#here are some fun meals you can batch cook to save time and money

[derinthescarletpescatarian]

I've been watching a lot of gardening/cooking/chicken keeping youtube videos lately which means I get to play the fun knife-edge game with The Algorithm where I try to stay on the hinged side of "it's convenient to have spare food and fresh vegetables, and gardening is good exercise and a great set of valuable life skills" vs "if you don't fill your bunker with myalar bags of deoxygenated food and homebrewed alcohol today then when the libs collapse the government you'll starve along with your stupid woke neighbours"

[ideas-4-stories]

Silly fanfic idea I wanna drop here -

Everyone thinks out if the cross guild throttle, Mihawk is the only one who can cook. This is a fair assumption, but it's most definitely not true in the SLIGHTEST.

Buggy was a cabin boy and apprentice. His whole role on the Oro Jackson was to learn, and whereas Shanks took to the battle prowess with flying colors, Buggy's talents lied elsewhere. The likelihood of them both having menial chores to do, both as a "cabin boys do this" and "Oh we need to give the kids SOMETHING to do to burn energy", is very high. Buggy would bitch and moan about it, but would put genuine effort into it if only to do it better than Shanks. At some point it is discovered that Shanks could quite literally set water on fire. He is forbidden from the kitchen. Buggy is not. He can and WILL lord that over him for all time.

As a result, Buggy is the one to handle the kitchen chores - and eventually he asks questions of the cook(s) and helps out there too. He learns cooking and baking, and actually.. really enjoys it??

When time passes and he has his own crew, at first, he is the one making their meals. He teaches Mohji and Cabaji to cook some simpler dishes, and moves on from there. He enjoys it - it's Fun, Flashy, and Delicious. Plus, he is damned good at bartering, which saves him money and he does love money. This is simple math.

As the crew grows, he does get cooks on board as well. They all know that sometimes the captain will swing by, hair in a bun, bandana on, grabbing an apron, and they just wordlessly make a space for him to join.

By the time Cross Guild forms, Buggy has been a busy little bee. He hasn't had a chance to go get elbows deep in flour, meats or veggies in a very, very long time, but he's been able to slip off after nightfall to whip up some little treats when the urge hits. He misses the hustle and bustle of a kitchen sometimes, but this... this is nice, too.

Crocodile and Mihawk are surprised when one morning Buggy shows up to a meeting, sets down a plate of pastries, and gets to it. They tentatively take one and are flabbergasted by how good it is. Neither are much for sweets, just these are actually a perfect mix of buttery, warm, flakey goodness with just a pop of natural sweetness from the fruit. Crocodile makes a semi-snide comment on how "I didn't think your little carnival cooks could make anything that didn't induce tooth rotting."

Buggy doesn't even look up from the map he's using to plot a course. "Oh, I made those. The others tend to over sweeten the fruit filling, and you guys don't really like sugary stuff, so I made this batch the way Ray-san liked them. Hey, if we shift our shipment from Allena to the 17th, we may be able to mitigate a need for a second ship heading out-"

Both warlords are gaping - in their own ways, of course.

This is the first of many, many little factoids about Buggy that they learn during this business venture.

It's also the beginning of interest in him beyond a means to an end.

I would think Mihawk is the best at cooking with mostly anything, I like that Mihawk is really REALLY good at cooking. Crocodile would know how to do some because if one wants to survive, they need to know how to make sure somethings good to be eaten. Cooking is a good skill to have while surviving the world.

Definitely Shanks and Buggy has menual chorse to do around Oro Jackson. Buggy would complaint after finding out the new chores placed on them are mostly because the other crew members don’t want to do them, and yes Buggy does them with efficiency and genuine effort as Shanks stares in the corner whining about the chores as much as Buggy does. I can sees Buggy making a game out of cleaning the deck, so Shanks actaully helps him. By strappying cleaning brushes to their shoes and using mops as like hockey sticks. Buggy has a soap bar as the puck and they start playing. I would clean a deck if I could do that as well.

Peeps, I beileve Roger, Buggy, and Shanks have set water on fire before and maybe have burn down a island because they tried to cook. I doubt it’s only a Shanks thing… but I can say that it’s only 25% of the time for Buggy to burn something as Shanks is most likely 75% of the time. I beileve both cabin boys can go into the kitchen… just only with adult supervision. WHO IS NOT ROGER! It would be really cute if both tried their best wth the help of the cook(s) to make things for the crew… good thing they have iron stomachs… right?

I beileve Buggy is flashy great about making things that don’t need the stove or oven. I can see Buggy making little animals out of fruits and vegetables for fun, Roger and Shanks loves them.

Awwwwwwwwwww with Buggy helping Cabaji and Mohii how to cook and bake, I like to think Buggy met Cabaji way before becoming a pirate again. I have an idea about, I might write a story or stories about it or just write about on Tumblr… I don’t know yet. I love how whenever Buggy wants to cook or bake, the chefs on board will make room for their captain, that’s cute!

Then Buggy with bartering? Hell yeah on the fact Buggy is great at bartering with people, even when he isn’t trying. Money is a great thing to have, it’s truly simple math.

Buggy being a busy little bee even before the formation of Cross Guild, having some time since the last time he bakes or cook something. I want to make a fic about this! Thank you Anon for giving me a ask. I don’t when it will be done, but I want to think Buggy had another long stressful day and cannot sleep well. So, the Genuis Jester had a genius idea to destress by making some treats into the night. So, when in the next meeting, as Buggy comes in with apologizes for being late. Having notebooks filled with meeting ideas and things they need to discuss as well as a plate of like three-types treats.

Damn right Mihawk and Crocodile are flabbergasted by how good it it, Buggy is great with surpsing people with his hidden talents (well more like people don’t bother to ask about what Buggy can do, until he does them) Makes sense that both don’t really care, but I see Mihawk liking chocolate and candy canes (this is from a fic that stated that Mihawk likes them becuase they can be shaped into a deadly weapon) more than any other treats.

Not Crocodile making a semi-snide comment, problay wondering why the cooks can’t make treats like these and Buggy shoots back with oh becuase they didn’t make them, I did. I love both are shocked to the core for different reasons. Then having Buggy just think it’s no big deal and haven’t even looked up from the map. Still working as Crocodile and Mihawk have stop doing so from what Buggy said.

Awwwwwwwww, Buggy making treats like what Ray-San likes it. It’s so sweet and sad to me.

[sumayakhatun]

✪Here are 5 suggestions for kitchen problems:

① Put your kitchen in order: Finding what you need in a crowded kitchen can be challenging and might waste time and effort. Spend some time cleaning up the counters and cabinets in your kitchen, then arrange your possessions in a fashion that makes sense to you. For instance, you could arrange similar goods together or keep frequently used objects close to hand.

② Make use of the appropriate tools and gear: Cooking and cleaning can be made considerably simpler with the appropriate tools and equipment. For instance, if you have a sharp knife, chopping veggies will be quick and simple. Additionally, if you choose a cutting board of high quality, you won't have to be concerned about.

③ Develop a system: You may save time and money by using a system for meal planning, grocery shopping, and cooking. For instance, to ensure that you have wholesome and convenient meals to consume during the week, you may make a weekly meal plan and grocery list or batch-cook meals on the weekend.

④ Keep everything clean: Cleaning as you go is one of the finest methods to keep your kitchen tidy. This entails frequently taking out the trash, immediately loading dishes into the dishwasher, and wiping down counters after preparing food. Cleaning as you go can help keep dirt and grime from accumulating and making it simpler to clean your kitchen at the end of the day.

⑤ Take advantage of technology: Cooking and cleaning may be done more quickly and easily thanks to a variety of kitchen tools and appliances. For instance, a slow cooker can save you time in the kitchen while still enabling you to create nutritious meals. Additionally, a dishwasher can help you do dishes quickly and easily.

▸ Here are some more ideas that might be useful:

Invest in good quality storage containers. This will help you keep your food fresh and organized.

Label everything. This will help you keep track of what you have and when it expires.

Create a dedicated workspace for cooking and baking. This will help you stay organized and efficient.

Clean your kitchen regularly. This will help prevent the spread of bacteria and food poisoning.

Make your kitchen a fun and inviting space. This will encourage you to cook and eat healthy meals at home.

I hope these tips help you make your kitchen a more functional and enjoyable space.

[crystalgood]

Cooking rice on the stovetop is a simple and straightforward process, but it can be tricky to get the proportions right. Knowing how much water to use for two cups of rice on the stove is essential for achieving the perfect texture and flavor. In this article, we'll discuss the best way to measure the water for two cups of rice on the stove, as well as some tips for getting the perfect results. How to Measure the Right Amount of Water for 2 Cups of Rice on the Stove Cooking rice on the stovetop is a simple and delicious way to enjoy this versatile grain. To make sure your rice turns out perfectly, it's important to measure the right amount of water. Here's how to do it for two cups of rice: 1. Start by measuring two cups of rice into a pot. 2. Add two and a half cups of water to the pot. 3. Place the pot on the stove and turn the heat to high. 4. Once the water starts to boil, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. 5. Let the rice simmer for about 15 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed. 6. Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and enjoy! Cooking rice on the stovetop is easy and fun! With the right amount of water, you'll be sure to get perfectly cooked rice every time. The Benefits of Cooking Rice on the Stovetop Cooking rice on the stovetop is a great way to make a delicious and nutritious meal. Not only is it easy to do, but it also offers a variety of benefits that make it a great choice for any home cook. Here are just a few of the benefits of cooking rice on the stovetop: 1. It’s Quick and Easy: Cooking rice on the stovetop is a breeze. All you need is a pot, some water, and the rice of your choice. Simply bring the water to a boil, add the rice, and let it simmer until it’s cooked through. It’s a great way to make a quick and easy meal in no time. 2. It’s Versatile: Cooking rice on the stovetop allows you to get creative with your recipes. You can add different spices and herbs to give your rice a unique flavor, or you can mix in vegetables and proteins to make a complete meal. The possibilities are endless! 3. It’s Economical: Cooking rice on the stovetop is a great way to save money. Rice is an inexpensive ingredient, and it’s easy to make a large batch that will last for several meals. 4. It’s Healthy: Rice is a great source of complex carbohydrates, which provide energy and help keep you feeling full. It’s also low in fat and calories, making it a great choice for those looking to maintain a healthy diet. Cooking rice on the stovetop is a great way to make a delicious and nutritious meal. With its quick and easy preparation, versatility, economical cost, and health benefits, it’s no wonder why so many people choose to cook rice on the stovetop. So why not give it a try? You’ll be glad you did! Tips for Perfectly Cooked Rice Every Time Cooking perfect rice can be a tricky task, but with a few simple tips, you can be sure to get it right every time! Here are some tips for perfectly cooked rice: 1. Measure your rice and water accurately. For every cup of rice, use two cups of water. 2. Bring the water to a boil before adding the rice. This will help the rice cook evenly. 3. Once the rice is added, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. 4. Let the rice simmer for about 15-20 minutes. Don’t lift the lid during this time! 5. After the allotted time, turn off the heat and let the rice sit for 10 minutes. This will help the rice absorb the remaining water. 6. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving. With these tips, you’ll be sure to have perfectly cooked rice every time! Enjoy! The Science Behind the Perfect Rice-to-Water Ratio Cooking the perfect pot of rice is an art form, and the key to success is getting the right rice-to-water ratio. Too much water and you’ll end up with a soggy mess, too little and you’ll be left with crunchy, undercooked grains. But don’t worry, with a few simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to master the perfect pot of rice in no time!

The science behind the perfect rice-to-water ratio is actually quite simple. Rice is made up of starches, proteins, and other compounds that absorb water as they cook. The amount of water needed to cook the rice depends on the type of rice you’re using. Long-grain white rice, for example, requires a ratio of 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water. For short-grain white rice, the ratio is 1 cup of rice to 1.25 cups of water. When it comes to cooking the perfect pot of rice, timing is also key. The amount of time it takes for the rice to cook depends on the type of rice and the amount of water used. Generally speaking, long-grain white rice takes about 15 minutes to cook, while short-grain white rice takes about 12 minutes. Once the rice is cooked, it’s important to let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the starches to settle and the grains to become fluffy and tender. With these simple tips and tricks, you’ll be able to master the perfect pot of rice in no time! So go ahead and give it a try – you’ll be amazed at how delicious your rice turns out! How to Make the Most Flavorful Rice on the Stove Cooking flavorful rice on the stove is easy and rewarding! Here's how to make the most flavorful rice you've ever tasted: 1. Start with the right kind of rice. Long-grain white rice is the most common type of rice used for stovetop cooking, but you can also use basmati, jasmine, or brown rice. 2. Rinse the rice. This helps to remove any dirt or debris and also helps to reduce the amount of starch in the rice, which can make it sticky. 3. Toast the rice. Toasting the rice in a dry pan over medium heat for a few minutes helps to bring out the nutty flavor of the rice. 4. Add the right amount of liquid. For every cup of rice, you'll need two cups of liquid. This can be water, broth, or a combination of the two. 5. Add flavorings. To make your rice even more flavorful, add some aromatics like garlic, onion, or ginger. You can also add herbs and spices like cumin, coriander, or turmeric. 6. Bring the liquid to a boil. Once the liquid is boiling, reduce the heat to low and cover the pot. 7. Simmer. Let the rice simmer for about 15-20 minutes, or until all of the liquid has been absorbed. 8. Fluff and serve. Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and serve. Enjoy! With these simple steps, you'll be able to make the most flavorful rice on the stove. Bon appétit! The Best Way to Reheat Rice on the Stove Reheating rice on the stove is a great way to bring back the delicious flavor and texture of your favorite dish. Here's how to do it: 1. Start by adding a tablespoon of oil to a pan and heat it over medium heat. 2. Add the rice to the pan and stir it around to coat it in the oil. 3. Add a few tablespoons of water to the pan and stir it in. 4. Cover the pan with a lid and let the rice cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. 5. Once the rice is heated through, remove it from the heat and serve. Reheating rice on the stove is a quick and easy way to enjoy your favorite dishes. With just a few simple steps, you can have delicious, flavorful rice in no time! The Pros and Cons of Cooking Rice on the Stove Cooking rice on the stove is a great way to make a delicious side dish or main course. It’s easy to do and can be done in a variety of ways. However, there are some pros and cons to consider before you decide to cook your rice on the stove. Pros: 1. It’s fast and easy. Cooking rice on the stove is a quick and simple process. All you need is a pot, some water, and the rice. You can have a pot of cooked rice in as little as 20 minutes. 2. You can control the texture. When you cook rice on the stove, you can adjust the heat and cooking time to get the texture you want. Whether you prefer your rice fluffy or sticky, you can achieve the perfect texture every time. 3. You can add flavor. When you cook rice on the stove, you can add spices, herbs, and other flavorings to the water before you start cooking.

