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8 Work From Home Tips That Will Increase Your Productivity

Working from home is an unbeatable gratifying feeling. Whether you are telecommuting or you recently had your baby, and you are now a stay-at-home mom, working from home can be fun. However, there are times you will find yourself not having the energy to work. Challenges such as distractions will also be there. How you handle them is what determines your productivity which is seen through results.

Here’s a guide to survive when working from home:

1. Set up a home office

The first step to staying productive while working from home is having a home office. Do you have a spare room you could renovate to an office? Sometimes, you’ll find that you have to declutter your house to make room.

Decluttering is necessary especially if the room you intend to use has been a storage room or a laundry room. Setting up the home office involves buying a table and chair that suit the purpose. Next, you may need some storage cabinets for documents you need to verify at a later date.

Once the room is ready, you can begin your journey of working from home.

2. Make a list of what needs to be done

A plan is a must-do task before the next day. Planning prepares your mind psychologically on what you are supposed to do. Set deadlines on specific tasks which you need to complete for accountability purposes.

Make a checklist and tick once you complete the stated tasks. Structure your day just as you would if you were in the office. This keeps you on your toes and helps you become more productive.

3. Dress for the occasion

Working from home is similar to going to the office only that the comfort is incomparable. Funny as it sounds, it could work in your favor to dress up as if you are going to the office. This helps the home office feel like a real office.

It does not mean you dress in formal clothes, just dress decently and avoid working when wearing your PJs.

4. Get a distraction nearby but out of sight

Working needs regular breaks. How do you plan your breaks? It could be after every two hours. What do you do during the breaks? Have something to keep you distracted so that you can relax your mind. It could be doing some light exercises, or just walking around or a game of Clash of Clans. Resting helps your mind relax and enables you to start afresh when you get back to work.

5. Choose your colors wisely

Color has everything to do with the mood you have when working. What are your favorite colors? What color makes you feel relaxed? How are your home office walls painted? Are they purple, white or orange? Get a color that increases the chances of your mind relaxing.

If your room colors make you feel like pulling out your hairs, then you need to change the colors. You could repaint if you own the house or ask the landlord if you can repaint if it’s a rental.

Lighting is also crucial to your mood. Ensure that enough light comes in during the day without glaring through the computer screen. You can also rearrange the office to help you have enough light.

6. Work away from home

As much as working from home is comfortable, get outside the comfort zone once in a while. Look for a coffee shop near your house that has free Wi-Fi and work from there. You could actually do more work there than when in the house. This helps increase your productivity levels.

Sometimes, saving for such expenses could work well financially to avoid debt. However, you may walk into a bank with the intention of opening a savings account, and the attendant tells you, you can’t because of your ChexSystems report. Upon ordering the report, you find inaccurate information. Here’s a guide on how to dispute chexsystems.

7. Set boundaries with friends and neighbors

Do you have those friends who don’t take your working from home seriously? Do they keep calling or popping in to make small talk? Friends and neighbors can be major distractors because they believe you should have time for them.

Set strict boundaries during your working time. Don’t pick calls even when they call you unless it’s an emergency. Have talks with your neighbors and make them know your working hours, so they don’t walk in when you are busy.

8. Avoid non-work-related appointments in the middle of the day

Doctors’ appointments are among the things that reduce your productivity during the day. Schedule appointments during the weekend (especially if you don’t work during weekends) to avoid disrupting your day unless it’s an emergency. You can also schedule them in at the end of the day when you complete your tasks.

If a home office is what makes you productive, then do it. Life is about going for the things we want and are passionate about.

Must visit places on your Bali trip

Bali is a beautiful Indonesian island famous for its temples, beautiful cities, rice terraces, and volcanoes. Apart from that, there are innumerable gift shops here, from where you can buy some really amazing stuff that you won’t find anywhere else. Bali is a mixture of various things. Here you will get a perfect island vibe as well as will get to visit national parks. There are endless things to do there and places to visit.

You can contact a trusted travel company for the Bali tour packages and can select the places of your choice. Here we are giving a list of places that you must visit in Bali, thus helping you out in selecting a package for you.

