February 2017 - Lake Diary

A Duo of Traveller Necessities

maldives-travel The world is your oyster and you have the passion and desire to explore it. The temptation to travel and to let your wanderlust be your only guide is an overwhelming one. When traveling is in your sights, it can be difficult to bring yourself back down to the earth of reality.

Yet without reality, any travel expedition is doomed to failure. To truly see and experience all the things that you want to, you have to be ready for them. You have to be careful. And, most importantly, you have to make your preparations.

To do it right, you have to have the correct equipment for the job. The dream of slinging the nearest rucksack on your back having thrown the items you think you will need into it and then setting off is unrealistic. So love your preparation – it’s the thing that, ultimately, lets you see the world as you want to see it.

You Need… A Strong Bag

All of the hassle, stresses and strains that you go through as a traveller are rough. Your hair messes up, you sweat far more than you want to and you pound unfamiliar sidewalks with every new place. All of the things that you go through are made rougher on the bag you choose to travel with.

This is not an area on which you can have your primary concern be finding a bag of a low cost. Money isn’t everything, but quality is – and unfortunately, most of the time, the two of them go hand-in-hand. This applies both to luggage you take and the bag you carry around for day-to-day sightseeing; they have to be robust. If they’re not, you could find yourself spilling items all over a foreign train carriage – or worse, finding yourself an easy target for pickpockets.

So look for quality in manufacturers, and brands closer to the high-end of the market. You’ll thank yourself in the future!

A Reusable Water Bottle

Buying bottled water is expensive wherever you go in the world, especially the small bag-friendly sized bottles. It’s far more cost effective to buy large bottles from supermarkets in countries where it’s not safe to drink the water. In countries where it is, then just use the tap in your hotel room.

Don’t be tempted to use these sources to fill an old plastic bottle. A good, solid reusable water bottle is an essential – and make sure it’s BPA-free for maximum safety. You can’t go wrong with stainless steel containers; they’re heavier, but they’ll never let you down.
Of course, these two items are just the tip of the preparation iceberg – but you’re off to a flying start if you focus on them. What do you consider to be a holiday essential?

28 February 2017

Plan A Food And History Weekend In Malaga

Europe, Travel

If you are obsessed with the conviviality of Spanish food and believe that tapas is the best kind of food that you could find, then maybe you should plan a trip to Spain. There’s no denying that tapas have a lot to satisfy most hungry mouths, from the diversity of tastes and textures to the friendly atmosphere that they can create, so the best way to embrace your love for tapas is to go and try them in their natural environment, in Malaga where the country eats the most of these delicious little dishes. So get your best sunglasses, and prepare yourself for a taste of Malaga and its culture.

Getting There

While Malaga is the fourth busiest airport in Spain, it is unfortunately only connected to European flights. If you are a long-distance traveler, you will probably need to look for a connecting flights. Thankfully, most long distances flights land in London, Zurich or Paris in Europe, and these airport offer direct connections to Malaga, so your trip shouldn’t be too difficult to organize. Malaga is part of the EU zone, consequently EU travelers, US and Canadian travelers won’t need any visa authorization to get there – at least for holidays of less than 90 days. While you will find public transport from the airport into the most local towns, most holidaymakers prefer to organize a taxi ride with a local company such as booktaximalaga, as this is the easiest way to get to your hotel or your rented accommodation. As late flights are not uncommon, you probably want to relax in a cab before getting to your hotel and going to bed: This is better than trying to find your hotel at night and on your own!

Typical Malagan Cuisine

The traditional Malagan cuisine follows the same principles than you would expect from any Mediterranean country: Plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh fish, good quality olive oil, and delicious wines, without mentioning the daily-baked bread that is almost mandatory in the south! But Malaga has also very typical dishes from the region, like deep-fried fresh fish, or pescadito frito, porra which is a soup consisting of tomato and bread, and the ajoblanco, an almond and garlic version of the famous gazpacho soup. Almonds are an essential part of the Malagan cuisine, and you find it everywhere from soups to cakes. You will also find fun wine tours in Malaga, especially a wine and tapas cycling tour for the foodies who love to stay fit.

Don’t Forget The Historic Pause

Finally, once you’ve tasted the delicious food and drunken the best Andalucian wine, it’s time to embrace the cultural side of Malaga. Indeed, as the birthplace of Picasso, you will find that the place has a lot to offer, especially with a museum entirely dedicated to the painter’s life. If you are after a historic immersion, plan time for a visit to the Alcazaba fortress, which was built by the Moors in 1040. The fortress is built on ancient Roman site, unfortunately the Moors have repurposed the Roman stones so the nearby Roman theatre needs renovation work to show its true splendour. It’s interesting to know that the term Alcazaba comes from the Arabic al-qasbah, which is the original name of the building. It means the citadel.

The Roman remains in Malaga

24 February 2017

Good As New? How To Keep Your Prized Possessions In Mint Condition

How To

There is nothing quite like the feeling of new things in your home – be it clothes, dinner sets or furniture.

You unwrap the packaging, revelling in the smell, delighting in the excitement in how you will feel when wearing or using them. They are pristine to the touch, yet to be filled with the general grime of everyday life. It is a world of potential at your fingertips.

