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Update Ideas For Your Outdated Kitchen

Your home’s kitchen is much more than just a room in the house. The kitchen is where many memorable moments are shared, and you visit the room several times every day.

When you plan to sell your home, the kitchen will have a significant impact on the resale value of your property. It’s always worth the investment to update your kitchen, and there are plenty of budget conscious ideas you can put into action.

Take a moment to consider these update ideas for your outdated kitchen, and get to work creating a more capable and comfortable space.

Update your kitchen counters

Your countertops add a significant boost to the aesthetic of your kitchen. They also have quite a functional use. Installing durable countertops will give your kitchen a boost in excellence.

Research the various material options for new countertops. Granite is a popular countertop choice for many homeowners looking to bring new life to their old kitchen. Choose a creative color mixture to add depth to this element of your kitchen design.

Renew the flooring in the kitchen

Your kitchen floors get a lot of action, and high traffic areas of your home need durable flooring materials. Updating the floors in your kitchen will boost your home’s equity, while simultaneously granting yourself and your family a great spot to rest your toes.

Install Energy Star appliances

Energy Star certified appliances will help your kitchen save you money over the next decade. Energy efficient appliances also qualify you for a tax credit, as the government is still rewarding homeowners for being energy conscious.

You’ll find the process of choosing a new refrigerator and range is actually rather exciting, as technology has brought about some pretty cool functions.

Add a fresh coat of paint

Old cabinets and window frames can get a second chance at life with a simple and fresh coat of paint. You’ll be amazed by how much a coat of paint can impact the aesthetic of your kitchen. Invest in quality paint, so your work will last for several years to come.

Add an island or bar space

If there is room in the floorplan, it’s always beneficial to add an island or bar area for extra storage, seating, and cook prep. An added island also means added equity in your home. If you ever plan to resale, this is an update worth updating.

Always consider lighting in the room

You can add a lot of warmth and depth to a room simply through the manipulation of the lighting. Add lighting underneath the cabinets for added ambiance. Hang low lights above the dining table for a warm meal space, and try recessed lighting over the cooking areas of the kitchen.

 

Where to Spend Time in Kuching: 5 Hidden Gems

Located at the northwestern coast of Borneo is the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Its capital city of Kuching is best known as the City of Unity for a very good reason. This populous city is home to Malays, Chinese, Indians, and other ethnic minorities. With all these ethnicities living together in harmony, the city is a wonderful example of openness and multiculturalism. Indeed, you can even experience being welcomed and greeted in multiple languages in certain places.

When visiting this part of Sarawak, an in-demand Kuching tour package usually includes a hotel near one of the city’s famous heritage sites, museums, mosques, and other cultural attractions. However, the usual spots may not be a hit for every tourist. If you’re the type who’s more interested in finding the city’s hidden gems, make sure to check out the following places:

MJC Night Market (Pasar Malam)

Whenever you visit a city and you want to taste authentic local food, chances are you can find them where the locals tend to enjoy them: at the market. In Kuching, MJC Pasar Malam is where the real street food and Sarawak cuisine can be found. This market comes alive every Thursday and Friday, when the sun begins to set at 2 PM.

If you come early, you’ll also get a chance to see different produce unique to the region such as longans (locally known as Mata Kuching), Sarawak apples, pea eggplants, stink beans, and more. But when the sun goes down, the food stalls begin to set up their wares. By this time, you’ll be able to sample different satay meats on sticks that are fried or grilled. It’s an ideal place to go for some authentic Kuching street food.

Siniawan Old Town Night Market

Open from Friday to Sundays, the Siniawan Night Market will satisfy your hunger and curiosity with its unique delicacies, starting with the Pitcher Plant Rice. But don’t worry; this pitcher plant is not the carnivorous kind, but a vegetarian variety that eats only fallen leaves.

The market is usually decorated with Chinese lanterns and has a small village vibe that results in a great laid-back atmosphere. It’s also not too crowded since it’s about 40 km from the city centre. Here, you can taste different samples of Malay, Chinese, and Dayak cuisine that are prepared fresh every day.

