Tag Archives: food

Nov19

4 Fabulous Ways To Enjoy A Modern Health Kick

Posted on by
Standard
4 Fabulous Ways To Enjoy A Modern Health Kick

There are a lot of things to keep in mind when it comes to improving your health and well being these days. The most essential thing to remember, is the fact that you need to keep on top of your health every day. It is easy to let things get away from you, and find yourself in situations where you are becoming more unhealthy. But, the goal is to make sure that you understand your health and fitness better and work on improving them.

This means that you have to think carefully about the different techniques you can use to boost your well being. Self-care is so important in 2018, and you can always do more to look after yourself. This is why it is so crucial to make sure that you have some ideas to fall back on that are going to help you get the best out of your mind and body this year:

Keep a Record of Your Progress:

Keeping a record of your health each week can be really useful. Filling in a chart or writing down what you’ve been able to achieve is so important for the future. In fact, using a ‘plot your health wellness planner’ might be the perfect way of doing this. It’s great to be able to chart your progress properly because this is something that gives you goals to work toward.

Quit Drinking:

If you are serious about taking your health to the next level and improving things in the best possible way, you should consider putting the kibosh on the booze! Sure, we all like a drink now and again, but alcohol can really adversely affect your health. It’s not even that you need to be an alcoholic for the negative sides of booze to take effect. It can make you put on weight and stall your productivity the following day. If you want to learn how to stop drinking, there are plenty of guides and ideas online that can help you, and it is important to look into this as much as possible.

Should you need more help when it comes to alcohol use, then there is no shame in that as we all have our struggles. You can explore different rehabs or therapy programs in your local area or there are even alcohol support lines you can call for guidance 24/7. These support lines are especially beneficial should you find yourself in a stressful situation or are feeling triggered as support is just a call away.

Change Your Diet:

Changing up your diet can have a profound effect on the way you improve your health. There are so many advantages to changing what you eat and what you put into your body. Try to make sure that you have a healthy and balanced diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables. If possible, try to avoid fad diets because they can be less effective in a long-term capacity.

Try to Keep Active:

There are so many things that you can do to help you keep active. One of the most important being, having a routine. Make sure that you think about joining the gym so you can keep in shape, or, at the very least, you want to have some kind of workout schedule at home that you can use.

modern1

Pexels Image

If you use these ideas to help you, it is going to make things a lot easier when it comes to improving the way you feel. A modern health kick is something that is really important for helping you become a more well-rounded person, and for helping you stay as healthy as possible. Make sure this is a priority for you going forward, and you will really benefit as a result.

Featured Image By: Wikimedia

Nov15

Non-Medical Careers That Can Improve Others’ General Health

Posted on by
Standard
Non-Medical Careers That Can Improve Others’ General Health

When we choose a career path that we want to follow, we tend to have one main thing at the forefront of our mind: We want to generate sufficient sums of money to provide ourselves with a comfortable quality of life. But, we need to bear so many more things in mind to gain true satisfaction from the job that we want. The average person will work up to forty hours a week, so you want to do something that gives you a sense of achievement and that you genuinely enjoy. So, you need to determine what you want from your career before chasing down any particular position.

Many of us want our careers to help other people in the world. If this is what interests you, medical positions tend to automatically spring to mind. But, these require years on end of education and training. If you want to help others without this high level of pressure, then you might want to consider an alternative. Here are just a few that you could pursue:

Personal Trainer:

If you become a personal trainer, your role is to help people get in shape – you will specialize in instructing people when it comes to curating and carrying out a fitness regime that will help them to meet their fitness goals. Remember, that people will come to your for different reasons, as everyone has different aims and different ideals. Some people will seek out your help because they want to lose weight. Some people will reach out to you for help with boosting their overall fitness levels, so they can be more toned, be stronger, and build stamina. Some will want to gain muscle and significantly increase their strength. This is why it’s important that you can create specialist regimes that will meet different end goals. In order to qualify as a personal trainer and boost your overall fitness knowledge, you should carry out a course with a reliable company like Origym. Not only will this ensure that you are able to do your job properly, but it will also mean that potential clients are more likely to trust (and consequently) book you.

Nutritionist:

Diet is also important when it comes to overall health and well being. If you become a nutritionist, you will survey clients as individuals, taking a look at their current eating habits and determining how these impact their overall levels of health. Then, taking any medical conditions or dietary preferences into account, you will be able to come up with an action plan to get them kick started on the road to a better diet.

Both of these career paths have an end goal of helping people get healthy. They are extremely rewarding and you will be benefiting the health of others without intensive medical training.

