All Posts By

Mamma Fairy

Features

200 Proof Alcohol Defined and Explained

Are the different alcohol types confusing you? Don’t worry. Below, you’ll learn about what 200-proof ethanol is and how you can use it.

So, you no longer have to waste time on the wrong product. And you’ll also smooth line buying decisions when you have a better understanding of how each product can help you.

Does that sound good? Let’s dive in.

What is 200 Proof Alcohol?

The solvent contains 100% ethanol, and you can also call it dehydrated or anhydrous alcohol. This product is free from denaturant additives such as methanol, kerosene, or acetone. However, pure ethanol is highly hygroscopic, so you can only get it with approximately 99% of alcohol.

Maintaining high purity standards forms a significant part of the solvent’s manufacturing procedures. To illustrate, processors making 200-proof ethanol also test for toxic heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and thallium. The primary analysis method is the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.

Many companies, therefore, use 200 proof alcohol in manufacturing edible products. Examples include the food industry, cannabis processing, cooking oil extraction, and others.

The government has strict measures to regulate how the population uses this solvent. So, you’ll find that regulatory agencies impose high taxes on these products. You also need a permit to purchase 100% alcohol.

What are the Uses of 200 Proof Alcohol?

Making Premium Cannabis Products

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Cannabis processors use 100% pure ethanol to produce a high-quality yield for their customers. This solvent helps you harvest an extensive collection of terpenes, alkaloids, and cannabinoids. You’ll also remove contaminants such as microbes, lipid waxes, and chlorophyll by using alcohol.

200 proof ethanol will help you reduce costs and make more profit in the long run. For example, you’ll save money because you can recycle the solvent during the production process, as it’s highly volatile. 

Additionally, you’ll increase your earnings when your products have a better flavor and potency, giving the user a good experience.

Extracting Essential Oils

Ethanol extraction preserves delicate plant compounds such as terpenes and alkaloids. This method is thus better than steam distillation and vaporization, which degrades the integrity of those molecules. Therefore, you’ll benefit from the healing properties of these oils.

Research supports that 100% alcohol is a valuable solvent in making modern remedies. This innovation is possible because ethanol preserves vital tissues and nucleic acids from recycled plant biomass. 

Manufacturing Beauty Products

The cosmetic industry uses ethanol to make fragrances and lotions and preserve beauty commodities. Also, this solvent is essential in extracting phenols, vitamins, and other anti-inflammatory compounds. Hence, you get a product that enhances your skin’s health.

But you might ask, doesn’t ethanol cause your skin to dry and flake? The solvent will affect you if you don’t add moisturizers and humectants to your cosmetics. 

You’ll get youthful, glowing skin by using ethanol-based astringents. These products help you tone your skin and smoothen age-related wrinkles. And you’ll also gain unblemished skin when the astringent wipes off dirt and debris with infectious germs from your face.

Cleaning Surfaces

Ethanol provides a damage-free way to clean delicate items such as glass, metal, and electronics. You’ll get this benefit because alcohol dries fast, and it contains little water to cause rust damage or short-circuiting. So, you can use this solvent to clean stubborn grease or ink stains.

100% pure ethanol is ineffective for disinfecting surfaces. That shortcoming comes from its biggest strength: high alcohol content with little water. 

This characteristic prevents adequate interaction of the solvent with the cell wall proteins because of the fast evaporation. Therefore, some microbes might survive and cause infections. So, you’ll benefit most by using 50-70% alcohol in your sanitizers.

Other Uses

Artists use alcohol in watercolors, dyes, and 3D printers.

200 proof alcohol can act as an environmentally friendly pesticide. You can thus apply this solvent to control mites and other destructive bugs on your plants. The pungent odor from ethanol will prevent those organisms from harming your crops.

Conclusion

200 Proof ethanol is an excellent solvent with many industrial and household applications. For example, you can use the solvent to make cannabis oil, essential oils, beauty products, and clean stains on surfaces. Alcohol’s polar and volatility characteristics make it perfect for those uses.

