There is nothing wrong with wanting your home to have an aesthetic appeal. As a proud homeowner, it is solely up to you to decide how you want home house to look from the outside. Although many individuals get caught up with changing the architecture, many neglect working on landscaping.

Fortunately, more and more homeowners have started considering landscaping the exterior of their houses, which is why it is important to know the important steps while doing so.

Start In the Front

The first place the eyes wander would be the front of your house, which is why starting in the front is recommended. With a curb full of beauty, you can leave guests and family members in awe. However, keep in mind the landscaping should be practical.

If you want your landscaping done by professionals in the most artistic way possible, make sure to check out http://cherryoaklandscaping.com/areas-of-service/landscape-design-howell/.

Consider Hardscaping

Focus on completing hardscaping before decorating the plants. Hardscaping includes driveways, decks, patios, fences, porch, and sidewalks. Since the construction of this can impact the quality of the soil and plants in the environment, it is important to get it done before adding life.

Spoil the Soil

When you are starting on the garden, make sure to add organic matter into the soil. Soil that is fertile and –somewhat- loose will promote the growth of new plants and it will allow them to grow quicker. You will also need to define the bed and turf lines.

Consider the Wants and Needs

You need to weigh your options and then consider everything you can place in the space provided. For example, if the sun touches your backyard, you can think of setting up a kitchen garden there where you can grow veggies and herbs. If you want to set a patio, you can place it along the fence with a beautiful background so you can eat with a view.

Choose the Plants

Before planting, you need to take a close look at your landscape. See what side the sun is rising and setting from. See what plants can tolerate sunshine and which cannot. You need to take the sunlight and positioning into consideration before planting anything.

Incorporate Shapes and Textures

Play around with the different shapes and textures of your plants and place them strategically. For an attractive looking garden, consider placing smooth plants next to the ones with needles and the bold textured plants next to the ones with larger leaves. Mixing and matching your plants will create a level of interest towards your garden.

Add Your Touches

Personal touches need to be added to the garden. Think about adding water features, bird houses, or even garden art. Although, these details can be subtle, they will sure accentuate parts of your garden in the best way possible.

Maintenance is Key

After setting your landscape, it is important to provide it with the right maintenance. You must make sure the plants are watered and trimmed. Make sure the weeds are in check and the soil moisture level is balanced. Keeping a check of the landscape will increase the aesthetic value of your home.

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Teeth are one of the sturdiest parts of our body. However, they can develop problems and become a serious cause of concern if they’re not taken care of. If you don’t maintain good oral hygiene and take care of your teeth, then you could face a host of problems. These include chipped, discolored or missing teeth. The good news is that you can turn to a dental hygienist or oral surgeon to fix your teeth and get them to look their best.

Orthodontics and Restorative Dentistry Can Restore Your Perfect Smile

A dentist specializing in orthodontics and restorative dentistry can help you achieve that perfect smile via different procedures. Orthodontic treatments are categorized into fixed appliances and removable appliances. The most popular fixed appliances include lingual braces and fixed space maintainers while aligners and removable space maintainers are the best examples of removable appliances.

At times, it is not possible to fix teeth with orthodontics. In such a situation, the only viable option left is restorative dentistry. Restorative dentistry involves several different dental procedures that repair or restore damaged, loose, or missing teeth to give them back their natural look.

Now, the type of restorative density method that a dental hygienist or oral surgeon will use for your teeth will depend on the type of problem you have. Before we get to the different restorative dentistry options you have, let’s take a brief look at what restorative dentistry is and what it can fix.

Understanding Restorative Dentistry

Restorative dentistry is used to restore the function of the mouth and deal with oral health problems. However, it is yet to be recognized as a dental specialty. Nonetheless, it is still one of the most-sought-after dental procedures today. The ease and comfort with which restorative dentistry is performed depend on the complexity of the procedure and the experience level of the dental professional performing it. Some of the prominent dental restoration options include braces, veneers, dental implants, dentures, crowns, and bridges.

The main objective of this dental procure is preserving natural teeth as much as possible. Not only replacing missing teeth with dentures or dental implants ensure the perfect smile, but it also helps promotes oral hygiene and health.