Okay, so that might be a little overly-romantic – but there’s still something to it. When things are new they are at their best… the unfortunate reality is that they will inevitably degrade.

When they begin to lose their new lustre, they begin to lose what makes them special and unique. They just become part of your everyday life rather than something special. That’s fine for general clothes that you just wear around the house, or for everyday crockery. For special items, you want to retain that feeling of them being special for as long as possible.

It therefore makes sense to practice good maintenance and management. So what exactly does that entail?

Roll, don’t fold.

Furniture encourages us to treat our clothes badly. It’s all the furniture’s fault, Fashion Police! They made me do it!

Drawers are useful, but folding clothes into drawers is not so great for the clothes. If you fold in the same way every time, they can develop crease patterns which eventually become weaknesses in the fabric.

It therefore makes sense to roll your clothes when storing them in drawers. Not only will you diminish the chance for creasing, you’ll also find with a bit of practice that you can fit more into the available space. And when is more storage not a good thing?

Check your washing appliances.

A washing machine that isn’t functioning properly can quickly become a torture chamber for clothes. Similarly, a dishwasher that is running out of steam can ruin your best dinner set.

Also think about the cleaning products you’re using in the machine. For example, fabric softener may make clothes feel new, but it’s rarely doing anything for the clothes. Instead, it’s just coating them in a very thin layer of softener that makes them feel soft to the touch rather than actually changing the state of the fabric.

Be careful of hangers.

Since drawers can be perilous, why not just switch to hanging all your clothes?

Because nothing in life is ever simple, this can be fraught with problems also. If you hang clothes in the same way, you can soon find weaknesses developing along where the hanger comes into contact with them. Soon, the force of gravity alone will stretch and misshape the material – especially if you leave them for long periods of time without being worn. Flocked or padded hangers will keep your clothes in better condition for longer.

Use lining paper in cupboards

Merely being in storage can leave traces on your tableware. Being in contact with a surface through extremes of heat can lead to condensation settling and in time, bacterial deposits. By using lining paper on the shelves of your cupboards, you reduce the amount of maintenance you will need to do, and ensure that when you have company, a quick polish with a cloth will be all they need.

23 February 2017

Finding Time For Your Health

Healthy Living

How often do you give a lack of time as an excuse? Have you delayed making that appointment for your health check or starting an exercise regime because you don’t have time. Or are you always grabbing food on the go because you haven’t got hours to devote to cooking at home? It’s true that many of us live hectic lives. But you should always find time for your health. If you feel like you haven’t got enough hours in the day, or you’re guilty of using time as an excuse, here are some useful tips and tricks.

Fast, healthy food

healthy food There’s an assumption that preparing healthy meals takes ages, but that simply isn’t true. You can rustle up a salad, warm up some soup, throw together a stir fry or grill some meat and vegetables in a matter of minutes. If you’re in a rush, you don’t have to rely on a takeout or a microwave meal. There are plenty of nutritious alternatives you can enjoy in less than 15 minutes. If your repertoire is limited, search online for inspiration. If you don’t have time to eat a healthy lunch at work, prepare your meals in advance. You can make sandwiches, wraps, soups, and pasta salads the night before.

Quick workouts

Are you one of those people who just doesn’t have time to exercise? If so, you may be doing the wrong types of exercise. Many people don’t have an hour or two spare to drive to the gym, do a workout, shower, and get back to the office. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t include any form of physical activity in your daily routine. You could cycle to work every day or swap gentle exercise for more intensive activities. If you do a 20-minute high-intensity interval training session, for example, you’ll burn as many calories as you would going for an hour-long jog. Another solution could be to invest in some home gym equipment. This way, you can get a workout in without having to add time to get to and from a gym or a sports centre.

No matter how busy you are, you should always make time for your health. These tips will help you to save time and boost your health.

22 February 2017

Fitness Gets Personal

Healthy Living

Lots of us start a new health and fitness regime with good intentions but with daily life, such as work pressures, family obligations, and a busy social calendar, our vow to workout five days a week quickly falls by the wayside. While gym sessions, fitness classes, and running clubs are an excellent way to get yourself in shape, there are those of us that need, well, a little bit more motivation. We require someone that’s going to be in our corner no matter what and, unlike family and friends, feels comfortable pushing us past our comfort barrier to achieve results.

What was once a luxury only the rich and famous could afford, has become an everyday occurrence thanks to a variety of payment plans, session bundles, and individual programs. People are gradually cottoning on to what they spend on snacks, clothes and nights out can also be used to help improve their overall health and fitness. Personal trainers aren’t a new thing, in fact, athletes and sports stars have had access to a fitness coach for years, but for regular people, the novelty of a personal trainer means we’re hiring more of them than ever before. Ironically, thanks to technology the personal training of PT industry is performing better than ever. Fitness data is easier to access, interpret and share with the client while helping trainers pinpoint accurately what’s working well and what needs improving.