Store pure ethanol in a well-ventilated area and away from direct flames. This product is highly flammable.

 

About the author: Nikolay Stoyanov is the owner of a Colorado-based CBD SEO agency. His team and himself are performing top notch cannabis SEO for clients in the US, UK, Canada and Australia.

 

Mamma Reviews

Does Thumb-Sucking Impact Your Child’s Dental Hygiene?

child teeth

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Every parent is concerned with their child’s dental health, especially if your  child is prone to sucking his or her thumb. As far as myths go, thumb sucking is often blamed causing cavities perhaps leading to requiring braces in teenage years. However, what is the truth? Are there any real threats to kids doing this for too long?   

This article hopes to reveal all the answers. If you are in search of a great dentist Newtown, there are some knowledgeable specialists you can consult. If you are  are worried about your childs dental health, getting a check-up and routine advice is highly recommended.

Is thumb sucking bad or good?

Thumb sucking has been known to be a soothing  for kids particularly those getting through the teething process. You should also consider that your child’s baby teeth are only temporary. Their permanent ones have not yet taken root yet. This means there is little harm at this stage that can be done to your child’s teeth.

What’s more important is that kids are getting into good habits as early on as possible. So, habits that become ingrained such as thumb sucking are easier to get rid of the sooner they are stopped. However, it’s good to note that it doesn’t affect children’s baby teeth.

The issue comes when the permanent teeth start growing. Constant thumb-sucking can cause the teeth to misalign which may be an issue in the teenager years possible leading to the requirement for braces. More importantly, it can cause the way the roots form at the bottom to grow differently in an unnatural way.  

Can we switch our child to a pacifier?

Pacifiers produce a similar motion so not really recommended as being a good replacement. However, if you are worried about weaning your child off thumb-sucking, it may be easier to choose a pacifier early on. 

When is it too much?

If its happening occasionally, it most likely should be fine. However, if they are finding so much comfort from the action that they are doing it all the time, it may start to cause issues down the line.

If you ever exhibit your toddler doing it in an aggressive manner, try to intervene at this stage.

When is it good to stop?

The best time to break the habit is as soon as possible. From 2-4 years old, baby teeth start to fall out and adult ones begin to form. It’s crucial for you to keep an eye on your little one’s oral health as if they are thumb-sucking too aggressively it may be having a big impact. If you are concerned, it’s a great idea to visit the dentist and maybe even book an appointment with your paediatric dental nurse to see what they suggest.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post and if you have any concerns about your childs oral health always consult your dentist 

 

Features

The weekend that Royal Wedding Fever gripped us all

I would say very few people did not know the Royal Wedding was on last weekend.  I could not wait to see the style, for me that is the part I enjoy most about wedding whether its somebody famous or not.  One of my close friends is getting married next July and we rounded the girls and decamped to mine to get some inspiration for the bridesmaids dresses. My own wedding anniversary is soon and I can vividly recall the stress over picking the dresses. It can be such a tough decision to get a style that suits everybody’s shape, colouring and personal preferences.

I was honoured to be asked to be a bridesmaid for my friend, she is pretty chilled out and is letting us have a little free reign into what we want as long as we all agree (sounds easy!!! if only!).

Back to the Royal Wedding, how incredible did Megan look?. Simple, elegant, classic just wow. I loved every thing about the look, her makeup natural and understated.  And her mum lets not forget the poise and elegance of her mother who was so far from home in the midst of the most surreal situation who just exuded class. She will forever be for me the stand out of this wedding (well actually David Beckham could be a contender for that role too :-)).

So are we only closer to a decision?! Kind of……we have scoured the internet as like anything budget is a key factor.  What we did come across is a great deal site that pulls together latest deals and upcoming sales from wide rage of high street brands such as New Look, Zara, Boohoo and Next.  Boohoo have some fab summer dresses. The wedding is in Spain so something summery and floating would actually be just perfect.  I have written about this before, I am the self confessed Queen of the Deal!! We travel a lot and can do so thanks to my pretty epic deal hunting skills!!