This will infuse the rice with flavor and make it even more delicious. Cons: 1. It requires constant attention. Cooking rice on the stove requires you to keep an eye on it and stir it occasionally. If you don’t, the rice can burn or stick to the bottom of the pot. 2. It can be messy. Rice can be a bit messy to cook on the stove, as it can splatter and boil over. You’ll need to be careful when stirring and serving the rice to avoid making a mess. 3. It can be difficult to get the right texture. If you’re not careful, it can be difficult to get the right texture when cooking rice on the stove. You’ll need to pay close attention to the heat and cooking time to get the perfect texture. Overall, cooking rice on the stove is a great way to make a delicious side dish or main course. It’s fast and easy, and you can control the texture and add flavor. However, it does require constant attention and can be a bit messy. With a bit of practice, you can master the art of cooking rice on the stove and enjoy delicious, perfectly cooked rice every time. How to Make Fluffy Rice on the Stovetop Every Time Making fluffy rice on the stovetop is easy and can be done in just a few simple steps! Here's how to make perfect fluffy rice every time: 1. Start by rinsing your rice. This helps to remove any excess starch and will give you a light and fluffy texture. 2. Measure out the amount of rice you need and add it to a pot with twice the amount of water. 3. Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cover the pot with a lid. 4. Let the rice simmer for about 15 minutes, or until all the water has been absorbed. 5. Once the rice is cooked, fluff it with a fork and serve. Making fluffy rice on the stovetop is a breeze! With these simple steps, you'll be able to make perfect fluffy rice every time. Enjoy! Conclusion In conclusion, the amount of water needed to cook two cups of rice on the stove is two and a half cups of water. This amount of water should be enough to cook the rice properly and ensure that it is cooked evenly. It is important to remember to use the correct amount of water when cooking rice on the stove to ensure that the rice is cooked properly and evenly.

[37-children-of-the-dreams]

Day #35: You Belong With Me

This is the last one before the epilogue. I had fun writing this piece of insanity. Goodbye boys.

—————————

As Crosshair kept smiling at the pure insanity that was Korkie’s life story, he can’t wait for them to be part of his future wedding. Crosshair said there was no way they would have a large one since Korkie’s not a Kryze anymore, but they would still have the family members that meant something to them. Though, he knows Obi-Wan wasn’t going to be there. It might be bittersweet that Korkie was never going to be given away by his blood family, but at least Nanny Rana was going to be there.

“So Obi-Wan is alive?” Echo asked. “He didn’t die at the temple?”

“He’s alive,” Korkie said. “But he’s in hiding. For what maybe the rest of his life.”

“Sorry about that then,” Tech said. “I’m not knowledgeable when it comes to Mandalorian House weddings, but I guess you don’t have a parent to give you away during the wedding?”

“Not at all. Yet, I did have a nanny. She’ll be happy to substitute for my parents.”

“Well Crosshair doesn’t have parents!” Wrecker pointed out. “We’re all clone and Prime never saw us as sons.”

“What about Hunter?” Fennec asked. “I mean, Hunter is your leader and older brother.”

Every member of the Bad Batch looked at Fennec and then at Hunter. Technically, Echo was the oldest, but Hunter was always going to be Crosshair’s older vod. So that should be okay?

“I mean does it work?” Hunter asked. “We’ve never met royalty who wanted to marry one of us.”

“Well,” Korkie said. “It would work. My grandparents died before my mother or former aunt could get married. By technically, the person giving them away during a Kryze wedding would be the eldest Kryze no matter the rank.”

“Hunter,” Crosshair called. “You better wear the best clothes we can get. I’m not going to be given away by you in camouflage!”

Wrecker laughed as Hunter rolled his eyes. Tech started talking about a suit shop they saw earlier that might provide the best clothes. Echo countered it by saying the wedding would be months away. Crosshair kept eating his meal as Korkie and Fennec were talking about buying her a suit in case Bo-Katan crashed the wedding. Dinner was finished when Wrecker couldn’t eat anymore.

“You really got lucky Crosshair,” Wrecker said. “He’s a good cook.”

“I might not never understand the Force,” Crosshair replied. “But I’m grateful if it brought us together.”

“Speaking of the Force,” Tech said. “What is the ability that you’re good at Korkie?”

“Force visions,” Korkie answered. “Mostly telepathic abilities that lie whether or not it’s considered the Light Side or the Dark Side.”

“So you’re really not a Jedi,” Echo said. “Most Jedis look toward the Light Side.”

“Well, I wasn’t raised as a Jedi. I only learned to hone my abilities through my visions. Even then, I am still learning.”

“Was it your visions that brought you three to the bounty?” Hunter asked.

“Yes it was,” Crosshair replied. “We have the last fob. As in the reason those people cornered us.”

“We were late,” Echo said. “There was another cantina with a fob for the bounty.”

“We need the prize for the Marauder,” Hunter explained. “Most for some repairs.”

Crosshair smirked. “Wanna help? The prize might get us all the credits we need.”

“Are you sure? I know we’ve both apologized, but are you really sure?”

“That prize is too dangerous since multiple groups are going crazy for a fob. If we team up, then we might have a chance.”

Hunter smiled and took out his left hand. Crosshair shook on it and they all went back to their respective ships. Korkie and Crosshair retreated to their joint room while Fennec was going to sleep in the pilot’s seat.

“Was this the craziest way to meet with your brothers again?” Korkie asked.

“Could have been worse,” Crosshair replied. “But at least we’ll be a band of brothers again.”

“What about the ship?”

“Who said we only needed one? Tech and Wrecker are good pilots, but having back up would be nice. Besides, we haven’t used the ship’s blasters yet.”

Korkie laughed as they fell asleep in each other’s arms.

Morning past and the Bad Batch met up with Crosshair, Korkie and Fennec at the entrance of a fortress. The fob went crazy as they got closer. Suddenly, a bunch of failed mercenaries got out when the doors opened. They looked like they went insane from the bounty. The Bad Batch and Crosshair’s group stood their ground and proceeded to enter the building.

It was bare and dark. Webs and dust littered the area as they walked in. Fennec used her scope to look for anything unusual while Tech analyze the area. So far, there was no threat. Then, Wrecker placed his foot on a tile. It triggered a trap that sent all of them underground. When they landed, Wrecker almost crushed Tech as Hunter and Echo avoided hitting each other. Fennec barrel rolled into Wrecker and Korkie barely had time to use the Force before Crosshair’s body hit him. Overall, everyone was okay.

The area they fell in only had a hallway with dimly lit fires and one door.

"I guess the real test is about to start," Korkie said. "By the way, I did use my visions last night, but it didn't seem to work."

"How in the world is that possible?" Echo asked.

"I have no idea. Maybe this place does not work with Seers?"

"We all might have to agree with that hypothesis," Tech said. "Force Seers are rarely written about due to their secrecy, and so no one really knows the full extent of their powers and the limits they have."

The group walked with caution towards a door. So far nothing was being triggered. If there was any trap, they were lucky. Hunter opened the door and a bunch of dust fell on the group. It wasn't poisoned from Tech's scan, but there was too much that make all of them cough. Or in Wrecker's case, sneeze like crazy.

"Makers bless you," Korkie said.

"Again, Crosshair," Wrecker sneezed. "Korkie's a keeper. He's nicer than you."

"I know," Crosshair coughed.

They kept going inside the room as the room got darker and dustier. It was beginning to make all of them feel claustrophobic as they kept walking, but Korkie used the Force to guide them to another room.

"How are you not afraid?" Fennec asked.

"I am," Korkie admitted. "But I have used Fear as a weapon, so I'm getting better in handling Fear as a weapon."

Korkie sensed another door and opened it. There was light and not much. The Bad Batch, Korkie and Fennec entered the room. Hunter suddenly went numb with a cold. Tech analyzed the room again and the scan went crazy.

"Something is wrong here," Tech announced. "I don't know what it is, but we need to be careful."

Korkie used the Force and screamed. He fell towards Crosshair who caught him.

"What happened?" Crosshair asked.

"It's so cold," Korkie replied. "There's a Force signal here, but it's so cold."

Crosshair hugged Korkie to warm him up. Korkie shook his head. It wasn't physical. It was using the Force. What ever the prize was, it was powerful enough to make entire groups of mercenaries run. Now, it was effecting both Hunter and Korkie to the point of weakened bodies.

Echo walked through the room with Wrecker and Fennec going with him. Tech stayed with Hunter who was panting in paused breaths as Korkie's breathing became colder as Crosshair kept hugging him.

The room exploded with light. Hunter screamed and Korkie writhe in pain. Hunter not have been Force sensitive, but he will always blame the Kamioans for making him hyper sensitive to everything. Korkie felt the anger and sadness of a Force being. It was angry that there were more people.

A figure of a female child came into view and pouted at them.

"Get away!" she screamed.

The child used the Force to push Echo and Fennec away, but Wrecker kept his ground and got Echo and Fennec back on their knees.

"Who are you?" Wrecker roared.

The child cried making Hunter and Korkie cry out in pain. They felt the child's sadness. Korkie looked at Crosshair to go to the child to end his pain.

"You're just another bad person!" the child cried. "Everyone wanted the treasure, but not the responsibility."

"If you tell us what responsibility you mean," Crosshair said. "Then can you stop hurting our family."

The child stopped crying. "You're a family?"

"We are. My name is Crosshair. The one who asked you first is my brother Wrecker. The ones you pushed are my brother Echo, and apprentice Fennec. The two in armor over there are my brothers Tech and Hunter, who you're hurting because he's sensitive. And the one I had to leave is my fiancee Korkie, who is like you, he also uses the Force and you're hurting so much it's hurting me too."

"How am I hurting you if you can't feel the Force?"

"Because I love him and we have a bond. And seeing the person I want to be with for the rest of my life is hurting me because I can't relieve his pain when he's done so much for me."

"I don't believe you!"

The child pushed him away from her. Once again Wrecker got to him and placed him safely on the ground. He was kneeling as Fennec went to his side.

"It's not going to work," Fennec said. "She is not happy."

Crosshair got up and walked back to her. He kneeled to her.

"I understand you're mad," he said. "Why?"

"I was taken away from my home," she cried. "By the time the man realized what he stole, it was too late. He placed me here for years and went back to bounty hunting. But, my people cursed him because I was a sacrifice. He died not opening any of his money and insane."

"I'm so sorry you died so young."

"I'm not dead. I'm just using the Force. I was sacrificed because I had it."

"Then, if you're not dead, can you be saved?"

"You wouldn't love me."

"But it's better to be freed than being a prisoner."

The little girl cried and faded away. Hunter and Korkie stopped being in pain. A wall opened in front of the group. Crosshair went back to Korkie to pick him up bridal style as Tech walked Hunter to the door. Wrecker opened the door and they all gasped.

There was treasure everywhere, and a dead body on a chair. Crosshair and Korkie wanted to find the girl and asked Tech for scanning. There was a secret door behind the treasure. Crosshair and Korkie opened it to find a small crib. There was a little baby who was crying. Korkie smiled and asked to be placed down. Crosshair obliged.

"She's so powerful," Korkie said as he cradled her.

"And she's been through do much," Crosshair said.

They looked at each other and agreed. They needed to take her away from this place and give her a better. It didn't matter if the child was highly different from them, no child deserved to live a harsh life. The group left the building with the child and whatever treasure they can take for them to live a good life.

At the Katalyst's bunk rooms, Korkie was too busy being a parent to their new crew mate that he didn't notice they had left the planet. The Havoc Marauder was next to the ship with Tech and Wrecker piloting.

"How's the child?" Tech asked through the ship's comm.

"Korkie's spoiling her," Crosshair said. "I think he won't let me handle her."

"Good luck raising a daughter," Hunter said.

Crosshair laughed. He did have a daughter now. Fennec was at Korkie's seat and smiled at him.

"Go to your future husband," she ordered.

Crosshair went to Korkie who was singing a lullaby to their new girl.

"She's perfect," Crosshair stated. "She looks like us. But with brown hair."

"She's from a alien species that doesn't grow up until they're a few years old," Korkie said. "But she's just five."

"Well, she's going to live an exciting life with us. Whether or not she's cursed."

"Oh no. She's not curse, it was the man who kidnapped her. This little one is perfectly fine by herself. Even if she never got a name."

"So she needs a name."

