After a year of struggle with the pandemic, the vaccines made the virus less daunting. But the recent wave of the Omicron variant proved that it is still powerful. Maybe, the celebrations came too early for the world. You still need to stay home and bolster your immunity to be safe from the virus. Even if you want to get back to partying, hosting get-togethers at home is the best thing to do amid the ongoing pandemic. Consider getting creative and try some unique ideas to make at-home parties successful. Here are the ones worth trying this season.
Host a retro movie night
An old-school idea everyone still loves is a movie night at home. You can host a retro night for your gang to relive the memories and have fun together. Follow it up with a sleepover to make the evening extra-special. Set up comfy seating in your living room with mattresses, blankets, and cushions for the guests. You can even put up a screen outdoors if the weather is pleasant. Have tons of popcorn and delicious snacks at hand to complete the cinema experience.
Plan a backyard BBQ party
A barbecue in your backyard is another must-try idea in pandemic times. You can even host one on the balcony if you do not have a big deck or live in a small apartment. It is easy to ensure social distancing outdoors even when you have a long guest list. Have enough seating for them, string some fairy lights, and play light music to create the right ambiance for a lovely evening.
Cook cannabis-infused dinner
If you have a group of cannabis-loving friends, nothing gets better than a cannabis dinner. You can unleash your culinary skills to cook the most delicious and innovative dishes for the evening. Cooking with concentrates is a great idea as you get more with less. Order your favorite budder from weed smart and get going with your baking spree. Be ready for some genuine compliments from your buddies as you host an event to remember.
Try a potluck party
Do not be too stressed about hosting a party at home because you can share the workload by opting for a potluck theme. Rest assured, your guests will love the idea of a potluck as much as you do. Plan the evening by asking every attendee to bring a special dish each, so you will not have to slog in the kitchen for hours. You can dress up and enjoy the party like everyone else.
Invite your SO for a spa day at home
You may want a more intimate gathering for your SO instead of a crowded party for the entire gang of friends. Surprise your partner with a romantic spa day at home, and they will absolutely love the idea. Create the right set and setting in your bedroom using aromatic candles and flowers. Have your bathtub ready with an infusion of essential oils. Indulge in a mutual massage session, and let love do the rest!
These unique at-home party ideas are a must-try in pandemic times, so don’t miss out on the fun. Get your guest lists ready, and plan the one you like the most.
For Christmas, my friend gave me the Bergdorf Goodman Cook Book, a collection of recipes from the fabulous BG restaurant. OMG!! I love the restaurant and I especially love the cookbook…Here is the Summary…
A stylish collection of 100 recipes from the renowned BG restaurant at the singular luxury shopping emporium. Incorporating recipes from the fashion community, this charming gift volume features the whimsical four-color art of renowned illustrator Konstantin Kakanias throughout.
The Bergdorf Goodman Cookbook is a collection of 100 delectable recipes from the singular, legendary retailer’s restaurant, BG—a dining hot spot for fashion cognoscenti and lovers of fine food; also included are favorite dishes from star fashion designers, writers, and media, including Zac Posen, Thakoon, Joseph Altuzarra, Tabitha Simmons, Diane Von Furstenberg, Joe Zee, Dana Cowin, Bobbi Brown, Georgina Chapman and Keren Craig of Marchesa, Deborah Needleman, and Kelly Wearstler.
Indulge in cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, soups and starters, salads, entrees, and desserts, among them BG’s revered Manhattan and its wildly popular Gotham Salad, not to mention a host of other favorites such as Crab Cakes with Spicy Rémoulade, Truffled Grilled Cheese Sandwich Bites, Lobster Napoleon, and Double Chocolate Tarte. Each recipe is introduced with an anecdote from the restaurant or its contributor, and all are spectacularly illustrated with exclusive four-color artwork by artist and designer Konstantin Kakanias.
Encapsulating the formidable style and refinement of this legendary fashion institution, The Bergdorf Goodman Cookbook is the ultimate accessory for anyone who enjoys a taste of luxury. – Amazon.com
For more information or to purchase this book, click HERE.
This week’s book club choice was sent to me over the holidays…Local Woman Missing: A Novel by Mary Kubica…
New York Times Bestseller
“Dark and twisty, with white-knuckle tension and jaw-dropping surprises.” —Riley Sager, New York Times bestselling author of Home Before Dark
In this smart and chilling thriller, master of suspense Mary Kubica takes domestic secrets to a whole new level, showing that some people will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.
