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7 Summer Holiday Garden Projects To Keep The Kids Busy & Entertained

Editorial Team
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7 Summer Holiday Garden Projects To Keep The Kids Busy & Entertained

Summer holidays in the UK are something of a dichotomy. For the majority of school children, they represent pure, unbridled freedom for a length of time that feels both infinite and fleeting. For teachers, that effect is only amplified tenfold, with the early September scaries bringing the six weeks to a crashing, crushing close way too early each and every year.

For parents, those six weeks are bittersweet. Sure, it’s almost two whole months of quality time with the kids. But equally, it’s almost two whole months of time spent trying to think of entertaining yet educational activities for both parent and child. 

Keeping costs low and kids occupied can be tough, make no mistake, even for a day. But for six weeks? Things can get really tricky. 

Fortunately, we’re here to help you get inspired, creative and even teach your children some valuable life lessons in the process; here are 7 summer holiday garden projects to keep the kids busy and entertained.

Help Them Build Their Own Tree Swing 

Calling all DIY parents, a tree swing project might just be perfect for you! Not only does it look aesthetically pleasing with its farmhouse, old-fashioned vibe, but it is also a super fun garden addition for the kids to enjoy for the remainder of the summer, after you’ve spend some time together building it. 

This project can actually save you money and is the perfect alternative to buying a large swing set from a store. Gather up a large plank of wood, some super sturdy rope, and most importantly, ensure that the tree/branch is strong enough to hold your child’s weight. Wahey!

Grow Your Own Fruit And Vegetables  

Growing a plant or crops from scratch is a great way to teach your child to be nature loving. Watering and taking care of the plant until it is fully grown will prove very satisfying for both of you, and could even teach kids how to grow their own food in the future. What’s more, it fosters an understanding of the seasons and the passing of time, which is valuable for teaching many life lessons later down the line.

Aside from growing your own food, there are other ways to turn your garden into an environmental asset, too, like welcoming in bees and making a dedicated area for compost. Perhaps a fun project for you and the kids?

Trying to keep your kids educated on healthy eating habits can sometimes be difficult, especially in the summer months when ice lollies, sweets, and chocolate fill up their eating agenda, so why not grow some fruit and vegetables that your kids can savour when they’re ripe? More importantly, they’ll learn a respect for seasons, nature, fresh food and the environment, and what better life lesson could you teach in a single summer than that?

Read: 5 ways to encourage children to be environmentally friendly

Photo by Zen Chung

Chores With Rewards

Teach your children the value of an honest day’s graft by putting them to work in the garden, with prizes to be won or a wage to be earned at the end of their ‘shift’!

The summer months represent the ideal time to tackle those nagging DIY jobs in the garden and around the exterior of your property, with the warmer, longer days allowing you to really get stuck in. 

And all that mowing, trimming, powerwashing (more on that in a minute) and watering the plants presents an opportunity to enlist the help of your children, teaching them the value of a hard day’s work while you’re at it. Offer an increase in pocket money or even prizes for who can finish the outdoor chores first as a reward, and watch your garden be made beautiful! 

That said, there are some home improvement jobs that really aren’t suitable for the kids. With the height restraints and general dirt, debris and grime involved in cleaning your gutters, for instance, you can always call in a professional and let your children simply watch and learn from the best, from afar. Click here to learn more about the gutter cleaning services available in the UK. 

Sweep & Powerwash The Driveway

Powerwashing may not exactly sound like a fun project, but reframe this thing… Kids and water guns? A water fight with some sly chores thrown in for good measure? A chance to get soaked in under the summer sun? Suddenly, cleaning the driveway sounds kinda fun!

There’s nothing as satisfying as watching dirt and grime disappear from concrete slabs or wooden decking, simply with a spritz or two of water. And hey, you might all cool off a little when all that spraying goes errant. 

Read: 5 exterior home improvement ideas for the summer

Photo by Yan Krukov

Create A Garden Cinema 

Sitting indoors on a warm summer’s night feels almost perverse, don’t you think? So, why not bring your indoors outdoors and create a garden cinema? No, we don’t mean simply bringing your TV outside, here. 

Instead, you’ll first need a projector. There are tons of affordable ones out there, but the APEMAN Portable Mini Projector 4500 at £79.99 on Amazon is often touted as one of the best budget projectors you can buy on a budget, and will give you a decent picture outdoors. 

For a screen, a white bed sheet pegged on the washing line with something to weigh it to the ground will suffice. Now, all you’ve got to do is stick the popcorn in the microwave (or even a few marshmallows on the fire) and you’re good to go!

It doesn’t have to be perfect; after all, it’s meant to be a fun DIY summer weekend project. Bring a few chairs, blankets, blow-up beds, you name it, outside, and your cosy garden cinema is complete. Now all that there is to do is select some films, and trust us, that will be the toughest part of the whole project!   

Have Them Help You Host a BBQ 

Nothing quite screams summer louder (if you’ve got synaesthesia, that is) than the smell of chargrilled sausages and burgers, or even a whole barbecued fish, and it is even better when these are shared with your family and friends. 

Why not enlist the help of the little ones, and teach your kids some simple BBQ recipes, helping them (within reason) helm the grill and cook up a storm for your guests. Not only will your kids learn some basic food preparation and hygiene skills, but they’ll even get a glimpse into the elemental joy of grilling. Perhaps you’ll even light a fire in them to become a chef one day!

Photo by RODNAE Productions

Touch Up Painted Features 

Children just love painting projects, and they’re rarely happier than when holding a paintbrush. The wear and tear of old paint is never a great look, but finding the time to touch up exterior doors and windows can be challenging. Not on a summer weekend though. 

With a decreased chance of rain or harsh weather conditions, this is the perfect time to start painting. Not only will it be a fun DIY project for all the family, but it is also likely to increase your property value. A win-win! 

8 Healthy Kinds Of Bread You Should Switch To Right Now

Editorial Team
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8 Healthy Kinds Of Bread You Should Switch To Right Now

Bread—can’t live with it, can’t live without it. This delicious carb is regular food for some and a pure, unadulterated addiction for others. Toasted white bread is one of the most common breakfast foods across the world, whether it’s anointed with butter, spread with marmite, or blessed with jam. 

Regular white bread is made of refined flour, which contains sugar and is stripped of the majority of its fibre and other nutrients. This may make it easier on your tummy (unless you can’t have gluten!), but it is not necessarily nutritious.

This is why white bread isn’t considered a particularly healthy option. Everything in moderation, of course, but does this mean all bread should be avoided? No; other grainy types of bread contain plenty of fibre and crucial nutrients, which make them a great addition to our diet. Here are a few of the healthiest kinds of bread you can eat.

Pure Whole Wheat Bread

White bread flour is made of the starchy core of the wheat kernel called the endosperm. Pure whole wheat flour uses the entire kernel. This means the flour contains bran, germ, and endosperm, which makes it highly nutritious and filled with fibre. 

Considered by some to be the healthiest bread to eat, whole wheat bread is a great option for most moderate carb diets. Read the label of your 100 percent whole-wheat bread carefully before buying, however, to ensure there are no additives.

Some red flags include “enriched” wheat, high fructose corn syrup, and chemical names you can’t even pronounce. Steer clear from such products as they have additives that are bad for you. Each serving of bread should contain at least two grams of fibre, so always keep an eye out for that.

Making a whole wheat sandwich for lunch or toast as breakfast is a great way of adding fibre and vital nutrients to your diet.

Whole Grain Bread

Similar to whole wheat, whole grain also uses the entire kernel, but it doesn’t have to be wheat. Whole grain flour can contain anything from wheat to quinoa, either on its own or in a blend of a few grains.

This flour is packed with protein, antioxidants, minerals, and vitamin B, which makes it one of the healthiest flours out there.

Some whole grain flours are made with healthy ingredients like red rice, brown rice or wild rice, for example. Healthy rice flours have numerous minerals that aid heart and digestive health.

Some whole grains can be too heavy for people with chronic kidney diseases. However, some whole-grain ingredients are great for kidney health like buckwheat, barley, millet and quinoa.

A healthy person can include any whole-grain bread into their diet, but people with health conditions should do some research to find the right whole grain for them.

Sourdough Bread

Sourdough bread is often considered the healthiest bread on earth. It is certainly healthier than regular white bread and perhaps even whole wheat bread, depending on your nutritional needs. 

The sourdough starter is a yeasty and doughy paste that has wild yeast and a bacteria called lactobacilli. The starter helps with the fermentation process as it is mixed with flour, water, and salt to create the dough.

Sourdough bread is all about fermentation as the dough is left to rise at room temperature for 8 to 14 hours. You can also proof the dough for up to 36 hours in the fridge, as it may not be able to handle any more than that.

Even though the probiotic bacterias don’t survive the baking process, the dough is left with an ample amount of lactic acid bacteria, which is an antioxidant and aids in the creation of healthy microbes in the stomach.

Sourdough bread is a healthy option for breakfast toast. It has a hint of sourness that goes well with avocado, eggs, bacon, cheese, and other toast companions.

Read: 10 IDEAL places to eat amazing sourdough bread in London

Sprouted Bread

We have already mentioned that whole wheat flour still boasts the entire kernel, which increases its healthiness. Sprouted bread flour takes it another step further. The grain is sprouted and then ground into flour. When a grain or legume germinates, it contains fewer carbs and more protein and fat.