Studies have also shown that those who have access to a PT do better than those without but why is this? Firstly, trainers are personal and while they may have many clients on their books the time that they spend with you is solely focused on improving your fitness. Secondly, believe it or not, qualified personal trainers possess excellent communication skills, as well as an understanding of psychology that allows them to motivate, encourage and support clients. Lastly, they have a keen emotional awareness; trainers walk the line between pushing someone out of their comfort zone, and knowing when someone’s reached their limit. However, real results are often seen when both trainer and client work together having established a mutual respect and trust.

Perfect Match

Obviously, the best place to start is at your gym as most fitness centres have one, or more permanent personal trainers on staff at all times. Speak to them about your fitness goals; you’re not setting anything in stone here just having a friendly chat to see if you like them as a person. Don’t worry if you don’t get the right vibes, just move on until you find someone you click with. Why not speak to friends and family who already have trainers to see if they can recommend someone or check out fitness forums online where local trainers advertise. Arrange a consultation where you can find out more about their qualifications. This is absolutely vital as they’ll be the one in charge of your fitness program, and if they don’t know what they’re doing, they could seriously injure you!

20 Questions

Be honest about your current level of fitness while asking where they trained and how long they’ve been in the industry. Yes, they may have this information on their website, but it never hurts to have things explained in person. Try to find someone that has a national, or international accreditation as it often means that they’ve had more experience but understand that you’ll be paying a premium for that expertise. Look at what certificates they have, and if they’re up to date, an expired certificate or license is never good and make sure you check their workplace before you sign anything.

Look to speak to their manager or any previous clients to get a feel for how well they perform. Not all personal trainers are the same, depending on what fitness regime you seek some may decide you’re a better fit with a colleague, but don’t be afraid to give them a thorough grilling either. Experts suggest you ask questions about previous clients, their success rates, what their style is, how much their fees are and if they work just one-on-one or in small groups. The last thing you want to do is turn up to your first session, nervous as hell and be met with six other people.

Your trainer should have no issues with you watching a session either; it’s a great way to see how they work, interact with the client and what methods they use to reach the client’s potential. Avoid trainers who seem unusually vain, more into working out themselves, buying

sports wear and showing off their Adidas originals shoes than putting clients through their paces. Another red flag is trainers who spend an inordinate amount of time chatting or who stop half way through the session. You need someone that’s going to be there alongside you every step of the way, not talking on their phone or drinking energy drinks every five minutes!

Get In Tune

Once you’ve found someone you can work with now’s the time to talk about your goals in more detail and why you want to get in shape. Don’t be afraid to share personal weight issues, a good trainer will have heard many of them before and will reassure you. While it’s important to establish a great working relationship, i.e. Doing the homework they set you, turning up on time and wearing the right gear for fitness it’s worth remembering that they aren’t your friend. It’s fine to be friendly, but at the end of the day you are a client, meetings should be kept professional and only when you wish to no longer employ them should you consider approaching them in a social capacity.

A good trainer will understand your limits, any health concerns, and will work with you to achieve your fitness goals and will take the time to learn from you as well as leading the session. If something’s not working for you or you feel like a certain exercise is too risky a professional will quickly, confidently and easily adapt the session and later discuss how to get the around the issue.

20 February 2017

Serene Spaces: How You Can Relax More At Home

Healthy Living

After a long day, all you want to do is come home, kick off your shoes and relax. There’s nothing wrong with this, you should completely embrace doing nothing when you have the chance! Resting and relaxing can help to keep you productive, prevent you from feeling overworked and ‘burned out’ and is good for your health too. So creating a home that aids in relaxation is only a good thing. Here’s how you can go about it.

Achieve a Spa- Like Bathroom

Hot baths are a free and accessible way to completely relax. The hot water can loosen stiff muscles, lower blood pressure and give you a bit of quiet time to just clear your head. If you’re more of a quick showers kind of person, now’s the time to start embracing baths. Give your bathroom a refresh or even a full makeover if it needs it, this will give you the perfect surroundings to enjoy some me- time. At the very least, give it a good clean and buy some decent storage to keep clutter at a minimum. Pampering products, scented candles, a soft bath mat and large fluffy towels are all essentials.

Make Your Bedroom A Sleep Sanctuary

Does your bedroom have more gadgets than a technology shop? Televisions, computers, speakers, phones, tablets- you name it. Blinking LED lights and the glow from screens have all been shown to affect a chemical called melatonin in our brain which is needed to ‘switch off’ at night and fall asleep. If you can’t move your technology out of the bedroom completely, at least make sure everything is completely switched off (and isn’t on standby) each night when you go to bed. Instead, it’s all about mood lighting, a soft glow where you can read a book or meditate to unwind in the evening. You could go with scented candles, or a lamp with a soft bulb. Another thing that can help keep your room relaxing is having a general declutter. A tidy room equals a tidy mind, when you’re surrounded by mess it’s a stressful environment and not the best when you’re trying to chill out

Create a Comfy Seating Area

A comfy seating area is a must for those lazy evenings and weekends. Better still, upgrade your home entertainment system so you can watch box sets, movies and all your favorite shows in the best quality while you put your feet up. A large sofa or two or an armchair, lots of cushions and cozy throws for comfort and a footstool gives you the perfect chill out area. Go for the largest furniture you can for the size of the room, measure carefully to make sure you still have enough space to move around.

Is your home as relaxing as you’d like it to be?

