Category: Lifestyle

1. 5 Things to do with a pumpkin... other than carve it

   Posted on 12:00pm Sunday 21st Oct 2018

   

   Woohoo, Halloween season is upon us and it is one of my most favourite parts of the year. Everyone is starting to feel festive, evenings are drawing in, cloves and cinnamon fill the air, and the kettle is on for cocoa constantly. Blankets are back out, we’re not baking in 30-degree heat, and we’ve finally getting a good run of evening TV. Ah, autumn, come at us.

   Nothing gives off Halloweeny October vibes quite like the pumpkin. Once you see them hit the supermarket shelves, you know it’s time to light some candles and get ready for the cosiest season of the year. But while we all know we can carve a pumpkin – good luck to all the mums crafting Fortnite logos this year – what else can we do with this beloved autumnal fruit, if we’re feeling super seasonal. Let’s see how we can make more use (and most value) of our pumpkins.

   1.    Make pumpkin muffins

   Of course! We may not be able to master a Pumpkin Spice Latte from fresh at home, but we can make one heck of a stash of freshly prepped pumpkin muffins. We were challenged recently by Aldi to show that you can actually get your children eating healthy food with vegetables that you would never expect them to eat. 

   I have to be honest, I have never eaten pumpkin myself (hangs my head in shame) but love the idea and the recipe behind the pumpkin muffin so we decided to give them a go. The girls loved making them and they are genuinely my new favourite treat! 

    

   I was amazed at how much flesh is in a pumpkin so there is lots to go round and if you’ve any left over, pumpkin fries are a delish alternative to accompany your burgers.

   

   2.    Decorate the home

   Pumpkins come in a whole host of shapes and sizes, and you can even get some stunning variations in colour and shade too. Arrange a date when you can go out and hand select your pumpkins on a farm. Just as you would at Christmas time with various decorations, adorn your home with your selection to really create a homely ambience in your house. Don’t forget to add a bunch of October flowers, too. Deep reds, browns and oranges will look divine.

   3.    Use as an Insta-worthy photo prop

   Seeing as you’ve gone to all that effort to decorate the home, go fully family-blogger and turn it into the ultimate Insta photo opp. Whatever you do over the coming week, make sure you snap your youngsters in an amongst your glorious display of pumpkins. Whether they’re crafting, cooking up the pumpkin soup, watching tele, or frankly just sitting there to get the perfect pic for your blog, snap it. You know the score. Use the Portrait setting on your iPhone to capture a picture worthy of the family album.

   

   4.    Make art with pumpkin seeds

   Is half term. Must craft. It’s the law of the parenting blogs. And once you’ve carved out a pumpkin, you may as well make use of all the sticky seeds you’ll have lying around. There’s really no hard and fast rule on how to make art with pumpkin seeds. Let your child paint them, colour them with felt tips, stick them into patterns on A3 paper, craft them into a scary sculpture. Sometimes free creative play is the best kind of play. Leave the rules at school.

   

   5.    Paint your pumpkin pretty

   If the thought of scooping out a pumpkin makes your stomach turn, it doesn’t have to mean you and your youngsters miss out on the Halloween fun. Paint pretty patterns or pretty scary pictures onto your pumpkin using poster paints, acrylics, or even chalk-based markers. If you’re feeling super fancy, you could even design one or two to enhance that Instagram area in your home. Children’s name pumpkin? Family pumpkin? Blog name pumpkin? Blog logo pumpkin? Oh, the options are endless and oh-so brilliant. Enjoy! 

   How do you plan to celebrate with pumpkins this Halloween? Let me know or do link me to your pumpkin picture blog posts. Mwahahahahaaaa!

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2. Top Attractions in Aspen for Families?

   Posted on 12:00pm Friday 19th Oct 2018

   The weather has definitely made a turn for the worse so we are already thinking about our next family holiday and looking for somewhere different to go.

   I am told that Aspen is like a vast playground for families. Whether you arrive there during summers or winters, there is a lot to do there for the lovers of the outdoors. One can ski, hike or for a brewery tour, or a Museum tour. Aspen may be known for skiing, but there are indeed many other attractions to explore.  Just pick one of the aspen cabin rentals for your stay and enjoy panoramic views as well as self-catering accommodation units. Your children would love staying in a cabin made of wood complete with a fireplace and mountain views. Enjoy all the world-class amenities like sauna, flat-screen TV, private bathrooms and more. Aspen is the perfect location for summer or winter getaway for the whole family.

