Guys, Here Are Some Easy Ways to Improve Your Apartment

Photo by Robson Hatsukami Morgan on Unsplash

Guys, have you ever wondered why your girlfriend prefers you hang out at her apartment instead of your men’s freshman housing? You might try to blame your roommates for being too loud, but there could be other things causing her to stay away. If your apartment is like most men’s apartments then the smell is most likely the culprit. You probably don’t smell it anymore because your nose is used to it, but anyone else that enters your humble abode will notice.

Now that you’re off living on your own you might wonder how you can keep your pad from smelling like a freshman guy. If you would like your female friends to feel more comfortable in your apartment here are a few basic changes you can make to get the ladies to hang around longer.

Laundry--

Between the unwashed sheets on your bed and the pile of dirty clothes in the corner, men’s apartments tend to stink. Do yourself and everyone else a favor and do your laundry. Don’t forget to move your clothes from the washer to the dryer. If you forget you’ll have to wash them all over again, because guess what, they stink from sitting wet in the washer for hours.

Dishes--

Not many people actually like doing dishes. As unfortunate as that is, they still need to be done because dirty dishes smell bad, especially if they are left sitting in the sink for days. If you want girls to come around and stay a while, rinse out the dishes right after you use them and put them straight into the dishwasher. This will drastically improve the smell in your apartment.

Trash--

Make a habit of taking the trash out regularly. Putting a second trash bag out to gather more trash does help to make sure things get thrown away, but we’re back to the smell problem. Everyone knows trash stinks. The longer you leave it sitting in your apartment the worse it smells as food starts to mold and old eggshells become rotten. The dumpster isn’t that far away. Just take out the trash on your way to class.

Shoes--

People that are involved in athletics or try and get more than one wear out of their socks tend to have smelly feet. Most likely you fall into one or both of these categories. When you take your shoes off, don’t leave them by the front door. Take the time to put them in your room. A virtual stinkbomb sitting by your front door is sure to deter any woman who might drop by.

Smells--

We’ve now gotten to the basic level of cleanliness in your apartment. The next step up is improving the room. There are room scents that you can get that will help to replace the stink in the apartment for a much better fragrance. I’m not suggesting that you make your house smell like flowers, but a nice clean cotton scent isn’t a bad idea. The room scents are not eternal. They will run out of scent and you’ll need to get a replacement if you want it to keep doing its job.

All of these suggestions are simple to do if you are consistent. If you let laundry, dishes or the trash slide, that is when it turns into a huge ordeal that seems to take more time than it’s worth. Just devote a few minutes a day to keeping up with your apartment, and girls will feel more comfortable when they drop by. At least their noses won’t feel so offended.

DIY: Creating a TV Mirror in Fast and Easy Steps

TV mirror is the current fad in the world of interior design right now. A TV mirror presents a smart way for designers to lessen the impact of bulky and wide television sets so it does not become the focal point of the living room. If you are interested in getting one, the best bet is to probably buy one or to ask professional services to convert your current television set into one. But if you are a DIY kind of guy or simply out to cut some costs, here are the steps on how you can do it by yourself.

The project is fairly simple but it can get be quite educational especially if you are not yet as handy with tools as you would like. You do not have to worry as it is difficult for you to mess this up given how straightforward the steps are. In the end, you should be able to create a fine high-tech centerpiece that is truly stunning and you can show off to your friends. It is functional as well which makes it a perfect guise to a contraption that could somewhat clutter your space. So without much further ado, here are the steps to creating your very own TV mirror where you would be “Netflix and chilling” like never before.

Gather the Materials You Will Need--

First things first, you need to gather the main materials you will need to start creating your TV mirror. You will obviously need a display. To support the TV mirror, you need to buy a frame to fit it in. And finally, you will need a semi-transparent mirror.

How to Choose the Best Television for Your TV Mirror--

The most important factor to consider when choosing a TV for your TV mirror is the thickness and brightness of the TV. You should opt for much thinner television sets as they are much easier to frame rather than thick television sets which would require special frames for them to house in. You can still use any other television sets however as long as they are not CRT, obviously. As mentioned, another factor you should consider is the brightness. Putting a television set behind a working mirror may distort the brightness of the display. This can cause poor quality but can be negated if your television set has the brightness to make it work. A Samsung television set usually ticks all the necessary boxes and you should consider buying one for a TV mirror if it fits your budget. If you intend to buy one or prefer to hire professional services to create your TV mirror for you, you should insist on using Samsung if your intention is to have the best possible outcome.