Korkie and Crosshair looked at each other and smiled. They looked at their new daughter with happiness.

"Welcome to the family, Sarad Katalyst."

[jeffreyxtkh652-blog]

7 Easy Ways To Make Nutrition Faster

Who doesn't like saving more cash? If you've recently gotten thinking about the raw food lifestyle and diet and are attempting to find more ways to economize performing it, listed here is a number of money-saving tips for you. Finding a way to choose this diet sustainable for you personally as well as your wallet might be the most key elements to make it work in your case. The other two factors are you must ensure it is fun and healthy/balanced!

1. Invest in a dehydrator and earn your chips, crackers, cookies, dehydrated nuts, etc. A good idea is usually to copy down the ingredients of packaged raw food snacks and make your version of which in your own home. It can be more enjoyable by doing this and you will make enough for some friends too.

2. Borrow raw food and also other health/spiritual books from your library as opposed to buying them and reading them once from the bookstore or online. You'd be surprised at how many raw food books the library system has. Most library websites have a very request function that may transfer the book(s) you would like to any local branch and notify you if it's ready to pick up.

3. Additional book options: You can organize a novel exchange by incorporating other health-conscious friends. Or you are able to buy those books you already know you would like for your collection from a web based bookstore like.

4. Buy your supplements on the internet and preferably in bulk, if possible.

5. If you don't need or want very much product, create co-ops along with your friends, buy large quantities, and split the shipping.

6. Make your cosmetics from the foods you have inside your kitchen.

7. Make and exchange food with friends to try out new recipes and reduce money and time: Either make raw food recipes in big batches and share among friends or organize your potluck and invite some friends. To allow it to be easy on them, it is possible to give them some easy recipes to select from or direct them among the numerous raw food recipe websites online.

8. Buy used kitchen equipment: Check online, at local nutrition stores for the notice board, or ask your family and friends if they have a blender, blender, or juicer they just don't use you could borrow.

9. Join a wholesale club and save big on family-sized bags and boxes of vegatables and fruits. You will probably undergo these just you'd like children would! You can find avocados, dates, organic spinach, raw nuts, some frozen fruit, and select organic berry at these stores.

10. Create your own individual raw food recipe books with all of your favorite or most appealing recipes by copying and pasting all of your preferred recipes posted online onto a thing processing document. You can use the find function in the same way you'd the index of the ebook.

11. Always search for several websites online for top possible price before choosing online (especially supplements). It's usually a similar product online versus in a raw food restaurant or local health store.

12 Make your own Rejuvelac and/or Kombucha if you can. Search online for ingredients and instructions. It's very easy and economical to perform. It could help you save money on Probiotic supplements as well.

13 Sprout your sprouts. Each tray of sprouts is only going to run you about .20-.30 cents each and 4-5 dollars at a shop.

14 Shop the location where the organic meals is most inexpensive first: Buy whatever good organic food is offered at the farmers' market or smaller produce stores before heading to the big chain natural food store. Then determine your menu or recipe ideas for your week, according to whatever you have to work inside your fridge.

15 Buy all your spices and nuts, seeds, grain, and dried fruit inside bulk area of your big chain natural grocery store. Because you are not investing in the packaging, it's really a lot less expensive.

16 If available, buy mint, basil, rosemary as well as other fresh herbs inside the bulk section in the natural foods grocery store for substantial savings.

17 If it is possible to't afford to buy all organic produce (some are very challenging to even find organic), exchange signal of buying conventional product for the people fruit and veggies carrying the least amount of pesticides when grown conventionally: broccoli, eggplant, cabbage, banana, kiwi, asparagus, sweet peas, mango, pineapple, sweet corn, avocado, onion. Buy only organic for that "dirty dozen," produce found to carry the best level of pesticides when grown conventionally: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, pears, spinach, and potatoes.

18 Love your sea veggies? Avoid acquiring the $5 to $6 bags unless you are tinkering with new ones. Buying online large quantities (2-4 lbs at the time) is most economical. You could also split an order with another man to talk about the cost with the shipping and handling.

19 Forage totally free wild foods for super nutrition (e.g. dandelion, clover, purslane, stinging nettles, etc.). Use some of these greens with your salads, smoothies, and juices and save money inside the store.

20 Sign around receive newsletters from raw food online stores for announcements on special sales and promotions. Be notified and make use when you need to restock on supplies!

21 Get involved in a loyalty marketing business such as Elements for Life and get access to superfoods and supplements at the discount. OR get started inside your own in the home business to start out earning profits so you can afford to spend more on sensible food and superfoods. Get free education on raw foods and superfoods with these varieties of companies also!

22 Don't forget to everyone of these other locations you're saving in since you're living a greater portion of a raw vegan lifestyle: gas bills, doctor and hospital visits, prescription medicine, OTC medicine, coffee, soda, candy, (and other unhealthy food,) expensive cooked food restaurants (not really that you may not check out these again but you won't be ordering $35 entrees and appetizers and desserts there).

[darknpretty-blog]

So someone's reached the main 5 oh oh! Their 50th birthday celebration! Not any major deal. fifty will be the healthy forty. And denial is the brand new mathematics! Anyway, it is one of the milestone birthdays, that somehow always seem to be much more funwe hostile, when was the final time you went to a surprise 48th Birthday Party?

Needless to say, you want to be right there with an unusual methods to help your birthday celebration star glow in the spotlight! So listed here are 50 amazing ideas for a 50th birthdaysome that will cost as little as 50 centssome which are a little more extravagantsome designed to just need your thoughtfulness and time. And that's a thing they'll like as much if not more!

Tell it such as it's. Write a listing of 50 reasons why they are the very best, then get it framed! Or even also include 50 photos as well as convert everything into a photo guide.

Stress-free birthday. Gift a 50 minute knead, manicure or facial foundation. Join them if you are able to pay for it!

Living is a roller coaster. Top for the amusement park with the birthday star, you, as well as three more friends as well as ride 10 different rides. Sure, the carousel is important.

Being lucky? one by one wrap fifty one dolars lottery tickets.

Have a sweet teeth? Buy fifty portions of special chocolates or candies from yesteryearor gift label fifty donut holes or even 50 of their favorite cookies! (Wrap in batches of five or 10 so they are able to freeze some for later!)

Let's assume cheesy. Make a fun 50-minute video clip of family and friends wishing them a happy day.

Couch-potato free. Get in concert once a week to walk one mile 1 day. It's a present which usually keeps on giving. (Take two weeks from out of 52 for vacations, etc!)

Talk about some teeth. Get together with family and friends and overflow the mailbox of theirs with 50 birthday cards!

Talk about a few laughs. Fill up their inbox with 50 distinct digital songs, video games and birthday wishes!

Try painting the city. Give them a $50 gift card to the fave restaurant of theirs, theater, club, etc. Not terribly original, we know, but generally appreciated! A word: Limo

Bingo! Imagine every one of the video games you can play using fifty penniestiddly winks, bingo, penny pitch, etcthen enjoy yourself enjoying them!

Might I help? Deliver 50 minutes of tutoring in a number of apps they do not know how to work with.

Tis safer to giveMake a summary of fifty simple ways you could potentially volunteer the time of yours, then go and help out together. Or donate $50 to the preferred charitable organization of theirs.

Kill the dollar. If saving $$isn't the thing of theirs, get them an investing for dummies book as well as give them $50 to get their first share of stock.

Cheers! Gift wrap a $50 can of wine with a note that it is an unique bottle to be provided with their another person special.

One reservoir excursion. Treat them to a whole day of situations which are inside a 50-mile radius of where they live. (A rise in the woods, a round of mini golf, lunch in the park, etc.)

Just what the heck does that suggest? Opt to discover fifty new words if you gather (over time, of course!) For fun, keep paperwork and find out who remembers probably the most fresh phrases!

Sorry, I am not really a mind reader. Gift a 50 minute psychic readingmake the own predictions of yours ahead of time and then check notes in the future!

I am here for you. Promise one another a number of 50-minute soulful conversations sans texting, email-checking, phone answering, twittering, etc.

I will never forget Paris. Share with each other a list of 50 men and women, places, things that made you who you are today.

2 left legs. Gift item a 50-minute swing dance lesson. Gift item 1 for you as wellyou deserve a little fun, too!

LOL! Spend 50 minutes with each other doing a thing you both dislike (laundry, grocery shopping, etc.), but do it in a different manner (blindfolded, in heels) for making it funny and ridiculous.

The Big 5 0. Invest the day together going around city taking photographs of clues, billboards, etc. with the number 50 within them. If you cannot find lots of, perform the 5 as well as the 0 separately and develop a collage!

Flashback! Throw a retro gathering commemorating the 50-year-old's birth year-complete with music, hair styles and clothing from that particular era.

Attack which! Get a group in concert, go bowling and find out who can mark under 50 while not spreading gutter balls.

That is a lot of hot air! Get a 50-balloon bouquet and tie it to their wrist.

Yeah, that as well. Make a 50 is nothing to Snicker at indication and put it in a bowl of bite sized Snickers bars!

For Her: Add a cannot trust you're flippin' 50! label to a pair of interesting flip-flop sandals.

For Him: Create an It is (Name's) 50th Birthday! Tie one on! Have a bunch of older connections in a bowl and in addition have everybody who use 1 for a team picture!

Money Does not Grow on Trees. Effectively, perhaps it doesA money tree is a fun strategy to present fifty dolars money!

Still Hot at fifty. Gift basket filled with hot sauces and spices perfect for a great cook or grill-master.

A Box-o-Balloons. Put notes or maybe cash inside fifty inflated balloons then seal them in a label. A lightweight present to provide and / or drive (ground delivery).

Really? Gift item a 1-year membership to AARP!

A Farewell to Youth. Throw a party by having an RIP tombstone cake, fifty black balloons, etc., as well as advise navy outfit.

Just how many techniques are you able to say fifty? Finish off the sentence Turning 50ġ with items in a gift basket. Example: ȡis nuts! (peanuts); ȡstinks. (air freshener); ȡis merely peachy! (schnapps).

Might the force be with you. Have the team think of fifty lines from favorite movies and also see how many they are able to drop into the chat at the birthday party of theirs.

Hmmmthat's puzzling. Get a jigsaw puzzle with 50 parts. Or create one by lowering a big greeting card into puzzle shapes, placing in an envelope and mailing with your best wishes! You can also order a personalized New York Times puzzle with the real front page of their birthdate!

Call me moneybags. Offer the birthday star $20.50in fifty quarters, 50 nickels, 50 dimes as well as fifty pennies. Naturally you are able to make that $70.50 by bring 50 singles, also!

Red-colored alert! Reddish alert! Create a 50th Birthday Emergency Kit and also include whatever you think is suited for any birthday celebration owner (aspirin, noisemakers, adult diapers, etc.)

Something Old. Something Gold. It is their personal 50th anniversarygive them something in vintage gold or something wrapped in gold.

M-m-m-m beneficial. Purchase 50 MY M&M'S Party Packs of personalized candies complete with pics and words and phrases!

An evening meal is Served. Arrange a progressive 50th birthday dinner party, with each host/hostess serving a thing that was to the entire year the birthday celebration star was born. Dress correctly!

Who stated that? Make a book of fifty quotations on birthdays and also ageing, ranging from enjoyable to inspirational.

Suits me to a T. Purchase a custom T-shirt with some enjoyable copy on it. Example: Looks twenty two, Feels eighteen, Acts 10that can make me fifty! Or Does the shirt make me appear fifty? Check out online for some other creative ideas!

Better YetOrder customized t-shirts for the whole gang that feature a picture of the birthday celebration star and also a personalized email about converting fifty! Wear them at a party, out to a birthday dinner or even to a favorite watering hole.

Lots of memories. Take fifty downloadable pictures & fill them into an electronic photo frame.

Checking between the collections. Present them along with the publication, fifty Things to do When you Turn fifty: fifty Experts about the subject of Turning 50. It's a wonderful assortment of thoughts from people as Garrison Keillor, Suze Orman, Erica Jong, along with a lot more. Well, 47 additional, to be exact!

Did another person say party? Throw a themed gathering such as a South of the Border fling with invitations for any Nacho Average 50-year older. Fulfill Mexican food, hang a few piatas, etc. Some other themes could possibly consist of tropical-Life's a beach and afterward you switch 50! etc.

A treasury of your time. A number of days before the big working day, have friends and also family members every produce a scrapbook page which has favorite accounts, cards, mementos, photos, and more. Take all of the pages in unison and make a really special recollection album.

It all offers up. Do most of the things on this list. We're sure it will guarantee a lifetime of enjoyable as well as relationship!

