Candyfloss & Dreams

Author: Kat Candyfloss

  • Health Concerns Women Should Know About

    This is a collaborative post.

    As women, there are many specific health concerns and conditions to look out for which need a lot of attention. The more you know about your own body, the better off you are, as you can then make all the right steps towards living as healthy a life as possible. In this post, we are going to look at a number of female health issues. Some of them only apply to women, while others might be problems that men can experience too, but which have particular implications for women which you need to know about. Taking care of your own health is hugely important, so make sure that you are doing everything you can to keep on top of it. With any luck, you will then lead a long and healthy life.

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    Urinary Problems

     

    Something which is particularly common among women is urinary tract problems. There are many of these, and they all vary slightly, but by far the most common  – and one of the most frustrating to experience – is cystitis. This is actually inflammation of the bladder, and anyone who has experienced it will tell you that it can be both incredibly painful and very annoying to have to deal with. If left alone, it can also become a much more serious issue, so it is important to watch out for this. Typically, cystitis first shows as a persistent need to urinate, coupled with a constant feeling of discomfort in the pelvic floor. You might find that once you start urinating, you then need to keep doing so at regular intervals – but if you hold it in, you will experience more pain. This situation is frustrating, but there are solutions to this problem. One of the best natural treatments is cranberry. Drinking cranberry juice (ideally fresh) will probably help you out with the pain a great deal. You can also get your hands on specific cystitis medicine, which can help greatly. However, mostly it is just a matter of waiting for it to pass – a process which can take days. If it persists, or you start to experience greater pain or pain elsewhere such as in your side, you should visit the doctor.

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    Ovarian Cancer

    One of the most terrifying thoughts for many women is the idea of developing ovarian cancer. Clearly, cancer of any kind is always serious, but when it comes to this particular kind it can be particularly worrying. This is because it is usually discovered quite late, meaning that it is harder to treat. You will likely have to undergo a good deal of chemotherapy if it does develop  and from the ovaries the cancer can spread quite fast. There is little you can do to prevent cancer, except keep an eye out for it by having regular visits to the gynaecologist. Choose them well, however – many gynaecological claims center around a failure to discover cancers, so you want to make sure you can trust your doctor as much as possible.

    Breast Cancer

    Although technically men can also develop breast cancer, it is much more likely in women. This is in fact one of the most common types of cancer in the world. It is therefore hugely important that you know the early warning signs, so that you can get it checked out and hopefully treated as early as possible. Checking your breasts for lumps (which can also appear in the armpit region), having bloody discharge from the nipples, an inverted nipple, a sore or painful breast, or a sudden or noticeable change in the size or shape of a breast are all clear signs of potential cancer, and should be checked out at your earliest convenience. You should also make sure that you are going for regular screenings anyway, just to be sure that you are doing everything you can to catch it early if it does arise.

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    Birth Control

    If you decide that you want to use birth control, knowing which one to go for can be one of the trickiest decisions you’ll have to make. There are so many options out there now, and it is up to you to work out which you think would be most suitable for you. Many women are now moving away from the pill somewhat. The pill is incredibly effective, but it is also full of plenty of hormones, and it can cause you some health problems in later life. You might find that it interrupts or exacerbates your menstrual cycle, especially with the mini-pill, or that it causes acne or even depression. Make sure you are happy with your birth control option – it is your body.

  • 5 Things Your Child’s Bedroom Should Have

    This is a collaborative post.

    Are you wondering how you should design and decorate your child’s bedroom? It’s not always easy to come up with ideas for what their room should look like. You want it to be suitable for their age, but you also want to do something creative and interesting that they’ll love. If you’re struggling for ideas, here are the 5 things that you should always remember to include.

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    1. Personalised Features

     

    Having a few personalised features in the bedroom is always a good thing in a child’s space. You could have their name spelled out on the wall, for example. This is definitely a good thing, and you should do what you can to be creative with it. There are so many things you can do, so don’t stick to boring or conventional options.

     

    1. A Stimulating Theme

     

    There should be one overarching theme in the bedroom. This is what many of the best child’s bedrooms have. It could be a space theme or a racing car theme or a princess theme. You know your child and what they are most interested in, so it’s up to you to find a theme that can pull the room together and make it captivating. You can have a lot of fun with this, so try to be creative and come up with interesting ideas.

     

    1. Storage Options

     

    As a parent, you already know how important storage options are in the home. They’re even more important when you have a small child. They accumulate so much stuff that you have to find a space for. It’s not easy storing all those toys away securely and neatly. Look for creative storage options and make sure that everything that your son or daughter owns has its own place.