Gili Trawangan

The first place in this list is near to Bali and a part of the Gili islands. This is just 3 hours away from Bali and becomes the favourite destination of most of the tourists. One can reach there by riding a horse cart or by cycle. This place is best for those who want to chill on the beach and diving in the sea. To get the perfect island vibes, do pay a visit to Gili Trawangan whenever you pay a visit to Bali.

Pura bratan temple

Bali is called the home of temples and one of the most beautiful among all is the Pura Bratan temple. This is a water temple situated on the Shore of Bartan Lake. Local people come here to worship the river goddess Dewi Danu. They also worship different water bodies in this temple. It is very difficult to come to this place that is why there is no crowd over there. People do not come here just to worship, but to see the beauty of the place as well as it is surrounded by mountains from all the sides.

Ubud

Another place famous for being a hub for various temples in Bali is the city of Ubud. There are innumerable temples in this place. Along with this, the things that make this city more beautiful are its rice fields and monkey forest. The main city is a bit crowded, but these places are very less occupied, thus is best for some relaxed walks.

Sekumpul waterfalls

Along with the temples, Bali is known for some of the best serene beauties in the form of various natural creations. One of such things is the Sekumpul Waterfalls. Even if you are afraid of water, you love waterfalls. It just soothes your eyes and calms your soul. One can keep on staring a waterfall for hours. This waterfall located 2 hours away from Ubud, is a cluster of 7 waterfalls altogether. Once you reach the destination, you will have to do some trekking too, to enjoy this serene beauty. You will realize that every pain taken for this is worthy of what you get to see at the end. Not only the destination, but the journey is also beautiful as you will see local homes, rice terraces, jungles and many other beautiful things in the paths.

So, these were a few of the places that one cannot miss to visit on a trip to Bali.

Sous Vide – A Wonderful Cooking Method

Hi, I’m Abby, and my husband is James. I operate a food blog, and he has a meat distribution business. Together, we love food, ingredients, kitchen equipment, and every cooking method there is.

I have always loved cooking, but in my teenage years, I did not really know if I wanted to make a career out of it. I loved to experiment with different methods of cooking but without hi-tech equipment.

I remember being fascinated by sous vide and using an ice cooler as improvised pot. I also didn’t have a vacuum-sealer and used instead of the water displacement trick as an alternative. This is my sous vide story.

I saw sous vide on TV, and mostly, it is a cooking method where food is placed in food bags, dunked under water with perfectly controlled temperature and time, and when it’s done, the food is beautifully cooked and flavored.

Different foods, same benefits

Food is cooked so tender

Steaks and ribs are my favorite. I like to prepare short ribs braised for about 70 hours, at 136 degrees Fahrenheit. Another favorite is the beef sirloin steak tips, cooked for an hour at 130 degrees Fahrenheit. They literally just melt in your mouth.

Food is not directly placed under or over a fire but is cooked by the temperature of the water. Since the whole bag of food is submerged under water, it is cooked to be so tender, but not dry or flavorless.

Food is cooked evenly

All sides of the food is thoroughly cooked, with no side undercooked or the other side overcooked, which is a more common mistake when each side gets a turn on the grill or in the frying pan.

I like to put in shrimps or lobster tails inside a bag, add butter to it, and dip it into the sous vide bath. They will come out beautiful, moist, firm and very flavorful.

Food is flavorful

With the meats, I put in a dry rub or sometimes a marinade inside the bag itself, so as they slowly cook, the flavor seeps into the surfaces of the meat.

If you think sous vide is only for meats and chicken, you are so wrong. I like my carrots cooked the sous vide way, too. I put them inside the bag, stew them in their own juices at 183 degrees Fahrenheit, and they come out so tender yet crispy. I then give it a quick toss in the frying pan for the juices to be reduced to a glaze for more flavor.

Different tools, different stories

I didn’t start with my beautiful Anova, and Joule, or with my good FoodSaver sealer. I started as a teenager just grabbing anything in the kitchen.

What to do if you don’t have vacuum-sealer?

It is essential to remove the air from the bag since it affects the cooking time and the temperature. The best way to do it is using a vacuum-sealer, like the FoodSaver that I have now.

You put the bag inside a food bag with its marinade or with spices and dry rub. Vacuum-seal the bag to remove the air. With a proper vacuum sealer, this step is done fast and efficiently.