[dizzysdomain]

Helpful Tips To Lose Weight And Keep It Off

Helpful Tips To Lose Weight And Keep It Off It can seem impossible to lose weight, especially when you need to lose more than just a few pounds. In actuality, it isn’t as difficult as it seems. Here are some weight loss strategies that can help you in losing weight. In order to lose weight, monitor your daily calorie intake. Look for ways to cut bad foods out of your diet. Take any chance you can to eat alternative foods with less fat and fewer calories. Use your phone time to get in a little workout. Don’t stay seated when on the phone. Instead, move around and stay active. You don’t have to engage in heavy exercise. Just move around and the calories burned will add up. Chunky soups are a great way to stay true to your diet program. Do not drink up an excessive amount of liquid calories. Soups that have the larger chunks of vegetables help your body to feel full more quickly, as opposed to the creamier soups. If your chief fitness goal is to shed unwanted pounds, you should ensure cardiovascular workouts are incorporated into your exercise plans. This will increase you heart rate and help you burn more calories than weight lifting and other resistance exercises. You can find a cardio workout that is fun and easy to stick with because virtually anything that provides that extended heart rate increase will have the same effects. It is common knowledge that increasing your water intake will help you shed the pounds. However, you may not know that drinking iced water can make your metabolism work harder. Drinking icy water stimulates your metabolism to bring your temperature up. Switch up your schedule and eat your largest meal at lunch time instead of at night. Instead of a sandwich or salad for lunch, switch things up a bit and enjoy it for dinner. Because you burn a greater number of calories earlier in the day than at night, it only makes sense that you eat more throughout the day and not as much during the night. Rather than consuming the standard three meals per day, try to consume five or six smaller meals every day. This prevents you from eating bigger portions and also helps you avoid hunger throughout the day. Also, you will eat much less. A tried and true tip for weight loss is: avoid processed foods! Maintaining an awareness of how much processing your food has gone through will make you more selective about the foods you decide to purchase on your grocery runs. You will purchase less junk and unhealthy food this way and stick to foods that are high in fiber and natural ingredients. If your kid is struggling with weight, make sure that he or she sleeps enough during the night. Children grow while asleep; they burn calories while doing this. Children need to sleep for about eight hours every night. Teach your children about how sleep helps their bodies grow and why sleep is important. Liquid calories are still calories, so watch what you drink. All liquids other than water the smoothie diet have calories in them. The calories that are found in drinks like beer, Kool-Aid and soda will add up quickly. Always count the number of calories you are drinking to ensure you are staying on track. Give yourself rewards. Treat yourself to a dessert once a week. Don’t fall prey to the belief that you have suddenly blown your diet. It means you are aware you are doing well with your dieting plan. Do not look to be rewarded all of the time. Your new diet is a part of your lifestyle, not just a punishment. Try preparing a large batch of food every weekend, then dividing it into healthy portions and freezing each one. Stocking your freezer with healthy meals you can quickly reheat will help you avoid buying fast food or paying for takeout. Cooking in bulk may also save you money since you buy a lot of fresh ingredients at once and they’re all getting used. This prevents the food from rotting. If you have a sweet tooth, give angel food cake a try. Ignoring cravings takes a lot of effort and a long time. Angel food cake, as well as some others, are light and airy. Airy cakes tend to have a lower amount of calories, opposed to cakes that are more dense. A food journal can help you keep track of what you’re eating and how your diet is affecting you. Whenever you eat, record what it was, when you ate it and how you felt at the time. This lets you know exactly what you eat each day and maybe give you the reasons why you are eating. If you cook and eat a meal, portion your plate out and then put everything away prior to eating. This is much easier to accomplish when living alone or with only one other. You can keep food on your kitchen counter so you have to get up to get more food. Group exercise has proven to be an excellent activity that is fun, and gets people in the mood to want to do it each day. A stroll around the neighborhood can be enjoyable with friends. Play softball or basketball with your buddies. There are many fun group activities available that will help you lose weight. Make sure you know and understand the labels of the foods you are buying. Even though a food may be fat-free, it may not be entirely healthy. It may still be full of sugar and lots of calories, therefore becoming something to avoid. All of the nutritional information, on the label, is important. Read everything in full. The calories our body does not use do not just disappear. They are converted to fat. Therefore, if you are planning on going to bed, do not eat a large meal. You should try to eat only when you know that you will be active soon afterwards. This way, you will be able to use the calories you take in. Get started on your journey with weight loss using these great tips. Don’t be discouraged if results do not arrive instantly; results will appear. It’s important just to continue. Losing weight will happen if you work hard at achieving your goals!

[webmarket01]

Plant Based Tips for Healthy Weight Loss

New Post has been published on https://weightlosshtiw.com/plant-based-tips-for-healthy-weight-loss/

Plant Based Tips for Healthy Weight Loss

Losing weight is the most popular goal for most Americans. We know it is the #1 New Years Resolution. That just goes to show you how difficult it is. It doesn’t matter how much money you have, how much education you have, where you live, what your job is – losing weight can be a battle. 90% of the people who go on a diet to lose weight fail. They gain back the weight and often times even more.

My first piece of advice it to stop dieting. Yes that’s right – stop dieting. Diets don’t work long term. The definition of dieting is “A regimen of eating and drinking sparingly so as to reduce one’s weight by going on a diet.” Who wants to do that? Who can sustain that for long term?

From a size 14/16 to a size 4 and maintaining my weight loss for 6 years!

We have to adopt a lifestyle that we can sustain for the rest of our lives. It is our healthy daily habits that will help us to lose weight and sustain that weight loss.

When you choose to follow a whole food plant based lifestyle that promotes optimal health weight loss is a wonderful side affect.

Use code NUTMEG15 to receive 15% off your NutriGardens order!

Set Yourself Up For Success

One: Clean up your environment. Get rid of processed foods and junk foods – even the vegan junk food in your house. Fill your pantry, fridge and freezer with healthy whole plant foods that are optimal for health and weight loss.

Two: Watch my Calorie Density Video so you understand what to eat and why.

Keep your food choices under 600 calories per pound for optimal health and weight loss. They also happen to be the most nutrient dense foods.

Three: Make your plate at each meal 50/50. Half non starchy vegetables and half starch. Add fruit for sweetness. Get rid of salt, oil and sugar from your food. The bowl of food above is sitting on one pound of chopped salad. Include starch in every meal. Potatoes offer the most satiety on the satiety index as discovered by Dr. Susanna Holt. Eat potatoes! Complex carbohydrates release energy over time, they fill us up without filling us out.

SOS is the international symbol for distress. In our plant based world it stands for salt, oil and sugar. These are highly refined food substances that don’t provide nutritional benefits and in fact can lead to dietary distress.

Automate Your Meals

Eat basically the same thing for breakfast every day. Eat a big salad with starch for one meal a day. Have soup, vegetables and starch for your third meal. This method cuts down on decision fatigue, makes grocery shopping easier and meal prep less time consuming.

Variety encourages over eating. People who have multiple choices at a meal tend to over eat. It is called the buffet affect, too much variety stimulates the appetite and causes over eating. Eat simple, clean and easy meals. You can vary your variety of plant sources from meal to meal to get a well rounded supply of plant based nutrients.

Four: Batch Cook your food. If you have your fridge full of healthy food, you will eat healthy food. Save time by cooking things in batches. Why bake one potato every day when you can bake a weeks worth at once. Batch Prep Salads so you can eat a big beautiful salad every day.

Each individual eats about the same amount of pounds of food day after day. How many pounds varies from person to person. Tom eats more pounds of food each day than I do. So if we reduce the overall calorie density of the foods we eat we can reduce the overall amount of calories with out having to reduce the volume of food we eat. This will automatically lead to weight loss without making you feel deprived or leaving you hungry.

Five: Use some SOS Free Sauces to Make Delightfully Delicious Dishes! Include fresh and dried herbs to make your food taste amazing. Fresh lime and lemon juice, flavored vinegars, salt free seasonings, onions garlic, and peppers add so much flavor. You won’t miss the salt.

Well Your World products are whole food plant based SOS free. They are available to order through our Well Your World affiliate link.

Six: To weigh or not to weigh? This is an individual choice. For some people who let the scale rule their life and their daily mood it would be best to get rid of the scale. For others it can be a helpful tool. I will let you decide what is best for you. If you choose to weigh, Dr. Doug Lisle recommends to weigh 3 days in a row once a month and average the numbers.

Seven: Don’t use food for entertainment. Get your dopamine hits from something other than food. The affect of dopamine from food only lasts about 3 minutes.

Go for walks, take up a craft, do volunteer work, listen to soothing music, dance, do yoga, meditate, walk the dog, talk to a friend, clean house, play with the grandchildren. Find things to keep you busy. We love to hike and walk in nature.

Eat when you have true hunger. Use food to fuel for your body.

Eight: Take a 30 day break from eating in restaurants. It is difficult to get healthy food in restaurants that is SOS free. If you have to eat in a restaurant order a salad, bring your own potato or other starch, beans and some vinegar to make the salad filling and delicious. Suggest to your friends that you do something other than eat out. Meet for a walk instead. Post pandemic take a class together, join a team sport, join a bike club, volunteer and help others.

Nine: PIP It! Take a potato in your purse when you are going to be away from home for a several hours. It travels well, is filling and satisfying. You can always stop at Wendy’s to buy a potato or two if you need to.

Ten: Get some daily movement. This isn’t for weight loss and it’s not a punishment. Exercise is stress reducer, it releases feel good endorphins and it pleases our internal audience. If you exercise first thing in the morning it sets you up for success all day long. It helps you make better choices through out the day.

You don’t have to be perfect – we are focusing on progress. Don’t give up if you slip. Just do the next right thing at the very next meal and don’t let a slip turn into a slide. You can do this. You deserve the very best health and a full and happy life.

Get Healthy ~ Stay Healthy ~ One Meal At A Time

Watch this entire presentation at the beginning of this episode of Nutmeg Notebook Live.

Be sure to check out our Amazon Affiliate Page where we share many of our favorite small kitchen appliances, kitchen tools, food products, books and fun things for the grandchildren! Thank you for your support!

We are pleased to announce that if you live in Canada we now have an Amazon.CA Shop Page. We have matched up as many items as we can from our US shop page. Occasionally there are differences in brands and or packaging size.

We are also Holland Bowl Mill Affiliates. The 15 inch Holland Bowl Mill Cherry fruit bowl has a permanent home on our kitchen island. It’s beautiful and useful. The heart shaped bowl makes me happy – I love everything heart shaped! We use our 15 inch Beechwood & cherry bowl (his and her’s) to chop our salads everyday. Eating a salad for one meal every day helped me lose weight and become a size 4. I still eat a salad for one meal a day but now it’s a Big Beautiful Chopped salad and it helps me stay a size 4! See the Chopped Salad Blog Post to find out how you can incorporate a chopped salad into your daily food plan and how you can get a free mezzaluna knife with your Holland Bowl salad bowl order when you use our Holland Bowl affiliate link as well as free engraving and free shipping.

This content was originally published here.

[shawol9196]

Teacher AU 5/?

~5K. Just MinKey, with a mention of side HaeHyuk.

As happy as he is that Kibum feels comfortable at the apartment, Minho starts to doubt his own intentions. Whether it’s for friendly motive or some desire to save him from whatever is troubling him, Kibum is here now. Minho just hopes that soon there’s a sign to let him know.

AFF / AO3, if you prefer.

Minho’s first alarm goes off at 6:30. For a year now, he’s worked on a two alarm system. The first turns on his radio; it’s loud enough that he starts to stir, but not enough to properly wake him up unless the song is obnoxious. The second alarm was a gift from Kyuhyun: a five minute recording of Changmin. Even Minho, the king of sleeping, isn’t immune to the oh so soothing sound of Changmin screaming “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?? GET IT MOVING!!! THIS ISN’T NAP TIME, LET’S GET GOING BEFORE I GET OLD!” at the top of his lungs. Normally, the first alarm just barely starts waking him up before Changmin so eloquently finishes the deal. Today though, the radio alone is enough. It’s partially because he’d gone to bed earlier than normal, but mostly because of Kibum. He wasn’t sure if it was nervousness or excitement that he was feeling; either way it was enough to keep him awake. He gets out of bed and makes sure to turn off Changmin’s lovely serenade. After searching for his basketball shorts, he goes into the kitchen with the hope that Kibum is still asleep. He’s not sure why the thought of seeing a barely awake Kibum excites him, but when he sees that he’s already up there’s a small feeling of disappointment. What doesn’t disappoint him, however, is the smell of whatever Kibum’s cooking. He walks over to check if the coffee maker has run yet.

“Did you sleep ok?” Minho asks.

“Yeah, I actually slept really well. Thanks.” Kibum says, not turning around from the stove. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in a comfortable bed.”

They both turn to look at each other, but immediately turn back away.

“I’m making pancakes, I hope that’s ok. I just wanted to do something to say thank you for letting me stay here,” Kibum says.

“Oh, you didn’t have to go to that trouble, dude. I’m happy to let you stay, to help out a friend.”

When Kibum doesn’t respond, Minho’s worried that he’s upset him. He finishes starting the coffee before moving so he’s standing next to Kibum.

“I actually really love pancakes, I just feel bad making you feel like you have to do work your first morning here,” he says quietly. Kibum fishes the finished ones out of his pan onto a plate, pouring a new set to replace them. Minho takes the plate but doesn’t move.

“Go eat, before they get cold.” Kibum instructs.

“Kibum, you’re my guest. I can wait til you’re done and ready to eat.”

Kibum doesn’t argue but also doesn’t look up.

“Is this the last batch?”

Kibum nods.

“I’ll set the table then.”

Minho puts his plate of pancakes on the table. He gets butter out of the fridge; it takes him longer to find the syrup. The coffee maker beeps and he makes two mugs, handing one to Kibum. He leans against the counter and watches him attempt to flip the pancakes. There’s something vulnerable about the sight of Kibum: still in what Minho assumes are his pajamas but hair wet from a shower, struggling against one pancake in particular. His quietness reminds Minho of when they first met and the realization that he still knows relatively little about Kibum strikes him. Kibum finally wins his battle against the pancake and his small celebration brings a smile to Minho’s face. He could get used to waking up early, he thinks, if he got to wake up to this sight. With Kibum’s pancakes finished, they both sit at the table.

“So why did your last roommate move out?” Kibum asks as he cuts his pancakes.

“To put it shortly, he got engaged.”

“What’s the longly then?”