Featured Image By: Pexels

Oct23

Sky Top Apple Orchard

Posted on by
Standard
Sky Top Apple Orchard

Howdy! When my family vacations in North Carolina, we always go apple picking. This time around, we visited Sky Top orchard. And an appropriate name it is, indeed, because it’s at the very top of a mountain! Unfortunately, we came at a bad time, because a huge school field trip was just finishing up, so the trees were pretty much picked clean. But, we still managed to get a basket full of delicious Pink Lady, Cameo, Honey Crisp, and Fuji apples. Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Although I had a lot of fun at the orchard with my family and the caterpillar friend I made along the way, I preferred other orchards that we visited over Sky Top. Because of the mountainous terrain, exploring the massive property was anything but pleasant. The hills were incredibly steep and the orchard didn’t seem to be very well maintained. Along every row of apple trees, the ground was completely littered with rotten fruit and flies, bees, and ants were swarming all over. I absolutely understand that an orchard isn’t going to be totally pristine, but you literally couldn’t step anywhere without a rotten apple squishing beneath your feet and bugs flying on and around you. Gross.

Having said all of that, their market area was really cute and clean. And, an entire bucket of apples to pick was only twenty dollars, which was a great value. It was nice to visit a different orchard in North Carolina but, next time that we go, I hope that we stick to Stepp’s Hillcrest Orchard, which was scenic (without being mountainous) and well maintained outdoors and in their market.

Who else loves going apple picking in the fall? What is your favorite type of apple? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct21

Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

Posted on by
Standard
Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

Hello! During my North Carolina vacation, my brother and sister in law, Peter and Megan, and I went to Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards for a wine tasting. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to explore the vineyards, because it was a rainy day. But, we did get to hide out in their charming bar area, where we got to taste eleven of their wines for ten bucks each. It was quite the bargain and we even got to keep our tasting glass when we were done! Take a look at some pics and let’s discuss:

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Peter, Megan, and I spent an hour or so at Saint Paul’s testing the wines and just hanging out. Although the space appeared big with the beautiful high vaulted ceilings, the gentle glow of the soft lighting created a feeling of cozy intimacy. The rain pelting down outside increased this sensation tenfold and hunkering down with a glass of wine in hand was just right.

Taste testing all of the wines was an informative and delicious process. We got to sample five white wines, three reds, and three dessert wines in that order. Of course, I was partial to the sweet whites and the dessert wines weren’t so bad, either! My favorites were the sweet white Laurel Hill with hints of lychee and guava and the sweet tart blackberry dessert wine, Chestnut Gap Cottage. Peter and Megan enjoyed trying the reds and their favorite was a bold and peppery Cabernet Sauvignon called Chestnut Gap.

It was definitely fun trying all of the wines and deciding which ones we liked best. But, at the end of our tasting, we were unanimous in our opinion that despite enjoying some of the wines, we wouldn’t want to drink an entire glass of any of them. The tasting was absolutely worthwhile and it was an excellent value. It also offered us just enough of each wine to know that a glass full of any would be a less than pleasant experience.

This was just our conclusion and it’s interesting to see how different people pick up on different hints of the ingredients in each wine. So, one that we all didn’t care for could be another person’s favorite from across the bar. I loved spending time with my brother and sister in law and Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards provided us with the perfect space to cozy up for an hour and enjoy each others company. Definitely would recommend!

What is your favorite vineyard in your neck of the woods? Do you prefer white or red wine? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug27

The Best Places To Raise A Family In The US

Posted on by
Standard
The Best Places To Raise A Family In The US

Parents usually see the world a bit differently when their kids are young. They choose areas that are affordable, safe, and comfortable with enough storage space, while things like proximity to bars and restaurants take a back seat. Here are the top places that you can stay in the US if you want to raise a family:

Wylie, Texas:

This is one of the fastest-growing areas of Texas, and it has a good community spirit. Thanks to the city’s proximity to Ray Hubbard and Lavon lakes, your family can enjoy a day out in the swimming spots and hiking trails in the area. The crime rate in Wylie is well below the national crime rate, which makes it a great place to raise your children. If you move to this city, you are likely to find a job because it has a low rate of unemployment as well as a booming economy.

North Arlington, New Jersey:

If you want to enjoy the perks of a big town in a small one, North Arlington is the place to be. Situated just fifteen miles from the financial district in NYC, this location will give you an ideal home base with low crime rates and great schools. The town boasts a high academic record and a very high graduation rate. In good weather, you can head to the 85 acre Riverside County Park with your kids. And, on cold and wet days, you can head to Secaucus outlets to enjoy some shopping.