   

   Aspen offers many indoor and outdoor activities to create a memorable family time. Here are some of the top attractions to enjoy in Aspen.

   • Hop on the Silver Queen Gondola
     Families just cannot get enough of Silver Queen Gondola in Aspen! Once you reach more than 11,000 feet, you feel on top of the world. Those picturesque views are truly unforgettable as you gaze at the city below and the vast Elk Mountain Range. During summer, you can enjoy the recreational trails, nature tours and special events like concerts, and in winters, one can enjoy a skiing, snowboarding and snowshoe trolley.

   • Maroon Bells with unforgettable natural wonders
     It is indeed a unique and special experience to explore the breathtaking Maroon Bells. Rising 14,000 feet above sea level, Maroon Bells are one of the most picturesque forestlands of the state. Apart from the scenic beauty of the wildflower-filled meadows, what draws the families and visitors are the picturesque trails. Maroon Creek Trail and Maroon Lake Scenic Trail are the most popular. Families can bring picnic lunch along and can hike or bike amidst the lovely Maroon Bells.

   

   • Cool down at the Mill Street Fountain
     Children love to cool down in the Mill Street Fountain, especially when the Aspen temperatures soar. It is a fantastic and free attraction that is especially loved by families. Located near the Hyman Street Mall and in the heart of downtown, the Mill Street Fountain has always been a major attraction since 1979. Just splash around with your children amidst those the 12 jets of cool, refreshing mountain water! Balls and water toys are welcome, and if you get hungry, there are plenty of stalls nearby.

   • Theatre Aspen with special programs and activities
     The professional Theatre is indeed an amazing location and is actually a lofty, riverside tent that is placed in the center of Rio Grande Park. One can get fantastic mountain views all around. Recent productions of Theatre Aspen include Hitchcock’s all-ages show. The theater also organizes a host of summer youth camps for children. Families must include Theatre Aspen in their itinerary.

   • The immensely popular Aspen Ice Skating
     If you are lodging at Hyatt Grand Aspen, entry to the Aspen Ice Skating is free. The outdoor ice skating is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and all year-round. It is a great place to visit in the heat of the summer. Often you would find art exhibits in Aspen Ice Skating venue.

   • Carriage and Sleigh day tours in Aspen
     Families love exploring the town in this homegrown attraction offers wagon and pony rides, which are just perfect for the children. Sleigh rides very popular in the winter, and you can enjoy hot cocoa as you take the ride and under cozy blankets. It is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy the peaceful tranquility around. It is a joy to explore the Aspen-filled forests and vast meadows that make for a perfect backdrop for a family adventure.

   • Endless fun at Aspen Recreation Center
     Head towards Aspen Recreation Center and you are guaranteed hours of endless fun with your family and kids. No matter the weather outside, you will find children of all age groups rock climbing, swimming, sledding and ice skating at the Aspen Rec Center. On can also take kayak lessons in the indoor pool.

   • Enjoy the speed with Aspen Snowmobile Tours
     Another excellent way to explore the mountains and enjoy the exhilaration of speed is to perch on a motorized snow vehicle comfortably. The sped and thrill is the best part of the Aspen Snowmobile Tours! You can pick from a vast variety of tours and venture amidst the most picturesque and most photographed mountains. The ride is perfect for the more extended weekends!

   • Stress-free trails at Buttermilk
     If you are looking for a perfect spot to teach your kids to ski, then head straight for Buttermilk that is made of 21 miles of open, stress-free trails. The beginner trails are groomed and well suited for the new learners. One can sign for private skiing and snowboarding lessons under friendly and helpful instructors. There is plenty of room and space for skiers to maneuver on the beginner-friendly slopes aside.

   • Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
     If you love nature, then this is your chance to teach your kids about natural surroundings and the local flora and fauna. All you need to do is head for Aspen Center for Environmental Studies. Take them for the winter snowshoe walk and attend wildlife workshops. You may even come face-to-face with the bald eagle, America’s favorite bird. You can sing up your kids for nature hikes and arts and crafts classes. This is the way to go if you want to know the wilder side of the town.

   With so much to do, I am not sure it would be a relaxing holiday but it sounds like it could be pretty amazing.