A sprouted grain also has a higher quantity of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and, accordingly, bread made from sprouted grain boasts various health benefits. By letting it germinate for one to five days, the nutrient inhibitors are significantly reduced. Antinutrients can go down up to 50 percent, making the absorption of iron, calcium, and zinc easier.

Sprouted grain bread is easier to digest because of its high digestible enzyme content and low Lectin levels. This makes it an excellent choice for people with chronic inflammation and digestive issues.

This is also the bread of choice for people with blood pressure and blood sugar problems, as it is low in calories but has a high protein content.

Oat Bread

If you choose to eat healthily, chances are that you have already included oatmeal in your diet. If you feel tired of your regular dose of oats, eat oat bread instead.

Oat bread has a soft, nutlike flavor that is pleasant to eat and easy to digest. Due to being high on health-building nutrients like magnesium, vitamin E, thiamine, iron, zinc and more, oat bread is one of the healthiest kinds of bread out there.

Oatmeal is a complex carbohydrate that is loved by people on diets. It has a high fibre content and makes you feel full for longer than sugary carbs like white bread or white rice. It is well-known for regulating blood sugar and can help control harmful lipids in our body, especially reducing triglycerides.

The fibre in oats is mostly soluble fibre. This helps keep your bowel movements normal, keeps your blood sugar steady, and attaches itself to cholesterol, helping to remove it from your body comfortably.

Sprouted Rye Bread

The Germans, Scandinavians, Russians, and Polish all love rye bread, and for good reason, too. Although rye production is mostly linked to Europe, this grain has, in recent times, become internationally popular due to its health benefits.

For starters, rye bread makes you feel fuller than even pure whole wheat bread. If you want to aid your body’s insulin management, rye should be your go-to grain. Similar to oats but even more effective, rye’s high soluble fibre helps slow down sugar absorption, hence regulating insulin levels.

If you opt for pure sprouted rye bread, you not only maximize the nutrition in the bread but also ensure that it has lesser antinutrients, which will increase your body’s capacity to take in those nutrients.

Rye has a deep earthy flavor and a touch of tartness that gives it a unique character. It can be an excellent base for any gourmet sandwich or light, delectable Scandinavian inspired dishes like Norwegian smoked salmon on rye.

Multigrain Bread

Different grains and legumes have different types of nutrients in them. For example, rye and oats have soluble fibre whilst flaxseed, almonds and sunflower have high levels of protein and fat. Wheat, on the other hand, is a great source of insoluble fibre and gives you denser energy.

What if one bread could give you the benefits of all these grains, seeds, and legumes? Well, multigrain bread can. Multigrain flour is a blend of different grains, legumes, seeds, and more. It has a deep, nutty flavour, and makes amazing pancakes and waffles, too. But nothing compares to the bread.

The bread is denser yet flavorful. This is like the superhero version of bread as it has the qualities of many different healthy ingredients. 

Multigrain bread is often high on protein and fat, but it also has complex carbs that digest slowly and give a more sustainable energy flow. It is filled with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants and is more filling than wheat bread.

Gluten-free Bread

Can’t have gluten? Relax, gluten-free flour has you covered. Gluten-free flour is made of grains that do not have gluten. It can also have a variety of seeds, nuts, and legumes.

Gluten is what gives wheat bread elasticity, but it doesn’t have any health benefits. Many people have digestive disorders or severe immune diseases like celiac disease, where their small intestine pretty much self-destructs every time they have gluten. Basically, their immune system starts attacking them.

Gluten-free bread flour can be made from potato starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, rice flour, oats and almond. It can be purely one flour or a blend of a few.

Gluten-free bread is easy on your stomach, but it can also be sugary, depending on what it is made of. However, if you find flour that is a mixture of nutrient-rich ingredients, you will end up with a healthier option.

The Bottom Line

Step away from white bread and enter the world of healthy grains. There are plenty of delicious types of bread out there, so you can take your pick according to taste, texture, and flavour. The world is your oyster (on toast).

And while you’re here, why not try this IDEAL recipe for roast garlic and rosemary bread? You won’t regret it!

THE IDEAL GUIDE TO SERVING WINE AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE

THE IDEAL FOOD TEAM
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THE IDEAL GUIDE TO SERVING WINE AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE

The difference between a good and a great glass of wine doesn’t always hinge on the grape, the terroir or the producer. Sometimes, to elevate a wine to dizzy new heights involves something much easier to control; the temperature at which it’s served.

Drinking a superior glass of wine is an experience that tells a story. Every wine has its own unique flavour and aroma, its character, bouquet and essence, and some of these defining characteristics are only perceptible at the correct temperature. 

At chilled temperatures, for instance, the acids in the wine that produce full, rich flavours become more noticeable on the palate. The primary notes of fruity sweetness will give way to subtler tastes that are unique to each wine. 

If you came here looking for a catch all rule, however, you’re going to be disappointed. The ideal temperature varies according to the type of wine you are drinking, and knowing the right temperature will dramatically improve your enjoyment. While you should never serve wine above 20ºC, the proper range for different wines varies considerably. Some are perfect at 18ºC, while a chilly 6ºC brings out the best in others. 

To dig a little deeper, here’s the IDEAL guide to serving wine at the right temperature.

HOW TO KEEP WINE AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE

The iconic image of a bottle of wine chilling in a bucket of ice certainly represents one popular way to cool wine. Whilst it’s not the most effective way to chill wine, it’s much better than dropping ice cubes in your glass, that’s for sure, which dilutes the wine and doesn’t change the temperature in a reliable, consistent way. 

However, using the ice bucket method leaves you with little control and a lot of room for error. Additionally, imagine serving a nice dinner with multiple courses and a bottle of wine to accompany each. While your friends and family are enjoying each other’s company, you’ll be troubleshooting wine temperatures. And no one wants that.

Read: How to drink less wine but enjoy drinking it more

TRY A WINE FRIDGE

A more effortless, convenient way to keep your wine cool is via a dedicated wine fridge, which uses the latest cooling technology to maintain precise, consistent temperatures. 

There’s a variety of models, from small, economical wine fridges that are perfect for the home to larger varieties that can chill hundreds of bottles. Most include two temperature-regulated compartments which you can use to keep red wine and white wine at the perfect temperature. Of course, that begs the question of what the perfect temperatures are…

HOW TO ENJOY THE TASTE AND AROMA OF RED WINE

The full-bodied flavour and aroma of a good red means that it doesn’t benefit from as much of a chill as other wines. While it’s necessary to drink it below room temperature to appreciate the nuanced flavour of red wine, the temperature range is quite forgiving. The perfect serve for red wine is anywhere between 12-18ºC, but this is variety dependent.

Lighter bodied reds with higher levels of acidity, Pinot Noir, for instance, benefit from being at the lower end of that temperature range whilst tannic, fuller bodied affairs, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, reveal their complexities when a little warmer.

BRING OUT THE BEST IN YOUR WHITE WINE

White wines are lighter and sweeter than reds and benefit from a deeper chill. A temperature between 8ºC and 12ºC will balance the flavour profile of your white wine and make it a refreshing rather than claggy drink. This range is a bit higher than typical fridge temperatures; another reason why investing in a dedicated fridge is a wise move if you take your wine drinking seriously.

DESSERT WINES ARE BEST SERVED COLD

As the sweetest wines, dessert wines and champagnes thrive at the coldest temperatures. A cool 6-8ºC gives their flavour a refined edge to accompany the refreshing, palate-cleansing sweetness of these beverages.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PRECISION

Some wine lovers will go so far as using a thermometer to measure their wine to within a fraction of a degree before consuming it. However, one degree more or less isn’t going to make or break a wine that’s within the ideal temperature range either way. 

Besides that, approaching serving temperature in this way actually misses the point to some extent. Even if you’re convinced that Pinot Noir reaches new heights at precisely 16.5ºC and store it at that temperature, it’s going to be warmer when you drink it. The act of pouring wine into a glass will already cause the temperature to start rising, which results in a serving temperature that’s higher than the storage temperature.

That said, precision is valuable. The point of precision is that you can compensate for the difference between storage temperature and serving temperature. For instance, the heat of a summer day will immediately drag a 18ºC red out of the ideal range. Accommodating these environmental concerns is just one of the ways that you can use a wine fridge or cooler to enjoy every glass to the fullest.

Now you’ve got the temperature just right, check out these 5 IDEAL tips for storing your wine to guarantee longevity.

7 IDEAL Tips For Your Group Holiday In Tenerife 

Editorial Team
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7 IDEAL Tips For Your Group Holiday In Tenerife 

If it’s time to get the good old gang back together again for shindig, after years of being locked down and apart, then why not consider a group holiday to Tenerife? Indeed, Tenerife is ideal for group getaways, with holiday lettings galore catering for group bookings dotted across the island, many for eminently reasonable prices. 

The Island Of Eternal Spring is also blessed with an excellent public transport system – with both buses and trams cheap and easy to use – meaning you don’t have to worry about renting a car and having a designated driver for the trip. 