How to Choose the Right Mirror for Your TV Mirror--

Now that the TV part of TV mirror is settled, it is not time to turn our attention to the other half of the word -- the mirror. Certainly, picking the right mirror is a crucial step in creating a TV mirror, its functionality is, after all, the main selling point of having a TV mirror in the first place. Fair warning, you should definitely not choose just any kind of mirror because not all mirrors can work if used in a TV mirror. You will need a special kind of mirror that is called a dielectric mirror. A dielectric is a material that can be polarized if electric field is applied to it. Its other important quality is that it is an electrical insulator. Being dielectric allows TV mirror screens to have a vanishing effect whenever the TV mirror is turned on where you can then see through the mirror. If the television set is turned off, however, with an applied electric field to affect the screen, what you will see is a reflection projected by the mirror. Basically, the dielectric mirror is the reason why the TV mirror can have that magical effect. Dielectric mirrors are relatively inexpensive especially if compared to the television itself. It is thus, a good idea to invest money in the dielectric mirror as it can either enhance or diminish the experience when watching a TV mirror.

Alternatively, you can also choose other types of mirrors, albeit the transparency will not be as good as a dielectric mirror. You can choose to instead buy Glass Smart Mirror, Acrylic Two Way Mirror, or Glass Two Way Mirror as the screen for your TV mirror. You should however never use a two-way mirror film. It might seem tempting as it does provide the same functionality as the dielectric mirrors and such. But the resulting display will be extremely nontransparent and will render your TV mirror as completely useless. And worst of all, the film will sooner or later dissolve and bulge leaving an annoying permanent blot on your TV mirror especially if the room you are putting the TV mirror is normally filled with moisture such as kitchens or bathrooms. Though the two-way mirror film is so much cheaper, it might not be worth it to save those few dollars as the long term output will not be lasting for so long. As a TV mirror is both an artistic, functional, long term ornament, you should splurge a little bit on the little things that makes it better as it is.

Should you however still use two-way mirror in spite of all attempts to reason with you, you should at the very least use clear glass and not use acrylic. Do not apply it directly to the glass either.

Should You Choose to Buy One Instead--

If you choose to skip the DIY part and go straight to chilling, you may want to consider a few things before buying one. First of all, you should decide whether to directly buy one off the shelf or to hire professional help. There are pros and cons to both approaches. If you buy one off the shelf, it could cost less but you are not going to be assured of the quality of the TV mirror. Should you choose to hire help, you could decide which parts you want to ensure quality but it should cost you more money.

5 Tips for the Perfect Pedicure

Photo by Jessica To'oto'o on Unsplash

If you find yourself with some downtime an at-home pedicure is a great way to unwind and relax. To get started let's gather up the essentials. You’ll need a bowl, washcloth, towel, some yummy smelling things, your favorite nail polish, and a bit of time. Here are 5 steps to get the most out of your DIY pedicure.  

Soak Your Feet--

Fill a bowl with nice warm water and let your feet soak for about fifteen minutes. To make the foot bath even more enjoyable, add a bath bomb, bath salt, or essential oils to the water. This will give you a little aromatherapy while you enjoy your soak.

Wash Your Feet--

Before you pull your feet out of the water, take a soft cloth and wash your feet, gently rubbing away any dirt or grime from your daily life. If you have a foot scrub this is a great opportunity to pull it out for that extra soft finish. Once your feet are good and clean, pat them dry with a towel.

Clean Your Toes--

Now it’s time to get a little more nitty gritty with your toes. If you need to clip your toenails always remember to trim your nails straight across. This will help to prevent ingrown toenails and infection.

Next, you’ll want to give your feet a little moisture. Pull out your cuticle oil or lotion, whichever you have available, and thoroughly rub it into your toes and feet. This will help to lock in the moisture from your soak and give you nice smooth feet.

Slow Down With the Polish--

One mistake that a lot of people make is trying to rush through the nail polish process. They want the dark color of the bottle immediately so they glob on a whole bunch of paint in the first pass. By doing this you are actually slowing down the overall drying process and increasing the chance of your paint chipping.

To have long lasting paint, it is best to do thin coats of paint a few minutes apart so the paint has a chance of setting. Remember that less is more in the nail polish world.

Take a Load Off--

Now it is time to let your nails dry. How quickly your nails dry will depend on how thickly you applied your nail polish. This takes time so don't try and rush the process. Instead kick your feet up and snuggle in for a good book or a nice movie.

If you’re interested in keeping your feet feeling soft, then put a little lotion or oil on your feet each night before you go to bed and throw a pair of socks over the top. This will help your feet to stay moisturized and keep from cracking during dry weather.

You don’t have to take 30 minutes to an hour to help your feet stay fresh and looking great. Just a little bit of time once a week will keep your toes sandal-ready after your initial DIY pedicure.  

How to Follow Your Keto Diet If You're on a Budget

According to the general belief, keto diet looks like an extremely effective way of losing weight might drill holes in your pocket otherwise. On the contrary, one could replace the regular packaged and processed food from their plates to the more affordable and healthier keto diet.