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3. How to Make Your Garden Look More Colourful in The Autumn

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 20th Sep 2018

   As I look out of the window today, it just all feels a bit grey and the colder weather makes everything seem a little less brighter. Summer in the garden serves up a natural palette of bright and vibrant colours. Autumn has its own hues to offer, but they are much more muted.So, in order to inject your garden with a range of rich and interesting shades once the air turns colder and the nights close in, you have to get a little bit more creative.

   Whatever your favourite colours are, never fear, Sloane and Sons Garden Benches has a few interesting ideas up its sleeve to give you the tools to really brighten up your outdoor spaces this Autumn!

   1. Red 

   Red, and even brown, is certainly one of the colours you think of in conjunction with Autumn. So, naturally, there are many plants, shrubs and trees that will see your garden full of scarlets, burgundies and crimsons. Here are a few you might wish to try…

   Red Maple. This variety of maple is, as you may have guessed, at least partially red for the whole year. Although all maples produce red leaves at some point during the Autumn, this one is known for its abundantly red pigmentation. It is at its deepest red in mid-Autumn. If you plant a fresh one, you will be starting small, but when planning for it you might want to consider that some varieties can grow up to 50 feet tall!

   

   Holly. These bushes are prolific and do require regular pruning. However, the bright red berries are a dramatic splash of colour and can really lift your garden when they come through in the late Autumn.

   Tulips. They come in many colours, but the red variety has a similar hue to the poppy, and is quite the contrast to the more rustic red tones that occur in decaying foliage. 

   2. Orange and Yellow

   Orange is perhaps the most common pigmentation around at this time of year. However, there are ways you can inject even more of it, other than that which comes from the leaves, into your garden.

   Pumpkins. The bright orange of the pumpkin is a wonderful thing to see. Pumpkins, and other squash, also come in yellow, as well as a bunch of other colours. They grow very easily and to quite a large size. Plant a few of these and you could have a garden decoration that is not only your favourite hue but is edible as well!

   

   Rust. This depiction of decaying metal might well spell the end of the road for your old wheelbarrow, rake or garden chair. However, if preserved, your old rusting kit could become quite the injection of orange if you repurpose them as garden ornaments!

   3. Green

   Green, although it is not a classic colour for this season, is remarkably easy to get into the garden all year round. Evergreens, so called because they retain their pigment at all times, are brilliant additions to your plant collection. There are a lot of varieties to chose from, however, favourites include Daphne, Fatsia and Holly. 

   

   4. Blue and Purple

   These are harder to find in nature in the Autumn, but there are many ways to both blue and purple in if they are what you desire.

   Bulbs. There are a number of Autumnal and Wintery plants that you can put in at this time of year for blooms of this colour. Lavender is an excellent choice as it is not only a vibrant purple/blue colour, but its perfume is amazing, and it is an evergreen, so will produce flowers all year round. The Purple Emperor and many varieties of winter lily are also brilliant.

   

   Bird Food. It is always advisable to encourage wildlife into your garden, it aids both the life and the general quality of your gardens eco-system. Indeed, a tempting bird feeder might also bring a flurry of colour into the picture in the form of a brightly coloured bird, such as a Robin or the odd Blue Tit!

   5. White

   Other than the various plants you could grow in your garden (such as snowdrops and Nippon daisies) to bring the freshness of white into its palette, you might also take this opportunity to get some paint out! Autumn and Winter are darker months, so a bright white shed or fence will make a welcome addition to the place. Make sure you go about it the right way though, it is not as simple as just splashing a bit of paint directly on to the wood! As well as appearing to be uplifting and fresh, it will also help to extenuate the other colours around the garden.

   

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4. Top ways to improve your health and to lead a healthy lifestyle

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 21st Aug 2018

   One of my main goals on my 40 things to do list was to be the healthiest I have ever been and that in itself means I need to be in charge and take control of my naughty habits. Multiple factors play a role in enhancing your health and having a healthy life. Such include eating right, exercising regularly and avoiding destructive habits like drinking and smoking. While many individuals admit that they should improve their wellbeing and lead a healthy lifestyle, the majority of them have no idea where to begin. The following are some invaluable tips that I have picked up, that can make your efforts a whole lot easier. 