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    1. The Best Bed Linen

     

    Bed linen is always going to be important, but you want to get the best for your child. For a start, you need to think about the comfort. There are all kinds of comfortable and high-quality options at Richard Haworth. You also need to think about the appearance and design on the bed linen. Does it fit in with the overall design for the room? Is it fun and appealing to a child? Is the colour one that your child likes?

     

    1. A Desk

     

    As your child grows up, they will have an ever greater need to use a desk in their bedroom. It will give them a space where they can do their homework. But it can also be used for fun things as well. For example, they might take an interest in art, and their desk can be a very important part of that. Find a desk and a comfortable chair that will last for a long time and give them that vital space.

    If you embrace each of the five things above, you will be able to create a bedroom for your child that’s both suitable and stimulating. They’ll enjoy spending time in there and get a lot out of it.

  • #TheModernMarriage – What does Marriage Really Mean Today?

    #TheModernMarriage – What does Marriage Really Mean Today?

    This is a collaborative post.

    When I was around 7, my parents divorced. It was pretty uncommon when I was still that young but it happened. Most of my friends parents were still together, most of my family were still together. I was shocked and it kind of stopped my belief that marriage is forever. In fact now, I’m here at 28 years old with a child, never married and not with her father but in a happy, committed and loving long term relationship. I have a lot of friends who have been single parents, second time marriages or are going through divorces. #TheModernMarriage really does look into all the different styles of families we have in today’s society.

    I’ve never really seen marriage as a romantic notion. Perhaps that’s because of my parents divorce. I do like the idea of marriage and I want to be a married women…one day…but not because I hold traditional values but honestly because I feel I just want that partnership. I also see marriage as a way of gaining tax relief and an easier way of getting a mortgage. I see marriage as a contract between two people to agree that they will create a life together, live in compromise and reduce a bit of the general stress on life with each other.

    I know Adam and I will be a great partnership, because we already are. Traditions these days are so different to how they used to be. We’ve been living together for four years, raising a family together and sharing in the household finances. Isn’t that really what a marriage is all about? When we do decide to get married it won’t be a big affair, I’ll be looking to do something quick, easy and simple. I’ll be looking to create a lovely day full of happy memories for us but I won’t be going all out. We are both opposed to religious ceremonies and spending a lot of money because to us, it just isn’t practical. I also think that as we’ve lived and been together for quite a while, there won’t be any suprises after we’re married. We’ve already got to know each other’s bad habits, we’ve had the arguments and we’ve made hard decisions together. We are already a partnership and marriage won’t change that but I do think it will make us feel like a stronger family unit.

    The Modern Marriage Infographic

     

    Here comes the stats…

    Slater & Gordon recently carried out a survey to find out what the modern face of marriage really is and the results are in…

    • 69% of people believe the biggest benefit to marriage is the commitment to a relationship…

    • …whilst 42% see increased financial security as the main benefit.

    • 53% of those surveyed believe they would (or did) choose a civil ceremony as opposed to a religious one.

    • Out of all those surveyed, 54% of people have experienced a close family member getting divorced.

    • 23% of people have been divorced themselves.

    • 69% of people believe there is less pressure to get married compared to 10 years ago.

     

  • How To Build An Amazing Treehouse For Your Kids

    This is a collaborative post.

    It wouldn’t be an outrageous claim to say most of you reading this grew up wishing they had a treehouse. I know I did, I’d dream of having this cool little den to play in up a tree, it was an amazing thought. Of course, treehouses aren’t always right for everyone. I mean, if you don’t have any trees in your garden then you can’t build one.

    But, for people with trees, it makes the perfect DIY project. You can build a treehouse for your kids and watch as they go wild with joy. Naturally, you’re wondering how you do this. So, I have a few tips and hints you should follow to get a good job done.

    (Photo credit: http://bit.ly/2s9UdyQ)  

    Pick A Suitable Tree

    Before you even start building anything, you need to ensure you have a suitable tree. Suffice it to say, you’re going to need something pretty big and sturdy, with a very good amount of thickness. Oak trees are absolutely perfect for treehouses, they’re almost made specifically for them. They’re big, strong, and can easily withstand some wooden beams being screwed into the trunk. Beech, maple, cedar, and ash are also very suitable for treehouses.

    When it comes to trees that aren’t suitable, you’re looking at pretty much any thin tree out there. Thin trees just don’t have the strength to support a treehouse and can easily be prone to breaking or suffering damage during harsh weather.

    Also, make sure the tree is healthy, and there aren’t any signs of rot or damage. You wouldn’t build a house on damaged land so why build a treehouse on a damaged tree. Pick the right one, and you’re ready for action.

    Start With A Strong Support

    It makes sense to begin construction from the bottom up. After all, your treehouse needs strong foundations to sit on. This comes in the form of some wooden fixtures that are stuck in the tree. They should start near the bottom and be angled slightly outwards. Then, you can begin placing the flooring on the top of the fixtures, and you have yourself a solid base.

