HOW MANY OF THESE 30 LIFE RULES DO YOU LIVE BY?

How to Save Water With Each Plumbing Fixture

Do you open your water bill every month and sigh deeply when you see the amount you have to pay? Stop paying more than necessary on your monthly bills and start learning how to save water! With every sanitary facility at home, there are a few ways you can reduce your water consumption.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/embed?mid=1MAm7vuNHbMhHJ6nAotGAvce1WXldf7yL The dishwasher Out With the Old - Choose an Energy Star dishwasher, because it is about 15% more efficient than the average model. Less water, less noise; more savings, more luck! Only complete loads - Only allow the dishwasher to run if you have a full load of dishes (do not overload). Performing half loads is a waste of water and overloading can cause dishes to not be cleaned. Some dishes must therefore be washed again. The sink water protection New aerator - Install a WaterSense aerator on each of your faucets. This will limit the water flow to less than one gallon per minute, without loss of water pressure. Fix Leaks - faucets can leak at the base, handles and head, so inspect and replace all leaks. Some leaks can be slow and imperceptible, so do a thorough inspection. (This also applies to your shower head). Soak, Do not Scrub - After preparing a delicious meal, soak all your pots and pans in warm soapy water. Scrubbing these pieces of cookware under a running tap can be very wasteful and ineffective. The washing machine Time to upgrade - Replace your old washing machine with an Energy Star model because it uses up to 40 percent less water. They are not only more water-efficient, but they also run faster to reduce the drying time. Choose the right size - Try to accurately measure the load during washing and choose the correct loading capacity. If you choose the wrong loading capacity, you can waste water or prevent your clothing from being washed properly. Fortunately, newer, energy-efficient models have a sensor that does this for you. Use cold water - Try to use the cold water setting whenever possible. The use of cold water requires less energy because the water does not need to be heated. Water saving means saving you money AND doing your part to save the environment! Contact Len the plumber to repair any leaks or to install new sanitary facilities. If you are looking for a reliable plumber, see if you live in one of our many service areas! Source: https://miraclealignerbytlsp.tumblr.com/post/175076164404/how-to-save-water-with-each-plumbing-fixture

“You don’t love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car, but because they sing a song only you can hear.” — Oscar Wilde

Elina Upmane Photography

By icelandic_explorer

June Habit Swaps : 

Instead of Netflix : Read a book

Instead of sugar : Eat fruits

Instead of self doubt : Repeat affirmations

Instead of scrolling on social media : Go exercise 

Instead of judging others : Help someone out

Instead of processed food : Home cooked meals

Instead of self hate : Self love

What “Ghetto” Names Really Mean

“Tinashe” -  Means “God is with us” in Shona ( An African language spoken by nearly 80 percent of people in Zimbabwe.)

“Lakeisha” - A Swahili name meaning “favorite one.”

“Ashanti” -  Name of a powerful African empire in West Africa.

“Tanisha” - Hausa of West Africa name meaning “born on Monday.”

“Zola” - Means “quiet, tranquil” in Zulu.    

“Amandla” -  Zulu and Xhosa word meaning “power”. The word was a popular rallying cry in the days of resistance against Apartheid.

“Zendaya” - Means “ To Give Thanks” in Shona

“Latonia” -  A Latin name. Latonia was the mother of Diana in Roman mythology.

“Lulu” - Swahili and Muslim name meaning “pearl” or “precious.”

“Ciara” -  Means “dark-haired” in Irish Gaelic

“Lateefah” - A North African name meaning “gentle and pleasant.”

“Mercedes” - Means “Gracious gifts/Benefits) in Spanish

“Kaya” -  Ghanaian name meaning “stay and don’t go back.”

“Amara” -  The Swahili word amara, meaning “urgent business.” Also the Hindu name meaning “immortal.”

“Shanika” - African Bantu name, meaning “young one from the wilderness.

“Zuri” - Means “beautiful” in Swahili.

“Onika” - Word of African origin meaning “warrior.”