As you’re probably well aware, the modus operandi for a group holiday weekend away is relatively similar wherever you go. Think generous spreads in restaurants and on the villa dining table, parties each evening and fun activities during the day to dust off that hangover ready for the next one. Free time to explore is also imperative; nobody relishes the thought of too much organised fun, after all.

With the scene set, let’s explore this beautiful island together; here are 7 IDEAL tips for your group holiday in Tenerife.

Where To Book Your Group Villa 

The south of the island is where you’ll find most of the popular tourist resorts, including Costa Adeje, Playa de Las Americas and Los Cristianos. Playa de las Americas is particularly famed for its party atmosphere, if your group likes to get down.

The north of the island, which includes the capital Santa Cruz de Tenerife and La Laguna, is more traditional and Canarian in spirit – in other words, less touristy. Here, you’ll find the beautiful Las Teresitas beach, which is idyllic, and ideal for a more laid back time away from the main party throngs. 

If the north sounds more like your kind of thing, the main resort is Puerto De La Cruz. Alternatively, on the island’s north west, Los Gigantes also offers a more ‘local’, traditional experience.

The Best Restaurants For Group Bookings 

Tenerife’s restaurant scene is thriving, with every taste catered for, whether you prefer to dine in traditional Canarian restaurants known as guachinches, Michelin-starred temples of gastronomy, or a little of both!

Though many of the island’s haute cuisine destination restaurants are fairly intimate, there are still plenty of great options for group bookings across Tenerife. In the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, we love San Sebastián 57, which does modern Canarian food and has large tables for groups.

An hour’s bus ride (or half hour’s drive) outside of the capital, Bodega El Zacatín is a sprawling but humble guachinches famed for its grilled meats and local wines. It also has plenty of outdoor seating, with large tables for groups.

Speaking of grilled food, the premier dining spot for barbecued meat and fish in the south is Casa Fito, which sources its meat from the Basque country and grills its fish in the region’s famous style, too. Sadly, the restaurant is currently closed, but once it opens again, Casa Fito is a great spot for a group booking.

Another revered grill restaurant, nestled in the country’s north east and with plenty of space for groups, is Bodegón Campestre. Here, steak is a speciality, with carafes of superb local red wine a bargain. Be aware that the restaurant closes at 5pm every day except on Fridays and Saturdays, when it stays open late.

It should be said that the Canarians cherish a long and languid lunch, and it’s very much the norm to see large groups of friends and family whiling away the hours around a restaurant dining table. Accordingly, the majority of the more informal eateries and guachinches in Tenerife will be happy to accommodate a larger group.

Dining In Your Tenerife Villa 

Eating out every night can get expensive, especially if you’re boozing. And with your villa likely to be a little away from the main urban centres, those taxis can mount up, too. So, why not do things a little differently and hire a private chef to whip up some local delicacies from the comfort of your group holiday rental? Sites like Dine Indulge offer a free Private Chef for as little as £24.99 per head, with customisable menus according to your preferences. Sounds like a blast to us!

When it comes to cooking for your group, first things first; head to your local market or supermarket and buy a bottle of mojo sauce to have with eggs in the morning. Pronounced “mo-ho”, it comes in two basic varieties – green and red. This sauce is the Canary Islands’ unofficial condiment, paired with just about everything. 

A Canarian cheese and wine lunch at the villa is an easy way to cater for a large group of people. It is rumoured that residents of the Canary Islands consume more cheese per person per year than other parts of Spain. And that’s a country who truly loves their cheese. Fresco (fresh) goat cheese is most commonly eaten here.

Tenerife’s markets are a great place to pick up local produce. The farmers’ market in San Miguel de Abona is particularly famous for its local produce. Here you can buy local cheeses and wines, alongside charcuterie and freshly baked breads and pastries. 

If you are in the north of Tenerife, Tacaronte’s farmers’ market is one of the largest in Tenerife and is great for picnic/lunch ingredients. The market is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 2pm. La Laguna Municipal Market, in San Cristóbal de La Laguna, is another great spot for ingredient shopping. We’re getting hungry just thinking about it!

Private Wine Tour 

Wine tasting is an activity that certainly benefits from the in-person, first-hand experience; the unique terroir, climate and topography of a destination bringing with it a sense of place that translates into intrigue on the palate. 

Tenerife is famous for its wines. For a relatively small island, it packs a big punch, with five distinct wine regions, Valle de la Orotava, Ycoden-Daute-Isora, Abona, Tacoronte-Acentejo and Valle de Güímar, each with a unique terroir.

In the north of the island, the wines are tainted with the herbaceous taste of the volcanic soil, whilst in the sunny south, wines tend to be sweeter. In the east, the dry coastal climate lends itself to crisp, clean white wines, and on the opposite side of the island, new and old techniques are used to create truly unique wines.

Read: 4 of our top reasons to visit this idyllic Spanish island this summer 

Visit During Carnaval De Santa Cruz

Let’s face it, sometimes group holidays can lose focus. So, why not go with an event in mind, to draw together the vision of the trip into one cohesive whole?

The pre-lent festival of Carnaval de Santa Cruz, a riotous, colourful event perhaps only second to Rio’s Carnaval in international repute, sees the streets of the city come alive with joie de vivre for the whole month of February. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to the islands during this time, so be sure to book your group villa early if this sounds like your squad’s kind of vacay. 

Charter A Boat 

No matter what size your group, chartering a boat in Tenerife is a wonderful way to spend the day. Consider hiring a boat for the whole day so you can put down anchor at some of Tenerife’s most famous sites, including Los Gigantes cliffs, Masca Bay and Barranco Seco.

Alternatively, charter a boat to go dolphin watching. The waters between Tenerife and La Gomera are home to one of the largest communities of these bottlenose dolphins in the world. Moreover, they live in these waters all year round so you’re pretty much guaranteed to see them whenever your group trip is. 

Free Activities

The cost of group holidays can soon add up, make no mistake, but rest assured; Tenerife is also home to a vast array of free public parks and gardens, including the island’s number one attraction, Teide National Park, which is also totally free to enter. 

In Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the botanical gardens of Parque García Sanabria are also free to enter, and cover a massive ​​67’230 square metres. Aside from the exotic flora found here, there are also some incredible sculptures, many gifted by the 1st International Street Sculpture Exhibition, which was hosted in Tenerife in 1973. If you’d like a sprinkle of culture over your group holiday, this is the place to visit.

If that sounds like your sort of thing, then before you leave us, why not check out these 5 IDEAL outdoor activities to do in Tenerife? Buen Viaje!

5 Exterior Home Improvement Ideas For The Summer  

Editorial Team
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5 Exterior Home Improvement Ideas For The Summer  

If you’re anything like us, after a long winter and as soon as spring starts shooting its shot, our minds start to fixate on summer, and those balmy, beautiful days spent in our gardens.

But the colder months can wreak havoc on both your garden and the exterior of your property. After all, when the sun beats down and illuminates a neglected and damaged home… Well, it’s not a good look. 

When relaxing in your back garden on a sun lounger, the last thing you want to be doing is worrying about dead foliage and flowers, contemplating dirty gutters, and scrutinising streaky windows. 

Instead, before it’s T-shirt weather, make the most of summer’s long build-up by getting your garden ship shape for the new season. Stay tuned as we discuss some exterior home improvement ideas to implement in time for summer. 

Add A Living Green Wall

If you are looking for a fun, DIY summer project, then this task could very well be the one!

These living vertical gardens are as eye-catching as they are practical. Indeed, since plants absorb and reflect sunlight, living walls are known to reduce the ambient temperature – something that is very welcome come summer. Moreover, living green walls promotes biodiversity, especially in city settings.

They also absorb sound, thus reducing noise pollution, too. Studies have shown that green walls can reduce ambient noise by up to a whopping 40 decibels – a pretty great benefit and home improvement if you live next to a noisy street.

Having lots of green plants and shrubbery in your garden, skyward or not, is a proven way to increase your wellbeing and promote positive mental health. Plants and foliage can give a green base of calming relaxation with pops of seasonal colour to accentuate the subtle nuances of a more relaxing space. Consider using a mix of native and exotic plants to add intrigue.

Read: 6 plants you need to have in your garden this summer

Clean Your Gutters 

Take your mind out of the gutter and, erm, onto your gutters…

Did you know that gutters do actually serve a purpose? Yes, they are a lot more than just weird tubes that run along the bottom of your roof. Gutters are responsible for catching and clearing rainwater as it runs down your roof. Without them, there could be detrimental effects such as roof and home interior damage, or even damage to the garden below. 

Even if your gutters are functioning with no apparent issues, it is still nice to see them clean. They can be prone to debris build-up and can end up stuffed with leaves, branches, dirt, and abandoned litter, and let us tell you, this is not a good look! 

Gutters can be difficult to reach, making it hard to clean and maintain them yourself, so it is always best to call in a professional to ensure that the job is completed quickly and successfully. Click here to learn more about just what a gutter cleaning service can do for you.

Scrub And Polish Exterior Windows  

Ugh, the dreaded job of cleaning your windows. We get it, this task is not always the most exciting, or even the easiest, especially if you have a selection of streaky windows on your hands.

Sometimes, it is a whole lot easier cleaning the interior windows and simply leaving the exterior side, but this will not provide that clean (see: transparent) finish you’re after. 

