Christmas Is A Season Of Gift-giving

Christmas day is fast approaching. As we all know, Christmas is usually associated with gifts. Christmas day is gift-giving day, but of course let us not wait for Christmas to be able to share what we have. Speaking of gifts, I wanted to buy a gift for myself. It is somewhat a reward for all the hardships that I encountered these past few months. While I was searching online for the perfect gift, I came across the gardening gift set from a reliable website. I totally love the gardening gift set because all the basic essentials for gardening is there already. Although I personally have my own gardening tools but they are very bulky and I wanted a handy one, which I could use anytime especially indoors.

The gardening gift set includes, trowels, scoops, a pair of gloves and all other garden accessories. Gardening has a great impact on our life. Not only that it helps us improve on our health and wellness, but it helped us on our budget too. Since we have our home grown fruits, vegetables and herbs, it is automatically deducted from our weekly budget. Plus the fact that our home grown products are free from chemicals, we are very sure that we eat healthy foods and not poisonous.

Collecting any kind of gardening sets or tools would probably be my next hobby. Although it might sound a bit expensive but it would help us in maintaining our garden.

Decorate Your Windows With Beautiful Window Boxes

Are you tired of that old looking window? Well, there are actually many ways in which you can re-design or totally change the look of your windows. Do not be afraid to take the big step to change the old stuff, as long as you know that everything is for the better. And also, I can provide some tips in this blog of mine for a more practical yet expensive-looking windows. I have done it at home and I wanted to share it with everyone too. First of all, try to think what you really wanted for your windows to look like because your personality will definitely reflect on it. Remember that windows are like our eyes, they are our easiest access to the outside world. We can see from inside our houses what is going on outside without leaving our comfort zone.

Next try to look for designs that would match or go along with the kind and size of your window. At home, I have added a plant beside my window it is placed in a windowsill self watering planter. I don't have to worry about my indoor plant anymore since it has everything it needs from the sunlight, to air and water. Maintaining a plant is very easy with the help of the self watering planter. I just have to check it once or twice a week to make sure that the water supply is enough for the next days. Also, you can add some lights on your windows since Christmas is already fast approaching. You can match the design to the monthly occasions too. You could also hang a nice curtain to cover up a bit.

You can also add a window box outside and plant it with your favorite flowers or herbs if it is near your kitchen. So that, it would be easier for you to get fresh herbs while you are cooking. You can never go wrong in decorating your own windows or your own home for that matter. Go with your instinct always, but remember to make things simple. Simplicity is beauty!

The Essence Of True Friendship

There are many things that we have to go through in life. We all would pass a roller coaster ride. Meaning, in our life there are a lot of ups and downs. It is up to us how we should handle things for us to be able to go through every obstacle. Sometimes, there will be help coming from your family or relatives when you least expect it. You are truly lucky when you have a strong bond with your family and relatives, because they will definitely stand by your side whatever happens. Remember the saying that, "no man is an island". We all do need to have someone to connect with to fully give meaning to our lives. I was thankful that I was able to meet not just friends, but true friends. We can have as many friends as we can, but there are just few who will stay true to you.

Having a clique or group of true friends, I realized that it's actually healthy because you get to grow and learn things together. Just like when we are younger, we get to love our favorite sport which is volleyball, we all trained to be better players everyday and that is how our friendship started. Now, that we have become mature individuals, we get to share ideas on family matters, especially on motherhood, as well as, tips on how to keep the house clean and well decorated. Once a month, we have decided to have our reunion. We would go visit each others house one at a time. One of our friend just recently bought a new home, so we visited her place to help her sort things out. Friends are also ready to give a helping hand without expecting anything in return. We help her clean and decorate her new home and also made a mini garden in front of her house because there is no space backyard. We also ordered flower box holders because she does have window box planters.

These flower box holder was actually suggested by one of our friends, since she has also bought it from a reliable online manufacturer and seller. It is totally tested and proven to instantly create a decorative flair especially to those simple planters and window boxes. They are hand crafted from steel and powder-coated for rust protection. It is actually a good buy and you get to select different designs too. The time passed by so quickly, we didn't realize that it's already getting late. So we all decided to go home and be back the following day to finish things up with our friends new home.

Growing Orchids Indoors

Having my own garden at home, makes me reminisce the past. I could still recall how my grandmother used to sing to her favorite flowers, they are the roses and orchids. These two flowering plants usually are the main attraction or the head turner plants in our garden. Roses are woody perennial, while the orchids are diverse and widespread family of flowering plants with blooms that are often colorful and fragrant. Growing up, I always though that these orchids are hard to maintain and care for. But, now that I am also an enthusiast for orchids, I find it very interesting and fascinating how these orchids grow and bloom as a beautiful flower. They are actually not that hard to maintain, as long as you choose the right orchid to suit the particular environment of your home or location.

There are actually things that you need to check first before you choose an orchid to grow. You should always check if the orchid will have enough space when fully grown, because there are species of orchids that can be massive when fully grown and usually are best placed in a green house. Next is the temperature requirements that the orchid needs. Cool, intermediate, and warm are the three types of temperature that they need. It only means that they require a certain amount of minimum night temperatures in order to grow successfully. We have a yellow phalanopsis orchid in our living room, the good thing about phalanopsis is that they are elegant orchids which is meant for indoor use and their long sprays of colorful flowers stay fresh for months. I don't have to buy costly air fresheners anymore, just to make sure that our house is clean and smells fresh.