JUST BECAUSE A NAME SOUNDS DIFFERENT DOES NOT MEAN IT’S “RATCHET” OR “GHETTO” THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL MEANINGS.

DON’T BE IGNORANT, LEARN.

✨ things that make my life feel expensive ✨

Always being curious to learn and actively pursuing knowledge. This is #1 for me. Constantly be trying to elevate yourself with information. There's no better time than now to be able to learn new things. Psychology, theory, fiction, persuasion, finance, history, emotional growth, nutrition, beauty, time management, philosophy, politics, strategy, classic literature, art, high fashion, hard sciences, technology, investing. There's so many things to learn about. There are a lot of free courses out there as well.

Having manners and etiquette. Smile at people. Be friendly. Be especially kind to people working in the service industry, retail, customer service.

Being well spoken. Limit profanity and slang. Don't gossip or say anything about yourself in a negative light. Think before you speak. It's okay to pause, think, and articulate.

Water, tea, freshly squeezed or cold pressed juices in champagne flutes or wine glasses.

Making fancy cocktails (or mocktails!) and putting them in proper glasses, with stirrers. It helps if you have a bar setup too, I have a cute lil bar cart with all the fixings.

Expensive smelling candles. They don't have to actually be expensive, they just need to look cute and smell good.

Fresh flowers.

Taking bubble baths.

Cooking delicious recipes from scratch, and eating at the dining room table with a full setup. Candles, glassware, cloth napkins, jazz music in the background, the whole nine yards. Ambience is everything.

Drinking tea in the afternoon out of a teapot and teacup.

Natural air fresheners. Essential oil diffusers, incense, reed diffusers. I'm a big fan of fresh eucalyptus bundles in the shower too.

Salt lamps and battery operated candles. I try to live off of low, warm lighting and sunlight as much as I can.

Houseplants.

Buying cute crystals and setting up an altar to myself. I have a pretty silk scarf laid out on the end of my vanity, with crystals, sage, written affirmations, etc.

Silk robes.

Big fluffy bathrobes.

Sunlight. Get as much as you can, even in the winter. Go outside in your puffy coat if you have to.

Being in nature, in general. Nature walks are essential.

Listening to jazz & classical music.

Reading. There are a lot of free ebooks online, or you can go to the library too.

Champagne.

Cooking with fresh herbs, vegetables, fruits etc.

Trying new hobbies. Ballet, yoga, Pilates, barre, horseback riding, etc.

Maintaining a clean and beautiful home environment.

Wearing perfumes & perfume oils. Right now I'm obsessed with Oudh, it smells incredible.

Wearing jewelry I love.

Trying new recipes out of fancy cookbooks.

Going to wineries and attending wine tasting events.

Try baking delicious and healthy treats.

Fresh, high quality bedding. Crispy, high thread count white sheets. Feathery pillows. Great quality mattress.

Get up and watch the sun rise, if you can. Sunsets are beautiful too.

Get blackout curtains, especially if you live in a city with light pollution.

Fancy coffee table books.

Fresh bread, either from a local bakery or homemade.

Going to farmers markets.

Going to museums and art galleries.

Having dinner with friends. Either at a nice restaurant or having a dinner party.

Sleeping. Resting. Hibernating. Sitting. Napping. Relaxing. Being Present. Single tasking.

Espresso drinks at home, with a milk frother and espresso machine. The cost of a mid range espresso machine will pay for itself in no time if you drink takeout coffee regularly.

Bluetooth speakers in the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.

Big, fluffy, white bath towels.

High quality, nontoxic personal care products. This goes for hair products, face products, body care, makeup, even toothpaste. Don't throw everything out, just be conscious of your purchases when you buy new things.

Going on picnics in the park.

Dark chocolate.

Gelato.

Days at the beach.

Beautiful lingerie.

Matcha lattes.

Going to brunch.

Going to the library and bookstores.

Smoothies.

Reservations at new and exciting restaurants.

Reusing pretty candle jars as containers.