Fishers, Indiana:

This small city of about 86,000 people is located sixteen miles from Indianapolis. Redevelopment projects that total 90 million dollars have made this city an attractive location for entrepreneurs who are looking to relocate.

But, if you are moving to Fishers, you should not expect all work and no play. The recently developed downtown has a number of boutiques and restaurants, which makes it a perfect weekend spot. Moreover, this city has 104 miles of multi use trails and nature as well as 24 parks. During the winter, you can head to Flat Fork Creek Park, which is an ideal spot for sledding because of its high peaks.

Lone Tree, Colorado:

This Denver suburb is a quick light-rail ride or drive into the city, which makes it the ideal location for people who commute to work. Despite its small size, this town is home to a huge shopping center called Park Meadows Mall and an art center that hosts regular dance performances.

With high school graduation rates at more than 90%, you will not have to send your children to schools outside of the town. There are also low crime rates in Lone Tree, making it great for bringing up children. If you are browsing homes using a website like this, you should always ensure that they are in a relatively safe area first.

Monterey Park, California:

This location is just a few miles from downtown L.A, which makes it easier to commute through the expensive Los Angeles area. Within the borders of this small city, your children can enjoy recreational activities in a dozen parks. The high graduation rates in Monterey Park don’t hurt either! This region is a foodie heaven, thanks to its ethnically diverse population. Monterey Park also honors the different cultures in the area by holding several special events throughout the year.

usa4

Whether you want to live in a premiere destination in the Bay Area or a rural area, you should make sure that the place has low crime rates and good schools before anything else.

Aug12

Making Moscow Mules

Posted on by
Standard
Making Moscow Mules

Helloooo! This past week, my brother and sister in law came up to visit from Atlanta, Georgia. During this exciting reunion, Peter, Megan, and I decided to make DRANKS and settled upon Moscow Mules. We used Megan’s recipe and it was delicious so, now, I will share it with all of you! POUR UP.

moscowmoscow1moscow2

  • One shot vodka
  • 1/2 bottle of ginger beer
  • Juice from 1/2 lime
  • Ice

** And if you don’t have copper mugs, coffee mugs will do just fine! 😀

Moscow Mules are one of my favorite drinks. They are so crisp and refreshing and always seem to go down just right. And, who knew that they would be so easy to make?! These drinks are a wonderful option when entertaining guests or when you feel like day drinking on your day off! It’s up to you to be as classy or, for lack of a better words, trashy with it as you like. I don’t have room to talk, though, because I created this post at 11:30 in the morning on my day off and enjoyed two drinks before lunch! #YOLO 😉

What is your favorite drink? What is one of your tried and true drink recipes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug1

How To Throw The Ultimate Wedding For Your Guests

Posted on by
Standard
How To Throw The Ultimate Wedding For Your Guests

Weddings are a two-way street, and not just between the bride and groom. They are a balance of your own personal enjoyment and that of your guests. For that reason, many couples aim to make their special day one of the largest parties possible.

Ensuring that everyone has a good time is easier said than done, though, especially with the number of guests in attendance. What your best friend since college and your parents find entertaining are vastly different, right? So, how can you keep your roughly 50 to 250 guests happy over the course of several hours?

Believe it or not, there are a few simple ways to make your big day an event to remember in the minds of your guests. Check out these top wedding and reception tips that are sure to make your event a smash hit:

Comfort Is Key:

Nothing ruins a fun time like being uncomfortable. Summer weddings are notorious for sweat inducing heat and annoying bugs, while winter celebrations are often more about fighting off the cold. It’s impossible to enjoy a cocktail or dessert bar in either situation, let alone trying to deal with those uncomfortable conditions for hours on end.

Consider the conditions your guests will be subject to, then plan accordingly. If heat is the issue, you might want to serve ice cold glasses of lemonade. If the cold will be a concern, then hot chocolate might be in order. Picking the right bridesmaids dresses for either occasion is another essential factor. You can check here for summer and winter designs. Other considerations could be a basket of flip flops near the dance floor for tired feet, mints in the restrooms, or a sewing kit handy for emergencies.

Comfort doesn’t just apply to weather conditions but the venue itself. Is it large enough for all of your guests? Are there several bathroom facilities? Is it climate controlled? These are all excellent questions to consider as you ponder different venue options like an art museum, banquet center, or Pylewell Park (or something similar in your local area). The wrong venue for your wedding will certainly have an effect on both yourself and your guests so choose wisely.

weddingg1

Destination Wedding:

If you really want to make guests happy, how about a destination wedding? Who doesn’t love a mini vacation paired with a celebration?! Of course, a destination wedding will mean putting your faith in people you aren’t meeting face to face for preparations. Wherever you choose to have your wedding, research your options carefully and opt for video chat as often as you can while communicating. You might find that popular destinations often have planners and professionals specific to the location like this Normanton Church wedding photographer. The people you pick to hire that are the most familiar with that particular place will often ensure the success of your wedding and comfort of guests too.