If you don’t have a vacuum-sealer, like me years ago, do what I did:

  • I got a zipper-lock freezer bag, put the foods inside, and then put the bag in a pot with water, making sure the open top does not get submerged.
  • I used my hands under water holding the bag and pushing out the water slowly.
  • I submerged the bag lower into the water, leaving only the top not overwhelmed, and when I couldn’t go any lower, and I’ve pushed out the air enough, I closed the zipper top.

This water displacement method may not be perfect but it is enough to get the sous vide done.

Use the immersion circulator

This is one equipment you really need to have. Put it inside the tub or pot.

It is the tool that heats the water, and where you set it at a specific temperature, for a precise length of time.

Options for containers

  1. You can get a water oven with a tub of its own but it takes up much space compared to a wand-type circulator.
  2. Or you can use any old stock pot as long as it is deep enough to hold water.
  3. Use a plastic container specifically for sous vide cooking, like a Rubbermaid plastic container that can be big enough for large family cooking.

If you are using an immersion circulator, try if you can clip it on the sides of your container. Otherwise, you would have to hold on to it for a long time. The best container would be the Rubbermaid that comes in two different sizes. It has provision to hold up the immersion circulator.

My favorite sous-vide tips:

Over the years, I have discovered a few hacks and tips, and I would like to share this with you:

  1. If you are using a dry rub of spices, put a little olive oil inside the bag so the meats will not eat into the plastic.
  2. After sous vide cooking, you can put the meat on the grill or a frying pan very quickly to give it some color. Straight from sous vide, it will look unappetizing in its gray-brown color.
  3. It is okay to use a big container, but the bigger it is, the longer time it will take the water to its desired temperature, so if you cook for just a small family of 5, you can get a small sized container instead.
  4. I use hot water from the faucet instead of cold, that way I reach the desired hot temperature faster.

Conclusion

Sous vide is not complicated at all. You don’t even need to say it right as the French do to learn how to do it.

I personally like doing sous vide because it is easy – put in a bag, vacuum seal, swim, set the temperature and time, and that is it. It does not take much effort, and while it is cooking (as it can take hours), I don’t even need to be there to check if it is overcooked. I can do other tasks while cooking.

Eventually, I also discovered Joule and an efficient app that alerts me on my phone when my sous vide are done.

Now, I do sous vide in our restaurant, and I still do it at home for my family. Different equipment and tools, different types of food, but all end up being delicious and juicy, enjoyed by everyone – family and customers alike.

Tips and Tricks to Get Children Interested in Mealtimes

Making food look appealing is just as important for children as it is for adults. Looking and thinking about food is one of the first stages of digestion. If food looks attractive and fun children are far more likely to want to eat it. Giving individual portions helps make food more appetising and can make a meal appear less challenging. Mini versions of traditional meals i.e. shepherd’s pie, baked in small dishes are always popular. Allow children to assemble their own food. Lay out a variety of ingredients for your children to put together. This works very well with pizza’s and wraps. Fruit chopped into bite sizes and placed on a skewer or a straw is another helpful approach.

Offer your child food that packs lots of nutrition into small doses. This is particularly good for toddlers who are often as active as rabbits but seem to eat as little as mice.

Nutrient rich foods that are attractive to children include avocados, pasta, broccoli, peanut butter, brown rice, potatoes, cheese, chicken, eggs, fish, sweet potatoes and greek yogurt.

Menus

Chatting to your children about food is great but that alone does not provide any experience. You could tell your three year old that Spinach will give them muscles like Popeye and that carrots will help them see in the dark however you will be competing with TV ads which may tell a different story. With both sides telling different tales about what food they should choose to put in their body, who will your child believe?

Involving your child in the process of planning what you should eat is an important step in raising healthy grubbers and children that accept what is on the plate for breakfast, dinner and lunch.

Give them choice

Giving your child a choice between green beans or broccoli can make them feel good about putting that particular veg onto their plate. Children look to decide what they put in to their own body, and giving them choice over food options is a wonderful step in stopping the need for them to tell you “no” just for the sake of telling you so.

Exposure is half the battle

Giving your child food options before it lands on their plate will assist with mealtime mania. Surprises are not for everyone, and especially food surprises. As well as creating ownership over the meal and reducing disappointment from dinnertime, it also makes favourite dishes come with a level of anticipation…great for the digestive juices.