Bako National Park

Coming in at around 2,700 hectares, Bako National Park may be Sarawak’s smallest park, but it’s also the oldest. This park has a variety of different landscapes and is even highly biodiverse. The most interesting animal species in the park is the adorable but endangered proboscis monkey that is endemic to the island and can be found nowhere else in the world.

The forest is also home to other species of monkeys like long-tailed macaques and silvery lutungs or silvered-leaf monkeys. You can also spot bearded pigs and an assortment of tropical birds perched on centuries-old tree branches.

Visitors have the option to take a day’s worth of trekking or just a short trail that can be done in a few hours. And should you choose to stay for a night or two, the park also offers accommodations for visitors.

Kuching Waterfront

If you’re looking to take in a lovely view without having to go far, you can take a walk along Kuching’s newly renovated promenade. Though it had become an industrial area with unsightly warehouses, several projects have helped to transform the waterfront into a more scenic area. Today, it’s also known as a romantic and chill place to meet and hang out—especially at night when the lamplights are lit. And from across the river, you’ll have a wonderful view of the Astana as well as the Fort Margherita and the new iconic Kuching structure: the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building.

The Main Bazaar (Jalan Main Bazaar)

You can buy your souvenirs and other artefacts from the many shops that line the Main Bazaar, the oldest street in Kuching. These shops have been passed on from generations of the same Chinese families over a century, preserving traditional crafts such as tinsmithing, weaving, jewellery making, carpentry, and more.

Kuching is truly an amazing city to visit. However, it has something important beyond its historic buildings, impressive food, and verdant surroundings. Indeed, being the home of many people of all cultures, religions, and backgrounds has created an inviting and friendly vibe that makes this city such a great place for everyone.

 

Fans of Culinary Arts Need To Check Out the Smithsonian Food History Weekend in DC

Whether you enjoy eating or cooking, fans of the culinary arts will want to be at the 5th Annual Smithsonian Food History Weekend, November 7–9, 2019, in Washington, DC. The weekend kicks off with the Smithsonian Food History Gala. This is a black-tie event that features presentation of the Julia Child Award, food critic Andres Zimmern as master of ceremonies, several guest speakers and a three-course menu created by the Julia Child Award recipient. This event will be an evening to remember and a great way to start this special weekend.

Friday and Saturday will be filled with two days of live demonstrations, hands-on learning, talks and stories of women who are empowering communities through food. It will feature talented local chefs, organizations, experts on food history and local entrepreneurs. Programs include activities for people of all ages. It will include a kids’ table and exploration of “food in a pocket” across many cultures. Experts will lead these activities in their regional food culture. Several rarely seen objects will also be on display.

Several special presentations are included in the programming. “Eritrean Food En Route” will explore a local food delivery service that supports refugees and upcoming migrant chefs. “In the Kitchen with Chef Jacques Pepin” will present demonstrations in his spirited and masterful style with creations that will delight everyone.

Other presentations throughout the weekend will feature experts in various cuisines, including Persian cuisine, eating healthy for kids, selections from the Baltimore Farmer’s Market, Vietnamese, Filipino, and Salvadorian cuisines. There is something for every taste and age group. It is an excellent opportunity to try something new and taste world cuisines.

The weekend will also feature Deep-Dish Dialogues, which presents live interviews and conversations with people who are innovating world change through the culinary arts. One of the discussions is a panel with past recipients of the Julia Child Award. Another will feature ways to empower communities through food. This discussion will go into how culinary knowledge and skills can be used to help refugees and migrant women. The third discussion on Saturday will feature the topic of food activism in American history. It will provide a fascinating look into how African American women have sustained communities through innovative production and food distribution systems.

Area Attractions

As you can see, a lot is going on at the Smithsonian Food History weekend, but there are also many other reasons to visit the area. It is located near the National Mall right in the heart of Washington, DC. Of course, you could visit the other buildings in the Smithsonian complex, such as the Natural History Museum or the Arts and Industries Building. You could also visit the White House, Lincoln Memorial, and Jefferson Memorial at the National Mall while you are there.