Avoid Stagnation:

Sitting around waiting for the next part of the main event can quickly kill the mood, not to mention highlight those uncomfortable factors mentioned above. Work with your planner to make sure that things happen in a timely fashion, to keep the day moving along. That includes the ceremony, meals, dancing, and when the bar opens. Speaking of wedding planners, enlisting the help of one could be a game changer. To begin finding the right person to make your day even more special, simply enter a search for “Puerto Vallarta Wedding Planner” (or your local area) and have your ideas ready to brainstorm together.

The Dance Floor:

Speaking of dancing, the idea is to get everyone on the dance floor ASAP. Take your time during your ceremony, but move things along quickly from there. Make sure everyone is fed and has a few drinks in them, then have your first dance and open up the floor. A grooving dance floor is the perfect opportunity for your photography and videography team to capture everyone having a blast together. Then, you can send the photos and videos to your guests afterwards as a keepsake. To begin researching the videography aspect of your wedding, simply enter a search for “Wedding Videographer in Miami” (or your local area). You could watch your wedding video together every anniversary!

The Food:

Quality food is great, but the key to happy guests outside of alcohol is having enough food for everyone. Outside of the main courses, you’ll want to have some sort of catering that allows guests to grab something to eat as they’re walking around.

Since neither food nor alcohol are cheap, many couples have turned to crowdfunding to help foot the bill. While most sites market themselves with a slogan like, “We will help your ideal honeymoon happen,” they’re also a great place to help pay for some of your wedding expenses.

Having guests chip in on the costs of both weddings and honeymoons in lieu of a gift is an excellent way to make them events to remember. While the idea might sound strange from a traditional standpoint, it happens to be trending in the wedding world.

weddingg2

Everyone wants their big day to be something guests will remember for years to come. By following the advice above, you can do just that. These few key factors are all it takes to wow your guests and throw the wedding of your dreams.

Jul5

Enjoying A Coffee Maker At Home

Posted on by
Standard
Enjoying A Coffee Maker At Home

So you like having an instant coffee at home or at your office because it’s easy to make? Just open the jar of grounds, put a tablespoon or two of coffee into a mug, add some sugar, and pour in hot water. Stir and you’re all set for a quick cup of coffee. You can try adding some cream or leave it black depending on your taste. You don’t have to grind beans or wait for the coffee to brew. Nothing gets easier than this right?

But, do you know you’re missing out on great tasting coffee because you don’t brew it? You’ll never know that brewed coffee could taste so much better and smoother than instant coffee until you buy your first coffee maker! You’re going to love your coffee maker once you experience the difference of taste between freshly brewed coffee and an instant coffee.

If you enjoy the taste of brewed coffee from your favorite coffee shop, you can do so from the comfort of your own home with the help of a coffee brewer.

Two of the most popular types of coffee makers are drip coffee makers and cold brew coffee makers. The former brews smooth and delicious cups of hot coffee and the latter is, of course, for a cold cup of joe. BUNN makes great drip coffee makers. You can read the reviews for the BUNN coffee maker and cold brew coffee maker found on Amazon.

Now, let’s find out the benefits that a coffee maker can provide you:

1 – They help save money:

You’re going to have to spend some cash to buy your coffee maker, but in the long run it’s such a wise investment. You’re going to save a lot of money by having a coffee brewer at home compared to buying cups of coffee at your local cafe.

Espresso can be hard to make and it would seem to be a better option to grab a cup of espresso at a coffee shop, but an espresso machine can help you with that too. Espresso machines are a lot better these days at making great cups of coffee as well as saving your hard earned money.

Note: I would advise you to learn how to make espresso coffee at home before you choose to do so!

coffee6

The breakfast of champions!

2 – A coffee maker brews fresher and smoother cups of coffee:

Preparing instant coffee is more convenient than brewing coffee, but a brewed coffee is far more tasty and the flavor is concentrated better. Freshly brewed coffee has a distinct aroma compared to instant coffee, because it is made directly from the coffee beans. Once you taste a cup of freshly roasted coffee you will never be able to go back to instant!

3 – Brewed coffee is better for your health than instant coffee:

Freshly brewed coffee from the coffee beans release healthy oils that contain antioxidants and nutrients that are very good for your body. The caffeine concentration is better in a brewed coffee than in an instant coffee, as well. Brewed coffee can help prevent heart diseases and cancer of different types because of the antioxidants. Just be sure not to drink too many cups of coffee in a day since the caffeine concentration is much higher in freshly brewed coffee.

