The dream of a home is almost universal, it is a reality that we would all like to have a space to dispose of without worrying about paying rent every month. But the truth is that getting a home that meets the needs and budget of each family is not an easy task and often becomes a hard and long-term plan.

Are you one of those who enjoy personalizing spaces? So keep these tips in mind to make your home more warm and functional:

When you enter a space to transform it into your dwelling, you must be very clear about the rules of the person who rents it: do you agree to make updates? Be honest with the things you want to do, from painting the walls to installing an air conditioner. It is better that everything be discussed in advance to avoid upsets and potential problems.

This is super easy and you can do it yourself. It usually does not require large sums of money and generates a great impact. The first option is to paint. In this sense, always try to choose organic products that are not harmful to your family or the environment. There are many variations with which you can play, for example, paint a single wall of intense tone or give color to the frames of doors, windows and even the cabinets of the bathroom or kitchen.

Do not you like the slab in the kitchen? Is the wood in the living room worn out? Changing these materials is not an option, but it is to go out and look for beautiful carpets that decorate them. There are different colors, textures and styles; They can cover the entire floor and delimit spaces.

Have you already thought about how to beautify your rented house? With these simple steps, you will find different ways to redecorate each space to your liking.

Recent studies have endorsed the idea that living with pets is something very positive for children and the elderly, both at the psychological level and health, because babies who grow up with an animal at home make it more free of allergies. However, one of the most important barriers with which we find ourselves when we are thinking of adopting a pet is cleaning. If we follow some simple guidelines in daily cleaning taking into account the needs of the animal, we will not have any problems and we and our children can enjoy their company.

It is important that our pet has its own place to sleep that can be easily cleaned. If it is a bed, it must be made of washable materials and that it does not accumulate much dirt easily. If you have a house, cleaning is easier and faster, because the materials they are made of are designed for that purpose.

You should also have a place to eat and drink that, preferably, we should not locate in the kitchen, as they can leave remains as hair or drool that, together with other organic waste, produce pollution.

We must assiduously bathe our pet with specific products for her. Cats should bathe more occasionally than dogs. Be careful not to mess with the bathrooms, as they can remove the natural protective layer of your pet's fur. Consult your veterinarian about the appropriate periodicity

Dogs have a characteristic odor that is due to the chemical processes of their organism.

To minimize these smells we can do two things: spray our pet with a mixture prepared with a cup of apple cider vinegar and a liter of water, and then brush; or sprinkle baking soda over the animal's hair and then brush.

Another of the characteristic smells of our pets is their breath. In pet shops and veterinary clinics we have all kinds of products to clean and refresh the mouth of our animals and avoid bad breath.

Brush your pet periodically, taking special care if it is long hair. Try to do it in open places and isolated from the rest of the house.

Aspirate twice a week, at least, if you have carpets. For other floors such as parquet or terrazzo, it will be enough to pass the moistened mop so that the hairs are trapped and do not fly. The vacuum cleaner is a good ally for areas of difficult access.

There is a large amount of utensils that help us with the removal of hairs in the home. Rubber brooms, dust mops, microfiber gloves or velvet brushes are some of them.

If you want to remove the hairs of clothes, curtains, beds or armchairs, you can use a damp sponge or a sticky roller that you can find in any drugstore. It also works well to rub with a nylon stocking used since the hairs stick to it.

Clean the air conditioning and heating filters from time to time so they do not get clogged and do not get damaged.

Your pet should consume 50 to 100 milliliters of water per day per kilogram of weight, say veterinarians

Mexico.- People who care for their pets face various concerns regarding their food, vaccinations or medical care, but do you know: how much water should your dog drink in a day?

If we know that humans should drink between a liter and a half and two liters of water a day, there should also be a recommended amount for your dog to drink and to be healthy and hydrated.

In general, most owners leave on a plate with enough water for the whole day and change when it is dirty or when it is finished, but in reality there is no more detailed monitoring of the amount of water that the dog of the family consumes.

These animals need to take an adequate amount of fluid so that health does not deteriorate, just like humans; so it is very important that, even when we are in winter, keep them hydrated.

Not to consume the water that pets require will surely present constipation, exhaustion, weight loss, dry mouth and skin, swallowing problems, among others pointed out by animal specialists.

Gustavo Morales, veterinarian, said that the amount is consistent with the weight of your dog and the type of food you provide, so that you take note.