Washington Accommodations

Washington, DC. is a popular area for tourism, and there are many excellent hotels near the National Mall. Popular accommodations include the Hilton and the Hotel Harrington. Our recommendation is the Grand Hyatt Washington. It has an elegant interior, spacious rooms that are modern and comfortable, and it is close to the most popular sites near the National Mall.

 

Dreaming of summer already? Garden transformation ideas

There’s no doubt that, during autumn, gardens all over the UK resonate with a unique, albeit annually reoccurring splendor that vibrantly showcases the ever-changing beauty of nature. However, when winter starts to settle in later, leafless trees and placid plants can begin to look lifeless.

At this point in time, we can perceive our gardens in a still, almost skeletal way – if we’re even looking at them at all during the shorter days and dark nights. However, this is actually a great time to start planning for the following summer, when everyone can, weather permitting, get out into the garden and enjoy spending time outdoors. Here are some ideas to consider for next summer.

Create a larger space in small areas

For those of us who live in densely populated, urban environments, space is something of a commodity in all aspects of owning a home. For making the most of this space, there is an interior design method you can apply outdoors that adds at least the illusion of more space. Ideal Home recommends the careful placement of mirrors in the garden, not just to reflect light but also to add visual depth to corners of the garden and areas surrounded by high walls.

Embrace the artificial

Anybody with a lawn knows the frustration of caring for the grass during spring and summer, then watching all of the effort go to waste over autumn and winter. However, there is the option of artificial grass, which removes this problem forever. Agreed, it’s not for everyone, and it does come with many longstanding connotations of low quality and poor resemblance to the real thing – but the modern ‘astroturf’ is actually far better.

Create a new canvas for your flora

While the sodden or frozen flower beds and turf are out of action for a few months, this is a good chance to assess everything else. Does the fencing look as good as it once did? Could the shed do with a lick of paint or a new roof? Would you like to add a patio or decking, or create new pathways through the garden?

Specialist tradespeople, or multiskilled trade professionals like Findley Roofing & Building’s roofers in Middlesbrough, can give you advice on and install long-lasting, eye-catching elements that are difficult to add without the right skills.

Plant something that lasts

Although deciduous trees inevitably lose their flowers and leaves every year, the tree itself will remain a permanent fixture for years to come. House Beautiful recommends small trees for small gardens, such as June Berry, Prunus and Crab Apple, which look beautiful in summer and involve minor maintenance from the homeowner.

Planting will also free up a little room in a flower bed or lawn that you would otherwise need to keep on top of. Planting could also create focal points surrounded by gravel and stone beds that, once again, cut down on the amount of maintenance you need to put in during spring, summer, autumn and winter. Here’s looking forward to summer!

 

 

Internet Goodies Perfect for the Family

No one ever said parenting was easy, but it does become easier when you have a strong support system backing you up like your partner, parents, and even close friends. Everyone experiences their version of parenting struggles and it’s certainly made easier by friends giving their support and sharing advice about the time that they encountered something similar.

The invention of the Internet has also made it possible to communicate with other people from around the globe. You can also access and look up information about any topic much faster than before. There’s a lot to learn about various subject matters, including that of domestic life. The Internet can definitely be a tool to help parents prepare for many different aspects of parenthood.

Researching the perfect school for your kids

Picking a school for your child is a huge decision, and so, you should prepare before the school season even starts. Use the Internet to your advantage and search through the many pros and cons of schools near you. You may suddenly find yourself looking through many international schools or even browsing IB schools in Singapore. You never know what you’ll stumble upon.

Planning a fun holiday celebration

You can get lots of ideas online on how to make your celebration unique! There are decoration tips and game suggestions for large groups of people. You can also find recipes if you want to try something new, or gift suggestions for various holidays. You can even order items online if you find something that’s very special.

Finding out where to travel next

It can be difficult to plan a vacation that’s proper for your child’s age and interests. You can search for popular tourist spots and attractions and assess how enjoyable they would potentially be for your children. There are often reviews on how much fun other families had on their trip, so you’d have a more solid idea about the place you want to visit. Remember to check the safety of the place, too.