Start with a simple choice

Do they want green beans or broccoli with dinner? These small options will allow them choices between ingredients that do not change the overall meal, but will feel like a small bit of ownership over the dish.

Go shopping together

Point out the vegetables they can choose from. Do you think we should have red or green cabbage for dinner tomorrow? Moving the choice towards the shopping experience opens up the possibilities more for them and it’s a wonderful time to talk about food options.

Cooking method

Once your child gets a sense for how choosing side dishes are done, start asking how they would like it cooked. Do they want to steam the broccoli or cook it in a casserole?  This helps explore new ways that they might like food that they previously thought they didn’t and it can help them think about how food taste and texture change depending on how they are prepared.

Planning Menus

Planning with your child can be great fun and when you make it part of your weekly routine your child will look forward to doing it regularly. It helps to spark an interest in what they are eating.

Plan a colourful dinner. Children are drawn to bright colours. Luckily bright coloured fruits and vegetables are not only delicious, but nutritious. Get your child to think of meal ideas including as many brightly coloured fruits and vegetables as possible.

Pull out cookbooks with colourful pictures or go online and find recipe websites that have pictures with each recipe. Ask your child to pick a few recipes that looks good based on the picture. Children are more likely to try something new if they see a picture that look good to them. For the younger children, cut out pictures of all different type of foods and make a scrapbook of different menus.

When the meal is over, chat about what your child liked and disliked about the food so that their comments can be taken into consideration for the next meal they plan.

Get Cooking

Children are more likely to eat their own cooking/baking, so, where appropriate let your picky eater help prepare the food. It can be a fun affair, however patience in coping with the helping hands from small children will often determine how much you are able to tolerate. Cookie cutters can be used to create edible designs out of foods like cheese, bread, thin meat slices or cooked lasagne. Get your child to tear and wash lettuce, wash potatoes or stir batter. Put batter in a squeeze bottle and let your child watch as you squeeze the batter onto the pan in fun shapes, such as heart, numbers, letter or even your child’s name. They can also be involved in setting the table, whether that is laying out mats for under the plates or setting out cutlery or crockery. When children are part of the preparation they are more likely to feel part of the meal too.

Here are some tips to try out when cooking with your kids!

Dress your child up in chef’s clothes, hats and aprons and allow him to get stuck in.

Children have short attention spans so give them quick and easy jobs.  Keep the instructions simple.  Give age appropriate duties

When children get excited they may forget steps

Young children need constant supervision

Expect spills and messes and give children jobs to help clean up

Again give plenty of praise for all attempts at cooking.

Focus on hygiene and safety and lay ground rules. Teach children to tie hair back, roll sleeves up and remove jewellery.

It is never too late to start involving children in your family meals. You will be making memories and teaching lifelong healthy habits at the same time.

Mealtimes are one of the keystones of family life. Whenever possible get the whole family eating together. This can make a difference where fussy eaters are concerned.  Show your child that mealtimes can be fun and relaxing and not a source of anxiety. Take time to chat, rather than focusing on what is on the plates. Talk about the events of the day. This will help to take the pressure off children who may feel that what – and how much – they eat is being scrutinized.

When you have small children it is important to make an effort to be consistent in this respect and that structured mealtimes are in place. Ensure that they are not too close together as children may not be hungry or too far apart as children may be snacking or have low blood sugars affecting their behaviour.

Give your child an advance warning when a meal is coming up. “Supper is in ten minutes, please finish up your game and wash your hands. Do not expect them to drop what they are dong and run to the table immediately. Give them time to prepare themselves for the change in activity.

Keep food servings age appropriate. Wondering how much to offer? A young child’s stomach is approximately the size of his fist. So serve small portions at first and refill the plate if your child asks for more. The less is more meal plan is more successful with the fussy eaters.

The “bite-rule” worked with my kids. “Take one bite, two bites….” (However far you think you can force it without force feeding). The bite rule at least gets your child to taste a new food, while giving her some control over the feeding.

Rules which are good life skills also:

Children should wash their hands before they eat

They should sit at a table and not run off and eat elsewhere

No meals in front of T.V.  Turn telly off during meal times

Children should stay at the table until you tell them they can be excused.  Be realistic!!

