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Photo: LordPov / Flickr

For environmentally conscious consumers, living green means more than simply recycling and re-using. It also means using products and appliances that are eco-friendly such as refrigerators and freezers. These are important ways to reduce one’s energy consumption while doing your bit for the environment. They’re one of the few items in your household that are switched every day of the year. This has a huge impact on the environment. So consider replacing your current appliance with an eco-friendly version. (more…)

Photo: leekelleher / Flickr

It’s raining and you’re all alone on a deserted stretch of highway with a flat tyre. Your mobile’s battery gave up the ghost just as your tyre blew and there isn’t a soul in sight. To top it all, you’re on your way to a wedding and you’re not exactly dressed to get down in the dirt. Now what would Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson do in a similar situation? Well, you don’t have to be a car expert to learn how to change a tyre. (more…)

Photo: Clean Wal-Mart / Flickr

We all, hopefully, use some form of deodorant in our daily morning routine. Most people don’t think twice before spraying or applying that roll on. But are we aware of what we’re regularly putting on this very sensitive organ that is our skin? Most modern deodorants are advertised as anti-perspirant, which contain such ingredients as aluminium chlorohydrate, parabens, triclosan, talc, propylene glycol, silica and steareth-n. Together with cheap perfumes, these are not good for our skin and our health in general. (more…)

Photo: Garrette / Flickr

Bugs are a nuisance and can be a problem if you live in an apartment and have to share a building with other people who have less than desirable hygiene habits. If your neighbours are not as consistent as you are at taking the rubbish out or cleaning up after dinner, you can find your home invaded by roaches, ants, flies or fleas. With summer on its way, well, eventually, mosquitos will once again make their appearance. Read on to find how to protect your home. (more…)

Photo: monstro / Flickr

Most of us learnt it at home. If not, they probably caught us at school. Brushing your teeth, at least twice a day, is how you’ll keep your pearly whites healthy. Oral hygiene isn’t just about teeth. It also includes your entire mouth; teeth, gums and tongue. If you don’t have a decent oral hygiene routine, you’ll risk bad breath, red and swollen gums, bleeding when flossing or brushing your teeth, receding gums and tooth loss. Not a pretty picture, eh? (more…)

Photo: Stock.Xchng

For many people, the thought of giving a speech, reciting a poem or performing in front of an audience, no matter how small, is simply unthinkable. Fear of public speaking, also known as glossophobia or speech anxiety, affects a variety of people of different ages, genders and backgrounds. If you suffer from this condition, before a speaking engagement, you’ll experience sweaty palms, shaky hands, a pounding heart and you might also forget what you want say. Does this sound familiar? (more…)

Photo: Suicine / Flickr

In this day and age when more people are becoming environmentally aware and adjusting their lifestyles accordingly, it should come as no surprise that clothes are also under scrutiny. There is a debate going on regarding the appropriateness of synthetic and natural fabrics in the manufacture of clothing, linen and other fashion accessories. It might seem obvious at first glance, but this is not as clear cut an issue as you might think. There pros and cons to both types of fabric. (more…)

Photo: Emery Co Photo / Flickr

Mums are known for voicing their opinions when it comes to their children, and children are notorious for not following their mothers’ advice. It turns out, though, that more often than not mums are right. There’s no arguing with the wisdom in eating all our veggies, sitting up straight and never smoking cigarettes. Whether we like to admit it or not, mothers teach us loads of valuable lessons. Here are some of them. (more…)

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Childbirth is an experience that some women look forward to. For others, it brings forth feelings of anxiety and worry. There are some unfounded ideas associated with childbirth in general and unmedicated labour more specifically. One of the most widespread is that giving birth is an extremely painful experience and an epidural is absolutely essential. Labour is actually a natural process for which your body is perfectly designed. Why else would countless women go through time and time again? (more…)

Photo: Stock.Xchng

Soda has become the four-letter word of the beverage world. Of all drinks available, soda probably has the worst reputation. It’s been linked with obesity, hyperactivity in children, diabetes and tooth decay. Scientists continue to find reasons why we shouldn’t drink the stuff, and we’re inclined to agree with them. Here are our top reasons for ditching soda. (more…)