Home improvements to make in your house

The family house goes through many changes over time, from housing just two people in the beginning to being a home for children as well. Your priorities shift over the years and so you need to keep adapting. No need to worry as there are lots of guides that are searchable. You can easily transform your home to what your present needs are.

Looking things up is not something that will take a chunk out of your free time, but the results can be big and will make your family really happy. Simple efforts can bring something new to an otherwise dull daily routine. Truly, the Internet can be a huge help to parents if you know just where to look. You can also impart your wisdom to other people and give back should you be interested to do so. Let’s all do our best to make the world a little better in our own little ways, even from behind a screen.

 

How to eat caviar? Our advice

Caviar has always been one of the symbols of luxury cuisine for the nobles. Its rarity, its unique taste, its appearance … all of that is a strong reason why we must respect these fish eggs. Because of its reputation, caviar cannot be eaten carelessly. This article will explain you, the best way to eat caviar. Interested? Just keep reading!

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As a rare and exceptional product, the caviar must be tasted respecting certain constraints so that all the flavor and subtleties of the caviar can be expressed during its tasting. When buying caviar, it is important to know what gastronomic sensations you are looking for. In this context, the price of caviar remains a secondary factor compared to the effervescence of flavors that you will enjoy tasting the rare and refined product.

Choice when buying caviar and storage:

Caviar must be chosen with great care before any tasting. It is important to take into account your tastes before buying caviar. As with any exceptional product, the price of caviar remains a secondary factor compared to the effervescence of flavors that you will enjoy. After having made your caviar purchase, it is essential to keep it cold. Extremely sensitive, the caviar must absolutely be stored in a refrigerated space between -2 ° C / + 2 ° C. At least you should prepare an accurate cooling machine if you really want to store your precious caviar at home.

Caviar tasting: some tips

For optimal tasting conditions of your caviar, it is important to observe certain rules:

– Take your caviar out of the chilled space about half an hour before the tasting, so that all the flavors of caviar can wake up and reveal themselves.

– Keep the caviar chilled on a bed of crushed ice or in a suitable service.

After buying caviar or leaving the refrigerated space, you can taste your caviar, but be careful. Being a rare and fragile product, it is essential to observe some constraints for the tasting of the caviar:

– The tasting of the caviar should always take place at the beginning of the meal, as the other foods alter the flavor of the caviar.

– Never use metal cutlery with caviar. This would damage the flavors of caviar. We therefore advise you to use porcelain cutlery or nacre, which you can buy during your purchase caviar.

After all this, you can taste your caviar by letting it melt under the tongue to appreciate all the flavors and all the refinement. Nevertheless, it is advisable to consume a reasonable amount of caviar per meal

Accompaniment of caviar:

You can also accompany your caviar with condiments such as a toast with cream or white bread with sweet butter. Finally, be sure to bring out all the aromas and flavors of caviar with refreshments such as champagne, dry white wine or vodka.

Hopefully our advice can be useful to save all tastes when you eat a delicious portion of caviar.

To read more on topics like this, check out the food category.

How to Prepare a Perfect Baptism Party

There are many reasons why a baptism is such a special moment in the life of a child and their parents. Primarily, of course, it’s the sign of your beloved baby being welcomed into the church and into God’s care, but it’s also a celebration of all the joys that parenthood can bring and a chance to share that joy with your friends and family. With a little planning, you can have the perfect baptism party that everyone will remember with a smile, so here are three steps to help you achieve that. And, as you might expect, there’s a little cooking involved.

Baptism, Table Decorations, Celebration, Plate, Napkin

Send Loving Invitations

The first step in achieving a great baptism party is having the right people there, and that means sending invitations out. Of course, you could buy pre-made invitations from a store, but where’s the joy in that? A baptism is a time to celebrate soul and individuality, and you can represent this from the very first moment by sending your own personalized invitations. It can be a lot easier than you think when you use free baptism invitation templates available online. There’s a wide range of templates to choose from, and you can customize them to your heart’s content. The result will be highly professional in appearance, but it will also have that homemade touch that is full of love.