Please and thank you are important words to learn

Mealtimes are not only about getting the right amount of food into your children at the right time, they are opportunities when families sit down together, share the day’s news and enjoy each other’s company.

Explore the Laya Healthcare site for more information on family health insurance cover options or to get a health insurance quote online today.

Xiao Long Bao: The Soup Dumpling Craze Taking the Nation by Storm

 

xiao-lung-bao

(Image Credit: Xiao Long Bao at Dim Sum USA)

While many Chinese steamed dumplings are solid inside, Xiao Long Bao (XLB) is unique in that it is filled with steaming hot broth instead. The bite-sized dumplings, introduced in China in the middle of the 19th century, are popular in their country of origin as well as numerous other countries around the world.

The broth inside contains aspic and chefs sometimes mix it with crab or ground pork. Servers at restaurants present XLB to diners in the same bamboo steamer that the chef used to prepare them.

As the popularity of XLB spreads, food industry entrepreneurs are scrambling to open new restaurants to capitalize on this trend. Below are just some of the many new or upcoming restaurants that will make XLB an integral part of their menus.

Drunken Dumplings

When it opened in September of 2016, a restaurant called Drunken Dumplings located in New York’s East Village was the first to offer the XL Xiao Long Bao. This supersized offering is like the Big Mac of American fast food. Rather than the bite-sized morsel of an appetizer that diners are accustomed to, the XL XLB is a mega dumpling served in a bowl. Although it has attracted huge interest, restaurant owner Yuan Lee has had to limit the creation and serving of this extra-large dish to just 25 per day due to the time and labor intensity it takes to create a single piece.

Paradise Dynasty to Open Restaurant in Los Angeles in Early 2019

Paradise Dynasty, a restaurant chain known for its XLB and other soup dumplings, plans to open its first restaurant in the United States early next year. The restaurant chain is famous for serving unique and colorful soup dumplings in eight different varieties.

However, its most famous dish is a dumpling featuring black truffles, foie grass, and dough with a black hue. Although it will be entering a popular restaurant market, the Los Angeles area is not yet saturated with eateries serving XLB and it many variations.

Paradise Dynasty looked to a mega restaurant chain called Din Tai Fung for its inspiration. Din Tai Fung currently operates 160 Chinese restaurants worldwide with 11 of them located in the United States. It also plans to infiltrate the West Coast of the United states with new restaurants planned for San Diego, California and Portland, Oregon.

A Restaurant Called XLB Serving Mainly XLB

In late 2017, former food blogger Jasper Shen opened the aptly-named XLB Restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Unlike many of his competitors who serve an Americanized version of popular Chinese dishes, Shen personally ensures that each item served by his restaurant is authentically Chinese. He does this so his relatives from China will approve of the food and because he remembers Americanizing the dishes when he worked in the Chinese restaurants of his uncles as a boy. His restaurant also offers several other authentic Chinese dishes including stir fries and mushrooms, black bean noodles and seafood, and steamed boas with pork or cabbage.

With more new authentic Chinese restaurants that serve XLB popping up all the time, it’s clear that the real winner is the American diner looking for a non-traditional experience.

The Inside Scoop On Modern Christmas Shopping

The Christmas sales season is coming upon us, and it is time to get ready for Christmas shopping 21st century style. Unlike our parents and grandparents that had to wait in line at local stores or malls to find that absolutely perfect gift for their loved one, we have technology at our fingertips. No more stressing if the store has run out of that ideal kid’s toy or if that ugly Christmas sweater comes in the right size. Now we pop online, armed with a few handy apps.

Online Christmas Shopping Lists

Out of the perfect Christmas gift ideas? No worries. You can quickly zoom online and find handy lists and photos of the best gifts for mom, dad, or your kids. These usually link to online stores that sell these holiday products and may provide helpful videos. Not only that, with a few clicks of the button you can find the same item in different sizes or at a better price. Don’t underestimate the power of Top 10 Christmas Gift lists.

Coupons Coupons Everywhere!

Love shopping? Love saving money? Then install a coupon app on your phone or computer. These handy apps will send you a helpful alert when the holiday gift you are buying is a little less expensive on another site.