“My roommate, Donghae, and I have been friends for a long time. Since high school, actually. He’s a social worker. We moved in here 5 or so years ago, before we were done with school. We tend to volunteer together a lot since we have similar interests and abilities and stuff. Anyways, when I was part of that group that helped attempt to repair your apartment building, he was in it too. He was assigned to a different area, like the 3rd or 4th floor. When we finished and came home, all he could talk about was this doctor that he was teamed up with. How cute and interesting he was. They’d exchanged numbers and it was pretty evident pretty quick that there was something serious between them. They started dating within a week or two, and he started having him -- his name is Hyukjae -- over pretty regularly. Which was fine at first, but then it started feeling weird to be here when he was over. Anyways I mentioned it to Donghae that I wasn’t feeling comfortable with the arrangement and when Donghae mentioned it to him, Hyukjae proposed. They got an apartment within a month and it’s been just me here since then.”

Kibum nods, slowly eating his pancakes.

“What about you?” Minho asks, shoving a huge bite into his mouth.

“What about me?”

“Have you ever had a roommate?”

“I did once, when I was in college. He hated me.”

“I can’t believe that anyone would hate you but I also know college roommates are the worst. What happened?”

Kibum laughs bitterly.

“Well for starters he told me he hated me and that we wouldn’t get along on the first day. He then proceeded to vaguely terrorize me weekly with fun little pranks like stealing literally all of my clothes when I went to shower, throwing water on me if I happened to fall asleep while he was still awake, and stealing my textbooks on a regular basis. He was close to the resident assistant, so I couldn’t complain to her about it. The RA was close to the building supervisor, so I couldn’t go to her about it. The director of housing was on the brink of retiring and wouldn’t do anything unless the president of the university explicitly demanded that he do it, so I couldn’t go to him. I ended up buying a suitcase so I could lock all of my clothes and textbooks up and take them with me wherever I went. I slept on benches a lot and in my classes. I think a lot of people thought I was homeless, not that I can blame them.”

“That’s terrible, Kibum. I’m sorry that you had to go through that.”

Silence ensues. Minho’s surprised that Kibum gives him so much detail, though he feels guilty for asking. His expression is unmistakably pained throughout the story and Minho wishes he could offer something to ease it. He looks at the clock and knows they need to get ready to leave before they miss the bus. He’s finished his pancakes, but Kibum is still eating. He stands and takes his plate to the sink.

“Since you made me pancakes, would you accept if I made you lunch?” he asks as he heads to the fridge.

“Oh, you don’t have to. I’m...I’ll be ok.”

Minho grabs his supplies out and closes the fridge before looking at Kibum.

“Kibum,” he starts softly. “You didn’t bring any food with you, nothing’s going to be open before we get to work, and even though you’re admin today, I know you don’t have time to go get anything while you’re on your lunch break without sacrificing your entire break. I know you don’t want to be burdensome but I’d rather you have at least a little something to take with you.”

Kibum sighs and after another bite of pancake replies with “I guess a small sandwich would be okay. Like half of what you normally take will be fine.”

Minho begins making his sandwich at the counter but as he thinks back to Kibum’s story, he notices Kibum watching him. He moves to the table and Kibum looks somewhat relieved that he can see what’s going into the sandwiches.

“Are you going to come sit in the teacher lounge with me during your break?” he asks.

Kibum looks surprised at the question.

“I understand if you don't want to. It's just if you are, I’ll just put your stuff in with mine so you don’t have to worry about anyone taking it, and by anyone I mean Kyuhyun or Suho.”

Kibum laughs.

“Yeah, I’ll come sit with you.”

*

Over time, their relationship gets more comfortable. When Minho comes home after volunteering on Saturday, he finds Kibum waiting at the dinner table with a pasta bake and a shy smile. On Sunday, they go grocery shopping. Minho makes a list, which Kibum refuses to add any requests to. As they walk down each aisle, anything that Kibum grabs Minho puts in his cart; when Kibum protests, Minho says that they can start sharing grocery bills when Kibum gets settled in. He also grabs anything that he sees Kibum longingly look at but not pick up. It costs a little extra to get so many treats, but the shy smile on Kibum’s face is more than worth the price. When they get home, they start cooking freezer meals for the week ahead. Minho’s surprised at Kibum’s cooking skills: Kibum reveals that he used to volunteer at a elderly care facility; he’d always wanted to learn how to cook so when there was a position open he jumped on it. Minho’s eager to try more of Kibum’s cooking and maybe learn how to get his onions to dice as nicely. Though there shouldn’t be anything charming watching someone washing and cutting potatoes, Minho is enchanted watching Kibum work, regardless.  By the next weekend, they figure out a system. Kibum offers to make their breakfasts if Minho will continue making lunches; their team work on freezer meals means that neither one has to put in more effort. Kibum will pay as close to half of the rent as he can manage and put money in the grocery fund as he can. In turn, Minho agrees to do his best to stop disallowing Kibum to pay for anything. With the ground rules settled, Minho watches Kibum start to allow himself to be. He spends more time in the living room and even makes mention of decorating his room. When Kibum starts asking for help with things like working the washing machine, Minho’s oddly elated. Though he tries not to let himself get his hopes up, it seems like a sign that Kibum is really intending to stay.

As happy as he is that Kibum feels comfortable at the apartment, Minho starts to doubt his own intentions. He continuously claims that it’s just ‘helping out a friend,’ but as he finds himself observing Kibum more and more, he starts to wonder if that’s the whole story. If it had been someone else, would he have volunteered his time and space and money so quickly? When he and Donghae had moved in together, though they shared the space they kept their time mostly separate. They didn’t cook for each other (unless they were hosting a get together); they didn’t watch each other shyly; they definitely didn’t have trouble making eye contact for more than a brief moment. He wants to ask Kibum how he feels about the situation, beyond the standard “is this ok?” and “how is this working for you?”, but he has a feeling that Kibum will just say what he thinks Minho wants to hear. Whether it’s for friendly motive or some desire to save him from whatever is troubling him, Kibum is here now. Minho just hopes that soon there’s a sign to let him know.

*

The sign comes the next Friday. Minho knows something is wrong when he comes out in the morning to a dark kitchen. It’s 7:00, so he’s not up early by any means; he’s also never seen Kibum sleep this late. He decides to give Kibum a few extra minutes: he starts the coffee maker, makes their lunches, even fixing a big omelette for them share. By the time 7:30 rolls around, he can’t stand it anymore. He taps on Kibum’s door. No answer. He knocks a little louder, calls out Kibum’s name. Still no answer. He tries the door and is somewhat surprised to find it unlocked; they’ve been working on trust since Kibum moved in. While Minho trusts Kibum, he knows that Kibum needs more time and evidence, so he lets Kibum decide the boundaries on his own time. He knows Kibum’s been locking his door since the first night, though he hasn’t directly talked to him about it. Minho feels a moment of pride: the unlocked door symbolizes a big step for them. He opens the door just enough to peek in. The lights are still off and there’s a big lump on the bed that Minho assumes is Kibum. He softly calls out for him again before going in. He’s amused at the way that Kibum is cocooned in his blankets and feels guilty for trying to wake him up.

“Kibum, it’s time to get up. You’re going to be late if you sleep much longer.” he says, gently shaking his shoulder. Kibum’s warm to the touch, a little too warm for Minho’s liking. He sits down on the edge of the bed; he shakes a little harder and Kibum finally starts to stir. He blinks, coughs, and finally turns to look at Minho.

“Minho?”

“It’s 7:30 so I came to check on you.”

“It’s what time?” There’s a rasp to Kibum’s voice.

“Do you feel okay? You don’t look so good.” Minho asks, feeling Kibum’s forehead with the back of his hand. He’s very warm and Minho begins to wonder if he’s sick. It takes Kibum a moment to respond.

“I feel cold. And sore. And...and gross.”

“I’m going to go get the thermometer out of my room, okay? Just stay here.”

Kibum doesn’t respond, instead attempting to rearrange the blankets around himself. Minho’s glad that he and Donghae had started a first aid box and that Donghae let him keep it. He finds the thermometer quickly and heads back to Kibum’s room. Kibum’s all but asleep again.

“I’m going to take your temperature, okay? It’ll probably feel cold on your forehead but it’ll be quick I promise.”

Kibum attempts a hum in response, resulting in a cough. Minho’s suspicion is confirmed: Kibum’s temperature is 102℉. He knows Kibum’s in no shape to go to work but he also doesn’t want to leave him alone. At least it’s a Friday and there’ll be no need to find a substitute teacher. There’s a warmth on Minho’s hand and he sees Kibum trying to reach for him.

“I don’t think I can go to work today” he croaks. Minho laughs.

“No, Kibum. I think you should stay in bed today. Are you going to be okay if I go to work?”

There’s a pause and then a hummed yes.

“I’m going to bring you some water and crackers, is there anything else you want?”

Kibum makes a disgusted face at the mention of crackers but doesn’t request anything. Minho goes and gets the promised goods as well as an extra blanket from his room and the box of tissues from the living room. He arranges them on Kibum’s nightstand, then sits on the edge of the bed again.

“I put it all right here for you. I’ll keep my phone on in case you need me, but if you really need someone and you can’t get ahold of me, here’s the neighbor’s number as well. His name is Siwon and he’s really nice.”

Kibum reaches for him again and Minho holds his hand. He brushes Kibum’s bangs out of his eyes; he’s almost asleep again and Minho doesn’t want to keep him awake. He gives Kibum’s hand a gentle squeeze before standing.

“I’ll try to come check on you at lunch, alright?”

Kibum hums in acknowledgement before pulling the blanket over his head.

When Minho gets to school, he finds Leeteuk and explains the situation. He’s understanding and tells Minho that he’ll find someone to cover Minho’s class a little longer so that he can go home for lunch. Minho’s able to put his worry on the back burner in order to teach; it’s enough to fool his students but not enough to fool his coworkers. When he brings his students to the mixed use room for Jonghyun’s Friday Music Extravaganza, Jonghyun doesn’t waste any time asking what’s wrong. Minho doesn’t answer Jonghyun’s question but announces that Heechul (who has a half teaching, half administration position like Kibum does) will be getting the class.  He hurries out of the building and towards home. Unable to remember if they have soup or not, he stops at the restaurant a block from the apartment to order some. When he gets home, the apartment is still quiet. He puts a little bit of soup in a mug and, after knocking, ventures into Kibum’s room again. The blinds are open but Kibum is still mostly under the blankets. The crackers on the nightstand are untouched but Minho’s encouraged by the empty water glass. He sets the soup down and sits down. There’s a muffled “Minho?” from under the blankets followed by attempts to move them; Minho pulls the blankets back enough for Kibum’s face to be visible.

“Did you get some more sleep?”

Kibum nods, coughs.

“I brought you soup. Do you want to try a sip?”

There’s a pause, followed by a barely audible “what kind?”

“It’s beef bone soup. The lady at the corner always makes it and everyone I know swears that it has magical properties.”

Kibum wrinkles his nose but there’s a light in his eyes.

“That’s my favorite soup but I don’t think my tummy can handle it.”

“How about I put in the fridge for later and we try again when I get home.”

“Aren’t you home?”

“No, I’m on lunch break. Heechul is supposed to cover for me so I can make it back.”

“Oh.” There’s a tinge of sadness in Kibum’s voice. Minho grabs the thermometer off the nightstand. Kibum’s fever hasn’t budged.

“I’m going to put this up and get you more water and a tylenol.”

By the time Minho comes back from the kitchen, Kibum’s trying to pull off all his blankets.

“I’m hot now.”

Something in Minho’s brain urges him to say ‘I know’, but he just silently helps pull the blankets before arranging them on the side so that it’ll be easy to pull them back on when Kibum inevitably gets cold again. He checks his watch: his lunch break is technically ending and he needs to get back. He lets Kibum settle before saying a goodbye.

Though he does his best to clean up quickly, it’s still after 6pm by the time Minho gets home. Kibum’s sleeping, buried under his mountain of blankets again, so he lets him be. After heating up some of the soup -- who knows if Kibum will be able to eat it before it spoils and he hopes it’ll keep him running well enough that he won’t get whatever sickness this is -- he starts cleaning the apartment. He’s in the middle of washing dishes when he hears coughing, followed by the unmistakable sound of vomiting. After rinsing the dishes in his hand, he goes to check on Kibum. He’s in tears but it seems like he got most of the vomit in the bucket Minho had brought in for him.

“You alright, buddy?”

Kibum hiccups and shakes his head. Minho walks in further and realizes that somehow, Kibum’s gotten some of it in his hair. He sits as close as feels safe and reaches out his hand, which Kibum gingerly takes.

“I know throwing up isn’t any fun and it probably hurt, but it’s going to be okay,” he says in his most soothing voice. It’s times like these that being a kindergarten teacher is most convenient. He lets Kibum have his little cry, rubbing circles into the back of his hand.

“If I turn the water on for you, do you think you can manage to shower?” he asks when Kibum seems to have composed himself as much as possible. He takes a few deep breaths before shaking his head. Minho knows that Kibum needs to get cleaned, even if it’s just washing his hair.

“Do you think it’d be okay if I washed your hair for you?” he offers.

Kibum looks at him, seemingly unsure of what to make of it. Minho hopes he hasn’t crossed a line but it’s the only solution that seems realistic given the circumstances.

“I promise I’m not going to try anything weird. I just want you to be able to get better and I’m sure you’re ready to have clean hair again.”

“I...that should be okay.”

“Are you ready or do you need a minute?”

“Yeah just...just give me a second.”