   1. Watch your Eating Habits

   Your efforts to lead a healthy lifestyle will be futile if you don’t change your eating habits. You should ensure to eat at least three balanced meals in a day and avoid skipping the first meal, breakfast.  Also be certain to consider the portions to avoid overeating. It is advisable to eat healthy snacks in between the meals rather than taking huge portions of food. Also, do not take vitamin supplements unless your doctor prescribes them for you. Instead, make a habit of consuming plenty of fruits and healthy smoothies, which will effectively supply all the nutrients and vitamins needed by your body. 

   2. Take a Balanced Diet

   While different people have varying tastes and preferences and thus prefer taking diverse meals, you should at least ensure that your prospective meal is capable of providing your body with all the requisite nutrients. This includes consuming fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, healthy fats, proteins, and dairy products.  Balanced nutrition has multiple health benefits like healthy skin and strong teeth. Also, healthier food choices can potentially prevent health complications like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure as well as aiding in weight loss. 

   3. Consume A Lot of Natural Juices and Veggie Smoothies

   Eating a lot of fruits and veggies is essential in supplying your body with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They also serve to boost your immunity level and help in the prevention of diseases, thus improving your overall health.  There is no better way to take fruits and veggies than creating juices. When creating drinks like smoothies, don’t stick to one type of fruit; select from the five main colors to obtain a variety of phytonutrients to combat signs of aging and prevent diseases.

   Dark green fruits support lung health, arteries function, the health of the liver, and eye functioning.  Similarly, feeding on brown-white fruits can help you to obtain strong, healthy bones and an optimally-functioning circulatory system. Blue-purple fruits have antioxidants that do a great job with fighting the symptoms of aging while also supporting a healthy brain and heart.

   
   

   4. Adjust your Drinking Habits 

   Drinking a lot of water helps with the expedient elimination of toxins from your body. Also, every system in the body depends on water to function thus taking more liquid is very beneficial to your wellbeing. Water also goes a long way in aiding with weight loss, cell functioning, and metabolism.

   While at it, you will want to reduce your alcohol intake, which will help with the prevention of health problems such as liver cirrhosis. Moreover, alcohol encourages dehydration, which can be disastrous to the body cells. Instead, take more healthy fluids like juice, broth, and milk; they not only provide many benefits to the body, they are also not harmful, and before leaving here you should check out Veranda Interiors for machines that you can use to better your health. Feeding on juicy veggies and fruits increase the hydration levels of your body. You ought to make a habit of getting real veggies and fruits instead of taking artificially sweetened drinks like soda. 

   5. Less Red Meat and More Fiber

   Red meat is associated with a high risk of coronary heart disease due to its high-fat content. By cutting on the consumption of red meat, you will ultimately reduce the cholesterol levels in your body, thus improving your health. Conversely, having less fiber in your body can increase the risk of heart disease, high blood sugar, and excess cholesterol in your blood.  You should, therefore, ensure to consume more foods that are rich in fiber such as veggies, legumes, and whole grains. These will ultimately help you with the prevention of obesity, stroke or diabetes. 

   6. Exercise Regularly

   Regular exercise is literally a miracle worker; it can boost your moods, manage your weight and generally make you feel better. Workouts are simple and healthy; if you can’t make it to the gym, you can walk, swim or dance for like an hour daily. Workouts aid in the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even cancer.

       7. Sleep Well

    

   Getting sufficient quality sleep boasts multiple health-related benefits. It helps with the regulation of the immune system, weight management, and boosting your mental health. An adult should sleep for 7-8 hours consistently with no interruptions, and adolescents may go up to 10 hours. Quality sleep will go a long way in the prevention of depression and boost your mood. 

   8. Cook at Home and Walk More

    Practicing healthy habits like cooking food at home is critical to achieving a healthy lifestyle. This is also considerably cheaper and healthier than eating in hotels. If you have limited time during the week, cook enough on the weekends. Also, if you have problems going to the gym, consider taking the staircase instead of an elevator. Take a stroll after dinner or adopt a hobby that will put you on the move like geocaching. 

   There are various adjustments that you can make in your daily life to complement your efforts to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The majority of these steps are easy to follow and inexpensive. You could, for instance, resolve to always walk from home to work, invest in a good water bottle or replace alcoholic drinks with healthy smoothies. A combination of healthy water intake, balanced nutrition and workouts will go a long way in achieving your goals related to a healthy lifestyle.

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