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This article puts together some of how keto diet could be budget friendly. Let's take a look.

Figure out a Budget Before You Start Dieting--

Working out a budget is an essential step to any planning, same goes for a keto diet. You need to be sure about the weight of your pocket before you start with the procedure. The following steps can help you plan a budget and abide by it. There are many budgeting tips you can follow to make it work.

Make a Meal Plan, Shop Accordingly--

The most critical step to making the budget successful is by planning your meals elaborately. Do ample research on the things that you can and can’t eat while on a keto diet. If necessary, do not hesitate to consult your dietitian. Decide well before in hand, what you want to eat for the week and only then go shopping for your groceries.

You can cut down on your lunch or dinner and replace it with a hot beverage, like coffee. This gives you an instant energy boost while keeping both your calorie count and budget in check. There are many creative ways to save money when you’re having a tight budget.

Don't Miss Out On Sales--

Sales might help you get through your keto diet, a great deal. Make sure to keep track of the local grocery store sales and adjust your shopping dates to those of the sale to save some bucks. You should bag your keto products during these sales so as to handle your budget effectively.

Cook Your Meal Instead of Buying It--

Buying packaged meals will always cost you much more than the expenses of cooking a meal.

However, with the use of a food processor, you can easily make your diet meals at home without spending heavily. Processed food bought from the supermarkets will cost higher, plus there are elevated chances of adulteration in the products. By cooking your meals, you will not only have firm control over your budget, but you can also be ensured of the quality of the meal.

Shop in Bulk, Cook in Bulk--

One foolproof way to control your keto expenses is buying groceries in bulk. Other than the raw items, you can always buy dry groceries in vast quantities without the fear of those getting spoiled. The raw items too can be stored in the deep freezer for more than a week. So, the next time you go shopping– make sure you buy enough for the fortnight at the least. Keep the essentials like olive oil, nut, and seed butter, and flour free meals handy. Do not complicate the process, try to keep your meals as simple as possible.

Cut down Snacks and High Calorie Foods--

For obvious reasons, you would eventually have to cut down the purchase and consumption of snacks and other food items that contain high calories. These products incur a massive expense, ruining both your budget and keto diet at the same time. So, it would only be wise if you cut these down, right at the beginning of your process.

Takeaway:

Difficult as it may seem in the initial days, maintaining a keto diet budget is not much of a challenging task. If one can be determined enough, proper planning right from the start and a few things kept in mind can make the process of keto dieting a whole lot easier while also making it significantly budget friendly.

7 Ways to Have Fun in College During the Winter

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Are you tired of the cold and you’re looking for ways to still have fun instead of just be stuck inside of your approved student housing? If it is snowy, that does not mean you should stay inside the house for the rest of the winter waiting for the snow to melt. Put on a warm coat, gloves, a hat, and head outside. There are lots of things to do, from skiing to snowball fights.

Skiing/Snowboarding--

There are few things more exhilarating than speeding down a mountain with wood/plastic strapped to your feet. If you don’t know how to ski or snowboard, don’t worry. You can always start on the bunny hill and work your way up to the larger slopes. These particular activities can get pricey, but if you have a little extra cash there are few things more fun than this.

Snowman--

Maybe you don’t want to go too far from home so you can hurry back inside and get warmed up. Grab your friends and head over to the nearest park. You can build snowmen, winter forts and even have a snowball fight.

Ice Structures--

Do a search near you to see if there are any ice creations you can go see. Maybe you’ll get lucky and find ice caves, a frozen waterfall or even an ice castle!

Frozen Bubbles--

If the temperature is in the negatives then you could try freezing bubbles outside. Sometimes if the air is cold enough and you blow bubbles, the bubbles will freeze in the air and then slowly drift to the ground.

Sledding--

Drag your roommates with you, find a good hill and then get yourself a cheap sled from the store. You can find one for around $5 at Walmart or Target. That little piece of plastic can provide hours of entertainment for you and your friends.

Hot Chocolate Party--  

It doesn’t necessarily have to be snowing for you do to this, but cold weather is the best time to host a Hot Cocoa Party. All it takes is a canister or two of hot chocolate, access to hot water and maybe some candy canes and marshmallows. Just ask the people that come to BYOM (bring your own mug) so you don’t have tons of dishes to wash.

On-Campus Entertainment--

If you’re looking for some indoor entertainment then head up to your college campus. There should be a list of performances available on your campus website from choir concerts to guest performers. If you don’t want to sit and watch a show, then join a club or head over to a dance. I’m sure you can find one happening somewhere.

You are only limited by your willingness to get out and find something to do. There are tons of things going on, and if none of them seem like a good time, then you take charge and make something fun happen. Anything can be a party if you go at it with the right attitude.