Minho goes to stand to empty the bucket and get the hot water running, but when Kibum doesn’t let go of his hand he simply waits at the bed. Eventually Kibum hands him the bucket, which Minho sets down temporarily in order to help him stand. Once he’s on his feet, Minho guides him to the bathroom and helps him sit down next to the tub. Minho starts the water so it can warm up; he empties the bucket and gets a few towels while he’s waiting.

“Do you just use shampoo or do you like conditioner too?”

“I like both but at this point just shampoo is fine.”

After making sure the water is warm enough to be soothing, he positions Kibum so he’s leaning on the tub with his head far enough over that the water go down the drain instead of on the floor. He puts a towel on Kibum’s back, just in case; he notices how tensed his shoulders are and pats him reassuringly. As he starts wetting Kibum’s hair he wishes he’d thought to play some music. He’s not sure how Kibum’s head is, so he refrains from saying anything more than little warnings about using water and apologizing for the occasional hair pull. It’s not the first time he’s had to wash someone’s hair: over the course of their respective friendships, he’d washed Kyuhyun and Suho’s hair on more than a few occasions. He’d even washed Sooyoung’s hair after a particularly gross party foul, mostly because he was the only person that she knew there and she was too drunk to do it herself. There’s something different about it this time though, and as he does his best to get Kibum’s hair completely clean, a soft peaceful atmosphere develops. Kibum seems to enjoy it too, the tension slowly disappearing from his shoulders. When he’s done, he takes another towel and does his best to dry him off. Kibum sits up when he’s finished and takes the towel to dry his face off. Minho doesn’t think he’s ever seen someone look so cute when sick: Kibum’s cheeks are flushed from the fever and his half-dried hair is sticking out in all sorts of odd ways. He realizes he’s staring and looks away, but not before Kibum notices.

“Do I look that bad?” he asks, voice stronger than before.

“You don’t look well, but you don’t look bad.”

“So if I don’t look good but I also don’t look bad, what do I look like?”

Minho studies Kibum’s face a little more before answering, now that he has a proper reason to. Though everything about Kibum has become pretty to him in a way, his cheeks are what stand out right now. Though his fever worries him, Minho can’t deny that the pink hue it’s bringing to his face isn’t anything less than lovely.

“Like a peach.”

Kibum attempts a shy laugh and Minho hopes that somewhere under the fever flush he’s blushing.

“I’m going to go change your sheets, when you’re ready to get up just let me know.”

Kibum nods as Minho stands. As he strips the sheets off of Kibum’s bed, he figures he should wash his own as well, shoving both sets in the washing machine. He hears another hiccup followed by what sounds like dry heaving. When he gets back to Kibum’s room, he takes his temperature again; it’s gone up half a degree. Kibum’s shivering now and so Minho replaces the towel around his shoulders with one of the warmer blankets. As he’s adjusting it, Kibum seems to reach for his hand but doesn’t take it. The heaving starts again, so Minho sits down next to him and rubs his back to try and keep him calm.

“If you want me to stop, just say.”

Kibum manages to squeak out a “please don’t stop’”, so Minho continues until the episode passes. From where he’s sitting, he can see the clock. It’s already 9pm; he gets up and finds his phone, letting the coordinator at his volunteer program know that he won’t be able to make it the next day.

“Are you going to bed?” Kibum asks, voice hushed. Minho would be lying if he said he wasn’t tired but he also knows that he’ll probably be too worried to sleep.

“Maybe. Do you want to lay down again?”

Kibum nods, then adds “But I don’t really want to be alone.”

Minho looks at Kibum’s bed; it’s a single, and while they could fit together on it, Kibum’s a little too sick for that. His own bed, though, is a double; room enough for the both of them (assuming Kibum doesn’t spread out too much) to sleep spaced out.

“Why don’t you come sleep in my room? My bed is bigger, so we could put pillows or something in between us. Then you’re not alone and I don’t keep getting up to check on you. I’ll be right there if you need me.”

Kibum looks at the floor, tilting his head.

“I...I think I’d like that. If it’s okay,” he says, looking up at Minho.

“Are you ready to move or do you need a bit?”

Kibum attempts to stand, but it’s clear that he isn’t strong enough for it. He reaches out for Minho who catches him. Kibum tries to stand and move a few times but after a minute or two, Minho simply carries him from one room to the other. He sets him down on the side of the bed nearer the bathroom then goes back to get Kibum’s pillow and things. He grabs all the extra pillows he has to put in between them. Once Kibum’s settled and the pillow wall is made, Minho takes what might be the quickest shower of his entire life. He’s surprised to see Kibum still awake when he comes out of the bathroom.

“My bed not as comfy as yours?”

“I was waiting for you to get back. If you’re going to let me sleep in your bed with you, I can at least wait til you’re in it to sleep. Now that you’re out I make no promises though.”

Minho laughs at the response and gets into bed.

“Thank you for taking care of me today,” Kibum whispers as Minho turns off the light main light. He had found a nightlight, also courtesy of Donghae, and plugged it in just in case Kibum needed to get up.

“You’re welcome. I can confidently say you’re the best patient I’ve had to take care of so far, seeing as you just slept most of the time and didn’t throw anything at me.”

“No one’s ever taken care of me like this before so I just tried to do what seemed easiest for both of us.”

Minho’s heart drops at the comment; he wants to ask more, but with Kibum’s fever he isn’t sure if he’d actually meant to share that information. Minho can’t tell if its the illness or if Kibum’s actually crying, but either way he reaches out in an attempt to find his hand. Kibum’s is already resting on the pillow wall and he wonders how long he’s been waiting. As he intertwines their fingers,  Kibum goes silent for a while and instead Minho begins humming a tune.

“What song is that?” Kibum asks when Minho reaches the end of it.

“A lullaby my mom used to sing to me when I would get sick. If it’s bothering you I can stop.”

“No, no. It’s...nice, actually. I like it. Your voice is nice. All of you is nice. Especially your personality and your hair.”

Minho’s heart flutters at the compliments and so he starts humming through it again.

"Do I really look like a peach?"

"Yes, Kibum. You have the pinkest peachiest fever I've ever seen."

Kibum seems satisfied with the answer. He starts shifting his head around, so Minho reaches over and moves his bangs out of his face. As he continues humming, he hears Kibum’s breathing slow and his grasp on Minho’s hand loosen. The nightlight is just bright enough that he can see Kibum’s chest rise and fall, and its in that moment that he reaches an epiphany. This whole time, all these weeks since they met, he’s been trying to figure out what makes Kibum’s company so special that he’d been willing to lay out everything for him. As he falls asleep, he thinks back to earlier in the day, to Kibum’s peach colored cheeks, and realizes that for him, in this moment, it’s love.

[travelcenter-uk]

A Holiday Guide to USA Quad City 2021

Are you looking for ideas for that ultimate holiday? This time around, do something unique; get ready for the great USA Quad City trip with our multi-centre holidays. But this is not just any road trip; this one’s situated across the West Coast and East Coast of the United States believed to be amongst the most gorgeous places on Earth.      

The United States of America is a massive nation, packed with various sceneries and cultures. Because of all the contrasts across the different areas, it could be helpful to separate some places and discover more about what truly makes them so different. On your USA Quad City trip, you’ll find that the East Coast and West Coast are tremendously diverse places when it comes to the way of life, and each one serves various kinds of people.    

The West Coast is famous for its stunning beaches, its flourishing cities, and young, diverse occupants, and no matter what kind of traveller you are (explorer, artsy, family, historical, or relaxed), you’ll discover an ideal holiday in one of the many East Coast states as well.

Promising the best entertainment from morning till evening, this trip to the great USA Quad City gives you the chance to experience the best of the East and West Coast on your multi-centre USA holidays. These four destinations are the most famous cities that you could explore during your USA Quad City tour, here’s what each of them is famous for.

New York

New York is known as the city that never sleeps, is famous for the Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge, you can shop at designer stores, and reward your taste buds with some of the world’s most delicious cuisines. When you’re done with all of that, you’ll have to make time for the museums. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, MOMA, Guggenheim, and the American Museum of Natural History all top the list.      

Gourmet restaurants, well-known tourist appeals, and marvellous street art – New York has all of it and so much more. Whatever you’re searching for, you’ll come across it in the Big Apple. The one issue you’ll encounter is not having enough time to see and do everything.

San Francisco

One of the most famous and distinguishable metropolises in the world, San Francisco is home to fashionistas, hippies, and techies while also consisting of brilliant summers, monuments, architecture, fog, and rolling mountains.

It’s famous for the emblematic Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, San Francisco cable cars, as well as its wealthy and varied culture.

Los Angeles

Recognized as the biggest city on the west coast, Los Angeles is famous for its huge amusement parks such as Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood, Knott’s Berry Farm, Legoland, and Pacific Park (Santa Monica Pier).

One of the other things that Los Angeles is known for is its TV, Movie and Music Industries. LA is the perfect destination for movie buffs, as there are several movie studio tours, as well as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And, music fans would enjoy touring the music-themed attractions situated all over the city.

Las Vegas

Well-known for exhilaration and fun, this city in the desert offers up all types of options for travellers. The Strip, Las Vegas‘ popular resort-bordered street, shines with lights and reconstructed glitzy locations from cities all over the world. The Grand Canyon is just a brief helicopter ride away, and the adjacent hills and mountains are home to all sorts of leisure opportunities.  

Las Vegas is a globally recognized resort city, famous mainly for its gambling, shopping, excellent dining, entertainment, and nightlife.

Top Trendy Restaurants in the Cities

Anton’s, New York City – The rustic previous space of West Village’s Frankies 570 Spuntino has turned into Anton’s, a throwback European restaurant from Nick Anderer. The chef — who used to head the kitchens at Marta and Maialino — goes into his Italian food training with a pasta section titled “macaroni,” with choices like a bucatini amatriciana and linguini with clams. Elsewhere, discover raw oysters, salads, and entrees such as roast chicken or barbecued pork rib chop with apple sauce. Cocktails are variants on classics, which include pre-batched martinis that come directly from the freezer.

Holy Ground at 109 W Broadway, New York City – The next time you need a meat-heavy dinner in a refreshing-space, but didn’t plan far enough ahead of time to grab a table at 4 Charles or Minetta Tavern, visit Holy Ground. It’s an underground spot in Tribeca where you can envision Duke Ellington relaxing in a red leather booth having an old-fashioned and porterhouse. This place isn’t a customary steakhouse though – the Old Fashioneds are prepared with mezcal and tequila, and the menu concentrates on slow-smoked meats such as pork shoulder and wagyu brisket.

Dragon Beaux, San Francisco – A blend of classic and modern dim sum is on the menu at this always-packed Richmond District restaurant from the team behind Bay Area Stalwart Koi Palace. Everyone enjoys taking Instagram worthy pictures of the soup dumplings with coloured skins, but those in the know fill their tables with the type of inventive, accurately executed dim sum specialties you’ll come across at forward-thinking places in Hong Kong: blood-red rice rolls packed with fried fish, the city’s top sugar-crusted baked pork buns, and, for good measure, destination-worthy crackle-skinned roast pork belly. Try the winter melon hot pot with roasted squab during the night, when Dragon Beaux moves over and turns into a hot pot restaurant.

Pearl 6101, San Francisco – This restaurant has gained the hearts of metropolitan diners far past its warm, suburban Richmond neighbourhood location. In an exquisitely-tiled corner dining room, chef-partners Mel Lopez and Joyce Conway, offer customers handmade pasta and hefty wood-fired pork chops, accompanied by drinks such as the not to be missed Pearl Martini from partner/bar manager Nahiel Nazzal (it’s Oakland-distilled “sea gin” with Italian vermouth and pickled sea bean).

Olivetta, Los Angeles – There may not be a trendier restaurant in Los Angeles than Olivetta at the moment. The attractive space has four separate rooms with diverse auras, but the chief dining room with its luxurious sitting area, extravagant design, and modest noise level is the ideal spot to experience Michael Fiorelli’s welcoming but refined take on California Italian food. Try the grilled branzino, rye macaroni, and kale salad.

Found Oyster, Los Angeles – LA can always use more seafood restaurants, and this jewel of an oyster bar in East Hollywood has a compact menu from chef Ari Kolender that pulls from his East Coast upbringing. Find everything from steamers and shucked oysters to an enormous lobster roll.

Jing, Las Vegas – Downtown Summerlin’s new Japanese restaurant focusses on sushi, shareable wagyu hot rocks, and wok dishes with a menu from Joseph Elevado, the previous executive chef at Social House at Treasure Island and Andrea’s at Encore Las Vegas. Fire and water features equip the space that comprises of a courtyard and live entertainment.

Pepper Lunch, Las Vegas – A anticipated inclusion to Shanghai Plaza, the self-described “DIY Teppan” restaurant is already attracting crowds who are excited to cook their own dishes on the Japanese fast-casual chain’s signature iron hot plates, which go up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. After ordering at the counter or through an app, the iron plates are filled up — with the chain’s signature pepper rice, Hamburg sizzling curry, dry-aged steak, or pasta, to name a couple of choices — and brought to the table, where customers could decide the final temperature of their meal.

Top Travel Tips for Travelling Within the Cities

When you’re in New York, remember the hot zones for foot traffic so you can keep away from them.

Taxis are normally very expensive in New York and if you’re in a hurry, traffic will make it about the same speed (or slower) than the subway. Sometimes, walking is even quicker.

When in San Francisco wear comfy shoes. You would be doing plenty of walking on steep hills.

Locate the oyster happy hours – There are plenty of restaurants all over San Francisco that has an oyster happy hour at least once a week for around $1 per oyster. Ichi Sushi, Waterbar, and Waterfront Restaurant are great places to begin.