18 February 2017

5 British Dishes You Must Try When in London

Food

British cuisine is known for its specific set of cooking traditions, which have been passed down for centuries. Regardless of what the French might think of English cooking, they can pack a punch, given that they are made with fresh local ingredients, matched with simple sauces to accentuate the flavour, rather than disguise it. British food has traditionally been based on beef, lamb, pork, chicken and fish. It is generally served with potatoes and one other vegetable.

Even the full English breakfast is a mighty meal by itself. It is delicious and usually inexpensive. To enjoy this meal and many others to the fullest, stay at great value budget hotels in Earls Court, such as Hotel Lily, which offers a breakfast that consists of sausages, mushrooms, eggs, tomatoes, potatoes and more.

5 Traditional Dishes to Try While in London

Here are five must try dishes during your stay in the capital of the UK:

Fish & Chips: Traditional Fish & Chips has been on the top of any foodie’s list for not just decades, but maybe centuries, for times when they visit London. The dish is a combination of fried battered fish and hot chips. They are often garnished with salt and vinegar and are traditionally eaten with mushy peas.

Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding: A true British classic, the Sunday Roast is typically served on Sunday, as the name suggests. It consists of roasted meat, potatoes, vegetables, gravy, and accompanied by Yorkshire Pudding. The pudding is made of batter consisting of eggs, flour and milk or water. You’ll find this dish in the menu of almost all cheap & budget hotels in Earls Court. The size of the dish is such that you might find it difficult to finish all by yourself!

Pie and Mash: This has been the staple diet of Londoners for centuries. It is traditional working-class food that originated inthe city itself. The dish has come a long way from the simple steak and kidney pie to pork pies. You’ll have a whole plethora of pie types to choose from in Britain. The pie is served with a pile of creamy mashed potatoes and lashings of gravy.

Eton Mess: A traditionalEnglish dessert, this dish is a fabulous mix of crushed meringue, whipped heavy cream and strawberries. However, several variants are made using different kinds of fruits or with ice cream instead of simple cream. But nothing can beat the classic strawberry version.

Beef Wellington: Moorish, flaky and filling, Beef Wellington is a standard British classic, made of filet steak, covered with pate and duxelles. It is then wrapped in a puff pastry and baked. However, the tenderloin may be sliced into individual portions prior to wrapping and baking. Spices like allspice and ginger are added to enhance the flavour.

For a great experience and best value, stay at the reputable budget hotels near Earls Court Station. And, the next time you visit London, don’t miss out on enjoying the ultimate British tradition, the afternoon tea, which begins with a glass of champagne-rose. Accompanied with finger sandwiches and scones, lathered with fig and strawberry jam, along with pastries that include a tangy citrus meringue and pistachio profiterole. The list goes on!

18 February 2017

Taking a Tour through Buckingham Palace? Don’t Miss These Things

Europe, Travel

For millions of visitors, Buckingham Palace is one of the most iconic sights in London, and indeed in entire England. The palace started as the Buckingham House in 1761 when George III bought it for his wife, Queen Charlotte. Later, the house was transformed into the palace we know today by George IV. However, the first sovereign to take up residence at this palace was Queen Victoria, who moved there in 1837. Today, this palace is the official residence of the British royal family.

The Holiday Inn London West is one of the best hotels in Acton, takes pride in this British icon, which is the queen’s official and main royal London home. They suggest that cheap & budget hotels in Acton can be a great way to save money that can then be spent on sight-seeing and souvenirs.

But what makes Buckingham Palace so special, apart from the fact that it is home to the royal family? When you make your way through Buckingham Palace, the first thing that catches your eye is the flag on the roof. Once inside, you can actually go clock-spotting, with more than 350 clocks and watches throughout the palace, the largest collections of working clocks in the world!

Apart from this, make sure you see:

The Staterooms

Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms, including the 19 State Rooms and 78 bathrooms. The Staterooms are lavishly decorated public rooms where the monarch receives, rewards and entertains her subjects and visiting dignitaries. During the royal wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or our very favourite, William and Kate, several of them were used for the reception. These rooms are awash with sparkling candelabra, marble columns, sumptuous carpets, damask wallpaper, sculpture, fine furniture, and multiple works of art.

The Grand Staircase

The magnificent bronze staircase was designed by architect John Nash, as part of his commission to remodel the palace for King George IV from 1825 to 1830. The impressive double balustrade features an intricate pattern of acanthus, oak and laurel leaves. It represents some of the world’s finest bronze casting work. But that’s not all, the stairs are lit by an etched glass dome in the ceiling. You can easily visit the palace to see this sight and more by opting to stay at hotels close to Wembley Stadium & Twickenham.

Explicit Fine Art

On your tour, you’ll come across paintings by Van Dyck, Rubens, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Poussin, Canaletto and Claude, as well as sculptures by Canova and Chantrey. You’ll see some wonderful portraits of past and present royals in the State Rooms, including those of Queen Victoria, George III and Queen Charlotte, and, of course, the current royal family.

The Throne Room

The majestic Throne Room contains the thrones that are used for investitures and ceremonial receptions, such as at The Queen’s Jubilee. The room also doubles as a ballroom on occasion. The room has famous royal wedding photos including those of Princess Elizabeth II and The Duke of Edinburgh in 1947.

