Spending time outdoors and relaxing with friends and family has become a way of life during this Pandemic. Why not transform your yard into a perfect space for entertaining your guests? Read on to find out how you can create a yard that’s always ready for a get together with family and friends.
Create an Entertaining Area
To make the most of spending time outside in your yard, it is a great idea to create an inviting space for entertaining guests. Adding an attractive patio to your backyard will make your yard look great and provide a practical space for you to welcome your guests.
When adding a patio to your yard, it is crucial to choose patio builders that are experts at what they do to ensure that you have a high-quality patio that will last you for many years to come. Your builder will work with you to help you select the best materials for your patio and a design that will help you make the most of your space. One of the great things about a patio is that it provides a low maintenance area of your garden that stays looking great with very little effort.
Choose Your Furniture
To make your yard a functional space for entertaining, you need the right furniture for the job. Choosing a furniture style that suits the look that you want for your space will help you to create a more attractive space with an added wow factor. There are so many different outdoor furniture styles to choose from, so you will be able to take your pick from a great variety of tables, chairs, loungers, and more. If you want to maximize the number of people you can seat without taking up too much space on your new patio, why not choose an outdoor corner suite. While choosing your furniture shade is also another thing to consider; so you may want to choose a parasol that coordinates with your furniture set at the same time.
Dine In Style
If you love to dine outdoors, why not treat yourself to some new outdoor cooking equipment for your new entertaining space? Choosing a new barbecue is the perfect excuse to get your friends over for an evening of tasty grilled food under some heat lamps. If you feel like something a little different from a barbecue, how about mixing things up a little bit with an outdoor pizza oven? Everyone loves wood-fired pizza!
Add Decorative Finishing Touches
Once your new patio has been completed and you have chosen your outdoor furniture, it is time to complete your new entertaining space with some finishing touches. You could add some color with some container plants in bright pots and use year round outdoor plants like small evergreen trees, which will last throughout the winter.
Once the finishing touches are complete, it is time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your new entertaining space!
Microblading is a fun, elegant fashion trend that’s definitely worth trying. Whether you have fine, sparse eyebrows or simply want to add a little more definition to thicker ones, the best microblading Long Island NY provides can enhance brows for a perfect look on nearly any face. Here are a few things to know about the microblading process.
Semi-Permanent to Permanent
The microblading process generally requires an initial application, then a touch-up treatment after about 6 weeks. After this, for many people, microblading lasts anywhere from 12 to 18 months — but it may last longer on certain types of skin or with certain microblading pigments. After that time, it will begin to fade and will require a touch-up. For this reason, many microblading artists recommend enhancing your natural shape in lieu of designing an entirely new one. That way, when it begins to fade (or not), it will still blend in well with your natural hair growth pattern. With this in mind, be sure to chose a microblading artist who will meet with you for a detailed consultation before committing to your final design. Many artists recommend having a separate consultation session altogether (rather than a combined session) to ensure you have adequate time to consider your desired pigments, style and brow shape.
Microblading vs. Microshading
Microblading is the process of implanting pigment into the skin with delicate scratches. Microshading stipples tiny dots for a softer, powder-like effect. Both techniques can be used individually, or combined for a unique effect. Depending on your desired outcome, one or both techniques might suit your needs better, so be sure to discuss possibilities with your artist before taking the plunge.
Choosing a Microblader
Just like tattoo artistry, microblading is a very personal art form, with different techniques and styles coming from different artists. Since microblading has a lasting effect, it’s prudent to choose an artist whose style and philosophy match your own. Look for a microblading artist with a variety of possible styles, adequate training/experience and outstanding reviews. With microblading, it’s worth paying a little extra to invest in an experienced artist who can give you a style that you love.
However you choose to go about it, a little extra forethought and insight about the microblading process will improve your chances of getting your dream brows. Whether you opt for something bold and trendy or soft and natural, microblading can enhance your natural beauty effectively and complete your signature look.
Since a lot of NYC restaurants are closed because of Covid 19 they have been sharing some of their coveted recipes online. One of my favorite classic New York City restaurants is 21. They have been posting “Cooking at Home with 21” for months now. I had been waiting and waiting for my favorite dish to make an appearance and wouldn’t you know….it was posted last week. I love the 21 Club Chicken Hash. It is honestly is the fancy cousin of the chicken casserole and one of my favorite dishes ever. I always order it but not on it’s signature bed of white toast, but with extra spinach. It does not look too hard to re-create. It is on my list for this upcoming chilly, maybe snowy weekend!! Bon Appetit!
Ingredients:
1 ½ lbs skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
3 cups chicken stock
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
½ cup unbleached white flour
¼ cup dry sherry
¼ cup heavy cream
1 ½ lb grated gruyere
½ tsp fresh grated nutmeg
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Bring the chicken stock to a
boil. Add the chicken breasts and lower the heat to a simmer. Poach the
chicken breasts 20 minutes or until fully cooked. - Remove the chicken from the poaching liquid and cool completely before
cutting into one-inch cubes. Reserve the liquid. - Combined the softened butter with the flour, kneading them together into a
paste. - Return the reserved chicken stock to a boil, and using a wire whisk, add the
flour/butter combination in one-tablespoon increments. - Cook 5 minutes then add the sherry and cream.
- Adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. Whisk in the cheese and nutmeg.
Remove from heat once cheese is melted. - Fold in diced chicken.
