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The Best Devices For Keeping Your Family And Your House Safe

February 23, 2018 by Mandy

Although it isn’t a pleasurable thought, and the idea of someone breaking into your home is enough to send shivers down your spine, you must prepare for any possibility. Therefore, you have to ensure that you’re equipped to either discourage the thieves before the theft takes place, or to catch the perpetrators in the hope of being reunited with your belongings. As you’ll agree, protecting your home and your family is paramount, and there are ways of doing your very best to employ preventative measures with the help of devices and gadgets. You want to protect your family, your home and your possessions by any means possible, so it’s important to get to grips with new technology that will enable you to do exactly this.

Motion Sensors

A motion sensor outside your home will pick up on any movement activity and alert you to it. If you place motion sensors at the back and the front of your home in full view, assuming that you’re covering the two main entrances of your property, then this itself could be enough to deter anyone with ill intention from wanting to come one step closer towards your home. A driveway motion sensor can protect your home, your garden, and your car, so it’s well worth investing in this smart technology and taking steps to protect your family and your possessions. Motion sensors either side of your garage can also help you park your car and protect from damaging it through means of accidentally hitting into objects stored in your garage.

Cameras

Perhaps your most useful device for preventing theft from your home is to use a camera. Having a security camera which can be seen might well be enough to prevent a burglary, however, if not, then the evidence recorded by the camera can be used to help catch the thief or even be used as evidence for prosecuting the offender. By installing a camera, you’re not just keeping watch of thieves, but also you’re tracking any unwanted visitors that may take a fancy to your lawn or trash cans, for example. You can keep an eye on which pests are making their way on to your property, and from here you can take steps in trying to eradicate them. You can do this either by laying traps or making your home and yard far less appealing to the critters via means of building an impenetrable trash can shed or using the scent or spray of another, and more fearsome animal. If you do have trouble with pests, then it’s worth calling in the professionals who can take care of the problem quickly and safely.

A Guard Dog

Having a large dog outside your home can help keep your family safe as its very presence can be enough to prevent robbers from entering your yard. Even if the dog isn’t particularly large or necessarily protective, having a furry friend visible in the garden can be all you need to keep your family safe from the threat of theft. Having said this, however, you need to be vigilant and acutely aware that a dog shouldn’t be left alone in the company of any young children whatsoever, as having an aggressive, or just an unpredictable dog in the home could have serious consequences for your family. If you’re thinking about getting a puppy to share your home with, then always ensure that you know the temperament of the dog’s mother and father. You should also make sure that the dog doesn’t initially show signs of being vicious or overly interested in your young children, and you carry out research into the history and characteristics of the breed you’re considering welcoming into your house. If you’re thinking of keeping a guard dog mostly for the purpose of protecting your home, then any young children shouldn’t come near the dog, and you should issue written warnings around the parameters of your home that you, in fact, keep a potentially aggressive dog.

Safe And Secure Wi-Fi Routers

Keeping your Wi-Fi routers safe and secure will put pay to any criminal plans of using your network for dark and exploitative means. Since you use your internet for many activities such as internet banking, sending emails to work, purchasing goods, and sharing details from your personal life, it’s within your interest to prevent individuals who may wish to cause you and your family harm from gaining information into the most private recesses of your life. Some smart routers have the capacity to scan all devices on the network for malware vulnerabilities, to monitor outbound traffic, and to detect any zombie or alien devices on the network and send notifications when it detects suspicious activity or when it suspects that your security may be compromised. These routers can protect the safety of your home and your personal information from being potentially hacked and leaked.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon monoxide leaks can kill, and often they do. Since carbon monoxide is odorless and therefore undetectable to the human nose, it is more of a means for concern than other gases. It is paramount that you install carbon monoxide detectors in your home as the difference between having one and not having one can be death. Carbon monoxide is an unapologetic silent killer that could claim the lives of you and your family as you lie asleep in your beds, so you can afford not to have one in your home.

Baby Monitors

Baby monitors allow you digital access to your child’s wellbeing without actually being inside the room. Such monitors can record and track your child’s rate of breathing and can sense when the baby’s breathing becomes too slow or too fast and will alert you to a change in how your baby’s breathing is behaving. For added safety, consider installing a battery operated baby monitor that features a camera as well as a motion and breathing sensor. Since you cannot be too careful in protecting your young child, this device is considered a must-have in keeping your family safe.

Crispy Cobbler Pie – What’s The Difference

January 24, 2018 by Mandy

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When it comes to dinner, many people’s favourite part is dessert. Who can blame them, right? With so many choices of desserts it’s easy to see why many love these sweet apres dinner finishers. From ice cream to cake, fruit salads to pies, what’s not to like? A favourite dessert for many, and one that tends to be featured after many roast dinners is that of pies, crisps, and cobblers. But what’s the difference between each and how do you make them? You can read about cobblers and pie in this article below!