By filling the gaps in your mouth, you can stop the build-up of plaque-causing bacteria in your mouth. In doing so, you can prevent your teeth from developing cavities. Another reason to have missing teeth replaced/restored with restorative dentistry is to avoid putting stress on your remaining natural teeth.

Consider both your health and budget when choosing a procedure to restore your missing, loose or damaged teeth. Before they use dentures for your teeth, most dentists performing restorative dentistry in will try to preserve your natural teeth. This is because regularly removing and cleaning dentures can be a bit of an inconvenience.

However, if you have several missing teeth, then going for dentures may be the best option you have. This will help to restore the shape and function of your mouth and avoid any further oral health complications. With restorative dentistry understood, it is time to look at the dental restoration options you have.

The Restoration Options

In addition to improving your mouth’s aesthetics, dental restoration helps avoid oral health problems and related pain. Another reason to consider the dental restoration options for missing, loose or damaged teeth is restoring the function of your mouth. This can make it easy for you to chew and enjoy all the foods you like. Now, as mentioned above, you have a host of dental restoration options available to you. However, the following are the more popular and widely used restoration options today:

Dental Implants

Dental implants can fix most missing teeth and related problems. One of the most popular dental restoration options today, dental implants have a high success rate. However, this procure isn’t performed by every dentist. Instead, there are specialists for the job.

A complex procedure, implantation offers many benefits including improving the ability to chew without pain and strengthening the jaw. Additionally, it helps lower the risk of cavities. While they are a good option to restore the mouth’s shape and function, dental implants are not for everyone. Some people may have to go for other restorative dentistry options.

Dentures

Dentures are a great dental restoration option if you are missing some or all of your natural teeth. This restorative dentistry option can help you get back your smile. Durable and natural looking, dentures can help people with missing teeth to restore the natural shape and function of their teeth and live without worry.

Used as a replacement for missing teeth, dentures are available in two different types: partial dentures and complete dentures. Using their experience and education, dentists in will determine the type you need. Generally, when you have some of the patient’s natural remains, a dentist will go for partial dentures.

On the other hand, complete dentures will be used if all teeth require replacement. One of the main purposes of using dentures is helping to avoid the ill-effects of broken or missing teeth. This includes mouth disease, tooth decay or periodontal disease (gum disease). Most people know that dentures are used for missing teeth to ensure they are no problems in eating/chewing food. However, not many are aware of the fact that they help avoid the shifting of the remaining natural teeth. This ensures that people do not look older than they are.

Veneers

Have gaps or stained/chipped teeth? Get veneers to quickly restore your beautiful smile. However, since veneers cannot be reversed, think long and hard before getting them. The best thing to do here is to get in touch with a dentist and find all there is to know about veneers—their cost, procedure, and maintenance.

Custom-made shells designed to cover the teeth’s front side, veneers are made of tooth-colored materials. They can help correct crooked, decayed, chipped or stained teeth. After you get veneers, you may be advised by your dentist to avoid red wine, tea or coffee as they can discolor or stain the veneers. Nonetheless, veneers are a good option to restore the shape and function of your mouth and ensure the perfect smile.

There you have it—the three options to restore your teeth’s original look and get that perfect smile back!

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In women hair loss isn’t as straightforward as it is in the majority of men. For men, nearly 90 percent of all hair loss cases are associated with male pattern baldness. However, female hair loss may be triggered due to a variety of circumstances and conditions. Some women even experience hair loss as a result of health problems or menopause.

If you have started noticing that you are losing more hair than usual, you might be researching what’s causing the problem. There are a number of ways to diagnose hair loss. One of them is through a scalp biopsy.

Scalp Biopsy

In this procedure, a small portion of the scalp is removed from the head of the patient. That portion is then examined by a dermatologist under a microscope to determine what’s causing hair loss.

The dermatologist will first clean and disinfect the area that needs to be biopsied and then mark it. Any hair that is present there will be trimmed and then the area will be anesthetized. After that the dermatologist will place a punch tool on top of the area and using a needle, they will remove the excised skin. The small opening, resulting from the procedure, will then be closed.