Doing the calculation of water that your dog should consume is very simple, since he will drink between 50 and 100 milliliters of water per day for each kilogram of weight. That means that a dog of 10 kilograms will take between half a liter and 1 liter of water a day, for example.

But he assures that it will also depend on the breed, size and of course the weights of each puppy. In addition it must be added that wear of physical activities performed by the animal, as if it runs or plays in the house or simply has a daily schedule of going for a walk.

And another aspect is if the pets are sedentary, then they require less quantity of water, but that does not mean that it is not enough.

It is recommended, "to place the water and to leave them to free access, because the climate varies day by day," he said.

As a first step it is recommended to select an area where you always place the container and get used to drinking, that is under the roof so that it does not get hot or leaves fall.

Secondly, remember to change it at least twice every 24 hours, since the freshness pleases you and finally supervise that when they eat they are accompanied with this liquid.

• Food. A dog that eats croquettes will need more water than one that eats canned food or a natural diet.
• Puppies A puppy needs to consume a half cup of water every two hours and you have to make sure that you drink it, so you have to take it to the water dish to do it.
• Exercise. When you take your dog for a walk or a run, make sure you bring a container of water for him. At the end of the exercise, give water, but be careful not to take too much in a short time and thus prevent abdominal distension. A recommendation is first to give some ice and then leave a plate of water so you can drink whatever you want.
• Weather. Of course, when it's hot your dog will need more water.
• Medicines. There are some medications that will make your dog drink more or less water.
• Lactation. Bitches that are nursing a litter will not only eat more, they will drink much more water.
• Diseases. Dogs that have diabetes, some types of cancer and kidney or liver diseases, among others, will tend to drink more water.

CHINA.-We have all heard barks that can be very annoying, even cause disputes between neighbors. Yes, for many who are not dog lovers this may be a conflict with not very clear solutions, but in China someone decided to take very harsh measures.

It is a terrible drama and they are called mute dogs, a radical, horrible and dramatic decision.

According to Super Curious, in September of this year, the Chengdu Business Daily unveiled the custom that is expanding in Chinese cities. If someone has a dog that bothers neighbors with their barking, the "best" option is to take him to the vet to have his vocal cords cut. WTF!

Most "doctors" who do this are not actually veterinarians, some falsify their license and carry out procedures in the middle of the street; in the sight of all, they anesthetize the animal, and without more cutting the strings. It is known that in a Chinese city a man was denounced for doing this in front of many citizens, in one hour he made 10 operations. Without care, he charged 13 euros and did not sterilize the instruments.

Of course, veterinary associations have warned that this procedure, invasive and with many risks and complications, is an unnecessary and cruel procedure.

Unfortunately, China is not the only place where these operations are carried out, in Oregon, United States, a judge ordered that a dog be silenced, yes, a justice minister; Of course the animal protection organizations put the cry in the sky.

The kitchen is the only space inside a house that is meant to "work", so it must be as organized as possible, so that, as well as beautiful, it is of course practical and functional. This objective seems to be very complicated when the kitchens are small and the inhabitants of a house are numerous. But space is only a problem if we allow it. 

Therefore, today we wanted to bring 10 small kitchens decorated and organized perfectly, even better than some large kitchens, with the purpose of demonstrating how a small kitchen can and should be properly decorated and organized. 

Make use of all available spaces and spaces. Whatever the available space that our small kitchen offers us, it would be stupid not to take advantage of it. Well to store the cookbook books on the top, or the tupperware, or small appliances such as the blender, blender, juicer, etc. Or buy some boxes and put small objects to have them organized and stored without occupying a usable space. The important thing is to take advantage of each and every one of the available spaces in addition to those offered by the cabinets. 

Keep the kitchen clean. Look at the kitchen above. It is a really small kitchen. But it is immaculate, both in cleanliness and in organization. Otherwise, cooking in such a small kitchen every day would overwhelm us greatly. Therefore, cleaning is of vital importance, as much or more than any extra furniture that we could add to gain space. 