The Garden

Covering an impressive 39 acres, and containing more than 350 types of wildflowers, around 200 trees and a three-acre lake, the garden at the Buckingham Palace will leave you awestruck. The Queen’s annual Garden Parties are also organized here. Don’t miss the tennis courts where King George VI and Fred Perry played in the 1930s.

When planning a trip to London, check out hotels in Acton and hotels close to Wembley Stadium & Twickenham so that you have easy access to all the important sight-seeing locations.

16 February 2017

America: Which City?

Travel, USA & Canada

So you have decided to go to America, but which city is for you? Some people have to travel on a budget, while others save up and travel a huge wedge of America in one trip. But for those on a budget it can be quite hard deciding on which city you are going to visit. This guide looks at some of the best cities in America and aims to help you make a decision by showing you what’s best about each place. There are some truly stunning places in the world to visit, and America has so many of them. Take your time when you pick and if you feel your budget it too low for what you want to do consider waiting and saving up some more money so you can fully appreciate your trip to whichever city you eventually choose. There are pro’s and con’s to each city, but remember, different people like different things. So everyone will want someone different, the trick is finding a city that not just you will enjoy, but your family or travel companions will too.

Las Vegas

This is a stunning city full of lights and noises. A great place for people who love to party or just appreciate the hustle and bustle of Vegas life. There are many things for you to do here. If you enjoy shows then there are a huge amount ranging from top celebrity music acts, magic, acrobatics, the list goes on. Vegas is of course also well known for its casino culture. If you are a bit of a gambler then this city is certainly for you. It has a huge amount of casinos of all different themes for you to enjoy. The great thing is, you don’t have to be a high roller to enjoy them, instead you can opt for playing the slots or using the low buy in tables. There really is something for everyone here.

It isn’t just a place to visit for shows, clubs and casinos though. You can also visit wider Nevada like the valley of fire national park or the hoover dam. If you wanted to stay in Vegas itself, don’t worry. There are countless museums for you to check out and the city has a rich criminal history based around the mob. The city caters to all tastes, you can even bring your family along. Just be sure you plan what you are doing before you get there otherwise you may end up disappointed as it isn’t really the kind of place you can just choose to do something, everything has tickets and runs like clockwork.

New York City

You’ve probably heard heaps about the NYC already. A stunning place to visit for people wanted a true slice of American culture. It is full of a multitude of nationalities and really shows the immigrant routes of America. Manhattan is a natural attraction point which has countless places to explore and building to climb. A trip up the Empire State building is always worth doing, the photos you can capture here are second to none. If you wanted a more encapsulating view of NYC then try a helicopter tour.

The statue of liberty is another point of attraction, which you can climb and check out the internal mechanisms yourself. Of course, the shopping in New York is second to none, with thousands of shops and boutiques all vying for your cash. You can watch some awesome baseball and basketball games whilst also watching some shows on the all hallowed broadway. You can also get your food fill here too. The countless of people types here mean you can get all kinds of great food, from five star dining experiences to simple hot dog street food. It’s all good.

The metropolitan museum of art, or met, caters for those with a love of art and is one of the best museums of its kind in the world. For those with a history buff then this city is for you as it’s rich history is portrayed in many museums throughout the city. New York city offers all kinds of awesome things to do. If you are stuck in which city to visit then this is a must as you can please people of all tastes. History, sport, architecture, the list goes on. It is especially nice as a place for a romantic getaway. Christmas is a lovely time to visit as the city does well in capturing the true essence of Christmas. Wrap up warm though, the win really does whip up through the high rise buildings and snow falls in droves during winter.

Washington DC

DC is the home of the political heart of the united states and is the country’s capital city. It is a wonderful place to visit, especially those with a leaning towards all things political. You can go and see the white house or maybe go to the capital building, the iconic domed building where the senate house resides. Again, one of the best museums in the world resides here in that of the smithsonian, a great museum of culture which was established in 1846. There are also more interesting museums such as the national spy museum, or the museum of natural history. The lincoln memorial is another stunning American monument for the history buffs out there.

Washington is a lovely city full of angular architecture and monuments that really reflect what the USA is today. But, it isn’t really a place to take thrill seekers and people who don’t appreciate the finer things in life. This is a place for refinement and lovers of history and politics. It’s fine if you are stopping off here as part of a bigger journey, but if you are only coming here, be sure you have done your research before hand.

Los Angeles is another city of a different kind. It ranges from slums and the poorest of people to those who live in the iconic beverly hills. This is a stunning city to visit dominated by the ever present hollywood sign hanging above the move centric neighbourhood of the same name. LA is vital for those who love all things films. There are all kinds of movie tours you can do with a plethora of move related museums and shops to discover. The benefit of LA is the heat. If you enjoy the sun you can catch the rays in the day and relax in the night at one of the many restaurants.

Kids will love it too due to the Universal Studios being nearby where you can send all day going on movie based rides and tours. The wizarding world of Harry Potter, attached to the park, is also a magical place that can take you to another world, somewhere your kids will never forget and full of amazing photo opportunities for all. There are museums, and countless attractions like madame tussauds hollywood. The city is good for all ages, just try not to venture to less reputable areas because they have quite a bad crime rate in the city.