Take a cleaning solution of your choice and mix it with some warm water to wash down the outside windows. Quick note; that handy vinegar spray you use on your shower glass may not alone work for the exterior dirt and grime. You’ll want to mix some dishwasher detergent in with vinegar for better results.

Once they are looking clean, buff them up with a microfibre cloth and you will be sure to see your windows gleaming from a mile away. Or, at least, from a comfortable vantage point in your garden.

Read: 10 eco-friendly cleaning tips for big spring clean

Add An Outdoor Seating Area 

Now, what better way to prepare for summer than to add a seating area to your garden, whether that’s out front or back? 

An alternative to sitting inside in a dull living room (sorry to make silly assumptions) is just what you need with the summer months approaching.

Luxurious outdoor furniture can certainly be on the pricier side, we know, but if you shop around (especially on online retailers) you’ll find some outdoor seating suitable for you. 

Or, think outside the IKEA box with your chill-out area furniture for best results. We think hammocks and garden swing seats offer a groovy alternative to the traditional garden bench. Much better for indulging in an afternoon of reading or a post-barbeque nap, this style of seating is perfect in encouraging spending long summer days enjoying your beautiful garden. And that’s why you’re here, right?

We can smell that barbecue smoke already.

Invest In A Hot Tub 

One of the next exterior home improvement ideas, especially for the summer, has got to be the addition of a hot tub. Sure, a heated pool in our back gardens would be a much greater idea but unfortunately, not everyone has the facilities or space for that, especially in the UK. 

During the era of endless lockdowns (remember that?!), hot tub sales soared, because, well, what else was there to do? If you are late to the hot tub trend then not to worry, that increased demand has somewhat levelled off now, meaning prices have stabilised, too. 

If you are concerned about the expense of a hot tub, consider a cheaper alternative; a lazy spa, perhaps, or even simply renting a hot tub strictly for the summer months! 

Hot tubs even have a range of potential health benefits. What’s not to love?

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s go boost that kerb appeal!

5 Ideas for the Perfect Romantic Getaway

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5 Ideas for the Perfect Romantic Getaway

Relationships take work, and although the honeymoon phase might wear off after the first year or two, if you want to keep the romance alive, you need to work at it. It can be easy to find yourself or your partner feeling taken for granted, and while communication is always key to a successful relationship, being affectionate and showing tokens of your appreciation for each other is also important.

This is why scheduling time together for date nights is a good idea. But if you want to do something extra special, why not book a romantic getaway together somewhere new? Here are five suggestions that would make excellent trips for couples who want to spend some all-important alone time together. Hmmm, is that an oxymoron? Anyway…

Here are 5 ideas for the perfect romantic getaway.

Glamping

Stargazing together somewhere remote with a glass of sparkling wine certainly is romantic, and if you are both lovers of the outdoors, then a camping trip could be the perfect experience for you both. While renting a motorhome or pitching a tent can still be an enjoyable experience, why not add a touch of glamour to your trip away together?

Glamping is the ultimate upgrade, and it will give you an extra level of comfort to help inspire some romance.

Rent A Private Holiday Home

If you don’t like the idea of being stuck in a field somewhere, consider looking into renting a private holiday home for a long weekend or even a full week away together. This can provide you with all the necessary comforts you will need, and many homes offer additional amenities like hot tubs and swimming pools for a little extra luxury.

You can either enjoy a meal at a local restaurant or choose to cook together in the holiday home’s kitchen and have a candlelit dinner in private. To see some fantastic examples of the kind of properties you can rent, take a look at these luxury cottages in Cornwall from Cornish Gems.

A Vibrant City Break

Another option to explore is staying for a long weekend in a vibrant and inspiring city somewhere on the continent. As we’re sure you know, there are countless options to choose from!

Paris might be the most obvious one to visit for a romantic trip, but consider looking at Berlin, Rome, London, Edinburgh, Barcelona and even Verona and the wider Veneto region, the home of the world’s most romantic story, Romeo and Juliet. All are excellent destinations for romantic getaways, and there will be plenty of fun things to do together. This is the ideal choice for couples who love a night out on the town and visiting cultural hotspots.

Exotic Beach Holiday

If you’ve been feeling exhausted due to busy work schedules and other commitments, as well as the general state of the world, then you might both be yearning for a break that can allow you to truly relax. There is no better setting for this than a gorgeous beach with white sands and turquoise waters, so why not look into a few exotic beach destinations for your trip? It might be on the more extravagant side, but this time spent together to recharge and recapture the magic of your relationship will be worth every penny.

An Adventure Holiday

When taking a trip which promises adrenaline and adventure with your partner, a special type of bond is created and you’ll come out the other side with a deeper understanding of your companion. Moreover, working together to reach a goal or to get to a certain location can help to improve relationships and the ability to communicate with each other, so it’s a great choice for couples.

Just think of all the amazing memories that you’ll make. Jumping out of a plane, skiing down a mountain, ziplining over a jungle; these are the moments that you can tell your grandchildren about in years to come. 

The Bottom Line

If you and your partner could use some quality time together, consider getting a change of scene and booking yourself a romantic trip, using these suggestions as inspiration.

How To Save Money On Fuel In 2022

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How To Save Money On Fuel In 2022

If you have a car, then you’ll have no doubt noticed the soaring prices at the pumps recently. Brought on by geopolitical turmoil, rising inflation, a cost of living crisis and many other complex factors, there are fears that petrol prices haven’t even yet reached their peak.

Should you be keen to keep costs down (as much as it is conceivable to do so), then you’ve come to the right place; here’s how to save money on fuel in 2022.

It’s All About Fuel Management

Minor changes to your driving behaviour can amount to significant cost savings; something as simple as the way you activate the brake pedal can have a significant impact on the amount of fuel your car uses. 

Take a leaf out of a fleet manager’s notebook, which gives advice on sustainable driving behaviour in terms of fuel use. These tools, complete with a fuel management system, provide visibility into usage trends, helping those in the fleet to make cost-effective decisions concerning their driving habits.

The guys at Samsara tell us that fuel management involves controlling and monitoring fuel consumption and expenses. It can be as simple as a driver checking a fuel gauge to see when to refuel, or as hands-on as the way they steer into a corner. 

Alternatively, if you don’t have a fleet management notebook to hand, you could simply check out our article on how to reduce fuel emissions here. 

Loyalty Schemes

Though the cost of filling your car up has risen significantly in recent months, there are still savings to be made at the pumps.

And whilst it might feel perverse to pledge allegiance to a multinational oil and gas company intent on doing irreparable damage to the planet, you may just be rewarded for your loyalty in the form of slightly lower fuel costs.

Here are a few of the loyalty schemes currently out there:

  • BP’s rewards programme is called BPme 
  • Shell’s scheme is called Shell Go+ 
  • Texaco has Star Rewards 

Supermarket loyalty cards such as Tescos (Clubcard), Morrisons (More), and Sainsbury’s (Nectar Card) can also be used on their forecourts.

Certain jobs may support you with lower petrol costs, too, whether that’s through an NHS mileage allowance scheme, a fuel card for carers, or job-specific support via your company, should driving be a major feature of your work responsibilities.

Optimise Your Routes 

Route planning for fuel efficiency is one of the key tenets of fleet strategising, and, once again, this ethos can be applied to the general public’s driving habits, too.

Avoid making spontaneous choices about your route or driving with an attitude of ‘trial and error’ about your sense of direction. Instead, map out your routes carefully before setting off on each and every drive, making sure you’re paying close attention to your SatNav’s advice regarding the quickest route.

While you’re at it, plan out your journeys so you’re combining a few trips into one larger errand run. Every little helps!

Supermarkets And Apps

Another way to cut down on fuel costs is by downloading an app that will alert you to the lowest petrol prices within a nearby radius. The price of petrol can be quite volatile at times so it’s always best to double-check when the price is low and fill your tank to the brim. 

According to the money saving experts over at Which?, petrol typically costs a few pence less at supermarkets compared to fuel at other forecourts. 

The site explains that ‘’petrol is also generally cheaper in towns and cities than in rural locations. But supermarkets – even those in the countryside – are often still cheaper than oil-company-owned petrol stations in cities.’’

CarPool 

Carpooling isn’t just great for your wallet, it’s great for the environment, too. If you are planning a long journey or you frequently drive to the same location, carpooling is a great option to save on fuel. For example, if you commute to work every day with a 40-minute drive, it’s worth asking people in your area whether they need a lift into town as well. 

If you are driving to another town for the weekend, you can post on Facebook groups or carpooling sites and find passengers who need a lift. This saves you quite a bit of money for petrol and it also helps cut down on carbon emissions. Not only this, but it’s also enjoyable to have someone in the car keeping you company and helping with directions. Of course, we should mention that having a stranger in your car can be risky – please exercise caution.

5 Signs That You Need To Use Agronomy Services For Your Allotment

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5 Signs That You Need To Use Agronomy Services For Your Allotment

Have you considered using agronomy services but are not sure if they are really necessary for your business? Or, have you heard this technical terminology thrown around but you’re not sure what to make of it? 

We’ll deal with the latter first before considering the former. The modern meaning of agronomy generally refers to the application of soil science in the cultivation of crops, whether that’s in a major agricultural project, a small holding, an urban farm, allotment or even simply your back garden.