Baptism Party Cakes

What would a party of any kind be without a cake or two? Save money on buying them from the store and make them yourself instead – believe me, they’re going to taste a whole lot better. If you’re not an experienced cake baker, make it easy for yourself by making a simple chocolate sponge cake. All you need is self-rising flour, caster sugar, and butter – it’s easy to remember the quantity, as you use the same for each, around 8oz is ideal. Mix these in a bowl with four medium sized eggs and one teaspoon of baking powder. When this has formed a cake mixture-like consistency, spoon them into two seven-inch cake tins and bake for around 20 minutes at 350F. To see if they’re done, slide a knife or knitting needle into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. Leave to cool, and add buttercream between the two layers and melted chocolate on top. You can make it even more chocolatey by adding a tablespoon or two of cocoa powder to the cake mixture if you wish.

Presents for The Kids

Your baby will receive lots of presents at their baptism party, but don’t forget to have gifts ready for the children who will be attending too. It doesn’t have to cost a lot, as gift bags with candy and a dollar toy inside are sure to be loved by any child.

Homemade invitations, cake and gift bags cost a lot less than buying their equivalent from a store, and they’re filled with love and happiness. If you have older children, you can get them involved in the making and baking too, which is a great way for them to show their love for their new sibling and can help them learn important new kitchen skills as well.

 

To read more on topics like this, check out the family stuff category.

Interior Decorating for Beginners

Introduction

Some of you may be wondering what the difference is between “interior design” and “interior decorating.” Great question! And that is one that gets asked a lot. Interior design is a profession that requires schooling and proper training, such as architecture, furniture design, and space planning. Interior decorators do not have that formal training. They simply envision how your room could look better and recommends the pieces to help get it to where you want it to be.

 

First Steps to Redecorating Your Room

Your official first step to interior decorating is to find a style that you like and mimic it. This could be contemporary, casual, formal, traditional, etc. Then you will want to develop a plan for how you want the room to be balanced. You want the lighting to be even whether it is natural or artificial. Though, if you are using artificial lighting, then you will have more control over how the room is lit.

You are going to need the focus of the room. Yes, everything in your home is quality furniture and, yes you spent a lot of time decorating it so it should get the attention that it deserves. To get to talk about it, though, you need to make one piece stand out above all. This is achieved through something either really wild, unorthodox, or like the piece that all other just seem to point to.

Like anything in art, rhyming makes things interesting. Use patterns, colors, high contrast to elicit a different emotional response when looking at the room. You may want to repeat the contrast in different places and the patterns. If this is done well, those who see your room will like it, but likely not be able to put their finger on why. This gives you the opportunity to give your well done job some praise and attention that you have been eager to give it.

The Colors in the Room

When you are choosing your colors, you need to find the color palette. This will give you a good idea of what colors work well together. High contrast is key. The color scheme in your room will help to tie it together. You will want to consider what colors you like best and what colors will look the best in the room.

The Room Pattern

When you get more experienced, you will find that you can up the ante by mixing patterns throughout the same room. Though, this is not recommended for the beginner, because you can still achieve a great result without doing this. It just may not be as exotic. The patterns themselves don’t have to match, but they do need to work with the others and coordinate well. You will want to consider the entire color, size, and scale of the patterns that you are looking for.

Getting Started on Redecorating Your Room

The most important part of any project. Congratulations, you made it! Now you want to find the exact room(s) that you want to decorate. If it is your family room or your home office, then pay attention to how it looks upon entering and how you enter it. There may be something that you say, “hmmm…that could be better.” Then identify what you are thinking. Would a sliding door work better? Would you rather open the door and walk into a blue room instead of a beige one?

This is a consideration further down the road, when you are putting the icing on the cake and that is to furnish your room. While furnishings really draw attention to the room, they should never be the main part of decorating. Your room, if decorated well, will be able to look beautiful without the furnishings, which can become really expensive and make your budget for the rest of the room dwindle quickly. A suggestion, however, when it comes to populating it with furniture that works better is to buy it second-hand, especially if you are looking at doing this on a lower budget. www.joysusedfurniture.com always has an expansive collection of high-quality used furniture. Nobody will be able to tell the difference and you will be able to redecorate more of your rooms more often if you don’t break the bank the first time around.