Always remember that orchids typically grows on trees and their roots are water-gathering organs that needs loads of fresh air flow to be healthy. Orchids are a lot like us and can survive in any habitat..

The Benefits Of Peat Moss To Plants

 

We recently planted camellias on one of our window boxes and I noticed that they do not grow as healthy as our other plants. I didn't know what the problem is, so I consulted some of my friends and neighbors on what to do with the plant. Everything our camellia plant needs, like water, sunlight, fertilizer are already given, but still the plant does not blossom as it should be. While browsing the internet, to check for solutions, I came across an article about peat moss. We haven't use any peat moss for our plants since, we have the organic fertilizers, but it was suggested on that specific article that peat moss is a better choice for camellia plants. The main reason is because camellias are acid-loving plants and since it doesn't compact or break down readily, one application of peat moss could last up to several years.

Peat moss is an important component of most potting soils and seed starting mediums. They do not contain any harmful microorganisms or weed seeds that we may find in poorly processed compost. Peat moss can be used in several ways. It is not just a soil amendment or an ingredient in potting soils and planting mixes, but it can also be used as a bulking agent and carbon source in composting. Having read all of these, I immediately went to a nearby gardening shop to buy peat moss for our camellia plant. After purchasing, I look around the store for other pots or window box liners. Luckily, I saw these preserved moss roll which would perfectly fit as a window box liner for our window boxes at home, especially the one with camellia plant on it.

Growing and maintaining a plant is just like caring for your family too. These plants also need your time and effort for them to be able to grow healthily and blossom beautifully. Life is a give and take process. I believe in the saying that, "You receive from the world, what you give to the world.

The Healthier Way To A Better Life

 

Organic gardening has already gained popularity and are mostly used method of gardeners today. Not only it is healthier compared to those foods that we serve with high content of pesticides, but also it is safer for the whole family, it is also a way that we can protect the environment with overloading chemicals. Gathering all information and details about organic gardening is the first step to be successful and able to produce healthy products. There are now many articles and blogs, as well as, tips and tricks that you could read online on how organic gardening works. It really takes time and an extra effort for things to be smooth sailing when you start your own organic garden.

You can actually start from 2 or 3 plants, it doesn't necessarily have to be many plants. Don't worry if things aren't perfect right away. You could have your error and trial first. Organic gardening means you won't be using synthetic fertilizers or pesticides, but that doesn't mean your plants are left to fend for themselves. There are actually an array of tools that we could choose from to bolster plant health and ward off pest. I can say that every plant in my garden is already chemical or pesticide free. I started from a pot of plant a few years ago. It was a tomato plant, since we widely used tomatoes in almost all of our meals. I decided to use organics instead of chemicals. I bought a natural coconut coir fiber through a trusted online seller, it is an Eco-friendly alternative to peat moss. These natural coconut coir fiber helped my tomato plant free of any disease, fungal spores, weeds and seeds and most of all bacteria and pathogens.

We are truly happy with the outcome of the tomato plant, and it is even tastier without the added chemicals. Coconut fiber coir is just one of the few growing media soil amendments that we could use for our plant. These natural coconut coir provides an excellent drainage and structural stability. It also promotes airflow to root system and will not decompose as quickly as peat moss and rock wool. Plants that have been grown without chemicals can be eaten directly after washing and you won't have to worry about any pesticides at all. It is much safer for everyone in the family.

The Health Benefits Of Walking For Expectant Mothers

 

Walking is the best form of exercise. It keeps your fit without jarring your knees and ankles. It's also easy to do almost anywhere, doesn't require any equipment beyond a good pair of supportive shoes, and is safe throughout all nine months of pregnancy. Walking is also thought to help ease labor for a faster delivery. Other benefits of walking during pregnancy include lessening the occurrence of side effects as well as the risk of gestational diabetes. It is high blood sugar during pregnancy and can cause the baby to be born too large or have jaundice. So, walking during pregnancy can result in positive health benefits for both mother and child. With all these information I have gathered over the internet, I see to it that I get at least 15-30 minutes of walking exercise everyday.

Yesterday, while walking my way to the office, I was prettily amazed by how our city has developed. Now, there are more street lights, buildings everywhere, and food establishments in every side of the street. More people are walking because of the road widening project of the city government. They feel more safe and secure because of the city lights and there is a pathway especially made for those who wants to walk or jog. I also saw fiberglass window boxes installed at the side railings of the bridge. I never though that these window boxes could be used in bridges too. But it actually looked good especially with the outdoor plants and flowers that they have planted on it. It was really an amazing walking session on my way to the office. And I plan to so it every other day as a form of exercise, especially now that I'm just counting days before I give birth.

Having a child is always a life-changing, momentous experience that can leave us, mothers, feeling simultaneously ecstatic, overwhelmed and anxious. Always remember to at least have time for yourself, especially have time to exercise because it can put you in better shape, lifts up your mood and spirit too.