I most certainly will be adding this site to my favourites as its not just Dresses they cover everything from books to Home and Garden and pretty much everything in between. Having all deals in one place is very (very) handy.  And its not just deals, is competitions, its feebies and offers too. Love it!

So who was your best dressed guest? Did you love or loath Megans dress? Do tell me in the comments.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post

 

 

Reviews for Mama & Babas

Tech Deck Spinmaster Review

My oldest is moving away from the Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig toys now and is looking for more grown up toys which to be honest can be a challenge as he is only 6!

We were sent some Tech Deck toys to review a couple of weeks back and my oldest and the Dadda Fairy enjoyed some father son bonding time over these!!

What are they?

Tech Deck are  96mm fingerboards from real skate companies.  Ill be the first to admit I know zero about skateboaring but my more knowledgeable brother was very impressed! You make them up yourself and customise them with stickers/ graphics provided.  Be warned the part are teeny and my oldest found them a little fiddly and hard to do himself but he quite happily let the Dada Fairy do the work. I would definitely recommend if you have younger kids that might be prone to putting things in their mouths to keep these well away.

The point of them I think is that kids get used to the miniature versions before tackling the real thing.  

While he enjoyed the skate boards the real excitement was when the ramps arrived. Now these are super impressive and when you get your head around how to use them it really is cool.

Prices start from £2.99 and upwards with the ramps etc being at the higher price points.  I do think the ramps really do add to the excitement as they can practice their skills on them. The great thing is too you can actually build a much bigger skate park as the ramps all work together.

What we thought?

For imaginative play this gets a thumbs up from us.  My oldest and his pals have spent many hours challenging each other on the ramps.  I do think you need the ramps to keep the interest up. As mentioned above do be aware the parts are very small and younger kids may need assistance to assemble them initially.

See the Tech Deck website here for lots of videos of them in action!

 

Note: We were sent a Tech Deck bundle to review however as always all opinions are mine or the boys where appropriate.
Home & Interiors

Keep your growing family happy with these interior design tips

child playing with cameraWhether you’ve already got a few little ones, or you’re eagerly waiting for the pitter patter of tiny feet, here are some family-friendly interior design ideas to ensure your home is the ideal space for all.

Distractions are vital

Pricey trinkets and inquisitive children don’t mix. For that reason, it’s a good idea to place distractions around the house so that they’re not focused on playing with (and possibly breaking) your works of art. Create a specific space for children to unleash their energy, such as a playroom or a music room.   

Pay attention to fabrics

When tasked with designing a family home, a lot of design experts will swear by durable fabrics such as vinyl or faux leather that are easy to wipe clean. With children, spills are inevitable so you want to make sure that you can wipe them away as quickly and as easy as possible. You might also want to bring an outdoor rug inside, particularly in areas that see a lot of traffic such as the kitchen.   Whatever you decide you will want something to make an impact.

Conceal utilitarian features

One of the most exciting parts of interior design is adding those thoughtful features that tie the room together. When you’re doing this, consider how much you can hide certain utilitarian features such as radiators and plug sockets. This will also help to keep wandering fingers at bay and improve the overall safety of your home.

Embrace their creativity

Praise your little Picassos by giving them their very own exhibition.child climbing on furntiure Instead of confining them to the fridge, invest in some fun frames and use them as décor in your living room, kitchen, or playroom. This might even be an activity you want to do together as a family.

Consider an open floor plan

An open plan living space is the ideal choice for those who are planning to grow their family. This openness allows everyone to spend time together, and it’s easy to turn two rooms into one by being mindful of the interior design that you choose. Coordinate the two rooms by choosing a neutral colour palette that you can then add splashes of colour to as you go along, and open up the space with doors from bi fold shop, so the transition between the two rooms is seamless.