People don’t just disappear without a trace…
Shelby Tebow is the first to go missing. Not long after, Meredith Dickey and her six-year-old daughter, Delilah, vanish just blocks away from where Shelby was last seen, striking fear into their once-peaceful community. Are these incidents connected? After an elusive search that yields more questions than answers, the case eventually goes cold.
Now, eleven years later, Delilah shockingly returns. Everyone wants to know what happened to her, but no one is prepared for what they’ll find… – Amazon.com
For more information or to order this book, click HERE.
‘I didn’t get enough time.’ You must have used this statement at least once in your life.
There are 24 hours in a day; still, many of you may be complaining about lack of time. No wonder walking with the fast-paced world and lives is difficult but that doesn’t mean you will give up. This is most likely to result in too much pressure or delayed tasks at work.
Furthermore, this puts a big question on your ‘productivity level.’
Your overall productivity graph is obvious to decline when you have been procrastinating at your desk for years. And once you get into one, it’s hard to come out of your comfort zone. But guess what, we are here to make things easier for you.
Let’s quickly sail through some potential ways to prove productive at your workplace and kick off procrastination in one go. All you need is to muster up your courage & combat laziness.
Are you ready? Let’s get started!
1 – Eat chocolates –
‘Don’t eat chocolates’ that’s a common statement of a mother restricting children to avoid tooth decay or cavities. But do you know chocolates are helpful for your focused mind and productivity (of course, when eaten in moderation)?
Here, we are talking about the magic mushroom enriched chocolates. This beverage is loaded with psilocybin. As per getkush experts, it kicks your energy levels proving you are more creative and productive at whatever you do. All you need is to go for a quality one.
2 – Set some self-imposed deadlines –
Do you know when you procrastinate the most? When you have no strict deadlines in your head. If you think that’s what puts you in a lethargic state, avoid it by imposing deadlines on your tasks.
This is a kind of time and work management on a personal level. It won’t just help you wind up your work faster but also prove you productive at work. And you never know when you get recognized for your accelerated productivity graph?
3 – Say NO to multitasking –
You may consider multitasking, especially when loaded with a series of important tasks on your to-do list. Thus , many psychologists strictly recommend not to attempt several tasks at once. This can result in poor concentration leading you nowhere. Therefore, it’s ideal for keeping a strict time frame for each task which helps you wind up your work faster.
4 – No distractions are allowed –
When you wish to be more productive at work, you need to avoid distractions around you. Some of them include – mobile phone, voicemail requests, hangout chats with a colleague, etc. This sticks you to not-so-important stuff and hampers your work, at the same time.
And if your dental health issues are distracting you, be sure to check out this dentist in Thousand Oaks.
So, when are you getting started?
The bottom line is that –
Walking hands-in-hands with different sets of challenges in your personal and professional lives is likely to hamper your productivity at work. But that’s not something you should worry about. At least when there are ample ways to empower your productivity. If you are dealing with the same kind of issues, consider practicing the hacks mentioned above. It will help you indeed!
The New Year is about new resolutions, and most people have weight-loss goals on top of their minds. The resolution makes sense, as you will probably have a few extra pounds and inches after the festive season. Moreover, fitness deserves to be a priority as winter is the laziest time of the year. However, sticking with your goals is always a challenge, no matter how enthusiastic you are in the beginning. A couple of months down the line, and they take a backseat. Thankfully, there are ways to make them work if you take the right approach. Here are some actionable tips that can help.
Make realistic and short-term goals
The easiest way to miss out on your weight loss goals is by thinking too big. You will probably give up the idea if you have unrealistic targets. The best approach is to keep your goals small and short-term. You can even break them into smaller milestones and realistic timelines. As you reach these milestones down the line, you feel motivated to stick with the initiative.
Seek expert guidance
It is tempting to have random numbers on your weight loss wishlist, but the approach seldom works. Every person needs personalized goals, timelines, and plans when it comes to shedding extra pounds. It is best to seek expert guidance to find ones that work for you. You can visit a dietician to help you with the eating part. A personal trainer can provide guidance for a viable fitness plan.