- OPTIONAL CRUNCHY TOPPING: Top with additional cheese, and brown lightly
under broiler. - Serve with spinach, Many patrons prefer the hash served over white toast (no crust) instead of rice.
Seared Spinach
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound fresh spinach leaves, thoroughly washed, stems removed
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Preparation:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach leaves and
sear quickly on one side. - Add salt and pepper.
- Toss/turn with tongs or a spatula to cook the rest of the spinach until just
wilted, but still bright green. (5 or 6 minutes)
A lot has changed over the last few months.
Thanks to the coronavirus, jobs have ended, travel plans have been disrupted, and we have all had to adapt to a new way of living. Wearing masks when out of the house is now the norm, and many of us are now a little more suspicious about close contact with people than we used to be.
It has been a rough ride, and it’s not quite over yet. However, we should take stock of the life lessons that the pandemic has taught us. Yes, our lives have been thrown into chaos, but we should still be thankful for these lessons, as they will positively impact our lives in the long-term.
Lesson #1: Our health matters
We know our health matters, of course, but some of us can be a little careless when it comes to self-preservation. We fall into bad habits, such as smoking, drinking too much, and snack eating. And we put off medical appointments because we’re too busy or because we assume we are probably okay.
The pandemic has made us all take better care of ourselves. We have seen the devastation it has done to the health of others, and this has shaped the way we live and behave. Ask yourself: How many times have you washed your hands today? Chances are, you may have washed them more than usual.
With the knowledge that our life is fragile, we should now have the incentive to take better care of ourselves. We should make an effort to overcome life-damaging habits, and we should make the necessary check-ups, be that with a doctor, quality dental care, or those other services that are unique to some of us.
Lesson #2: We need to care for our financial wellbeing
Over this last year, the financial position of many of us has changed. We may have lost our jobs or been forced to live on less if our employers haven’t been able to pay us our full salaries. We may have had to make cutbacks in an effort to reduce our living costs, and we may have had to delve into our savings to make ends meet.
It’s been a tough time, but it has been a reminder that we should start saving money for other emergency situations. It has also been a reminder that it is possible to live on less with a little bit of frugal thinking. When the pandemic ends, we should remember the financial lessons learned, for the long-term sake of our future finances.
Lesson #3: We should prioritize our relationships
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, or so the saying goes, and this has been true over the last year. Many of us have missed out on contact with family members, friends, and other loved ones. We haven’t been able to socialize like we used to, and this is because of self-protection and self-isolation, as well the preservation of the people we’re close to.
The pandemic has been a reminder that our relationships matter, and it might be a wake-up call to those of us who are sometimes too busy to make time for others. And knowing that the lives of our loved ones are also fragile, we might now be reminded to spend as much time with them as we can before they are no longer here at all.
What life lessons have you learned? Let us know in the comments below.
If you have been following me for a while you know how much I love a pretty table setting. A friend recently introduced me to Lucy Grymes. Lucy Grymes is a paper and lifestyle brand that creates paper products that are both beautiful and easy to use. Lucy sent me a really pretty assortment of her vase wraps and paper placemats. I worked with the vase wraps this past weekend, with my friend Kelley, to create a really pretty fall tablescape. All of the paper placemat prints are so gorgeous too. I am working on some table settings so stay tuned. But, I think I need to copy some of Lucy’s ideas which I have included below. To see her complete line or to order your own vase covers or placemats, click HERE.
Here are my arrangements on my dining room table:
And here is my friend Kelley’s that she put in her pretty living room. We LOVED working with the vase wraps. We both covered a stemless wine glass for each arraignment!
And here was our inspiration!!!!
When your life gets busy, you can put aside outstanding tasks to concentrate on what is important at the time. This can include tidying up your dresser in your bedroom. Spending a few moments straightening the contents on top of and inside this piece of furniture will make your life easier later when you are searching for something. Here are a few tips for organizing your things.
Account For What Is Inside
Empty out the drawers and set the contents on the floor or on your bed to sort through. This is a good time to determine if the article of clothing is something you still wear or if you want to get rid of it. Store away clothes that are out of season, then prepare to bring them out when it is time. Pile like items together and decide what drawer they would fit best in. Save the smaller spaces for things like underwear or socks and the larger ones for sweaters, sweatshirts, and pants. If there is something that would work better on a hanger, take the time to hang it in your closet instead.
Organize The Top Of the Dresser
Clear away the belongings on top of the dresser and wipe off the dust or other debris on it. Analyze what was there and decide where it should actually go. If it is a random piece of clothing, place it in the drawer it belongs. If you have different pieces of jewelry lying around, set them back in the box they belong in for safekeeping or add a decorative dish to hold these items. If your jewelry storage is also a mess, slip some jewelry inserts inside so that you can organize them by category. Set up any art or decorative pieces that you might have displayed on your dresser to finish off the look.
What To Do With the Extra Items
Once you have your dresser organized, determine what to do with the items that you are willing to part with. You can post them in an online marketplace site or clean the rest of your house and have a garage sale. You can consider donating them to a non-profit organization that has a discount store of their own to raise money for their cause or contact the veterans to come pick up your donations. This is very easy to do and very satisfying. If these objects have a sentimental value to you, pack them carefully into a box and store them somewhere that is cool and dry, like your attic or basement. Purchase an airtight container to store them in to protect them from the elements and to prevent anything from falling on them and damaging them.