Whether you are cultivating crops for a living or you simply have a few oversized marrows growing out back, you’ll want to make sure that you are getting the best yield you can. This means thinking carefully about growing conditions and ensuring that your crops have everything they need to be healthy and to thrive in their environment.

Unfortunately, not everything always goes to plan. Sometimes, it is best to reach out to experts for assistance in order to ensure your plants, fruits and vegetables are thriving. With that in mind, here are 5 signs that you need agronomy services for your allotment.

Disease Or Pests Are Killing Your Plants

Let’s imagine the worst-case scenario first. You have spent some serious time planting your crops and cultivating them. Then, all of a sudden, you notice that they are starting to wilt and some are dying. You simply cannot understand how this has happened and it is starting to spread. It’s also starting to upset you. 

This may well be down to bugs or pests. As Dejex, who offer horticulture agronomy services (find out about them via the link) explain, it’s aphids who are the main culprits in UK farms. They warn that aphids ‘’have immense adaptive skills and can hit it off in almost any environment.’’

Fortunately, Dejex also advise that ‘’One good thing about these pests is that they spread slower than others, making it easier for you to curb them.’’ 

Usually, this curbing is best achieved in the hands of a professional agronomy service, ensuring minimum damage to your crops and soil.

Your Plants Are Not Growing As You Would Like

No matter what you are growing, you want the plants to thrive in their environment and grow to be strong and healthy. But, if you are disappointed with the way your plants are growing, something might be going wrong. Perhaps the soil is not providing the plants with everything they need and this is stunting their growth. This calls for using a fertiliser, which can give your plants the nutrients to flourish. 

But, this sounds like an easier task than it is. Namely, different crops require soil with distinctive, specific pH levels, and there are so many fertilisers out which can affect those levels somewhat irresponsibly. 

Most garden centres sell pH testing kits cheaply – above 7.0 pH and your soil is alkaline, below and it’s acid. Generally speaking, 6.5 is the ideal pH for all-purpose growing.

When the pH is very acidic (below 5.0 ish), most nutrients in the soil become unavailable to crops. Many keen urban gardeners remedy acidic soil by adding lime to it. On the flip side, a soil which is too alkaline causes certain nutrition deficiency in crops, too. Adding an acidifying element, like sulphur or iron sulphate, can remedy this. Generally speaking, it’s best to leave such soil adjustments in the hands of the experts.

You Need Help With An Irrigation System

If your allotment is entering an ambitious new phase and you’re considering setting up a new irrigation system, then, firstly, good luck! We respect your vision. 

Introducing proper irrigation is a statement of intent, sure, but can be an important way to ensure that all of your crops receive enough water during the year. In particular, this is going to be essential during the warm summer months. 

That said, it can be difficult to choose the best irrigation system and they can be set up in different ways, depending on your soil and the crops you’re growing. This is where horticulture agronomy services come in. You can have a professional team help you with the sometimes intricate and complex design. 

You Are Curious About Biopesticides

Are you considering using biopesticides on your allotment but perhaps don’t have sufficient expertise to deploy them effectively? Essentially, these are pesticides that are made from natural materials, such as animals, plants, bacteria and certain minerals, which generally ensures they’re much safer to use and less harmful on the environment, too.

Fortunately, there are lots of natural methods available to prevent garden pests that don’t involve the use of harsh chemicals, including setting up physical barriers, diversifying your plant selection, and boosting the immune system of your plants organically. Check out these tips on ways to prevent garden pests efficiently for more on that. 

Read: How to make your garden more eco-friendly today

You Want To Improve Your Crop Yield

Does your allotment’s produce have the potential to be turned into a profitable side hustle? This means that growing is more than just a hobby; it could contribute to your livelihood. You need to make sure that you are achieving the best results in order to make money. If you are in a position where you want to improve your crop yield, horticulture agronomy services can be a worthwhile investment. 

A professional can analyse your land and how it’s performing (and what needs improving). Then, they are able to provide you with personal advice on what you can do to make everything better. This can help you build a better understanding of your business and to consider angles you have never thought about before. This can be exactly what you need to improve your crop yield and enjoy a growing business.

And with that, we’re off to water our garden!

7 Meaningful Gift Ideas To Make Your Long Term Partner Happy

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7 Meaningful Gift Ideas To Make Your Long Term Partner Happy

Finding the perfect gift for your long term partner can be a daunting task. After all, you’ve already been through so many birthdays, religious holidays, anniversaries and other special occasions together, and inspiration is – we’re confidently assuming here – likely running a little dry.

Fortunately, with a little imagination and inventiveness, there are still plenty of unique, meaningful gift ideas out there for your long term partner, guaranteed to surprise and stimulate in equal measure. Here are just 7 of them.

Matching Jewelry 

Jewelry has been one of the most traditional ways to pledge ongoing love to a significant other for as long as, well, the idea of gifts has existed.

But as the incredible team at lexiejordanjewelry.com tell us, if you’re keen to raise the sentimentality stakes, then matching jewelry is where you want to be focusing your attention. 

You can find amazing matching bracelets, necklaces, and even rings (without the connotations of marriage, if that’s not your thing) that will show how much you truly care about one another. This is an incredibly thoughtful gift that will definitely make your partner happy, and is a gift that they can wear every day and think of you. Cheesy, we realise, but also pretty romantic, don’t you think?

A Personalised Key Ring Or A Smart Key Holder

Sure, you’ve already given your partner to keys to your heart, but how about gifting them something that means those keys (and, you know, the keys to their house and car) will never get lost?

Whilst a personalised key ring is a lovely touch, even better is the KeySmart compact key holder, a present that has recently generated a lot of interest. It’s the ideal present for someone who is constantly on the move and seeking a more organised approach to managing their keys. With this gift, your partner can say goodbye to bulky, noisy keys that constantly jingle in their pockets, and hello to a more organised, sleek system that easily fits in their pocket. It’s practicality at its finest!

A Romantic Getaway

There’s nothing nicer than spending a weekend away with your partner, and a romantic getaway is a perfect way to show how much you care. Whether it’s a city break or a country escape, a little planning can go a long way in making sure your trip is extra special.

Make sure to pick a place that carries meaning for both of you, without any historic associations with previous flames, fallings out, or memories you’d rather forget. 

If you’re struggling to think of the ideal surprise destination, try picking a spot that holds significance for both of you; it could be somewhere you went on your first date, where you shared your first kiss, or where you got engaged.

Or, if money’s a little tight, why not organise a surprise ‘glamping’ retreat… in your back garden!

Spark a little fire in your relationship (and in the garden) by creating your own romantic campsite out back, setting up a tent, a bonfire, with a few fairy lights slung around the bushes and an acoustic guitar gently lent against a tree.

There’s just something about gathering around a fire with your lover, staring into it enigmatically between gazing into each other’s eyes, which just feels very intense indeed. Oh wait, that feeling was an errant spark burning through our socks. Anyway…

Organise A Spa Day Trip Together 

A relaxing day at the spa is a fantastic way to show your partner how much you love and appreciate them. It’s the perfect opportunity to spend some quality time together while enjoying some much-needed pampering. Plus, it’s a great way to relax and unwind after a busy week. Could there be a better surprise gift?

This is also a great opportunity to bond with your partner and chat about anything that’s been on your mind. Whether it’s catching up on the latest gossip or sharing your deepest thoughts, spending time at the spa is a great way to connect with each other.

Again, for those on a budget, there are plenty of smart ways to enjoy a DIY spa day at home. Click here for some top tips on doing just that.

Buy Something For Their Hobby 

If your significant other has a specific hobby that they love, buying them a gift related to it is a meaningful way to show that you care about their interests. For example, if your partner enjoys hiking, buying them a new pair of hiking boots or a hiking book would be a great gift. If they love playing the guitar, consider buying them a new guitar pick or some music lessons (although, do be warned that such a gift might be perceived as a slight!). 

Another idea along these lines is to get tickets to an event related to their hobby. For instance, if they are into auto racing, buy tickets to the next big race in town. Or, if they enjoy going to concerts, get tickets to see their favourite band. Simple, we realise, but these gifts are popular for a reason.

Make A Scrapbook 

A scrapbook celebrating your relationship is a beautiful and unique way to show how much you care, and that you’ve savoured every single memory along the way. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want, making it a great gift idea for any occasion. Or, for no special reason at all, except to pledge your love once again!

To make a scrapbook, all you need is a stack of blank pages and some photos. Start by picking out your favourite pictures of the two of you together. You can also add things like movie ticket stubs, postcards, and love letters to fill up the pages. Once you have everything gathered, start arranging it all into a cohesive story.

If you’re not the crafty type, there are plenty of online scapbook services who will do all the fiddly bits for you; all you have to do is provide the photos! Some of the best include MixBook, Canva, MyMemories Suite, Smilebox, and Scrapgirls.

Soundwave A Print Of Their Favourite Song 

A totally unique, modern gift is a soundwave print of your beloved’s favourite song. You can find these on Etsy and other sites, and they make for a really unique and thoughtful present. If your partner is into music, this is definitely a gift that will make them happy. 