Go further than pink or blue

While pink and blue are the colours usually associated with newborns, choosing a neutral colour palette for your first kids’ rooms will allow you more freedom when the next one comes along. Opt for colours such as cream, beige, and pale yellow and remember that lighter shades can help the room to look bigger and brighter than it really is.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post
Fairy Travels

7 Activities to Ensure You Get the Most out of Your Family Holiday

aircraft wing

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Planning your summer holidays and wondering what to do to keep the kids entertained? Here are some tips and tricks to keep them happy, and keep you from tearing your hair out.

Be prepared

If this is your child’s first adventure on a plane or ferry, hype them up to the experience by injecting fun into what they can expect. There are new noises, sensations, and even rules to get to grips with when navigating ferry ports and seaports. Why not turn passport control and security checks into a game or, at the very least, a point of reward for best behaviour when you’ve passed through?

Everything edible

Okay, maybe not everything is edible, but knowing what treats are in store might be one way to build excitement for the kids about where you are going. Whether it’s the almost-familiar patatas bravas in Spain and keftedes in Greece, or slightly different spätzle in Germany and gołąbki in Poland, there is something that will appeal to both those who prefer the comfort of home-cooking, and those who are willing to try something new.

Plan a virtual tour

There’s nothing quite like planning an itinerary of where you are going, and what better way to keep the kids interested than to let them plan for themselves? Whether it’s kid-friendly theme parks or interactive museums, showing pictures and videos of all the places you might get to see is bound to make them even more excited for their holiday.

A few words?

Why not add a little something educational to your holiday preparations in a fun way so your kids don’t really know they are learning? From a few words in the language of the place you are going to a fun history lesson of the culture of the country, there are so many ways to grab their attention and teach them something at the same time. Better yet, learning a language with companies like Listen & Learn, FluentU or Babbel means you can bring some of your travels and memories back with you, continuing lessons even after you’re home!

Autonomy

While we are on the subject of languages and learning, what better way to prepare your children for their first trip overseas than to teach them a few new words? Basic greetings and polite pleases and thank yous will go a long way to building their confidence, as well as delighting waiting staff and friendly locals with their efforts.

Making memories

How about getting your kids to create their own holiday mementos? Disposable cameras are cheap, or a kid-proof tablet will capture any photos they choose to take. And when you are all back in rainy England with still weeks of the holiday to get through—or even worse, are back and work and school—a little scrapbooking with those holiday photos will help build those memories, and enthusiasm for planning the next one!

Peace of mind

Pack the essentials that you’d take on a day trip and remember shops the world over will likely stock most things you can get at home. Figure out all the things you want to see and do as well. Your kids will enjoy themselves a lot more if you are just as excited to be there. Relax, breathe, and take your time; this is your holiday as well!

 

Note: This is a collaborative post

 

Home & Interiors

How to Make the Most of Shrinking Living Rooms

No, you’re not imagining it. Living rooms are officially shrinking! According to new research carried out by LABC warranty, lounges in Britain’s homes are now 32% smaller than the equivalent properties in the 1970s. Separate research conducted by Cambridge University in 2014 found that new build homes in the UK are the smallest in Europe. So, what are we to do about the lost square footage and what’s the best strategy for living with smaller spaces? Let’s take a look at how to make the most of shrinking living rooms.

Clever furniture choices

Sitting room furniture

Pic Credit: Pixabay

When you don’t have a lot of floor space to spare, you need to be even choosier about the furniture you select. In fact, if your lounge is on the small side, you may actually have issues putting essentials like sofas in situ. Go too large and you may find you have to take your UPVC glazed window out just so you can get your sofa in your living room! I may or may not be speaking from experience here!!!  If you really need a larger sofa for lounging on, think about purchasing a two-piece L-shaped sofa that can be slotted together once in position so you can avoid awkward window removals! Many L-shape sofas can now be set up in right or left facing, so you can make the most of your room shape too.