Spend Smart: There are some shocking ways to save money in Los Angeles. Dining on the best of food doesn’t have to break the bank as several amazing restaurants provide lunchtime specials on their most famous dishes. How about tours that cost nothing at all? Tourists could get complimentary tickets to places like television tapings, museums, and cultural events.

Know what to look forward to in Hollywood and Beverly Hills: In Hollywood, you’ll come across museums consisting of souvenirs from Hollywood’s past, the Walk of Fame, and the renowned footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

In Las Vegas distances are further than they seem, The Strip is four miles long, and because the buildings are so close together, they look closer than they really are – a two-building stroll from, say, Bally’s to Planet Hollywood is achievable, but any more than that, and you’ll ruin your walking shoes.

Plan your Attack – As with any new travel destination, you’ll get the most out of your Las Vegas holiday when you acquaint yourself with your surroundings first. After your check-in, take a stroll around your hotel and casino and remember where the vending machines, restaurants, restrooms, and seating areas are.

The Best Hotels in the Cities

Fairfield Inn & Suites New York Queens/Queensboro.

Holiday Inn L.I. City Manhattan View, New York.

Holiday Inn Express San Francisco Union Square.

The Cova Hotel, San Francisco.

Queen Mary Hotel Los Angeles.

The Main Street Station Hotel and Casino.

The Luxor Hotel and Casino.

OYO Hotel and Casino Las Vegas.

Read More:- https://blog.travelcenter.uk/a-holiday-guide-to-usa-quad-city-2021/

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[jazzyonthehorizon]

Five Quick recipes to-try during Self-Isolation.

I am a huge foodie at heart, and I find it to be extremely relaxing. Whether I’m cooking a recipe my parents taught me, or I’m trying something new I found on Pinterest or my Tasty recipe book. My heart is always so full during the entire process. I officially got into cooking when I moved into my apartment, my kitchen was a nice size and I decorated it with candles and succulents to remind me of my mom’s kitchen back home. 

Cooking is a great way to try different things as well as save money. Now don’t get me wrong my boyfriend and I love going out to eat, but we made a rule to only be able to eat out twice a week on the weekends (Friday-Sunday). With that new rule in place, I started to get more creative with the meals I made and had so much fun doing it.

With the start of self-isolation like most, we went to the grocery store to gather food and a few different things to keep us occupied until we went back home. Prior to the grocery store run, I made a  list of different recipes I wanted to try because I knew that cooking and baking would keep myself entertained as well as our stomachs full. 

Here are five super-quick recipes I have made during self-isolation that anyone could make. The following recipes can be healthy or vegan if you choose. Ill you will need to do is swap out certain ingredients.

Acai bowls/ Smoothie bowls- Acai bowls are so delicious. They are incredibly filling and completely customizable, which comes in handy if you plan to meal prep them. 

 What you will need:  

    Fruit of choice: I used 

1 Banana

1/2 cup Blueberries, frozen

1/2 cup Strawberries, frozen

        Toppings of choice 

Coconut

Granola

Chia Seeds

Banana

Strawberries

Drinks

3/4 cup milk or juice ( I used almond milk)

Dairy

1/2 cup Yogurt, plain (or sherbet)

Other

1 frozen acai puree ( only if making an acai bowl)

Put your fruit, drink of choice,  yogurt, (acai packet) into a blender.

Blend until thick 

Pour contents into a bowl and place toppings of choice on top!

Buffalo cauliflower bites. I adore wings, I could eat them all day every day. Sadly though that is not the healthiest option either. So I decided to create a healthier version to satisfy my craving. This recipe can be adjusted to do any sauce for the “wings” and can be adjusted by using chicken.

 What you will need:  

Cauliflower florets

Butter 

Franks Red hot sauce

Flour

Season salt

Garlic powder

 Start with cutting up a head of cauliflower into florets and put those in a large mixing bowl.

melt some butter and mix in a good dose of hot sauce into it. I use Franks red hot sauce.  

Pour the hot sauce mixture over the cauliflower florets and mix them around.    

 Whisk together a bit of flour with seasoning salt, garlic powder, and dried parsley. 

Sprinkle that over the cauliflower florets – use a handful of almond flour mix at a time and just gently stir them around so that all florets are coated. 

Air Fry HALF of the cauliflower bites at 350˚F (no need to preheat) for about 15 minutes. Stop and shake a couple of times during the cooking process. If you want them crispier, try cooking for 2 to 3 minutes longer. Remove cauliflower from the air fryer and keep covered while you cook the second batch.

Cripsy Golden potatoes wedges- Potatoes are one of my favorite food, you can make a ton of different foods such as; mashed potatoes, hash browns, potatoes skins, and one of my all-time favorite french fries.

  What you will need:

Russet potatoes

Season salt

Garlic powder 

Seasoning of choice

Preheat your oven and line a large baking sheet (or two baking sheets) with parchment paper.

Either peel your potatoes or leave the skin on (rub it clean if you don’t peel). 

Cut each potato in half lengthwise. Then cut the halves into thirds or fourths (depending on the size of the potato).

Toss in a bowl with all seasonings and spread over the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 40 minutes in the oven until crispy and deep golden brown

Lazy chocolate covered strawberries- I have a huge sweet tooth, and one of my absolute favorite treats are chocolate-covered strawberries. But I can never seem to be able to get my chocolate to the right consistency to dip my strawberries in, even though my mom taught me how on multiple occasions.     

 What you will need

1/2 cup Strawberries

Milk chocolate / nutella

Butter

Mix butter chocolate in a bowl and place it in the microwave for 45 secs. 

Stir until milky consistency

Pour over strawberries in a bowl

Parfait- parfaits are extremely quick and simple to make. They make the perfect anytime snack.

What you will need

Yogurt

Toppings of choice 

strawberries

Blueberries

Granola

Layer yogurt, fruit, and granola in a cup . That’s it! That’s the entire recipe, I said it was simple.

I hope you enjoy all of these as much as I did, please  tag me in photos of your recreations of these yummy foods. 

I do not own the rights to the photos above.

[jobbmaroc]

7 Effective Ways To Manage Your Money As A College Student

Being a university student isn’t just a breakthrough into the planet of upper studies. It brings during a batch of experiences that can’t be found anyplace else. once I first stepped out of the house to measure the school life, I used to be completely overwhelmed with the changes that being a university student demanded out of me.

Right from choosing where and the way much to spend to truly paying off the expenses, Mom-Dad had it all sorted and there was nothing that we, as children, were required to stress about. But as college happened, I went all nervous with the belief that I might now need to roll in the hay all on my very own. I wanted to save lots of the maximum amount of money as possible while having the ability to satisfy all my necessary expenses. Initially, I just couldn’t roll in the hay right. It took me days and months to find out the proper way of managing my little money.

Here are some tips, right out of my very own experience, to assist you out with managing your finances the proper way:

1. Identify the expenses and began a budget – this could be the primary thing for you to make a decision on as and when the cash hits your checking account. Prepare an inventory of expenses that are required to be incurred and began a allow each of those expenses. My friends, Jeff and Ben, have a tremendous post on their blog DollarSprout on the way to make a budget that you simply can actually stick with. make certain to see it out!

The primary expenses in your budget should include your rental needs, your monthly food budget, electricity and therefore the daily commuting expenses. The secondary expenses should specify the quantity you're willing to incur on entertainment (going out for a movie, eating out with friends, going out for a visit, etc.)Make sure that you simply advance to fulfilling your secondary expenses only your primary expenses are met.

2. Limit eating out – Decide, for yourself, on the number of times you’re willing to dine out during a week. If your budget permits you to dine out twice every week, make sure that you stick with it. Frequently dining out often seems to be very expensive thereby failing your entire monthly budget. Sometimes, during the course of enjoying some time out with friends, you finish up spending more on food than you had expected to. you would possibly have just planned a movie, but you stop by to grab lunch then a drink or two and within no time, a two-hour movie has clothed to be all heavy on your pocket.

3. Recognize small belongings you can save on – As a student, you're during a position to save lots of on little things which will otherwise sum up to sway an outsized portion of your budget. Setting aside an hour or two hebdomadally for doing all of your laundry, rather than sending it out, can prevent tons from the end of the day. Selling your old books to shop for the new ones, employing a cheaper mode of transport for commuting on a day to day, using online coupons while buying necessities are a couple of of the various little belongings you can save on to take care of your budget while having the ability to satisfy your necessary expenses.

4. Reduce impulse buying – You enter a mall to shop for yourself a pair of jeans but a reasonable dress catches your eye and you only can’t help buying it. You then move ahead to urge matching shoes, matching earrings and by the time you arrive home, you realize that an equivalent pair of jeans which was meant to cost you $40 has actually left you $150 short. Impulse buying is that the first and therefore the foremost spending habit that must be addressed if your funds are limited.

5. Small Savings – Save a little portion of cash monthly as a habit and to be safe with reference to your uncertain financial needs. Small savings over a period of your time pay off at the end of the day as they create you stand on a sound financial footing right from your college days. Maintain a Students’s bank account specifically for your savings so on keep your money safe.

6. Finding fun free of charge – Enjoying an excellent time together with your pals doesn’t always have got to come at an important cost. choosing a home-cooked meal at your accommodation vs going out is equally fun and entertaining. Renting during a movie for a few in-house entertainments while enjoying a home-cooked meal isn’t just fun but also how to save lots of some pile. I’m sure we all have friends who are always in to save lots of money.

7. Always keep a track of your savings and expenses monthly – At the top of the month, sit and compare the budget began within the beginning with the particular expenses. this is often important to understand how adequately you've got been ready to manage your finances and to spot which all extravagances could are ignored. Compare them, identify the explanations for differences and recognize if there might be how for you to figure them out the subsequent month.

[jeantmelton]

How To Eat While Traveling

It can be a challenge to eat well while traveling. Convenience food, eating out at restaurants, extra sweets, alcohol and skipping meals can leave you feeling tired, bloated and generally not your best. Combine that with long travel days, less movement and not sleeping well, travel can feel like less of a vacation and more of a stress on your body. 

Whether you are traveling for work or for pleasure, by putting some simple strategies in place you can easily navigate travel to keep you healthy, happy and having fun!

Here are my top tips for navigating food choices when you are traveling:

Tip #1: Pack Snacks

There is nothing worse than being without food when hunger strikes. If your flight sits on the ground for hours before takeoff or you miss breakfast before your early meeting, having something with you to eat will save you from skipping a meal or resorting to the vending machine. 

Here are my go-to foods that I pack for any trip:

Nuts (maybe a small amount dried fruit for some natural sweetness) and individual packets of nut butter

Fruit, such as apples and oranges

Veggie chips, such as kale or beet chips

Canned wild salmon

Whole grain or gluten-free crackers

Grass-fed beef jerky 

Collagen protein bars

Olives

High Quality Dark chocolate (life is short!)

If I’m traveling by car, I might also pack a cooler with some perishable items like organic deli meat, coconut yogurt and a home – made kale salad (recipe below). 

By bringing food with me, I ensure that I’m covered for whatever travel throws my way! 

Tip #2: Hit The Grocery Store

I always scope out the grocery stores at my destination and plan on stopping there if needed. I can grab some simple staples like hard boiled eggs, avocados, a big salad from the salad bar and replenish my snack supply. If I’m traveling by car, I might also pack a blender and then pick up smoothie supplies as well. 

I try to book a hotel room with a fridge or, better yet, a small kitchenette so I can make at least some of my own meals. This saves money on eating out and helps me prioritize maintaining good nutrition while avoiding overly processed or high sugar options that might be more convenient. Most of all, eating real food simply feels better. Who wants to be away from the comforts of home feeling sick, bloated, constipated, fatigued or moody due to something as preventable as eating real whole foods!

Tip #3: Make A Restaurant Plan

Eating out at restaurants can be challenging especially if you are following a personalized diet to support autoimmune disease, hormone balance or weight loss. On one hand you want to enjoy the pleasures of dining out, but on the other hand you want to maintain the progress that you’ve made with your health goals. 

One of the best strategies to navigate restaurant eating is simply by having a plan. Here is what I mean:

Check out restaurants online before you travel. This will help you decide what the best restaurant options are for you and your individual style of eating. 

Plan your order. Look at the menu online and make a plan for what you will want to order. This will help you avoid impulse decisions, keep you from feeling flustered and allow you to focus on the social aspects of the meal. 

Make substitutions. Often restaurants will allow you to substitute a salad for another side, order a meal without the sauce or adjust your order in another way to suit your needs and preferences. Since dairy can be inflammatory for many, I often recommend asking for meal items without the cheese. Another great substitution is asking for olive oil and vinegar as your dressing. Many commercial salad dressings contain inflammatory vegetable oils and sugar and are helpful to avoid. 

Tip #4: Support Yourself With Supplements

Another tip is to travel with supplements. Digestive enzymes and an organic greens powder are my top recommendations, along with any other supplements that you may be taking as part of your functional medicine protocol. 

Digestive enzymes, such as Digestive Enzymes Ultra by Pure Encapsulations, are great to have in your purse or bag while traveling to help digest the foods that you are eating. Since it is common to eat foods that you don’t normally eat while traveling or sit a lot on long travel days (movement can help with digestion), digestive enzymes can simply give your GI tract a little love and support. 

If you are sensitive to gluten or dairy, Pure Encapsulations also makes Gluten and Dairy Digest, which is specifically formulated to help you digest these proteins should you encounter any contamination by eating away from home. 