4 – It is fun to brew coffee:

You can surprise your family and friends by playing barista in house. You can find tons of coffee recipe videos on YouTube. Check them out if you’re thinking about brewing Starbucks-level Cappuccinos, ice-cold Frappuccino’s, or Mochas/Lattes. Then, host an afternoon get together to show off your coffee concocting skills.

Here’s a YouTube video on cold brewing coffee to get you started:

This site has very good reviews on the best coffee makers, check them out.

Coffee might not be everyone’s cup of tea but, if you enjoy it, then you can’t go wrong with having a coffee maker in your home!

Featured Image By: Products You Can’t Refuse

Jun23

Dunkin’ Donuts Disappointment

Posted on by
Standard
Dunkin’ Donuts Disappointment

Hi! This week, I received my freebie cold brew packets from Dunkin’ Donuts in the mail, and it was nothing short of disappointing. Take a look at some pics, don’t mind the Loony Toons pitcher, and let’s discuss:

dunkin1dunkin2dunkin3dunkin4

As you can see, the preparation of the cold brew coffee was easy and self explanatory. It wasn’t until I was ready to drink the coffee that everything went up in flames! In the morning, I woke up and was excited to give my cold caffeine drink a try and, unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste one single drop.

While attempting to get the coffee bags out of the pitcher, they ripped and I had barely even touched them. It turned all of the liquid in the pitcher into a thick, coffee ground contaminated mess. Now, I probably should have just poured the drink into another pitcher so that I could add the extra water and then dispose of the bags, but I was tired and wasn’t thinking and really REALLY just wanted my coffee and ended up having none at all. So, needless to say, this freebie was an absolute and total bust. #disappointed

How do you like to drink your coffee? Who else has had some coffee ground disasters before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun22

Five Tips To Follow For Faster Cooking

Posted on by
Standard
Five Tips To Follow For Faster Cooking

Cooking at home is always better than ordering take out or getting a pizza delivered for the third time this week. You can always find more taste and more nutrition when you cook the food at home. However, there are occasions when you need to make cooking easier so that you spend less time in the kitchen when you’re hosting a party or family dinner. Apart from using the best vegetables and other ingredients, you must use the best cooking methods that are not only safe for the food but also make your cooking effortless. You can use some great tips and blend them together with your knowledge and experience to make cooking easier and less time consuming. Remember, most of these are devised by the great chefs and are tried and tested by the homemakers. Here they go:

Plan your recipe:

One might say that this is the most important step, because the recipe that you choose is what will be on your dinner plate. Make sure you pick something that you feel capable of being able to make well – especially if guests are coming over. And, of course, plan the order you are cooking in too. Perhaps you will want to prepare delicious side dishes the day before so you can fully focus on the main dish when it comes time to cook. Breaking up the order can be especially helpful if you are trying your hand at new recipes because we all know how frazzling that can be!

Get your ingredients ready:

Very often, people feel the pressure when they do not plan their recipes. If you plan what to cook and how to cook, then it becomes easier for you to get the ingredients ready and within your reach. While planning a shopping list do some research too so that you are always satisfied with what you’re buying. Look up what the best peppers for salsa are, enter a search for Best Pancake Mix for your breakfast, and so on. This prior preparation keeps you ahead of your time as you start cooking right at the moment when you get the stove ready.

Set up appliances and ignite the stove:

After getting the ingredients out, you should get the appliances ready and ignite the stove. Make sure you have the best appliances right in front of you and you know how to use them so an unexpected fire doesn’t ruin your meal!

Use a pressure cooker and smoker:

It goes without saying that the use of pressure cookers can ease the task of cooking. Since boiling the ingredients is an important step of cooking, you can use these appliances to shorten your cooking time because they boil the food in a reduced manner. You should make sure to boil your veggies before you cook them. This preserves the nutrients and reduces the time for cooking, as well. Also, if you have a smoker, you can cook a number of recipes quickly. To learn more about smokers, visit review websites like Hvacify.Com.

Go for multitasking:

This is an efficient way to reduce the time for cooking. While you boil the ingredients in a cooker, you should do some other task on the oven so that you can finish another item off of your check list till your vegetables are ready. In a similar manner, you can prepare the spices for a particular dish till something else is being done on the stove.

Though these are some of the top tips that you can follow to make cooking faster, you can apply some more from your own experience. Also, the internet is loaded with a lot more innovative tips that you can always learn and apply to make cooking an enjoyable necessity.