These can be framed or placed in a nice album, and make for a great conversation piece. Though it’s most common to make a soundwave print of music, you can actually make a print of the sound of you saying ‘I Love You’, or your child’s giggle, or just about anything that produces sound waves!

The Bottom Line

When you’ve been in a relationship for a long time, it’s not only the passion that potentially suffers… The gifts can get pretty pedestrian, too! That said, with a little creativity and thinking outside the box, you can still come up with unique meaningful gifts, whether you’re in your seventh or 70th year together.

5 Foods And Drinks You Didn’t Know Were From China

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5 Foods And Drinks You Didn’t Know Were From China

Whether it’s your smartphone, trainers, or even your furniture, the ‘Made in China’ label is as ubiquitous as it comes, owing to the country’s role as the world’s largest exporter. 

But beyond simply mass-producing everyday items, the Red Dragon has invented a whole host of cool things down the millennia, from paper and gunpowder to compasses and umbrellas. We owe much to our comrades on the opposite side of the earth, that’s for sure. 

And when it comes to food and drink, China’s impact goes way beyond their masterful, hugely diverse cuisine, and the delicious ingredients, such as soy sauce, star anise, and even our beloved tea, that grace every British larder.

Today, we’re looking at (and hopefully eating!) some food and drink staples that you may not know originated from the global superpower. Here are 5 foods and drinks you didn’t know were from China.

Kombucha 

A kombucha craze is sweeping the planet, with the global market expected to skyrocket from a value of £1.35 billion in 2019 to £7.7 billion in 2027. 

If you’re not yet familiar with this glorious elixir, as explained by organic and vegan kombucha brand No. 1 Living, “kombucha is a fizzy, fermented, sweetened tea made through a double fermentation process. This involves mixing a SCOBY (a pancake-shaped symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast) with sweetened tea, with the bacteria and yeast converting the sugar into ethanol and acetic acid.”

Many people mistakenly believe that kombucha originates from Japan owing to the Japanese etymology behind the word. But its name was actually derived from a man named Dr Kombu who brought the beverage to the Japanese Emperor Inyoko in 415 AD. With the term ‘cha’ (meaning tea in Japanese) added to his name, the term ‘kombucha’ was born.

Indeed, despite the drink’s name, it turns out that it likely originates from China instead. Kombucha is speculated to have been created by the Qin Dynasty in around 220 BC for the Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, and was called “The Tea of Immortality” or the “Elixir of Life”.

Yep, though it feels like kombucha is a modern, trendy drink here in the UK, it’s been enjoyed for more than 2000 years out east.

Sushi

Similar to kombucha, sushi is also thought to have originated in Japan. While the Japanese certainly popularised and perhaps even perfected it, the majority of experts on its history believe that China is actually sushi’s country of origin. 

It is believed that this stems from the practice of pickling fish by hill tribes in ancient southern China, with the rice added in order to preserve it. Sushi didn’t actually arrive in Japan until the Nara era (710-794), when numerous descriptions of the dish from the literature at the time appeared. 

Nowadays, sushi is consumed with passion across the world, with the US sushi restaurant market alone worth an estimated £16.6 billion alone. The dish first came to the ‘Western’ world in the early 1900s after an influx of Japanese migrants moved to the US. However it wasn’t until the 1970s that sushi surged in popularity, which coincided with advances in refrigeration technology and the ability to send sushi-grade fish across countries and continents.

Interestingly, miso, the traditional Japanese seasoning of fermented soybeans, is also thought to have been invented in China.

Ketchup 

Although it’s often said that ketchup originated in England, using mushrooms rather than tomatoes, it actually comes from China, too. 

In fact, the word ‘ketchup’ is derived from the Chinese word ‘ke-tsiap’, which means ‘pickled fish sauce’. This mixture dates back to as far as 300 BC, and was originally used as seasoning rather than as a condiment.

Ketchup’s popularity spread to Malaysia and Indonesia over time – where the much loved seasoning Kecap Manis is believed to be a long lost cousin to ketchup – but it wasn’t until the seventeenth century that it was discovered by English sailors travelling there. They then replicated the sauce back in their home country using mushrooms. 

Read: 7 incredible vegetarian condiments, sauces and seasonings

It took another couple of centuries or so for tomato ketchup to start popping up in recipes and literature here in the UK and in the US, with a written recipe for ketchup first appearing in the 1801 cookbook The Sugar House Book and 1824’s The Virginia Housewife. 

This variation slowly grew in popularity throughout the century, and was first bottled by Jonas Yerkes in the 1830s. F. & J. Heinz launched its tomato ketchup in 1876, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Nowadays, Heinz is truly synonymous with the sauce, and holds an 80% market share of ketchup in Europe and a 60% share in the US.

Pasta, Perhaps

We hate to do this in a week when Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup, but some historians believe that pasta originated in China, too. Indeed, it’s sometimes suggest that Marco Polo brought back noodles to Italy in the 13th Century after trying them in China, and although this fact is often disputed, there are historical records of noodle dishes in China dating back thousands of years.

In fact, back in 2005, archaeologists unearthed a 4’000 year old bowl of well-preserved yellow noodles buried under three metres of sand at the Lajia archaeological site in northwestern China.

For many, this ended the debate as to who invented the noodle/pasta, but it’s entirely possible that creating long strands of edible deliciousness from flour and liquid emerged in the West (or, as many believe, in the Middle East) completely free from inspiration from Chinese noodles.

As if to rub salt into the wound (don’t rub it into your pasta dough – only salt the water), many also credit China with introducing pizza to the world, in the form of the delicious spring onion pancake known as Bing (饼). Urban myth suggests that – you guessed it – Marco Polo tried bing in China before bringing the concept back to Italy. 

This theory, we should say, has largely been debunked, as wood fired flatbreads with toppings have existed all over the world, independently of one another, for thousands of years.

Ice Cream

Though the ancient Romans and Persians both enjoyed flavoured ice as a treat on a hot day, it’s believed that the Chinese were the first to combine dairy with ice, and can therefore be credited with inventing ice cream, too!

The first records of flavoured ice and dairy being used together appear during the Tang dynasty’s reign, between 618 to 906 A.D. In fact, there are records of King Tang of Shang having a near 100 dedicated ‘ice men’, who would regularly prepare a dish of buffalo milk, ice, flour used as a thickening agent, and camphor, the latter of which you may recognise if you smell it, since it gives Vicks VapoRub its characteristic fragrance. Punchy! 


And if you fancy making a tub of the good stuff, check out these tips on making homemade ice cream. Be warned that camphor has irritant properties and shouldn’t actually be ingested.

6 Of The Best Bits Of Advice For New Dads

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6 Of The Best Bits Of Advice For New Dads

So you just had your first child and now you’re grappling not only with a baby, but also with the responsibility of being a new dad. Congratulations! We know how it feels: incredibly exhilarating, overwhelming, exhausting and terrifying, all at once. 

Although there’s no formula to being a great dad, you can never have too much advice on the subject (of that, you may disagree after a weekend with your mother-in-law). With that in mind, we’ve compiled a quick list of tips every new father should keep in mind while going about their parental duties. Here are 6 of the best bits of advice for new dads.

Be Hands-On From The Get-Go

Some psychologists believe that the relationship you and your child have in the future depends mainly on the first few months you spend together, and the development of a ‘healthy attachment’ between parent and baby 

For you and your child to have a healthy relationship, you will need to build a strong foundation from the get-go.

Your child needs to understand that they can rely on you at all times. Being involved from the beginning will help cement their trust and belief in you.

Accordingly, you should look to spend lots of one-on-one time with your baby, helping them establish trust in you. Participating in activities such as dressing, bathing and playing with your child makes it easy to accomplish this.

Start Planning For Their Future As Soon As They Arrive

Your child will not be a cute 6-month-old or a hilarious little toddler forever. You’ll need to take them to school and then college at some point in the future. We won’t lie to you; this is costly.

However, if you start planning for the future costs as soon as possible, you’ll make those expenses easier to manage when they do finally arrive. And if college isn’t something they want to do, you could divert the funds to a trade school, a mortgage down payment, or capital for a business.

Life Insurance For Dads

As a father, one of the best gifts you could ever give your children – other than your unconditional love and unequivocal support – is protection from financial uncertainty in the event of your passing. That’s why it’s essential to have the right life insurance cover in place.

There are many different policies for specific types of dads, for example, single dads, younger dads and self-employed dads. Whichever life insurance for dads you choose to take out, ensure that it guarantees that your dependents are safe and protected when you’re no longer present.

Read: 6 types of insurance your family might need

Mind That Baby Talk

This is advice that many new parents break, sure, but it’s one well worth keeping in mind. When a child starts learning how to talk, they tend to communicate exclusively in gibberish and baby talk. Some parents answer them in the same way, mirroring that gibberish for a little playful fun.

A child learns how to talk and behave from the people around them. Some studies suggest that if you don’t speak to your child the way you would conduct yourself in a regular conversation (within reason, of course!), you risk impeding their learning.

Speaking to your child ‘normally’ allows them to listen to how words are supposed to be pronounced, which then helps them improve their pronunciation.

Apart from avoiding baby talk, reading to them or singing songs will also help foster your child’s speaking and enunciation skills. We should note, however, that a little baby talk probably isn’t going to do much harm, and, in some cases, might actually have a positive impact on your baby.