    A quick note on these support fixtures; make sure you use really durable and solid wood. You want them to be reasonably thick and heavy, but not too heavy so that you can’t lift them and get them drilled into place. The wood should also be clean and fresh, don’t just use some junk wood that’s cheap, rotting, and got a bit of water damage.

    I also highly suggest that you keep the support fixtures low down on the tree. You don’t really need to build a treehouse high up, there’s no point! Your kids won’t mind, they’ll be happy enough with a super cool treehouse. It’s a lot safer to keep it low to the ground, so ensure you don’t set them up too high.

    (Picture link: http://bit.ly/2sa3c3a)

     

    Make Every Joint As Secure As Can Be

    The biggest fear when building a treehouse is that the joints aren’t going to hold when there’s a lot of weight on them. After all, you’re only using a few screws here and there. Thankfully, there are two things you can do to ensure every joint and every screw is as firm and secure as can be.

    The first is to use a power screwdriver to do everything. They’ll provide you with more power to really screw everything in as tight as can be. Without one, you may struggle to have the strength to properly get a screw in tight, and it may start getting loose over time.

    The second tip is to use some glue or adhesive to help keep things stuck together even more firmly than usual. You will find loads of companies like Kenyon Adhesives that provide the glue that’s specifically meant for constructing wooden objects, and that’s resistant to bad weather. Complement your regular screwing joints with glue, and they’ll stay firmer for longer.

    Keep It Lightweight

    If you speak to anyone that makes a lot of treehouses, they’ll say you should make the main part of the house as lightweight as possible. What they mean is you should use wooden planks that aren’t heavy.

    Why? Because it’s incredibly hard to build a house in a tree when you have really heavy planks of wood. Of course, the support structure can be heavy, but the actual main structure of the treehouse should be made out of planks that are lightweight yet still very sturdy and strong.

    To end this guide, I will say it makes sense to get your wood from a credible source with the planks already cut and ready for you. This just makes your life easier and ensures everything will fit perfectly. Now, you’re ready to make a wonderful treehouse for your kids!

     

  • Let’s Build An Outdoor Playhouse For Grown-Ups

    This is a collaborative post.

    Do you remember these rainy days in your childhood when you built a secret fort with a blanket and a few pillows? With time, your ideas of comfort naturally evolve – it’s likely that the pillow and blanket fort might not sound as appealing as it used to be in the past – but there’s no denying it: everyone longs for the cute, downsized house to relax in. This is especially true when you are thinking about organising a summer garden party with friends and relatives. Why so? Because no party night can be complete without planting the appropriate décor for it. Start by being an available guest – no hiding in the kitchen tonight – and relocate your dining space into the garden. What is the best way to make the garden effortlessly attractive to your guests? With an outdoor playhouse for grown-ups, of course! Here are three of the best ideas to revamp your garden with a downsized party house. You could be looking to add more space with a Guardian Extension as it’s completely tailor made with your requirements and specifications in mind. https://www.projects4roofing.co.uk/ have some great advice if you’re looking to learn more.

    #1. The Romantic Pergola

    If you love gardening magazines, you might have already come across the wooden, open-roofed pergola. A pergola is used to encourage trailing plants to spread up. It provides natural shade for lunch or dinner during a hot day. Pergola can come in kit form, but you can also build yours from scratch using treated timbers. As a rule of the thumb, you will need three upright posts per side and a rafter on top – save yourself troubles and order online, George Hill Timber is a good address as they organise the delivery directly to your home address. Then you can connect the side on top by resting crossbeams across the rafters. Remember to add trellis panels to the side of your pergola if you want to provide support for climbing plants.

    #2. The All-Year Glass Room And Conservatory

    A glass room is similar to a conservatory, with the difference that its structural elements are lighter. However, more conservatories follow similar building techniques. The glass room is typically placed on the terrace outside the house and protects the garden furniture. When the weather is nice, you can slide glass panels in summer to open the room to the outdoors and let fresh air in. If the weather isn’t what you hoped for, you can still eat outside, but you remain protected from the rain or the cold by the glass panels. This is ideal for the addition of a full-size dining party room.

    Glass room

    #3. The Vintage Gazebo Feeling

    A gazebo is a free-standing summer house that is open on all sides and fully roofed. They are often confused with pergolas, but they are not used to help climbing plants. Gazebos are often seen in public parks, but you can also build your own in the garden. You will require treated poles too, but you use real roof tiles on top. Additionally, gazebos are ideal for large summer parties as they provide protection for your guests, chairs, and tables. Often called a wooden marquise, the gazebo has a timeless vintage look that makes it a beautiful garden feature.