New Orleans

New Orleans, or the big easy, is an awesome place to go if you are interested in America’s southern history. It is a stunning place to travel for food, as the mixture or cultures all make for a stunning mixture and culinary differences which you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere. Jazz aficionados will love this city, as the many jazz bars and shows all do well in opening your eyes to the musical routes of the city. The French quarter is great for this, and houses some stunning feats of architecture as well as its share of supposedly haunted buildings. Other places like the aquarium of the americas houses some interesting marine life to give you a break from the excessive consumption of bourbon. For those who love to party, the big easy is the place to be. Huge street carnivals and mardis gras are a major attraction for those looking to let loose in the city. The late winter carnival is famed for the amazing costumes and street parties which you can either watch from a hotel window or get down and involved with yourself.

Boston

One of the ultimate places to go if you love american history. An old city, founded in 1630 which was involved in the bloody war of independance from the British rule. If you are interested in this kind of history then the freedom trail is for you, a trail of markers that take you through some of Boston’s most important and most interesting sites. The floating history museum can be a good pull for kids as they always have something going on like reenactments or special exhibits. Sports fans can rejoice too, the boston red sox rarely disappoint and a night out at Fenway park is always one to remember. Boston is teeming with colonial history and is a centre point for the USA’s first steps towards independence. A beautiful city to visit at any time of the year.

15 February 2017

Love Skiing, Snowboarding? You’ve Just Gotta Visit These Places

Travel

If you fancy yourself a skier, there’s a certain pressure to prove it by listing the places that you’ve been. But where are those places? Here are some of the most important ski destinations anywhere in the world for you to fawn over and put on your bucket list.

Livigno, Italy

Livigno is one of the higher resorts in Europe at around 3000 meters, and it plays host to plenty of powder late in the season to boot.

The great thing about Livigno, and the reason why it attracts skiers year after year if the fact that the sun always seems to shine on this small patch of the Italian Alps. Despite all this, the skiing usually lasts until the early May, meaning that it’s possible to combine a spot of skiing with your spring break.

Thanks to incentives from the Italian government, the resort is also tax-free, meaning that the food and the drink here is super cheap. The only complaint about the resort is that the ski slopes themselves aren’t particularly expensive. They are contained in an area only 4 kilometers long and a kilometer wide, meaning that it’s unlikely to keep you entertained for more than a week.

Gassan, Japan

Back in 1972, Japan hosted the winter Olympics. Ever since then the country has been associated with winter sports.

Photo credit:Wikimedia Commons

Gassan is located on Japan’s main island of Honshu. Every year Gassan gets a deluge of about eight meters of snow, making it the perfect place for skiing. There’s just one problem: so severe is the deluge that the resorts here don’t open until early April since it usually takes that long to clear the roads.

The good news is that the ski season lasts until late July, meaning that it’s one of the few places in Asia that offer summertime skiing options. The community around Mount Gassan prides itself on its exquisite mineral water, said to be the purest on Earth. If you visit, make sure you give it a try.

Whistler-BlackComb, Canada

Blackcomb mountain is famous for the enormous glacier that sits on its surface. Thanks to its size and height, skiers can be found on the Whistler mountainside as late as June before the bikers take over the whole resort. The area also offers complete ski instructor courses for newbies who want to learn the ropes and teach their skills to others.

Photo credit: Flickr

The views around here are spectacular: think Lord of the Rings-style landscapes. Visitors can enjoy the beautiful landscape on one of the many gondola rides that crisscross the area.

Mammoth, California

Photo credit: Flickr

A couple of thousand miles south of Whistler sits Mammoth in California, an area that boasts more than 300 days of continuous sunshine every year. The ski season here lasts until about June before the powder starts to melt and become unstable. As a result, it makes a great alternative place to take the kids. There is loads to do here, including snow tubing, hiking around the Mammoth Lakes and chilling out in many of the area’s premier mountain resorts.

14 February 2017

Start Every Day With A Smile

Grow Better, Healthy Living

Have you made New Year’s resolutions? Are you trying to get fit, eat more greens or give up smoking? We tend to focus on our physical health when we try and get healthy, but mental health matters too. If you don’t feel happy when you wake up every morning, it’s time to focus on your mind, as well as your body. Here are some tips to help you start every day with a smile.

Set an alarm

Do you rush around every morning trying to get to work on time or attempting to get the kids ready and out of the door? If every morning is a frantic rush, try adjusting your sleep routine. Set an alarm for the same time every morning, and make sure you have enough time available to get everything done. There’s nothing worse than starting your day in a panic. Give yourself that extra 15 or 30 minutes, and it will make such a difference.

set alarm

Stretch

Not all of us are morning people, and sometimes, we need that extra boost to start the day feeling energetic and motivated. A 5-minute stretching session will get your body and mind ready for the day. Get those muscles working, bring your heart rate up slightly, and focus your mind.

Prepare in advance

If you have time at night, plan ahead for the next day. Get your clothes out, iron a blouse or make your lunch. The simplest things will make all the difference. You’ll be able to sleep better knowing that you haven’t got loads to do, and you can enjoy a more leisurely morning.