A simple decoration and in harmony. Suppose you have a kitchen where you can not take advantage of any more, it is perfectly clean and you can not get more out of it. Well, in this case, resort to decoration is a great alternative. You have to decorate the kitchen (whatever your style), in a simple way so that your environment does not give us a sense of disorder. A poorly decorated kitchen, although it is very large, produces a sense of disorder and imbalance, however, as you see in the image above, a kitchen decorated in harmony and in a simple way, however small, produces a sense of well-being automatic 

Discard sturdy and bulky furniture. If you are going to furnish the kitchen for the first time, or you are going to redecorate it by changing the furniture and it is a small kitchen, it is obvious that the big and robust furniture occupy an unnecessary space besides that they produce a recharging sensation in the kitchen. For this reason, resorting to light-looking furniture, in white colors, with straight and soft lines as in the image above, will greatly help to expand the physical space, as evidently the visual space, making a lighter, more functional kitchen , more practice. 

Make the most of the empty walls. In narrow kitchens, it happens that the furniture is on a single wall. Not in all kitchens obviously, but in most that have this structure. Therefore, it is essential to make good use of the walls that are empty We can install auxiliary furniture such as a stainless steel table to prepare food comfortably In addition these tables include shelves at the bottom where we can store all kinds of cooking utensils. 

Install practical storage solutions. There are very efficient storage systems that offer great functionality for small spaces. See the available space we have, measure and buy a storage system for that gap, it will be a great relief for a small kitchen. As you can see in the kitchen above, a stainless steel shelf has been installed on the wall where you can store and organize pots, pans, frying pans ... and you can also hang other utensils. All in a minimum space. 

Install shelves. As in the previous image we have seen a very practical storage system. We can also resort to simple shelves of wood or any other material. These are lighter visually so for a kitchen already recharged will be the perfect complement. They will not overload the environment much more and will provide us with extra storage space. 

Add plants. It may seem at first that adding plants and nature to the kitchen does not make any sense for our purpose. But a kitchen full of life and nature, is a cheerful kitchen, in which we will feel more at ease and in which we will "work" better whatever its size.

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in a home. It must meet all the conditions to be a functional space where you can cook, but also a place that invites family meetings. Because no matter how small it may be, it does not matter, if a party or celebration is held at home, everyone ends up there making the host company. Has not happened to you?

If you have to put a new kitchen and you are looking for ideas, from Conforma we want to help you with practical tips to design the kitchen of your dreams. Open or closed? This is the first decision you must make. If you still do not have it clear, wait to discover the advantages and disadvantages of each one.

If you let yourself be guided by aesthetics, surely the open kitchens have a hole in your heart. They are beautiful and both the decoration magazines and the television programs have convinced us that the trend of open space is a good idea. They have many pros in their favor, we tell you!

• Greater sense of spaciousness. If you add the ones in the kitchen to the kitchen, it will look much bigger. As there are no walls in between, the boundary between the rooms is not so clear.
• Space full of light. In general, when sharing space with the living room, the kitchens tend to be brighter. It is a good way to distribute the natural light that reaches the room and get it to flow into the kitchen.
• Ideal for small houses. In a home where there are not enough square meters, an open kitchen is the best option if you want to take better advantage of the space. A combination of kitchen, living room and dining room is the most practical.
• You'll have everything at hand. Another advantage is that it facilitates some of the domestic tasks, for example, when putting or removing the table will be much faster if you have everything in the same room.
• Perfect for family life. If there are children at home, surely you do not like to lose sight of them. You can be cooking while they play in the living room. Sharing the same space is a good way to strengthen family relationships.
• Encourages conversation and participation. If you like to have guests at home, an open kitchen allows you to finalize the preparations without isolating yourself from the gathering. In addition, being more spacious invites you to cook in company or to give you a hand.

All these advantages should be added its high aesthetic potential, since most interior designers opt for the open concept due to all its possibilities. For example, unless you have a huge kitchen, this is the only option to enjoy a practical island. Although it takes up a lot of space, it is true that it is a great storage solution and will allow you to have everything in perfect order.

Also, you will gain on the work surface or you can even eat in it if you put up some stools. If having an island is among your options you should bear in mind that you have to leave around 90 cm of free space to be able to cook in comfort. Another tip so that it is not too big is to choose a countertop in light tones to gain more visual amplitude.

A variant of the islands are the peninsulas, since you can take much more space and even make a perfect connector between the kitchen and the living room. The main difference is that the latter are anchored to the wall. They offer the same storage capacity, but do not need to leave all the space around unused, which can make better use of the corners.

One idea to get more out of the peninsula is to create a small bar where you can have breakfast. Even, it's perfect for some casual dining. You can just put the countertop and leave empty space underneath or, if you need storage space, you can adapt a bar that fulfills the two functions.