One common challenge with travel is getting in enough veggies. Eating plenty of produce each day provides essential nutrients, antioxidants and helps to keep you regular, which can be very helpful when traveling. Using an organic greens powder, such as this one from Amazing Grass, can help to fill in the veggie gap. Simply mix a scoop with water or nut milk as a great way to start a day of travel and exploring. 

Tip #5: Do Your Best

My goal for you is that with these strategies you can travel with ease! Eating while traveling shouldn’t be stressful or trigger feelings of guilt or shame around your food choices. Instead, it can be helpful to take the mindset of simply doing your best. Being prepared certainly helps with this positive view. Create a balance between nourishing your body with nutritious foods and enjoying the pleasure of eating and trying new things. If your body doesn’t like something you try, take note, and adjust for the next meal. 

The more that you work with these strategies along with tuning into your body’s needs, the easier it will become to travel and maintain your health goals at the same time. You’ll just need to travel more to practice! 

Quick Kale Salad

I travel a lot for work and also with my family. When I’m on my nutrition game, I whip up a batch of this kale salad the night before I leave. In the morning, I divide the kale among 3-4 travel bowls (I like LunchBots), top with any extra protein I have in the fridge and I’m done! It’s quick, tasty, nutrient dense and satisfying. Knowing I have something delicious and nutritious to enjoy keeps my eyes off the candy at the gas stations which I appreciate so that I can trust my travels will be fun and I will feel well!

Ingredients 

8-10 large stalks of Lacinato kale (aka dinosaur kale) 

½ teaspoon sea salt

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons tahini 

½-1 whole lemon, juiced 

2 tablespoons unfortified nutritional yeast 

1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions 

1. Mix the oil, tahini, lemon juice and nutritional yeast until combined. Set aside.

2. Strip the kale leaves off the stems and discard the stems. Tear the kale into bite size pieces and sprinkle with salt. 

3. Squeeze and massage the kale very hard for about 3-5 minutes or until the kale is very soft and appears “cooked.”

4. Stir in the lemon tahini dressing. Note: for extra delicious salad, store in the fridge 8 hours or overnight to let the flavors deepen.

5. Before serving, top with walnuts.

The post How To Eat While Traveling appeared first on Unlimited Health Institute.

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[tamboradventure]

My 5 Favorite Hostels in Melbourne

Posted: 1/5/2020 | January 5th, 2020

Melbourne is the backpacker hub of Australia. It’s laid-back vibe, awesome live music scene, and rowdy nightlife make it a favorite for backpackers and budget travelers alike.

Whereas many cities Down Under are worth visiting for a few days, you could easily spend weeks here without getting bored.

Since it’s a popular spot for budget travelers, the city boasts dozens of hostels to cater to the growing tourist numbers. In my decade-plus of visiting Melbourne, the hostel scene here has changed drastically. There are tons more hostels here than there used to be — and there are lots of upscale and boutique options too. These days, you have so many choices it can be overwhelming.

To help save you time, here are my top five hostels in Melbourne. If you stay at any of these, you’re guaranteed to have an amazing experience!  

1. United Backpackers

United Backpackers has everything I Iike in a hostel: it’s affordable, has comfortable dorms and private rooms, is secured by key-card entry, has a kitchen and dining room, includes free breakfast (with pancakes), and has tons of places to relax and hang out.

Its basement bar hosts events throughout the week and there’s also a TV room and a common area with a pool table. The hostel also offers a free walking tour of the Central Business District (CBD) which is packed with street art, restaurants, bars and clubs.

This hostel is large so it’s easy to meet people as well. However, since it’s so large there are occasional lines for the bathroom and the hot water can run out in the morning (so wake up early or shower at night). If you’re staying in a dorm, choose one of the smaller ones — the 12-bed dorm can get crowded.

Located across from Flinders Street Station, it’s easy to get anywhere in the city. It’s also just a seven-minute walk to Eureka Skydeck which provides amazing views of the city.

Beds from $35 USD, rooms from $126 USD a night.

—> Book your stay at United Backpackers!  

2. Flinders Backpackers

Another hostel next to Flinders Street Station, Flinders Backpackers offers massive 16-bed dorms — a popular choice for budget backpackers traveling on a shoestring. For those looking for privacy, there are also private rooms here but they are rather small.

Free breakfast, which includes a make-your-own pancake station, is included. The hostel also has a large common room, TV room with movie nights and free popcorn, and a kitchen for cooking your own food. Every week, they make a family-style dinner for the guests to enjoy (a nice way to save some money if you’re on a budget).

If you’re staying in the dorms, bring earplugs (especially if you are on the lower floors) as there is a club nearby that can be loud.

They also have a bar and restaurant on-site which has events almost every night. On Fridays, they make a huge batch of Goon Punch, an Aussie cocktail, so things get lively. Not surprisingly, this hostel is quite social so if you’re looking for peace and quiet, you probably won’t find it here.

Beds from $25 USD, rooms from $81 USD a night.

—> Book your stay at Flinders Backpackers!  

3. Base St Kilda

THE ABOVE PHOTO WAS TAKEN FROM ANOTHER POST BUT IS TECHNICALLY NOT LEGAL TO USE Base St Kilda is far from the center of Melbourne, but it’s in a perfect location if you want to stay near the water. Like most hostels in the city, it has a free pancake breakfast, a free walking tour, and is own bar. The hostel is definitely a party hostel so don’t stay here if you’re looking for quiet.

They host regular activities like karaoke and foam parties and the huge common room here has pool, foosball, and board games. As for the rooms, they’re a bit cramped but still comfortable enough. Every dorm has en-suite bathrooms and the private rooms here all have their own balcony.

There is also a kitchen but it isn’t huge (there are no ovens so you just have basic options when it comes to cooking your own meals). The Wi-Fi works best in the common room, but it’s not great in the dorms. If you need decent Wi-Fi, head out to one of the cafes to use theirs instead.

This hostel is great if you want to hang out and party by the beach. You can take public transit into the CBD, which is easy to do and takes around 30 minutes.

Beds from $26 USD, rooms from $79 USD a night.

—> Book your stay at Base St Kilda!  

4. Tramstop 14 Backpackers

If you want a chill place to stay that caters to long-term stays, Tramstop 14 is the place for you (they even offer discounts for guests staying longer than a week). If you’re passing through, it may feel a little bit like you’re crashing someone’s house because so many people are staying long term — but don’t let that deter you! With dorms that sleep up to 10, as well as single and double rooms, it’s quite affordable and a lot smaller than most of the other hostels on this list.

As with many hostels in the city, there aren’t enough bathroom facilities so plan on a wait in the morning if you’re not up early.

The hostel has a small kitchen and a comfy lounge with Netflix and is much calmer and quieter than most other hostels in the city. It’s a good choice for anyone looking to relax and get a decent sleep.

The hostel is close to the Rod Laver Arena and Melbourne Cricket Ground, as well as the Melbourne Museum. It’s also a short tram ride to the CBD. Located in the more bohemian Fitzroy neighborhood, there’s plenty to do nearby, such as checking out the art and live music scene or relaxing at one of the local cafes.

Beds from $27 USD, privates from $68 USD a night.

—> Book your stay at Tram Stop 14 Backpackers!  

5. fa

The history of The Nunnery is one of the things that makes this Melbourne hostel so interesting. Built in the late 1880s, it was an actual nunnery for over six decades. The hostel has both dorms and private rooms, and also offers some extras like hair dryers and hair straighteners if you ask for them. They also offer free bike rentals too.

The rooms aren’t always super clean and depending on what you book, they vary from spacious and nice to basic and cramped. They have a small kitchen so if you want to cook make sure you get there early or there won’t be any space. There’s also a lounge, balcony, and courtyard for hanging out with other travelers.

They host free events every day, such as pub crawls and movie nights so there is always something to do. Free breakfast is included too.

It’s Fitzroy location is close to Brunswick Street, the Melbourne Museum and Carlton Gardens, and it’s only a 10-minute walk to the city center.

Beds from $28 USD, rooms from $89 USD a night.

—> Book your stay at The Nunnery!

*** While there are now over 30 hostels in Melbourne, these hostels are the best the city has to offer. Whether you’re looking for a long-term stay as you sort out a working holiday or just visiting for a few nights, a stay at these hostels will ensure you have a fun, safe, and social experience.

After ten years of traveling the world, I still love to stay in hostels. They add character to your experience and make it easy to meet other travelers. If you want to make the most out of your time in Melbourne, be sure to stay at any of the hostels above. You won’t be disappointed.

Book Your Trip to Melbourne: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. Those are your two best resources.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it, as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel — and I think they will help you too!

Looking for more information on visiting Melbourne? Check out my in-depth destination guide to Melbourne with more tips on what to see and do, costs, ways to save, and much, much more!

Photo credit 2 – Ashton 29, 4,

The post My 5 Favorite Hostels in Melbourne appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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Nutrition - So Simple Even Your Kids Can Do It

Who doesn't like saving more income? If you've recently gotten considering the raw food life style and are trying to find different options to save money performing it, here is a assortment of money-saving methods for you. Finding a strategy to choose this diet sustainable for you and your wallet may perhaps be one of the most critical factors in making it work to suit your needs. The other two factors are you need to help it become fun and healthy/balanced!

1. Invest in a dehydrator and earn your chips, crackers, cookies, dehydrated nuts, etc. A good idea would be to copy on the ingredients of packaged raw food snacks and earn your version of them in your house. It can be more pleasant in this way and you'll make enough for some friends too.

2. Borrow raw food and also other health/spiritual books from the library as an alternative to buying them and reading them once in the bookstore or online. You'd be astonished at what number of raw food books the library system has. Most library websites use a request function that can transfer the book(s) you wish to your neighborhood branch and notify you when it is able to get.

3. Additional book options: You can organize a novel exchange by incorporating other health-conscious friends. Or it is possible to buy those books you understand you want for your collection from a web-based bookstore like.

4. Buy your supplements on the web and preferably in large quantities, when possible.

5. If you don't need or want a whole lot of product, create co-ops using your friends, buy in big amounts, and split the shipping.

6. Make your beauty items from the foods you now have with your kitchen.

7. Make and exchange food with friends to test new recipes and reduce time and expense: Either make raw food recipes in big batches and share among friends or organize your potluck and invite some friends. To help it become easy with them, you can allow them to have some easy recipes to choose from or direct them one of the numerous raw food recipe websites online.

8. Buy used kitchen equipment: Check online, at local health food stores around the notice board, or ask your family and friends if they use a food processor, blender, or juicer they do not use that one could borrow.

9. Join a wholesale club and save big on family-sized bags and boxes of vegatables and fruits. You will probably go through these just as quickly as a family would! You can find avocados, dates, organic spinach, raw nuts, some frozen fruit, and select organic fresh fruit at these stores.

10. Create your own private raw food recipe books operating your chosen or most appealing recipes by copying and pasting all of your preferred recipes posted online onto anything processing document. You can use the find function just like you'll the index of the book.

11. Always search for several websites online for the best possible price before selecting online (especially supplements). It's usually a similar product online versus at the raw food restaurant or health food store.

12 Make your individual Rejuvelac and/or Kombucha if you can. Search online for ingredients and instructions. It's very easy and economical to accomplish. It could conserve your funds on Probiotic supplements too.

13 Sprout your sprouts. Each tray of sprouts will still only run you about .20-.30 cents each and 4-5 dollars at a shop.

14 Shop where the organic food is most inexpensive first: Buy whatever good organic meals is offered at the farmers' market or smaller produce stores before you go towards the big chain natural grocery store. Then determine your menu or recipe ideas to the week, based on whatever you ought to work as part of your fridge.

15 Buy your spices and nuts, seeds, grain, and dried fruit within the bulk section of your big chain natural grocery store. Because you aren't paying for the packaging, it's a lot cheaper.

16 If available, buy mint, basil, rosemary as well as other fresh herbs inside the bulk section with the natural foods market for substantial savings.

17 If it is possible to't afford to buy all organic produce (some are very tough to even find organic), switch to buying conventional product for the people fruits and vegetables carrying the smallest amount of level of pesticides when grown conventionally: broccoli, eggplant, cabbage, banana, kiwi, asparagus, sweet peas, mango, pineapple, sweet corn, avocado, onion. Buy only organic for your "dirty dozen," produce found to hold the best amount of pesticides when grown conventionally: peaches, apples, sweet sweet peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, imported grapes, pears, spinach, and potatoes.

18 Love your sea veggies? Avoid getting the $5 to $6 bags unless you are trying out brand new ones. Buying online large quantities (2-4 lbs with a time) is most economical. You could also split your order with someone else to talk about the cost in the shipping and handling.

19 Forage for free wild foods for super nutrition (e.g. dandelion, clover, purslane, stinging nettles, etc.). Use some of these greens with your salads, smoothies, and juices and spend less inside the store.

20 Sign approximately receive newsletters from raw food websites for announcements on special sales and promotions. Be notified and take advantage when you really need to restock on supplies!

21 Get involved with a loyalty marketing business such as Elements for Life and obtain entry to superfoods and supplements at the discount. OR get going in your own at home business to get started on earning money so you can afford to spend more on healthy food and superfoods. Get free education on raw foods and superfoods with your varieties of companies as well!

22 Don't forget to any or all of these other locations you're saving in now that you're living a greater portion of a raw vegan lifestyle: gas bills, doctor and hospital visits, prescription drugs, OTC medicine, coffee, soda, candy, (as well as other processed foods,) expensive cooked food restaurants (not really that you won't go to these again but you will not be ordering $35 entrees and appetizers and desserts there).