Sign up for coupon sites to receive helpful customized coupons in your inbox. Even social media sites will include great store codes to save ten, twenty, or even fifty percent off on certain items! If you are worried about spam, just be sure to unsubscribe after the holiday season. Some favorite sites include PricePal, Honey, Smartsaver, and SwagBucks. And don’t forget the power of the rebate – getting cash back for buying great products!

The Power of a Good Review

Before you click on that gadget or book, check out the customer reviews. Not sure what home appliance or tool to buy your loved one? Then take a moment to check out the ratings and customer reviews online. While some of these reviews can be fake reviews, the vast majority of them will be legitimate comments, ratings, and complaints from genuine customers. Check to see if there is way to verify the review on the site. Then look over the reviews. It can be helpful to group the reviews from Best to Worst ratings, or vice a versa.

If an item has seventy-five great reviews, four stars or more, and ten bad reviews, it might be the item for you. However, always read a few of the bad reviews. Sometimes an item, like a child’s toy, may be a great toy for a toddler or boring for a twelve-year-old. Or maybe there is a problem with the product that doesn’t affect most customers, but might affect your loved one. For example, a product is best for those that are very active, but might not be ideal for someone with physical limitations or limited eyesight. Be well-informed before purchasing the gift.

As Easy as 1-2-3

The best part about Christmas shopping online is that it saves you time! No more wasting gas and money driving around town looking for that perfect gift. Instead you can search for it quickly. And if you want to find unique handmade presents for Christmas, you can search any number of sites of artists, writers, and artisans who create beautiful handcrafted items like scarfs, handbags, poetry books, portraits, and more. Enjoy the ease of modern shopping this holiday season.

Top Types Of RV’s You Can Buy or Rent In Brandon, Florida

If you’ve decided that you would like to either buy or rent an RV, the next thing you will need to decide is what specific type of RV you would like.

While you can use resources such as Outdoorsy to help you explore your options in Brandon, it’s still wise to have a basic idea of the different types of RVs that are out there so you can more effectively narrow your search.

Here are the top types of RV’s you can buy or rent in Brandon, Florida:

Class A

A Class A RV is probably what comes to mind when you think of the word ‘motorhome.’ These are the biggest type of RV available and practically have an entire house inside of them, and they can have anywhere from one to five slide outs. These are also the most expensive RVs available, with new Class A’s rarely costing below sixty grand.

Class B

Class B motorhomes use a van as their foundation, and are of a more compact size than a Class A motorhome. In fact, some Class B motorhomes look more like vans than they do like RVs. They’ll still have a living space, a bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom and all that (at least usually), but everything will be in a much more compact and maneuverable size.

Class C 

A more more popular types of RVs is the Class C motorhome, which is effectively a cross between a Class A and Class B. Class C motorhomes use a large truck as their foundation and are notable for always having an extra sleeping space over the cab. They can be built to the same sizes as a Class A motorhome, but are much cheaper.

Travel Trailer

A travel trailer, obviously, is simply an RV that you tow behind a truck. Travel trailers can vary in size dramatically from twelve up to thirty feet long, with an impressive array o luxuries as well. Prices of travel trailers can also vary dramatically, with prices ranging from as low as ten thousand to as high as one hundred thousand.

5th Wheel Trailer 

The 5th Wheel Trailer is a larger sized travel trailer with a hatch pin that connects to a mount in the bed of a large pickup truck. The advantage is that the 5th wheel travel trailer is therefore much easier to pull, especially over rough or uneven terrain. However, you will need a truck that is fully capable of hauling the trailer (heavy duty trucks are really the only choice here).

Types of RVs

The type of RV you choose determines everything from the expense to the layout to how much storage space you have and so on. Now that you know what the basic types of RVs are, you’ll be able to narrow your search down more efficiently.

A Few Things You Should Know Before You Vacation In Barbados

We all know that Barbados is a beautiful part of the world, and its beauty is just one of the reasons why millions of people flock to the island every year. Throw in the tropical weather, absolutely stunning beaches and some gorgeous barbados homes for rent and you have the perfect recipe for a vacation of a lifetime.