How the Diagnosis Is Made?

After the removal of biopsy, it’s either snap frozen with the help of liquid nitrogen or stored in some kind of chemical solution. The specimen is then sliced for examination using a specialized tool. The slices are very small and each one is used separately for further examination. Each slice is examined under a microscope. Once the samples have been examined, they are stored or preserved, destroyed or sent for further testing

One important thing that dermatologist will look for is how much hairs are there in the telogen phase. Only 10 to 20 percent of hair should be present in this stage. If there are more, it means that there is a problem. Another thing that the dermatologist will look at is the health and state of the hair follicle. Are there any structural abnormities or is miniaturization occurring in any sample? These could be signs of recession and thinning resulting from Androgenetic Alopecia or other problems that affect the growth cycle.

Is a Scalp Biopsy Worth It?

A scalp biopsy may allow the dermatologist to determine what is causing your hair loss which is why it’s worth it. In order to properly treat your hair loss, it is important for the dermatologist to know the cause. When they have this information, they can target the problem and treat it more effectively.

After you receive the results from the dermatologist, you can decide how to move forward with hair loss treatment. The treatment options available to you will depend on the cause/type of hair loss. For example, if Androgenetic Alopecia is causing hair loss, the dermatologist may recommend Propecia or Rogaine.

If you have a hair loss problem, consult with your doctor and get a scalp biopsy done if they recommend it.

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As a busy mom, sitting down to watch TV isn’t always an option; you’re too much on the go for that. Between dropping off the kids at school, picking them up again and taking them to different events, any music or knowledge needs to be acquired through the audio medium. Podcasts are one of the best ways to do this because you can listen in the car, at home, or running errands.

Here are the best four podcasts in 2019 for busy Moms.

Atlanta Monster

To give you a bit of a mind twisting thriller, Atlanta Monster, covering the Atlanta Child Murders, have raised their game for 2019. Now they’re after the Zodiac Killer in their Monster: The Zodiac Killer podcast. Matt Fredrick is the host with Payne Lindsey as executive producer.

The Zodiac is infamous as an unidentified criminal who killed couples on lovers’ lanes in the 60s and 70s. He sent cryptic messages and ciphers some of which have never been solved to this day. Many people have been suggested as the Zodiac, but despite his DNA being on file, the crime remains unsolved.

Dare I Say

The Dare I Say podcast is designed to bring together a couple of BFFs who happen to be celebrities and listen in. The likes of Jane Fonda, Oliva Wilde (she’s the host) and Rosario Dawson let loose on a range of interesting topics. Some of these topics include various types of activism, the taboo subject of sexuality and the more accepted ‘body positive’ perspective.

When you’re listening in, be sure to catch every word by using quality headphones. You can find the best headphones reviewed here to decide which ones to pick up.

The Mom Hour

The Mom Hour is a good podcast for mothers who need a bit of focus or encouragement. There are plenty of stories from other mothers who share their experiences dealing with their own children and when they were babies too. Other subjects like health scares that sent them off to see their doctor are covered as well; they don’t only talk about the pleasant topics.

They also think beyond taking care of children with their ‘More than Mom’ episodes which is now an ongoing series, and they discuss other topics like future careers and more. It is a well-rounded podcast for busy moms.

Murderville

With the catchy title, Murderville rides the wave of true crime dramas that are taking over TV and podcasts. Gripping eager listeners keen to learn about a cold case, this podcast followers that trend. It was originally only available to Stitcher Premium subscribers but now anyone can listen to Jordan Smith and Liliana Segura investigate the slaying of Donna Brown, a night manager at Taco Bell. One person, Devonia Inman is already incarcerated for the crime that happened in Adel, a town with a population of only 5,000 people.

We hope you like our selections. Two are specifically mom-related and the other two are true crime, which is all the rage right now. What are your favorites? Maybe you can recommend some to our readers?

