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In summer, spending time outdoors is fun and relaxing, whether you’re just taking time out in the fresh air or taking advantage of the extra space and pleasant temperatures to entertain guests. Whatever it is that you most enjoy doing out there, you’ll find that spending time in your outdoor space will be a better experience if you’re better equipped for it – and that means patio set furniture that looks great, feels even better, and allows you to soak up the sun for as long as you choose. (more…)

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Cleaning a TV is part of owning one. Dust and dirt accumulation can harm the screen and the parts inside. LCD and Plasma TVs acquire different cleaning methods, mainly in terms of the liquid you use. Getting a dishcloth and wiping away the dust may be the easy way to do things, but most times the dust is just being pushed into the corners. To get rid of the dirt effectively, you’re going to need some TV cleaning products. (more…)

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Are your trousers a little tight around the waist? Wondering how you are going to fit into your summer clothes? Fitness bicycles are a great way to lose pounds and get fit. They come with a lot of nifty features like calorie burners, timers, and settings for different fitness levels. They’re also quite compact, compared to treadmills and other home exercise equipment. Just half an hour of pedalling can burn about 245 calories – that’s a slice of pizza. So get on that bike and ride. (more…)

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Toddlers and babies grow and develop everyday, and there are a variety of educational toys on the market to assist them in their development. Toddlers’ minds are like sponges; they soak up everything while developing their construction, social, sensory and speaking skills; and finding ways to enhance those skills will benefit your child in the long run. Studies have even shown that educational learning toys can help increase your child’s IQ during their key initial learning phases, which take place early on in life. (more…)

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Mother’s Day 2010 falls on 14 March, so there’s still time to get your mother a gift she will love. But if you’re stuck for gift ideas, why not go the tried and tested route? Every woman loves a great fragrance. If you’re not sure how to choose the right perfume for your mother, though, this guide will help you pick a scent that matches your mother’s style and personality. Of all women’s perfume, Chanel No. 5 is possibly the best selling, and definitely the most timeless, but there are many other great options as well. (more…)

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If you need an excuse to eat salmon, look no further. Research on omega-3 fatty acids (abundant in fatty fish like salmon) shows that they’re called ‘essential’ fats for a reason. These good fats make you smart, keep your heart healthy, and even help with the ageing process. While the bad kind of fat – saturated fat – found in meat and dairy should be avoided, the body can’t live without omega-3 fatty acids. The brain, for example, is about two-thirds fat. But not just any kind of fat. There are two kinds of fat the body and the brain can’t make, and can’t live without, and one of them is omega-3 fatty acid, found in the highest amounts in cold water fish. (more…)

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It’s always great to have a set of plain crockery that suits every meal and occasion, but there are also times when you need something special to really set the scene for a themed party or dinner. The best way to get ordinary crockery to be really interesting and entirely your own is to transform a boring crockery set with your own designs. It doesn’t have to look horribly old-fashioned, and it’s easier than you think. When you think of hand-painted crockery, it’s probably not a pleasant image. But you don’t have to hand paint pictures of ducks and bunches of grapes onto your plates – simple designs that enhance ordinary crockery with their colour are often a good way to go. (more…)

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The cliché that breakfast is the most important meal of the day is more true than most of us imagine, but for many people that’s just not enough reason to take the time to bother with breakfast. If you’re one of those people, perhaps all you need are some healthy breakfast ideas to inspire you. Once you get into the habit it’s a lot easier than you think to start your day off with a good meal. You might think a double shot espresso is enough to get your day going, but eating a full breakfast can also do wonders. The best part? You’ve got all day to burn off the calories. (more…)

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Your country home is likely to be a place of rest and relaxation, so keep the look of the place relaxed. Relaxed, however, doesn’t have to mean sloppy: incorporating crisp fabrics and some modern touches will keep the look fresh and appealing. Instead, country casual means a focus on simplicity and a love for the details that this simplicity will show off. It’s easy decorating a country home – just follow some simple rules, avoid perfectionism and perfect symmetry, and choose what you love. One thing you can always do is to select a theme and then follow it throughout your decorating process. And, of course, you will still need add your own personal touch no matter what. (more…)

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The little beauty problems we all face at one time or another always seem to require expensive, shop-bought beauty remedies, but there is an alternative: you can create natural beauty remedies in your own home, and you might just find that they work more gently and more effectively. Hands and feet are used a lot during the day, so it’s no surprise that they’re often left feeling tired and rough. Something to try at home for your feet is a relaxing soak with Epsom salts – just place a few tablespoons of the salts in some warm water and soak your feet in them to give them a really clean, refreshed feeling, and to get them ready for exfoliation with a pumice stone. (more…)