However, there a few things you should know about Barbados before you fly there. Can these little bits of information help to make your vacation that much better? We think they can, so read on for more information:

Public Transport

Public transport in Barbados is very good, in fact, you will find many different bus stops dotted all over the island. This makes travelling from one part of the island very easy, and the even better news is that bus fares tend to be quite low. This means you don’t have to hire a taxi (Unless you really want to), and you can get from A to B with relative ease.

Bus timetables are available from the bus terminals, but you should be aware that the buses do not always run on time. This is because the island runs on Barbados time, which is a more relaxed time. So don’t worry if your bus is late, just relax in the knowledge that it will be with you soon. If you really must get somewhere in a hurry you may want to consider hiring a taxi. The good news is there are plenty of taxis around, so you can jump in one as and when you please.

You Cannot Wear Camouflage

While many people are happy to sport a camouflage t-shirt, some camouflage trousers and even a camouflage hat, in Barbados only the defence force is permitted to wear it. This may well mean that you’re unable to take your favourite pair of trousers with you, but leaving them behind can stop you getting into trouble.

Bajan Dialect

While those who are native to Barbados do speak English, they can be a little hard to understand at first. This is because the locals use the Bajan dialect which is simply a broken form of English. Do not worry if you cannot understand the person speaking to you, most Barbadians are very friendly and will not mind repeating themselves. Don’t worry though, after a few days you should be able to understand the local language fairly well.

Don’t Disturb the Turtles

It’s imperative that you do not disturb any turtles that you come across. While they may be very cute, especially the little ones who have just hatched, they are a protected species. Both the leatherback and hawksbill turtles are frequently monitored. So keep your distance from the turtles so that they can lay their eggs, or make their way back to the shore with relative ease.

The Climate

Barbados’ climate is an idyllic one, especially for those of us who love nothing more than feeling the sun beat down on us. With more than 8 hours of bright sunshine every day, the temperature is approximately 21 Celsius (70 Fahrenheit) at its lowest, and 32 Celsius (89 Fahrenheit) at its highest.

Barbados does have a hurricane season, but you’re unlikely to experience one as they tend to be quite rare. Hurricanes are more likely to hit the island in October, but you’ll probably experience a few storms rather than a nasty hurricane.

Shopping

Not a lot of people know that you can buy a lot of designer clothes and perfume for a lot less than you can in other countries. This is because you don’t have to pay the taxes on them. If you love nothing than a designer outfit, you should head to Broad Street in Bridgetown as you’ll find a wealth of clothes, jewellery and more for a lot less. Get shopping!

Dining Out

If you would like to dine out in style when you’re on vacation in Barbados, you should be prepared to pay approximately $130 BBD (Barbadian dollars) per person, in a very posh restaurant which is quite reasonable. Having said that, if you would like to dine somewhere a little cheaper and a little more informal then you should expect to pay approximately $15 BBD per person.

Rum, Rum, & More Rum!

The island of Barbados produces a lot of rum every year, and this has been the case for the last 350+ years. Needless to say, with huge amounts being produced on the island it tends to be quite cheap. This means that all of you rum-lovers out there should expect to enjoy a good shot or two of rum at quite a good price. However, shots of rum in this part of the world do tend to be quite big, and you may find that your delicious glass of rum and coke is more rum than anything else!

Now you know a little more about Barbados and what to expect, you can pack your suitcase accordingly. Be prepared to sun yourself and don’t forget to dine out somewhere special. Enjoy a few glasses of rum (You won’t need any more than a few!), and remember to let the turtles lay their eggs undisturbed. Have a wonderful vacation on this incredibly beautiful island, sit back, relax, and remember the island runs on its own time, so let your cares drift away, and enjoy yourself.

The Subtle Ways In Which Cooking With A Chef’s Coat Makes Life Easier

A chef needs a coat just as much as a construction worker needs overalls – they are just tools for the trade. The humble chefs coat (like these: https://www.chefworks.com/chef-coats-jackets) provides ultimate protection while also making the chef look fashionable and professional. When people think about a chef’s coat, these are the major benefits that are associated with it. But there is more to it than this, as the coat also offers the following subtle benefits that can make life in the kitchen easier for the chef:

Keeps the Chef Clean
A chef should be hygienic by staying clean (and keeping the kitchen clean) and nothing ensures this than a chef’s coat. The kitchen can get messy that it is almost impossible for the chef not to get spills and splashes on them. Not only does a chef’s coat protect the chef’s skin from getting burned if these things happen to be hot, it also keeps the clothes they are wearing underneath clean.