We already know all the good that an open kitchen can give us, but there are also small disadvantages for which many people still are not convinced. First of all, there are the smells of the food that adhere to all the textiles in the room and for many this is a big problem. Another thing that does not like is the noise, which when it is cooked is inevitable and can interrupt the tranquility of a room.

As for the islands and the peninsulas, another common fault is that you can not put storage in the upper space. And finally, forces you to have everything more orderly yes or yes, unless you want to sit on the sofa to observe everything that you have left to collect.

If you define yourself as a practical person, maybe for you the most comfortable thing is to have an independent and closed kitchen. It adapts to the traditional structure of any house and as they say: "if it has always been like that, it will be for something". Yes, it also has its advantages and we tell you:

• Greater privacy. Do you have pots in the sink? Well, in this way you will not be in such a hurry to remove them if you have a visit at home. You can close the kitchen door and forget about it. You will not have the pressure to see it from the couch.
• Mix decorative styles. There is no aesthetic dependency with the room, so you can decorate each room as you like without taking into account that the whole set should create a harmony.
• Less investment in decoration. With a closed kitchen you will not be forced to have to panel the appliances to maintain the aesthetics. This is something that will be noticed in the budget.
• Isolation of noises and smells. The room will not be filled with smoke or steam when you cook, so it will stay clean longer. The grease also evaporates and reaches all corners, so if the kitchen door is closed, it will prevent it from spreading throughout the rest of the house.

Take the measures well to make the most of the space. In Conforama you can find models that will adapt perfectly to that dream kitchen you have in mind. Take a look at our ANNUAL GUIDE and remember that good planning is the basis of a beautiful and functional kitchen. If it is independent, you must take this into account so as not to overload it with too many furniture. One of the cons is that you can not put islands or peninsulas unless the kitchen is very large. You will always have the option of adding a table and chairs.

Halfway, we can also find other options to enjoy the advantages of having a closed and open kitchen. For example, you can put a window at half height that communicates with the room. The space is delimited, but it allows you to interact with the other room and let the natural light flow freely.

You can also open a direct passage to the living room, but respecting the different spaces for each room. It consists of opening only a part of the wall.

Finally, you have a much more discreet and very versatile option that is to put walls or glass doors between the kitchen and the living room. You can leave them open to enjoy a feeling of greater amplitude, but close them when you are cooked to prevent odors and noise from passing through. They have everything!

Already clear? Open, closed or semi? Be that as it may, in Conforama you will find the kitchen of your dreams and discounts of up to 40%.

If you like crafts and get yourself an object that is resistant, then put on the gloves that in this article you will learn how to make cement pots. The plastic, although they are designed especially to withstand the inclemencies of time, in the end after a few years also break down, and taking into account that plastic is a material that takes centuries to decompose, so what better than making our own cement sherds? These will last ... and last ...

Would you like to know what you need to make these resistant pots? Well, not only will we tell you that, but we will also explain step by step how to do them, here in this your guide 

Before starting to do them, it is important to prepare all the material that will be needed beforehand, in order to make the work easier and, in passing, save a little time. Having said that, you should prepare the following:

• 2 plastic containers that have the same shape, one larger than the other
• Non-stick spray oil
• Gloves
• Portland Cement
• Construction sand
• Large plastic sheet
• PVC tube of 2.50cm
• Spatula
• And, if you do not like the gray color, you will also need color for cement

Now that you have it all, let's move on to the most interesting part: make cement pots. The first thing to do is to cover the outside of the smaller container with the non-stick oil and the inside of the larger one. Then, follow this step by step:

Every special pot for plants that boasts must have its holes so that the irrigation water that can come out. Therefore, we must proceed to cut 2 to 4 pieces of PVC pipe with a height of at least 2.50 cm.

With the gloves on, you have to mix 3 parts of sand for 1 of cement with a little water in a basin or in a separate bucket. As the amount that is going to be needed to make the cement pot is rather small, it is necessary to pour the water little by little to avoid it being very watery. At this time you will have to add the color for cement if you wish.

Once the pasta is made, you have to throw it into the larger container, but only the right amount so that the smaller container can fit without problem (about 5cm). The tubes that will make the holes for the drainage must be placed now, taking care that they are not covered by cement.

By the way, if you do not want the tubes to be visible, spray them with nonstick oil before placing them. So, when the cement pots are already made, you can easily remove them.

With great care, you have to place the small container inside the large one, applying a little pressure downwards.

To finish with the mold, you must add more cement between the large container and the small container. Insert the spatula into it so that it fits well.