Take Care Of Yourself, Too

Now that you’re a father, and have people who depend on you, you will need to step up your game, making sure you’re living clean, eating healthily and exercising regularly. You owe it to your child to be healthy for them.

Taking good care of yourself will also ensure you’re healthy and strong enough to watch your children, grandchildren and possibly even great-grandchildren grow!

Be The Chief Diaper Changer

Help your partner out. She’s carried a foetus to full-term, delivered the baby and is now on breastfeeding duty for the next 24 months or so. Help them take a load off by taking care of some of the other chief responsibilities.

In fact, go out of your way to help; your partner will surely appreciate it if you change those diapers without them having to ask. What’s more, such tasks offer an excellent opportunity to bond with your child. So there you go; two birds, one stone.

Congratulations Once Again, New Dad!

Children are such a blessing. They teach you so much in their innocence and untainted view of the world, forgiving without question and accepting without judgment. 

The ride may be bumpy for new parents, but we hope these few tips will help. Be involved; plan for their future; get a life insurance policy; help your partner, and take care of yourself, too. Doing these things will help keep you on track to become the father your child can always rely on. Good luck!

4 Ways to Help Charities That Don’t Involve Donating Money

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4 Ways to Help Charities That Don’t Involve Donating Money

Charity begins at home, as the old saying goes. But if your ambition to help those in need extends further than your own family, then you might be wondering just how to fulfil that intention.

By donating money, of course, we hear you sigh. Sure, but if we succumbed to your protestations, then we wouldn’t have much of an article to write, now would we? 

If there’s a cause close to your heart, then you might feel compelled to support it. Charities, by definition, rely on the kindness and generosity of the general public to do their work, but if you don’t currently have the financial means to be generous in the traditional sense, then worry not; there are plenty of other ways you can help charities that don’t involve donating money. Here are just 4 of them.

Volunteer

Charities need money, sure, but they also need people. So, one of the best ways to help a charity is by donating your time. You might commit to a charity run, donate blood to help those in need, or volunteer in a high street charity shop, for a soup kitchen or at a beach clean-up. 

Doing so can be incredibly gratifying, and is, of course, hugely welcome by various charitable foundations. 

If you’re keen to incorporate an adventure into that generosity of spirit of yours, then check out this guide on the best volunteering destinations abroad for summer 2022.

Offer Your Expertise

If you have a particular area of expertise that you think would be useful to a charity, then lending your knowledge can be a wonderful way to help a charity without donating money. 

Charities need all manner of expertise in areas associated with both altruism and business acumen. For instance, they might need to bring in specialised charity law firms, digital and traditional marketing agencies, website designers, content writers, and many more roles besides. Rather than a charity having to use donations to hire people for such roles, many are fulfilled through the generosity of volunteers. 

Spread The Word

Hey, we’d all like to claim that the money we donate to charity is purely, quietly altruistic, but there’s no harm in spreading the word about giving charitably, as this will encourage friends and family to follow suit. Share charitable activities you’re engaged on social media for the furthest reach, post photos of events, and links to matters particularly close to your heart.

Raising awareness about a given issue, even if you haven’t personally donated to it, can make a difference, too. For example, you might talk to your friends about your chosen cause. Or, you may share posts on social media to shine a light on the causes and charities that matter to you. Doing so helps spread the word about the good work such charities are doing, hopefully eliciting more donations, both of time and money, in the process.

Involve Your Workplace

There’s a growing body of evidence suggesting that getting your workplace involved in a charitable cause can be great for workplace morale. If you’re performing a job that isn’t inherently rewarding, then the idea that you’re helping those in need can be a powerful motivator. 

A survey by the Charities Aid Foundation found that 57% of respondents agreed that charitable giving helped to improve workplace morale. Moreover, half of the respondents agreed that all businesses had a moral responsibility to support charities.

Some ways you can involve your workplace in charity include:

  • Setting up a donation jar, whether that’s physical or digital
  • Organising a sponsored team outing, event or competition
  • Ask your colleagues or the company you work for to donate their expertise
  • Suggest the company you work for donate their office space
  • Nurture a company culture of volunteering 

Donate Your Birthday

When your birthday next rolls into view, ask yourself if you really need another pair of novelty socks or an Apple Store voucher. 

Instead, an increasingly popular way to help charities without donating your own money is to donate your birthday, asking friends and family to give the value of the gift they were intending to buy you to your chosen charitable cause. This can be a simple, annual way to behave more altruistically, which is why you’re here, right?

From Politics to Literal Transparency: Bags That Make a Statement

Editorial Team
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From Politics to Literal Transparency: Bags That Make a Statement

Where once purely a functional item, these days what a woman chooses to sling over her shoulder can offer a tangible insight into her mind, mood, outlook and unique sense of style.

Indeed, your choice of bag can say a lot about you and the way you like to carry yourself (and your stuff!), helping to reveal your political views and sense of humour almost as much as your shopping habits. With that in mind, today we’re considering bags that make a big statement. Let’s explore further…

Branded Tote Bags 

As we continue to cut down on plastic bags, using branded bags to make a statement has been on the rise. Indeed, ever since the fashion designer Anya Hindmarch launched the “I AM a plastic bag” campaign which saw more than 80,000 people queuing at Sainsbury’s stores for the limited-edition tote, we’ve seen brands use thought provoking messages via branded bags.  

As Anya told the Guardian “The campaign’s impact proved that fashion…can actually be a powerful communicator”.  

But branded bags aren’t only being used as a positive force for change. Many companies are now using branded bags as a marketing tool, using consumers as the deliverers of their message, logo and brand.

This is most succinctly realised via branded tote bags, which carriers can use to convey everything from musical tastes to political leanings, as well as brand allegiance, of course. Indeed, we’ve all come back from exhibitions, conferences, book readings and other branded events with a tote bag, proudly showing it off on our arms on the way home.

It’s not just companies using branded conference bags from RocketBags and other businesses that produce tailor-made bags to make a major statement of intent. Indeed, charities are also using Totes to spread awareness and get their message out there. We’ve all got a Glastonbury/Oxfam tote bag lying around at home, don’t we?

A Transparent Bag 

Transparent totes and clear clutches have been on-trend for a while now; somewhat surprisingly, we might add. As Lauren Laverne once questioned rhetorically, “what could be more private than a lady’s personal portable province?”, and these transparent bags certainly don’t offer much in the way of concealment, it has to be said.

However, the transparent bag has blurred the private-public divide. Fashion Magazine suggests that “clear-plastic handbag represents a contamination of our need to share—or to appear as if we are sharing”. 

Indeed, they go on to posit that the normalisation of sharing our lives online has inspired the clear-handbag trend, creating an internet phenomenon that now exists in the physical world, too.

Whatever the reason for the transparent bag trend, as Vogue highlights, “These are the bags for someone with absolutely nothing to hide, someone who dares to showcase exactly what’s on the inside, someone who carries no secrets around and is truly confident with precisely who they are and what they bring with them”. Now that’s a statement we like. 

That said, one must make sure they’re aiming towards authenticity, rather than purely curating the contents of a transparent handbag to project an inauthentic image of yourself. A tough balancing act, make no mistake.

Slogan Bags

Need to get something off your chest? A slogan bag is a very literal way to get what you want to say across. 

Slogan bags are also a brilliant way to demonstrate solidarity with something you believe in. You might want to express anger at the Tories or remind the world how much you hate the Daily hate Mail, and sometimes there’s no easier way to get the message out there, loud and clear, than with a slogan bag.

Bags have been used for making all kinds of political statements and are also a brilliant way to demonstrate solidarity with something you believe in, helping us shift political conversations away from the online sphere and into our homes and workplaces.

From political views to comments heavy on the attitude and clever word play, carriers of slogan bags are able to broadcast all manner of message, all via a few simple words slung over the shoulder. 

Lose The Logo

High-fashion luxury accessories, like Louis Vuitton, Gucci, or Versace bags, with their logos taking centre stage, are ostentatious to say the least, flaunting their luxury high fashion provenance on the arms of their owners. 

But with the average cost of a designer handbag clocking in at more than most people’s monthly rent, and in the midst of the current cost of living crisis, this flaunting of luxury can feel a little obscene. No wonder, then, that in a study conducted by the NPD Group and reported by Underscore, ‘’consumers of luxury fashion accessories no longer want a logo to communicate the prestige of their purchase.’’ 

In fact, they report that over a third of handbags bought in the US in the year prior to the report had ‘’no visible branding’’. 

Perhaps it’s the shame of knowing that, as One Green Planet writes, ‘’there’s a shocking truth lurking behind your luxury handbag’’. They go on to report that snakes, alligators, crocodiles and ostriches are killed in their millions so their skin can be made into bags. Is that something you really want to carry, both over your shoulder and on your conscience?

Instead, consider making a statement with lesser known vegan bag brands, such as Angela Roi, Stella McCartney and Gunas.

And with that, we’re off to the shops wearing our IDEAL tote bag for all to see. Would you like one?