Stay ahead with exercise motivation
The hardest challenge that disrupts your efforts is the absence of motivation. You may practice control of your diet, but sticking with your exercise routine can be tough. But you can do your bit to stay motivated. Consider finding a workout buddy you can compete with. Look for wax vaporizers and dab pens for fast and effective sessions before a workout. You can shop for dab pens at Mind Vapes and pick a CBD-high strain for the best outcomes. Stay motivated, exercise daily, and lose weight.
Choose a sustainable strategy
Steer clear of crash diets because they seldom work. Moreover, you may feel exhausted within a couple of weeks and give up completely. Opt for a balanced diet as it is a more sustainable approach. With this strategy, you need not make drastic changes in your habits. Your body gets ample nutrition and energy, making the transition easier to cope with. Additionally, you can stay true to it for the long haul.
Find healthy alternatives
Making your weight-loss resolutions work is also about finding healthy alternatives for your plate. Switch from sugar to stevia, opt for fruits instead of chocolaty desserts, and choose whole-wheat bread over white bread. Picking smarter substitutes means you can enjoy your favorites without adding extra calories. You will not feel deprived, yet weight loss remains realistic.
This year, stick with these actionable ideas to stay on track with your weight loss goals. You will not have to worry about ditching them or not getting desired outcomes.
Sports Gifts for Christmas: Top 12 Ideas for Every Taste and Budget
Choosing a gift for an athlete is quite simple. The market of sports and fitness goods is actively growing, offering more interesting and useful gadgets and tools. And to buy them, you don’t need to win a fortune at 20Bet – best live poker because they are cost-efficient. Here are the best gifts for sports fans.
Sports Equipment
Fitness Bands
Fitness bands became a real hit at the market of sports goods and are not going to lose their popularity. This is not surprising, because they are universal: suitable for men and women and work out all the muscles. Their compactness and ease of use also play a huge role.
Weights
Weights for arms and legs are used at power and functional exercises, as well as during running. They allow you to increase the load and work the muscles more deeply. Weights are sold in different colors, so you will have plenty to choose from.
Fitness and Yoga Mat
An exercise mat is probably good for everyone. You need one for fitness, yoga or stretching. Using a personal mat is much more pleasant and hygienic than taking general mats in a fitness club. Your own mat also allows you to work out at home and in the park.
TRX Loops
With TRX loops, you can train anywhere: at home, in the gym or outdoors. There are a large number of exercises for training with TRX loops, so they help to work all muscle groups.
Dumbbells
Classical sports equipment, which does not lose its relevance. With them, you can perform a large number of exercises on the upper shoulder girdle muscles. Manufacturers offer a wide range of dumbbells in different colors and sizes. In order not to miscalculate the weight of dumbbells, it is best to buy a collapsible model. Then a person will be able to adjust the necessary working weight.
Top Gifts for Health
Foam Roller
The foam roller is designed to recover from exercise and relieve muscle tension. It is useful for both professional and amateur athletes. Foam roller will help to get rid of back pain, strengthen joints and improve their mobility. There are different models that differ in their stiffness and size. In this article, you will learn about the different models of foam rollers and how to use them properly.
Smart Scales
This device will measure not only weight, but also the amount of water in the body, muscle mass, fat and bone tissue. In addition, many models can calculate body mass index and metabolic rate. The scales synchronize with your smartphone, save all the data in a special app and help you track your progress.
Heart Rate Monitor
The heart rate monitor comes in handy during high-intensity interval training, running, cycling and other cardio activities. It monitors the heart, analyzes the impact of stress on the body, determines heart rate zones and the limits of the exit from these zones.
Sports and Fitness Accessories
Water Bottle
Fortunately, more and more people have become environmentally conscious and are giving up disposable plastic utensils. One way to reduce plastic consumption is to carry your own water to your workout. A stylish sports bottle is perfect for this purpose. You can take it to the gym or for a run.
Shaker
A shaker is an essential item for those who take sports nutrition such as protein shakes. Manufacturers offer a huge range of shakers of different shapes and colors.
Sports Bag
A roomy sports bag is never superfluous. To choose the right size, you should take into consideration what kind of sports activity a person is doing. If it is boxing, for example, the bag should be large because you need to put gloves and a helmet in it. If it is pilates or aerobics, you can buy a smaller bag. But still, it is better not to buy too small a bag, because in addition to the sports uniform you need to carry a towel, water and other necessary things.
Wireless Headphones
Wireless headphones are a real godsend for athletes. With them it is much more comfortable to train or run to music because nothing interferes and does not get tangled during active movements.