Mounting your TV on the wall rather than on a stand is another commonly used space saver but if you want to get serious about reclaiming as many square inches as possible, it’s time to select stackable and multi-use furniture. Nests of tables are handy pieces that can be tidied away easily; footstools that double as storage space are a godsend when you need quickly clear up for a guest’s arrival too. Folding tables and chairs are great for creating a little kids’ play corner that can be stored away when not in use.

Blending and zoning

Even with smaller, cleverer furniture choices, some modern living rooms still feel cramped. After all, the living room tends to be the space where the family gathers together for activities. You might use the living room for watching TV together or as a space where the toddler plays with their toys or you may want to eat and entertain in your lounge. That’s a lot of demands put on a small space and a variety of different activities that require very different types of furniture. Many homeowners choose to alleviate this closed in feeling and accommodate different goings-on by blending and zoning spaces.

Fancy giving blending and zoning a go? Removing the wall between the living room and dining room will open up your space, but you may want to retain some element of separation. Floor-to-ceiling internal bifolds like these from Vufold will let lots of light flow through the space while giving you the option to close off into defined rooms. Alternatively, you could try your hand at simple zoning of your living room using separating furniture such as bookcases or other stylish options so that you have quieter nooks for play or activities like homework or reading.

Go digital

According to research by Which, 24% of UK homes now contain some kind of smart home device. I have written about this before, the Dada Fairy has become hooked on smart home features these days! Some of these gadgets will be cameras aimed at increasing security or central heating control systems, but many more are likely to be smart TVs or hubs like the Amazon Echo. These nifty devices do your bidding with a simple voice command, playing your choice of music or film, searching the Internet for you or even making a call. 

Part of our living room renovation included a small segregated home office area.  We were very fortunate to be sent a BenQ e-Reading LED desk lamp.   I would never have considered lighting to be a feature not only useful but aesthetically in a room. The room was kept very neutral and the lamp is hot pink which  adds a fab fun element to an otherwise toned down neutral space.  The lamp is designed to provide constant and flicker-free illumination and no unstable lighting which may potentially cause harm to your eyes. What I love most about this lamp is how movable it is adapting to whatever technology is in use. The feature my pair love the most is the ambient lighting moods! You can easily switch between warm tones for casual reading, to the cooler tones for concentration and work.  Coming with a price tag of £149 this isn’t the cheapest lamp on the market but you do have to consider its functionality which cannot be denied. In a world ever engrossed with all things techie. I wont scrimp on devices that assist in that regard therefore hand on heart can attest to the quality and functionality of this lamp.   Continue Reading

Fairy Travels

The Allure of the Algarve – summer holiday planning

How beautiful was the weather this weekend? You can really feel the Summer vibe on the way.  I often find when the weather is good my mind starts to wander to holidays! The weather was so lovely all weekend it prompted our very regular family discussion of where to next next.

While we love city breaks and action packed holidays, for the last couple of years we take my parents on a total chill out holiday.  Think, sun, beautiful beaches, good food and good wine. Whats not to love?.  We quite literally stumbled on a beautiful town in the Algarve called Alvor and have been making a family trip every year since.  We range in age from 6 to 60 plus and the beauty of the Algarve for us  is that there is something for everybody.

If its nightlife your after its there, you want good wines as you chill listening to the ocean its there too and probably most importantly there is plenty for younger members of our holiday party to do too.  I work full time, have two young kids ( a husband :-)) and blog by night so for me what I love about our now annual family trip is total relaxation. Lying on the beach, reading a book as I keep one ear out listening to the kids laugh and play.

For my parents they love all inclusive, that’s one price for pretty much all your food and drink and you don’t have to worry much after that.  For them that’s the relaxing part of the holiday.  If you are considering booking all inclusive Holiday Gems has cheap all inclusive deals. 