De-stress and get enough sleep

Even the most superhuman people struggle to get through the day when they’ve not had enough sleep. It’s vital that you give yourself the best chance of getting enough quality sleep each and every night. Take time to relax and de-stress before you go to bed. Read a magazine, chat to your friends or watch a movie. If you go to bed feeling anxious or tense, you’ll find it difficult to get to sleep. If you can’t sleep on a regular basis, it’s a good idea to get some advice. Missing out on sleep will increase your risk of both mental and physical health problems. If you feel tired every morning, try going to bed half an hour or an hour earlier.

14 February 2017

Turn Your Passion For Fashion Into Something More

Style + Design

Many of us have a love for fashion. When we’re not buying new clothes and accessories, we’re choosing our outfits for the day (and maybe the next day, too). What you might not have thought about is that your love for fashion can be seen as a skill. If you have valuable knowledge about fashion, you can turn your love for it into something more. You don’t just have to enjoy choosing clothes and dressing up. You can use your passion to expand it into a further hobby or even influence your career. Here’s what you could do with your love for fashion.

Start Making Your Own Clothes

You already know a lot about how to wear clothes, but what do you know about making them? A lot of people who love fashion eventually start trying to make clothes and accessories themselves. There are some great benefits to doing this. You can create unique items that no one else owns, and it’s a relaxing hobby too. You can also modify your existing clothes to refresh them. When you first get started, consider a mini sewing machine. It’s a good idea to start off with something small before you invest in something bigger and more expensive.

Make Fashion Part of Your Career

Have you always dreamed of working in the fashion industry? But perhaps you don’t have the right skillset to be a model, make-up artist, or photographer. If you love fashion, there could be many other roles in or alongside the industry that could be suitable for you. For example, perhaps your expertise is in marketing. With your experience in marketing and your knowledge of fashion, you could be ideal to provide marketing services to fashion companies. Or maybe your fashion knowledge would come in handy in a retail job.

Share Your Passion with Others

Sharing your passion and knowledge can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. A lot of people who love fashion will offer advice to friends and family. But you can find a bigger audience to share with if you want to. Starting a blog or even a YouTube channel is a great way to have somewhere to talk about what you love. It also means your friends and family don’t have to listen to you as much! Think about how you might approach creating a blog or making videos to attract other people who are interested in fashion.

Start a Fashion Business

Another way to make money from what you love is to start a business related to fashion. You might design and make your own products if you enjoy doing that. Or you could use your knowledge to source and sell products that people want. If you’re good at spotting rising fashion trends, an online store could work for you. However, starting a business is always tough, and it’s especially so in the fashion industry. Think carefully before doing anything. You can turn your passion for fashion into something more if you want to. You only have to put your mind to it.

12 February 2017

Finish What You Started – Always

Grow Better, Self Movitavtion

Being a Piscean, I do have the natural tendency to impulsively start a lots of new projects but loose interest very quickly without finishing any of them. My upbringing kind of helped this bad habit to be instilled into me for a long time. I grew up in a household with unfinished projects at home like many 1/8 knitted sweaters by my mum, unfinished wall panelling, hundreds of cookbooks bought by my mum with most of them untouched. I’m sure mum had the good intention to be better at cooking but buying books without keeping practising to be better didn’t really help. To this day, she’s still a pretty bad cook.

It took me too long to realise the importance of having the discipline to always finish what you started. Luckily I haven’t given up on myself completely, yet:). From 2015 I made the decision to use this blog to help me become disciplined. What I want to achieve is to keep exercising and reading everyday. As I’m pretty lazy and live a sedentary lifestyle, it wasn’t easy for me to develop an exercise routine but I started slowly by doing plank, pushups and jumping rope at home whenever I can. Gradually, the habit of exercising lightly everyday (even for just 5 minutes) has finally been formed. Yesterday I published a post of 20 at home exercises to to tone your abs, butt, legs and arms. Who could have thought these 20 exercises were not easy for me at all when I first tried them this morning! Most of them I couldn’t only do 1 or 2 repetitions. A few of them I simply could not do. Can’t believe it? Try rolling squat.

I could roll my back on the floor alright, but it stopped there. Is that even possible to roll back on your feet to a squat position again? I guess many people can, but not me. Argh. By the time I finished trying all these 20 exercises, my face was covered with sweat and my heart was nearly jumping out of my chest. Ok, I count this as a good start. Note to self: Let’s just keep doing that every morning and see when you can do one proper rolling squat, shall we?

As to reading, I was looking for a new book to read a couple of weeks ago and eventually settled on The Great Philosophers – The Lives and Ideas of History’s Greatest Thinkers. Without finishing it, another book that I didn’t finish reading came into my mind – For Whom The Bell Tolls. It’s regarded as one of Hemingways’ best works but for some reason, it was very trying for me to finish reading it. Maybe it’s because I’m not patient enough to read a few hundred pages that only cover a few day’s story; maybe I couldn’t fully grasp the spirit of those Spanish language elements in the book… Whatever it is, I’ve got to remember to finish what I started. By the way I’m also listening to the audio biography book: Edison, His Life and Inventions. I’ll read/listen to these books alternately and won’t start another book before finishing with these three first. Surely I’ll appreciate Hemingway’s book more once it’s viewed in completion.