WHY DO I ALWAYS FEEL TIRED? 5 POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS

Editorial Team
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WHY DO I ALWAYS FEEL TIRED? 5 POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS

Ideal for fighting your fatigue

If you reside in the Big Smoke, or any big city in the UK for that matter, then no doubt you’ve seen (and identified with) that Floradix advert; the one with the yawning woman which asks ‘’are you tired of being tired?’’. As you pass it, no doubt a contagious yawn is involuntarily triggered. And no doubt you’ve considered an investment in this magic elixir which promises to reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Feeling overtired can be debilitating to the point it may be starting to have a severe impact on your daily life. Everyone feels a little drowsy from time to time, but if it has got to the point where you’d rather stay tucked up indoors as opposed to going out simply because you haven’t got the energy, you may need to evaluate what is happening to your body. 

There are many factors as to why you may be feeling extreme fatigue, whether it be lack of sleep, eating the wrong foods or a potential underlying health condition – and it would be worthwhile to get to the bottom of it to improve your quality of life. 

Here are some of the possible explanations as to why you may be feeling constantly tired.

DIET

If your body isn’t getting the correct nourishment or you frequently skip meals, your calorie intake will likely be too low, which can affect energy levels. 

While eating junk food may give you a sudden energy boost when hungry, you’re likely to fall flat just hours later as it typically does not contain enough protein and good carbohydrates. 

Keeping your body supplied with vitamins and minerals will keep you in great health and prevent chronic fatigue. If you’re struggling to know what foods to eat, adding superfood powders from Healthxcel to your meals and drinks (other brands are available) will help ensure that you’re getting the correct intake of vitamins and could be the answer to your lack of energy. 

That said, it should be noted that the best way to achieve perfect harmony in terms of nutrition is through a balanced diet. There is no substitute, supplementary or otherwise, for a varied, balanced and healthy diet, primarily comprised of the five major food groups: vegetables, fruit, grains, protein and dairy. 

Indeed, as the NHS points out plainly, ‘’Most people…can get all the vitamins and minerals they need by eating a healthy, balanced diet.’’ That said, there are some people who are at risk of deficiency and who do need certain supplements to maintain proper levels of nutrition, as the Department of Health and Social Care advise.

ANAEMIA

One of the most common reasons for extreme tiredness is anaemia. This is a condition caused by a lack of iron in the bloodstream and is most common in those who have suffered blood loss or are pregnant. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, heart palpitations and pale skin.

Your GP may advise you to take a blood test to diagnose whether you’re anaemic. If the test comes back positive, you will be prescribed iron tablets to counteract the deficiency. 

You can also add more iron-rich foods to your diet. These include liver, shellfish, dried fruit, pulses and legumes, dark green leafy vegetables, and cereal that’s been fortified with iron.

CLINICAL DEPRESSION 

As well as making you feel melancholy, depression has also been linked to persistent fatigue. While mental health can affect people in a variety of ways, some of the most common symptoms are understood to be lack of focus, memory loss, affected eating and sleeping patterns and low energy. 

While there are no physical tests that can be undertaken to diagnose depression, your GP may encourage you to disclose your inner thoughts and feelings and ask relevant questions to confirm the diagnosis. You may be prescribed antidepressant medication or advised to visit a counsellor to undertake certain therapies, such as cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT).

STRESS

Stress is one of the major factors of fatigue. Coping with extreme anxiety can be exhausting both for the body and mind. This is especially true if you have recently gone through a major life event, such as a bereavement or divorce, or are constantly troubled about finances, family or work. Learning how to keep your stress levels low will prevent your body from going into overdrive and leading to burnout. There are many ways you can tackle extreme stress – it’s all about finding the right strategy for you. 

NOT TREATING YOUR SLEEP SERIOUSLY ENOUGH

Getting your regular dose of Zzeds can bring myriad health benefits, ranging from keeping your heart in good shape to reducing stress and so much more. But so many of us treat our sleep with something approach disdain, viewing it as an obstacle to productivity and fun. Whilst it might sound obvious, this could well be the reason you’re feeling so tired.

There are many ways you can treat your sleep with the respect it deserves, ensuring quality and just the right amount of quantity. On that note, you could do much worse today than checking out these clever ways to make your sleep more restful. Good luck!

6 MUST EAT FOODS IN REYKJAVIK, ICELAND & WHERE TO TRY THEM

THE IDEAL FOOD TEAM
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6 MUST EAT FOODS IN REYKJAVIK, ICELAND & WHERE TO TRY THEM
Kæstur Hákarl © Audrey/ Flickr

Ideal for those looking to experience something new.

Though dream holidays and bucket list entries usually revolve around sunshine, palm trees and something tropical, there’s also much to be said for pursuing the opposing extremity. Yep, clue’s in the title guys, we’re talking about nights longer than days, afforestated evergreen conifers and something subpolar in Iceland.

More specifically, it’s the food we’re focusing on today. While ‘Nordic’ cuisine as a whole has enjoyed significant publicity and praise in recent years, Icelandic fare remains something of a niche enthusiasm outside of the subregion. But those who scratch the surface just a little are richly rewarded. Let’s investigate in the county’s capital city; here are 6 must eat foods in Reykjavik, Iceland and where to try them, IDEAL for those looking to experience something new.

HAKARL

Fermented shark

Two words that no one thought belonged in the same sentence, and Hakarl is a national dish which certainly divides the crowd. The preparation of this infamous dish involves planting Greenland shark in the Icelandic sand, weighing it down so it loses moisture over time, and then, after around 12 weeks, unearthed and hung to dry. The result is a jerky like texture and smell of strong cheese. Mmmmm. 

Actually, this pokey guy is much more palatable with a shot or two of local liquor Brennivin. In fact, it’s really rather nice if you like your flavours bold and the hair very firmly put on your chest. You can try it on tours of the glacier and geyser packed Golden Circle (sharks may be packed below your feet!) or back in the capital…

Try at: Icelandic Street Food, Laekjargata 8, Reykjavik, 101, Iceland

Hákarl | © Chris Wronski/ Flickr

HAROFISKUR

Cod jerky

Air dried, jerky like Icelandic fish isn’t reserved solely for shark. A more approachable preparation is the popular hardfiskur, which is essentially cod jerky. Most often enjoyed as a snack, perhaps with a beer or liquor, it’s almost always accompanied by salted butter (which is particularly fine in this part of the world, we think). It can also be added to soups and stews. When added to liquid, it’s like detonating an umami bomb in your dinner.

Try at: Grillmarkaðurinn, Lækjargata 2a, 101 Reykjavík, 101, Iceland or Icelandic Street Food, Laekjargata 8, Reykjavik, 101, Iceland

Harðfiskur | © Icelandic Street food/ Facebook

PLOKKFISKUR

A traditional fish stew

Surrounded by the abundant North Atlantic sea, which boasts lobster, mackerel, herring, cod and more in droves, it’s no surprise that the focus of Iceland’s cuisine falls on fish.

Plokkfiskur is a celebration of the country’s love for the ocean and the importance of the fishing industry. This simple stew, translating as ‘plucked fish’, is made with white fish (cod or haddock is common), potato, and a bechamel sauce flavoured with plenty of aromatic herbs like bayleaf and chive. The obligatory rye bread is served on the side and many like to spread the thick stew on the bread. Delicious!

Try at: Messinn, Lækjargata 6, Reykjavík, 101, Iceland

SVIO

Half a sheep’s head

Singed, boiled, brains removed, charred…it doesn’t sound like the most elegant cooking process. Neither does it look too refined when it arrives; a half sheep’s head, staring back at you. The proof, though, is in the pate, as they (don’t but should) say; a delicious, deeply flavoured experience which has you picking at head cheese ‘till the sheep come home.

Paired simply with mashed potato, this is a Reykjavik must try whose finest version is found in the unlikeliest of locations; a bus station terminal. Though it might seem lowkey, this is a taste of a unique kind of Icelandic luxury, make no mistake.

Try at: Mýrin Mathús, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland

Sheep’s Head | © Schneelocke/Wikimedia Commons

PYLSUR 

Icelandic hotdog

Hotdogs on the streets on Reykjavik, with the smell of caramelised onions on the nose and the first bite bringing steam from your mouth…well, it’s one of life’s most simple pleasures, we think.

To connoisseurs, it’s all in the interplay of the condiments. Take a warm bun, add your sausage, some raw and crispy onions, and then it’s up to you to choose your weapons. Normally, it’s lots of piquancy and crunch in the form of capers, gherkins, remoulade and the country’s unique brown mustard pylsusinnep. An absolute joy.


Try at: Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur, Tryggvagata 1, Reykjavík, 101, Iceland

SKYR

Icelandic cultured dairy

This cultured dairy product (not quite a yoghurt, and not a cheese either) has been eaten in Iceland for hundreds of years. Its popularity endures because of its reported health benefits, of which there are many. It’s high in protein, rich in nutrients and is full of live cultures.

Icelanders usually enjoy skyr cold, topped with sugar, or stirred through with porridge oats and adorned with local berries, such as lingonberries, bilberries and cloudberries. When served like that, it’s no wonder that the people of Iceland are some of the healthiest in the world; this superfood is a fantastic way to start the day. 

It’s also a superb way to end a meal. We love Matur og Drykkur’s lemon version served with liquorice ice cream…


Try at: Matur og Drykkur, Grandagarður 2, Reykjavík, 101, Iceland

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