I’m going to let the pictures do the talking now! How breath taking are these view in Alvor? We usually go in the October school holiday break and while busy its not crazy busy.  Also the temperatures are lovely and warm with out being too hot for my blue eyed blonde haired fair skinned duo.  They burn so easily I have to be mega careful about applying sun cream.

sea view

Pic Credit: @mammafairyblog

beach scene

Pic Credit: @mammafairyblog

 

pool with view over looking the sea

Pic Credit: @mammafairyblog

 

Take me there right now.  This place has really cemented itself in history in our family anyway! Alvor we will see you for the fourth time later this year and every one us for 6 to 60+ share in the excitement.

 

Note: This is a collaborative post however I retain full editorial control.

 

 

Home & Interiors

Lights, Camera, Action….

Lights, Camera, Action or not as the case may be!! I know you are probably totally fed up of hearing about our renovation woes! We are very much nearing completion with the bulk of the structural work completed.  While we have had disagreements over some of the larger elements of this project a serious bone of contention has become the interior details and most specifically the lights/lighting.

I quite literally spend hours turning off lights in our house. The Dada Fairy and the kids cannot seem to master the art of turning off the light when they leave the room.  The house was completely wired in the new and the Dada Fairy insisted on tonnes of lighting both inside and outside. My neighbour was only half joking when he said to my husband one day you wont be happy until the house is visible from space!!

Who knew  choosing light fittings would be so difficult. We are poles apart in terms of what we like. He likes the almost industrial vibe im more in favour of warm cosy type fittings. He wants tonnes of light in rooms. I can see where he is coming from as living at the end of a hill our house can be quite dark.

lightbulb

Pic Credit: Pixabay

For me however lights are a lot more than just that, lighting can transform a room. Also for me the energy efficiency of the bulbs is key. Our bills previous in Winter could top 300 however after the initial outlay on the LED bulbs we have noticed a marked improvement.  Our November/ December bill for last year was only 120 for 2 months.  For us it has been totally worth the initial outlay. Once we have all in place, ill be looking into the smart home features like the Philips Hue. My sister has this and finds it brilliant.  Being able to turn on and off lights from an app on your phone, no more running after the boys to turn off lights!!

Because my husband often works from home, he is very aware of the lighting needs in areas of the house, for example task based lighting, ambient lights and general lighting.   Who knew there was so much to consider!

One other item that I was indifferent about was a sensor light out in the garden.  This has been a great addition as it illuminates the area very quickly.  As we are often away the motion sensor light is another device which will hopefully help protect the house for unwanted guests! While no light will keep a thief out it will hopefully create the illusion that somebody is home. Separate to that, its great when you pull up outside late in the evening the drive is lit up instantly.

If you do have any pictures of your inside lights I would love to see them. I have been searching on line for weeks now for inspiration but we still cant agree. We are getting there though and when we do ill be sure to update this article.

 

Home & Interiors

How to Choose a Rug that Perfectly Matches Your Flooring

Looking to buy a rug but are unsure of where to start? The first thing to consider is how well it matches your floor. When you find a nice match, the entire room looks so much better, with improved décor that really enhances the space and works well together.

Yet it’s not easy to find the right rug for every floor. Many assume you only use rugs on laminate flooring, but rugs work amazingly well on virtually every type of flooring – even carpets! So, it’s important to think about the type of flooring you have and how to find a rug that matches it well.

Going to a reputable well known company such as Rug Shop Nottingham is a good starting point as experts on hand can answer a lot of the key considerations and queries you might have.

There are a few things to consider, with size and shape being obvious places to start. However, to ensure you get the perfect match for your flooring, you want to think about a few more things, including the colour and pattern and how it works with the floor.

Other important considerations to make include the texture and overall style of the rug – choose wrongly and the rug won’t look that great at all.

Check out this infographic from Land of Rugs for all the help you need to choose a rug that perfectly matches your flooring! Land of Rugs have also kindly offer 10% of code for Mamma Fairy readers simply input blogger01 at the checkout.

Note: This is a collaborative post