Reading luxurious magazines and newspapers. Some of my favorite are Vogue, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, Food & Wine, Financial Times, Bloomberg Businessweek, and The Wall Street Journal.

xoxo ♥

things to do on sundays to recharge and make the upcoming week awesome

• clean ya room (just do it). also, check those pinterest boards you save for “one day” and actually go through them and draw some inspiration, even if you just end up rearranging the books on your bookshelf or putting some flowers from your garden in a mason jar on your desk. this is your home, make it feel like it is.

• do your laundry (also, don’t forget your bed sheets). if you’re in the mood, look at next week’s weather forecast and think about what you’re going to wear. go through your drawers, check the back of your closet. that hat you bought some time ago and forgot about because you didn’t dare to wear it? well… new week, new you, right? 

• call a friend/family member you haven’t talked to in a while, tell them you miss them. tell them you love them. remember and appreciate that they are a part of your life even if it doesn’t feel like it all the time.

• draw, paint, journal, write or make some music. something you know you love doing but “never find the time”. sunday is “finding-the-time day”. if you’re not feeling creative, read a book or watch your favorite show. or watch a new show. a scary show. a funny show. laugh as loud as you want. listen to music. listen to your favorite songs, or listen to new songs. even a new genre if you dare. turn the volume all the way up. take a second to consciously feel the music. you can always get up and dance. or sing. or both.

• the great, but still really effective classic: take a bath or a really long shower. if you have this special face or hair mask you’re saving up for a special occasion: congrats, you’re the special occasion today. use it. also, body lotion. we all know you’re going to be running late during the week and skip it one too many times. make yourself feel like the goddess you are. 

• sit in silence for a few moments. listen to your breath. listen to your heartbeat. for the love of god PLEASE listen to your thoughts for once in your life. don’t make them feel like they are wrong. or bothersome. they too just want to be heard once in a while. what are they trying to tell you? what could be soothing for them? be compassionate to yourself. it’s okay. you are okay. you are okay.

• think about things you can be grateful for next week. even if you feel like your life sucks atm, think about the small things you take for granted in a different way. for example: “next week, i will have access to clean water. CLEAN. WATER. 844 million people don’t have that.” or “next week, my legs will take me wherever i want to go. not everybody has two fully functioning legs, so i’m lucky in that way.” you’re allowed to feel bad about your life, but you’re also allowed to feel good about things. 

• if you’ve stayed home most of the week, go out. go for a walk. go swimming. go to a party or dinner with friends. even if you feel like you don’t need to see the outside world, chances are you’ll feel great after you do. if you feel like you’ve been running around all week, maybe you’d like to stay home today. put on your ugliest sweater, comfiest leggings, and fluffiest socks and curl up under a thousand blankets. you a sloth today and it’s okay. 

• eat. i mean honestly: eat THE THING. i don’t care if you’re on a diet. if there’s something you’ve been craving all week that has turned you into the veiny-neck-dude meme just trying to resist it: EAT IT. you deserve it. not because you worked out or ate salads or did well in school, but just because you’re a human and you love to eat and life is short and you should be allowed to eat yummy things. it’s okay. you won’t gain 5 pounds or lose your brain cells no matter how unhealthy it is, i promise.

• plan plan plan yo week. it doesn’t matter if you use a planner, bullet journal, the calendar on your phone or the notes app: write everything down you have going on next week. appointments. events. coffee-dates. when are you going to the gym? what are you going to eat? (meal prep if necessary) also, create reminders on your phone for everything. “i won’t forget it!” is a sweet thought, but oh honey you will. schedule reminders for every event. let your phone remind you that you need to buy toilet paper when the store is nearby. schedule daily reminders for your medications. (once you’ve done this it honestly feels like you just cleaned out 38GB of your brain, you simply don’t have to worry about that anymore, space for more important info, like your new favorite pun to annoy everyone with)

• most importantly: listen to what your mind and your body need today and next week. daily life is so full of “should-do”s that it’s important to find a healthy balance between the “should”s and the “need”s. you will be much more productive, healthy and happy that way. nobody knows you better than you do, take advantage of that and plan accordingly.

crêpes suzette cake.