Now that everything is almost done, you have to wait 24 hours for the cement to begin to harden and set well. After that time, you have to wet the cement pots a little with a sprayer with cold water, and remove the small container.

The large container is the one that holds the cement pots and, therefore, is the most difficult to remove. To do it without problem, you have to cover it with a piece of large plastic, and wet it with cold water so that the cement stays wet for a week.

After seven days, remove the plastic and place the pot upside down. Now, tap the plastic container, both on both sides and at its base. Then you can remove the container, and you can see how your cement pots have been.

The cement pots are very resistant and very easy to make. With a little patience, our plants may be in pots that do not require any maintenance, since they will withstand the inclemency of the weather. Without a doubt, it's worth waiting a week to have a much more personal patio or terrace, do not you think?

You can even make drawings in your pots once finished, using synthetic enamel that also resists moisture very well.

What do you think? Do you dare to make your own cement pots?

A dog is not a home animal, contrary to what many people think, although it is a social being who likes to be relatively close to their masters, whom they consider their family, that is to say you. Escapism is a common factor in many dogs and is due to its natural tendency to travel a territory in search of hunting or other traveling companions.

That is why we usually take dogs down the street, at least in urban centers, tied and with a collar. It is not a measure of strength but of protection, as when we shake hands with a small child so that it does not get lost. We must bear in mind that the dog is not in a logical environment for him in the center of the town or the city, and needs to be guided.

But for it, so that the experience of both dog and human that guides it is satisfactory, it is necessary to know how to choose the necklace that you will put on the dog and the leash with which you will wear it. Not everything goes from the moment when not all dogs have the same size or the same strength, and neither do the same activities nor do they have the same length of hair.

All these conditioning factors will influence the right choice. But before opting for a strap and a necklace, we should know the main types of accessories that are on the market.

• Nylon: it is the material most used for its resistance to traction, as well as for its ease to be cleaned if the dog is stained with mud or other substances that are on the ground: it resists soaps and dries immediately because it does not retain the humidity. Both collars and straps can be found in different thicknesses depending on the size of the dog. The only problem that has is that in short-haired dogs can cause friction and erosions that lead to sores, so it should be removed after the ride. Aesthetically they present the problem that over time they become disfigured.
• Leather: it is the other favorite material of manufacturers and owners, because although it is not as resistant as nylon, it supports tractions well. It has the advantage that it causes less friction to be all smooth surface, which prevents sores in short-haired dogs. In addition it is usually more aesthetic. However, if it becomes dirty with mud or other substances, after washing it will acquire moisture and soften. Over time the straps tend to blacken and, with the traction of our friend, the collars usually give of themselves.
• Fabric: lately there are some collars and cloth straps for certain small breeds. They do not resist traction well in large dogs and if stained they are difficult to wash. Some models have a double stitching with drying balls inside, but in the end they also get clogged.
• Strap-loop necklace: these are round nylon straps that are finished off by a rope or loop that is passed through the dog's neck. They have the advantage that it is not necessary to have an additional collar and that when we get home we can remove it all in one piece. However, in nervous and strong dogs can cause strangulation.

What belt do I choose according to my dog?

• If your dog is of a large breed you should choose a leash of dimensions according to the diameter of its neck and its power. To measure the width, your fingers should fit between the collar and collar once worn. Also that they adapt well to their morphology; For example, there are wide necklaces for greyhounds, which have a very long neck.
• If your dog as well as being big is nervous, you should value between nylon and leather, but always in two pieces, ie necklace and strap separately, never on a rope. The collar will not make you pull less and if that is what you want, hire a trainer or put a harness, so you avoid strangulation. Additionally, there is a type of long leather strap that we can attach to our trunk so that it is easier for us to control the traction of the dog.
• If it is a long-haired animal it can work equally well with leather or with nylon, but if it is a very short or sparse hair breed, value a leather collar to avoid rubbing; If you put nylon on it, take it off when you get home.
• If your dog is one of those that likes to frolic in puddles, get into bushes and get dirty, so you have to clean it often, nylon is your choice, because the leather will darken very quickly with the washes. Regarding the fabric, if it has prints, it will soon be stained and lose its color.
• If you have a small, urban and quiet breed dog that instead of pulling you follow without hitting too many brakes, you should opt for collars of its size and can be both nylon and leather, and even loop, as it will not drown . They can also be fabric with prints.