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Your dog may be your best friend, but using a crate for them is far from being cruel. Crate training is considered to be one of the fastest and least stressful ways to teach certain behaviors, and it alleviates a number of other problems that an unruly dog can run into. In other words, it can keep your trusty companion happy and stop you from worrying all the time.

Benefits of a Dog Crate

Also known as flight kennels, a dog crate is usually made of plastic or any collapsible metallic pen that can accommodate a small or large dog. Keep in mind that the pen you choose should have enough room to allow your dog to move around and turn in. Remember, the crate is NOT a punishment – it’s just a place where your pooch can hang around in without supervision. Read on to learn more about the benefits this simple pen can have for your furry companion:

Potty Training Made Easy

Potty training can be a messy affair, especially for inexperienced dog owners. According to the American Kennel Club, crate training is the best way to reduce that mess and make sure that your pooch can indicate when it wants to go. This is especially beneficial for puppies since they have little to no control over their bowel movements.

Before using a crate to potty train your dog, there are some things you should be aware of. If you have an adult dog, it can go up to 8 hours without peeing, but those numbers can differ according to its age. Puppies that are younger than 6 months should not be kept in a crate for more than 3 hours or they will poop or pee in it.

A Safe Space for your Dog

Your dog goes through a roller coaster of emotions when it is afraid or feeling stressed out. Dogs can feel anxious at your absence when you leave them at home for a while, get scared of the vacuum cleaner, and stress out if there are too many people around it. When we feel these emotions, we deal with them by isolating ourselves. A crate can give your dog that space to calm itself down and return to a peaceful state.

To ensure this, make sure that your dog has a comfortable crate to retreat to. The crate should have a soft and cozy blanket or a comfortable dog bed and some toys for the dog to distract itself with.

Stress-Free Travel

Contrary to popular belief, not every dog loves to travel in a moving vehicle. Even if your furry friend loves to go on long drives with you, allowing it to roam around the car while you are driving can lead to a serious accident. By crating them in the car in the back seat, you can prevent that from happening and still make your pooch happy.

A crate is also a good option for plane travel, but make sure that it is big enough to make your pet comfortable. Get a bigger one if your dog has outgrown the crate you have before traveling anywhere.

Modify Bad Behavior

A crate should never be used as a prison! If you make your dog stay in it each time it acts out, it will create a fuss and make your life miserable as well. Even though dogs love to snuggle up in comfy corners, if the crate makes them feel confined, they will try to avoid it at all cost.

To prevent that from happening, give your dog treats and speak to it calmly before taking them into the crate. Use it only when the behavior is completely unacceptable (such as barking at all hours of the night) or if you want to make sure it does not run around in fear during a thunderstorm.

The bottom line is that besides being a home for your dog, a crate can be a safe haven for it. Whether you want to confine it for a while for its own safety or to make it calm down, it is a pet-friendly option compared to a shock collar, for example.

What to Look For in a Dog Crate

Depending on the size and age of your furry friend, you have a range of crate options to choose from. Shopping for one for the first time may be overwhelming at first because of the varieties on offer. There are basically 3 you can choose from namely wire, plastic, and fabric crates.

If you plan on traveling with your pet, you should go for a crate that is made from fabric. These are ideal for unsupervised confinement and are quite comfortable. However, if you want one for your home, go for the wire or plastic varieties. These are sturdier and ideal for long-term confinement.

Of course, this does not mean you should get the biggest you can get your hands on! Your dog might use the extra space as its own personal bathroom. It should only have enough space for it stand up in, make a complete turn, and lounge in.

The bottom line is that the crate you choose for your dog should be its happy place. Introducing it to the pen aggressively or confining it even if it struggles to get in will only backfire. To make the crate a safe and comfortable place for your best friend, toss a treat inside and allow it to go in on its own to get it. Make the space more tempting by placing its favorite toys and a comfy dog bed in there. You can also place its feeding bowl in there to make the space more appealing.

A crate can be a second home for your dog and a safe space that you won’t stress out leaving it in when you have friends over or when you have to run a quick errand. However, make sure that the one you choose can fulfill your dog’s emotional and basic needs. That way you won’t suffer from buyer’s regret or feel guilty.

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