Finish what you started, always.

8 February 2017

20 At Home Exercises To Tone Your Abs, Butt, Legs & Arms

Exercise Routine, Grow Better

I’ve just come across 20 exercises that can be done at home to tone up these common problem areas: abs, butt, arms and legs as shown below. Can’t wait to try them out and see if they actually work.

For abs/waist:

Cobra lat pulldown: Arms are always in the air.

Frog bridge: Feet together.

Knee hugs:

Side crunch:
Star toe touch sit ups:

For Butt:

Lunge back kick:

Rolling squat

Squat jumps:

Squat kickback:

Surrender:

For arms:

Arm swings:

Asymmetrical push up:

Hindu push ups:

Pike push up:

For legs:

Diamond kicks:

Fingertip to toe jacks:

Flutter kicks:

Frog crunches:

Lying hamstring curls:

7 February 2017

How To Spend Quality Family Time Together On Your Winter Vacation

Travel

If your children are starting to grow up and get older then you’re probably painfully aware that spending quality time together is getting harder and harder as time goes by. As your kids get more independent they get more and more into their own lives – and although obviously as a parent you welcome that, it can also come with a few slightly bittersweet feelings if you miss the time you used to spend with your kids when they were little and thought that you were the center of their universe. Luckily, there are times where you can really reconnect with your kids – and here are some ways that you can do so while you’re on vacation…

During winter you’re probably wishing desperately to spend a little time on the beach. Here are some tips to help if you want to take your family on a winter sun vacation!

Winter Sun Break

Plan activities to do as a family. When you’re on a sunny vacation then it’s very easy to drift apart and not spend much time together as a family. During the day you can sunbathe silently, read, go swimming alone – so it’s important that you hang out together to make some great memories. Check out where the local arcade is and take your kids along and buy a bat and ball so you can play on the beach together. Check out what’s going on in the local area – there might be a festival or a regular market that you can all go to, and pretty much no one will object to being taken out for lunch or dinner!

Bring games. If we’re honest, and if you think back to when you were younger, going on vacation with your family isn’t always the best time. Sure, you appreciate them spending the money and you loved the sun, sea and sand (and probably also the sight of cute surfers every day), but spending time with your parents and siblings isn’t always what you want to be doing – and although there’s plenty to do during the day like sunbathing and swimming, the evenings are a whole other matter. It’s down to you as a parent to make sure that you have things to do as a family once you’re home from dinner. Bring board games that you can all play together along with decks of cards and you’ll soon find that your surly teens lose their inhibitions and have a great time.

Winter Sports Vacation

If you’re a sporty family then there’s nothing better than zooming off on a winter sports vacation this time of year. Whether you love snowboarding or skiing, it’s the perfect vacation to help keep you fit and give you a break from your everyday life.

Do something that’s new to all of you. If you’re going to do some winter sports then chances are, different members of your family are at different levels of competency. Maybe you’re a championship skier, while your partner prefers the hot chocolate and apres ski life – or maybe your daughter’s love snowboarding while your son’s more the sort of kid who likes to stay warm and cozy by the fire with a good book. If you force everyone to go out together to do the same activity then someone’s going to feel left out, but if you ensure that you do something that’s completely new to all of you, then you’ll have far more fun. Whether it’s trying out new local delicacies at the ski resort restaurant or going ice skating for the first time since your kids were little, it’s important that you’re all learning something new together.

Go back to the same resort.

One of the most important things about family vacations is the memories that you can all make together. Going back to the same holiday destination will help you do that. Whether it’s up in Vermont or in Colorado, giving your kids a place to talk about in the future with their families, misty-eyed with nostalgia and happy memories, is an absolutely invaluable thing to do. A vacation that feels like a home away from home will be something that they’ll love forever.

City Weekend Away

When you’re on an action packed trip with your family then chances are, tensions will start to run high at some point because of how much time you’re spending together. Here are some ways to help you have the best time ever.

Make sure everyone gets to pick an activity. As your kids get older, they won’t necessarily want to do things that have been chosen for them by their parents. Even if the activity’s a fun one then the teenage resentment might make it a decidedly less fun day out! Make sure that your kids get to pick some of the things that you do and that they all get an equal chance to make decisions – and remember that their opinions count just as much as yours do. If your daughter opts to go shopping instead of to an art gallery then that’s okay – it’s her vacation too and she should be able to make some decisions about what she wants to do.

Give your kids some time to themselves. If they’re old enough to spend a little time away from you then now is the time to let them. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you should send them out on the local public transport by themselves – but if you’re at a museum then it’s okay to let your kids wander off by themselves with strict instructions to meet you at a certain point at a certain time. Trusting them to keep themselves safe and know what they’re doing is invaluable. As a parent it’s hard to accept that teaching our kids to be independent is a necessary life skill but it really is a crucial thing to do – and your family vacation is the ideal time to start doing that.

AND REMEMBER! More than anything else – make it clear that your vacation is a cell phone free destination! Have a great time.

3 February 2017

Archive for month: February, 2017