it's made with all natural ingredients and no preservatives. I was also pleasantly surprised by the Vegetarian curry - this was delicious and very filling! The Jalfrezi is the hottest of the 4 curries but not unbearable - still not too hot that you don't get any of the flavours but if you don't like a kick then I would stay with the milder curries such as Korma.

Now onto the Indian side orders - I had a Chicken Tikka Samosa, Vegetable Samosa and Onion Bhaji (all £2.00 each) and they were all lovely! They're large enough to share between two if you wanted to try a bit of each and done in the oven they come out beautifully crispy as you would expect in a restaurant - I highly recommend these even just as a snack to take to work!

I was also sent some drinks which were the Nix and Kix Cucumber and Mint and Blood Orange and Turmeric (both £1.30 each). I'm not a fan of the Cucumber and Mint because it was simply just like drinking cucumber water which really isn't for me but the Blood Orange and Turmeric was so refreshing straight out of the fridge!

Mango Lassi is classed as a drink but it's basically a yoghurt drink and I can't describe how nice it is! I would 100% buy this again as it's the perfect dessert kind of drink after a curry - it really cools your mouth down and is gorgeously creamy!

Finally, onto the Curry in a Naan. Where do I even begin with these. Gone are the days when I will buy a boring pre-packed sandwich because these are a quick lunch game changer! They can be eaten hot or cold (although they are better hot) and they are absolutely divine! They do the Naans with Korma, Tikka, Jalfrezi and Vegetarian and I can confirm that they're all beautiful and only £2.70 each. If you check out the Tukin Foods Instagram page you'll see that I'm not the only one raving about their fresh products!

You can buy Tukin products at selected Tescos, One Stops, Co-ops, Wilko's, Nisas, Booths, Jacks and Franprix but I think the most convenient way to order is by doing it directly on the Tukin Foods website. They offer free next day delivery nationwide if you spend over £25 and if you enter my discount code: FOODIE10 at the checkout you'll also receive 10% off your order! All their foods are delivered in a box with cool packs so it reaches you in tip-top condition and it's all freezable so you can stock up to reach that free delivery threshold!