8 | Greenstone life september 2017
Improving your sleep this season It ’ s safe to say that spring has finally sprung ! The days are lighter , the breeze is warmer and we feel more sleepier than ever as changes in the time we go to bed and wake up can be disruptive . Why not put a new spring in your step with the latest spring units available from Sealy Posturepedic which will deliver the support and comfort that your body has been aching for ? Start your day off bright and early ; its best to wake up with the rising sun in the morning to give your body and mind a chance to ‘ awaken ’ before the hectic day starts .
From the original Posturepedic Double Offset coil , to the latest orthopedically designed DSX spring , for the ultimate in deep down comfort and support , or the Soft Touch Pocket Coil , individually encased coils provide initial conforming comfort with push back support , so that when your partner moves , you don ’ t have to . Talk about resting in peace !
Spring into action !
8 | Greenstone life september 2017
With spring taking its bow , we asked around for the best tips to make this season a total success .
Get your pool ready Before your first dip in the pool , check when last you changed the sand in the sand filtration system ( it should be changed at least once every three years as the sand grains get ground down in time and lose their cleaning power ). This leads to insufficient water filtration and increases the chemical usage . Eco-Fibre ’ s spring tip would be to do just this , but perhaps also have a look into the future . Water wastage is becoming more and more prevalent and today we have products like Eco-Fiber which allow you to save on water by only backwashing once every three months . This spring is perhaps the time for a change in mindset and a valuable contribution to being waterwise . Ask for it at your nearest pool store or call Sandra for free delivery anywhere in South Africa . For more information , call 082-924-5701 .
Spring in the garden Looking at a post winter garden one can feel quite overwhelmed on where to begin . The lawn is brown , the shrubs may be leggy and the perennials may look overgrown and dull . Here is a quick guide to get you going :
• Annuals ( Colour seedlings ): Plant summer annuals now . Prepare the soil well . Keep them well watered and fed . Foliar feeding colour plants with a foliar fertilizer high in Potassium ( K ) will give you awesome blooms .
• Bulbs : Prepare soil for summer flowering bulbs and plants e . g ., gladioli and lilies . Continue to feed winter flowering bulbs until their leaves begin to die off ( this will help them store food in the bulb for the next season ).
• General garden : Remove weeds from beds , paving , driveways and pathways . Composting everything now is a good idea . Water where necessary , especially after hot windy days . Cut back on watering when the rain begins . Prepare the soil for new plants by adding compost , kraal manure and bone meal and digging it into the root zone . If the smell of kraal manure puts you off , use an organic fertilizer .
• Roses : Prune roses if you have not done so already . Do not spray lime sulphur if there are new shoots , as it will damage them . Feed with 5.1.5 and compost each bush . Look out for aphids . A jet of water can remove them or begin your spray program . Look out for organic insecticide which is less harmful to the environment .
• Vegetables : It ’ s time to get your veggie garden going . Prepare the soil well and plant up new seedlings and seeds . Cover young plants with bird netting as the birds are looking for fresh new
leaves ! ( They are still hungry from winter shortages ).
Ensure your first spring braai is a success Spring is finally here and as South Africans that can only mean one thing – braai time , all the time ! But you may need to get your braai ready for action …
• Prepare your braai for a bash : Getting your braai ready and its grill clean is essential . Avoid using harsh detergents on your grill by using a mixture of spirit vinegar and water to roughly brush off any burnt sediment . If you ’ re strapped for time , cut a large onion in half and rub it over the grill with your tongs for an express braai clean .
• Know your flames : Here are a few fool-proof tricks to gauge how hot the fire should be to braai different meats : If you can hold your hand over the braai for 5 seconds before it gets too hot , then the steaks are ready to go onto the grill . If you can do it for 7 seconds , then the boerewors should go on the braai , and if your hand can survive around 10 seconds , the poultry is ready to go on the grill ( chicken requires a lower heat so it does not get burnt and cooks all the way through ).
• Don ’ t burst the wors : Submerge your wors in water for about 20 seconds right before putting it on the braai . This will make the casing more elastic and make it less prone to breaking or bursting due to searing flames or from handling .
Tips for organizing your wardrobe
Just in time for spring and available from The Plastic Store in the Stoneridge centre , Ezy Storage makes sorting your wardrobe a pleasure ! After purging all your unwanted items , the fun part of putting everything back in an easily accessible and organised way can begin ! Start by putting all your clothes that go onto hangers into your cupboard by type and colour . Find a spot for all your larger items , fold and stack on shelves or place in storage boxes that are stackable . You can then pack away smaller items and accessories in the space remaining .
Depending on the type of space in your wardrobe stack these vertically or lay them out next to each other horizontally on a shelf . All the lids are hinged on both sides making access easy and the larger boxes have wheels . Many come with compatible tray inserts in order to organise smaller items such as jewellery or sunglasses . Some have a carry handle making them easy to move and the clear plastic allows you to see exactly what ’ s inside when getting dressed and looking for a specific item . Now you can keep your sanity and save precious time getting dressed and out the door ! For more information , call 011-452-2839 .
Spring makeup trends to try As spring approaches , swap out your moodier makeup for sheer eye shades , bronzed skin and wow lips , says Elizabeth Arden ’ s makeup pro , Lucoh Mhlongo . Follow his tips to freshen up your look .
• Go sheer : Focus on bringing light to your skin and eyes . Use pearlcoloured eyeshadow on lighter skins and champagne shades on darker skin tones . Blend it just on the ball of your eye , then add lashings of mascara and magic happens .
• Make your lips pop : Choose your lip colour according to the finish you want . Lipstick and liquid lipsticks offer full coverage and a satin matte finish . If you ’ re more of a gloss girl , go for a glossy liquid lipstick . Want to follow the sheer trend ? Try lipgloss worn on its own , or a translucent lipstick for a lovely look . If your lips are dry or thin , make a treatment gloss your go-to .
• Bronze up , no matter your skin tone : Bronzer is amazing because it provides different effects to different skin tones : great for warming up lighter complexions , or adding dimension to darker skin tones by reflecting light . First choose your texture : shimmery or matte . Matte bronzer , dusted around your face and under your cheekbones , sculpts your face subtly . Shimmery finishes , applied to the high points of your face like your forehead , nose and cheekbones , add a beautiful glow . Remember to blend , blend , blend – it should look like an extension of your skin .
• Invest in the basics : A perfectly matched foundation is your best investment . It ’ s the basis for your whole look so it ’ s worth finding your perfect match . Finally , add a good quality , all-round mascara to frame your eyes and complete your look .