Level-Up Your Home Activities: A Homebody Guide

 

Some people prefer to stay at home rather than spend their time outside relaxing. Being a homebody does not mean that you are different from other people. Like the party people who find their satisfaction in big crowds and extravagant celebrations, staying at home is a choice to appease your desire for a place that is quiet and serene. And since the house is the place that can give full comfort, homebodies cannot be persuaded to leave their dwellings, as they feel safe there.

But a homebody can also explore different activities without leaving the premises. These activities may range from physical, intellectual, to inner self-development that can help enhance interpersonal skills. What matters is the choice of staying at home will not affect your productivity, whether at work or in school. Aside from resting on your Italian leather sofa, or sleeping on your sofa bed, leveled-up home activities can be an outlet for the stressful world outside. You may also discover things that you have not yet explored that capture your interest and want to make them part of your life.

Learn to play a musical instrument

One of the intelligent ways of spending time alone is to enjoy music and learn to play at least one musical instrument in your lifetime. There are musical instruments that can be mastered even without the help of professional trainers. Learning how to play instruments is somewhat addictive; you want to excel in every session. Guitar, flute, piano, and violin are some of the best choices of instruments to learn at home.

Read and write

Reading and writing are exercises for the brain. These activities are best done in a peaceful place like the home. Reading materials, like specialty books, magazines, or even newspapers, can effectively stimulate your mind. It can also be an effective tool for getting additional information that may be useful for you in the future. Aside from reading, spare time can be spent in writing since it is a valuable way of expressing thoughts that are usually left unspoken. It is a form of release for your reservations and aspirations in life. Writing may be in the form of poems, narratives, or a simple journal.

Regular house makeovers

Maintaining their house in order is one of the qualities that a homebody should possess. Since you spend most of your time inside your home, having a house makeover is another home activity that is productive and enjoyable. Doing a house makeover may range from repainting the walls, rearranging the furniture, recycling of old materials, to repurposing long-abandoned appliances. Rehashing the look of your home can be done regularly, or whenever you feel the need to change the ambiance of your dwelling.

There are times that it is better to stay at home than go outside and have fun. On the other hand, going out is needed to breathe fresh air and appreciate the life that is happening beyond your confined zone.

To read more on topics like this, check out the home & garden category.

Work smarter with the right chef coat

When choosing chef coats for your kitchen staff, functionality and presentability is key. Work smart and look stunning while doing it with the perfect chef coat

The feel and look of a crisp, newly washed chef coat is a universal sign of fine dining and exclusivity, whether the chef coat is bright white, elegant black or a modern grey. But providing your chefs with the right chef coat is not only a matter of looking presentable to the guests – it is first and foremost about comfort and efficiency for the chefs. There are several factors to take into account when you’re looking for the right chef coats.

Breathability and lightness

Most kitchens can become unbearably hot, especially in summer and in the peak of opening hours, your chefs might be standing directly over the stove for hours, performing physically demanding tasks in a fast pace. With this in mind, heavy coats made from heavy fabrics are not a desirable choice for most chefs. Instead, choose chef coats that are light, so your chefs can move freely and let the body perspire and keep a comfortable temperature for the entire shift.

Comfort and preference

People are different – and chefs are people too. The preference of one may be the aversion of another. When choosing style and look og chef coats, this should be a priority. Some chefs might be more comfortable in short sleeved coats, where the frying chef would want to have their arms covered for safety. Buy chef coats that can suit the needs of many preferences. To purchase chef coats in various styles that cater to different needs, buy chef coats here.

Style and brand of the restaurant

To have a complete style and feel of a place, everything is taken into consideration, from drapes to tablecloths, background music, natural or artificial lighting and of course the menu. Everything tiny details sets the mood for the place, to give the guests an exquisite experience. Chef coats are no exception. If you’re going for French fine dining, a classic white chef coat with ball buttons is the obvious choice. If the restaurant is Asian or Asian-inspired, a classic choice would be to opt for grey or black chef coats and waiter jackets.

Your choice of chef coats should cater to the needs and preferences of the chefs, as well as be fitting to the style and brand of the restaurant.