By keeping the clothes clean, it makes life easier as the chef doesn’t need to carry an extra pair of clothes to work. He or she can just remove the coat and carry on with other non-chef duties without looking messy. The coat takes all the stains from food remnants that would have ended up on the chef’s clothes had they not been wearing it.

Keeps the Chef Comfortable
A comfortable chef is an efficient chef, and many chef’s coats are designed to maximize comfortability. Just because an apparel is worn for protection, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be comfortable. One way it maximizes comfortability is by ensuring the chef remains cool since it can get pretty hot in the kitchen. This prevents them from perspiring profusely and getting an elevated body temperature thanks to the breathable fabric that chef’s coats are made from.

Not only that, the fabric of these coats is also flexible enough to allow the chef to move around the kitchen with ease. The material of the fabric is also lightweight, which prevents the chef from getting weighed down (with the long hours that a chef works in the kitchen, wearing something heavy can lead to a lot of pain).

Lets Kitchen Staff Know Who the Boss is
The chef is essentially the boss of the kitchen – the person that all kitchen staff look up to for leadership and guidance. Nothing reinforces this concept in the mind of kitchen staff better than wearing a chef’s coat. When kitchen staff can instantly recognize who the boss is, the chef can run the kitchen more efficiently.

Keeps the Chef’s Tools
While the kitchen is full of places where the chef can store his or her tools for convenience, the pockets of a chef’s coat can be used to store smaller tools that the chef needs at a moment’s notice. This includes things like ingredients, recipes, utensils, dish towel and even phone. All this provides more convenience, which makes life easier for the chef.

As you can see, the chef’s coat has subtle ways of making the chef’s job easier. It offers more benefits than the ones people see on the surface, making it even more of a must-have kitchen tool.

4 Sure Signs It’s Time To Downsize

From struggling to cover the bills to finding it tough to keep up with housekeeping chores, there are a number of indications that you’d be better off moving to a smaller property. If you’re wondering if it’s time to downsize, here are four sure signs that could help you consider if it’s worth making the switch.

  1. Your house is eating into your savings

If your income has shrunk, you might be finding it difficult to keep up with your bills and this could mean you’re slowly but surely eating into your savings. Whether you recently retired, you’ve been made redundant or you’ve switched to a new job that doesn’t pay as much, keeping up with your energy bills and other running costs could be causing you sleepless nights. As cash home buying specialists Fast Sale Florida highlight, one way to reduce expenses such as electricity, gas and water is to move into a smaller house or apartment.

  1. You don’t use all your rooms

We’re conditioned to think that bigger usually means better when it comes to properties. In reality though, this isn’t always the case. If there are rooms in your home that you rarely or never use, you could be wasting money. Unused rooms simply gather dust, and larger houses or apartments tend to cost more in property taxes, utility bills and maintenance. So, if you don’t tend to set foot in certain parts of your home, it might make sense to take on a smaller property.

  1. You’re feeling overwhelmed by the upkeep

Let’s face it, indoor cleaning and outdoor housework can be hard. If you’re starting to feel overwhelmed by the upkeep of your property, moving to a smaller place could be a welcome relief. It’ll mean you won’t have to spend as much time cleaning and maintaining your home, freeing you up to focus on other things. You might be able to devote more attention to your hobbies and to enjoying the company of your partner, family or friends.

If you’ve got used to living in and looking after a large property, you might be surprised by how much easier life can be in a more compact home.

  1. The kids have moved out

Lots of space can be great when you’ve got kids around the home, but when they’ve grown up and moved out, you might be left with surplus square footage. It may simply not make sense for you to keep hold of a large property once your children have flown the nest.

As well as being savvy from a practical and financial perspective, moving to a new home can help you to embrace a new chapter in your life. If your kids have moved far away, it might also give you the opportunity to relocate to be closer to them.

If any of these points applies to you, it’s worth considering selling up and moving to a smaller place. You could do this by going through the traditional route of marketing your home through a realtor, or if you want to achieve a speedy, hassle-free sale, you could approach a cash buyer instead. The choice is yours.