Crisp (Sometimes Called Crumble)

A Crisp is a fruit based dessert that is typically fully covered in a mixture of flour, granola (or other cereals), nuts and sugar all mixed together and baked on top of the fruits themselves. This topping covers the fruit entirely and bakes to a golden brown and hardens up just slightly. Sometimes the fruit juices can leak on top of the crisp, but it’s nothing to be concerned about. The best part is almost any fruit makes a great crisp, but especially apples and berries, or some people even mix them to make mixed fruit crisp. Serve with ice cream.

Pie

Pies differ from both crisps and cobblers in the sense that the filling is almost entirely encased in pastry shell. The dish is lined with the pastry, the filling added and then a layer of pastry is added on top of the entire thing, with small holes pierced in the top to allow steam to escape. Pies can sometimes have only strips of pastry over the filling in a crisscross pattern that showcases some of the filling beneath. Pies often are considered to be a dessert or of a sweet flavouring, usually fruit but can also include things like chocolate, banana, lemon, lime as well as different types of meats. For fish lovers, check out ‘Stargazy Pie’, although you might never look at pie the same way again!

Cobbler

Cobbler on the other hand is somewhat similar in style to a crisp but with a batter or biscuit crust which is dropped in lumps onto the filling with spaces left between each to allow the filling to show through – much like a cobbled street, hence the name. Cobbler can come in a variety of types with mixed berries and fruits being the most popular.

So which will you choose for your next dinner party? Make sure to have ice cream on hand to go with whichever you choose and serve them up slightly warm. Bon appetit!

Kitchen Companion – The Ultimate list of What You Need in Your Kitchen

January 3, 2018 by Mandy

Source: Shutterstock

A builder is nothing without his tools, and the same goes for cooking. To simply and efficiently prepare delicious, home-cooked meals, you need to invest in the right cookware. By adequately equipping your kitchen properly, you’ll be able to whip up meal after meal with increasing ease. Here are seven items without which no budding chef should be.

Knives

This is one of the most crucial and frequently used items in the kitchen. A proper set of knives can achieve a wide range of cooking functions. By cutting your own produce and meats, you can save significant costs by avoiding the pricier, precut and prepared alternatives. It is critical to always use the appropriate knife for the job and ensure you keep them well sharpened. This will keep you safe from knife related injuries.

Cutting Board

Cutting boards are used almost every time you cook, so it is imperative to find one you love and that you can clean easily. Most boards are made of plastic or wood. Wood intrinsically has an antiseptic element to it, which means it naturally fights microbes. However, plastic can take more punishment and cleaned in the dishwasher, which makes them more convenient. Ultimately, it comes down to your preference, but you’ll need a durable surface on which to cut your ingredients.

Cast Iron Skillet

This could be the heaviest pan in your kitchen, and for a good reason. These skillets will last you a lifetime. Cast iron is naturally nonstick and easy to clean once you learn the routine. They are also extremely versatile and can do everything from cooking vegetables or eggs to creating the sear on the perfect steak. They are definitely worth the workout you’ll get by handling these substantial skillets.

Can Opener

This one may seem trivial, but can you imagine trying to open a can without a can opener like in olden times? Whether you select a handheld or electric, being able to open cans easily can invite a wide assortment of non-perishable foods to stock your pantry. Making a casserole? Throw in some canned corn. Burritos tonight? Prise open a can of black beans and save you the trouble of the required overnight soak. You definitely want to have a can opener easily accessible in your kitchen.

Colander

You may think that a colander’s sole purpose is for draining pasta, which it does very well, but this bowl with holes can also be used to rinse vegetables and rice or keep other food from racing down the sink. Ok, it may not be too exciting, but it definitely comes in handy for those pasta nights.

Spatula

Next on the list is an old SpongeBob favorite. This scraping tool is used to lift foods from the pot or pan without crumbling or destroying the item. Until you’ve perfected the art of pancake tossing in the air, a spatula is going to be your best friend for flipping and frying. If you have opted for cookware with nonstick Teflon, be sure to use plastic or silicone spatulas to avoid scratching your pans and reducing their lifespan.

Shears

Granted, knives can do the job of most kitchen cutlery, but the convenience of kitchen shears is just too good to leave off the list. You can cut everything from herbs to pizza with these scissors, turning mundane chopping tasks into an arts and craft project.

With these essentials in your kitchen, you can take on a host of recipes that can feed even a large family. Whether you are a novice in an apron or an experienced chef, be sure to keep these items on hand for your next kitchen creation.

What’s in Season in January? Your Winter Baby Food Guide

January 1, 2018 by Mandy

Making baby food for yourself means learning what’s in season, every season. When winter comes in the northern hemisphere, that usually means less available fresh fruits, but it also means there are a variety of great flavors that you will find harder to locate in the warm months. Here’s your guide to understanding how to make the most of your January seasonal vegetables and your baby food processor.

Beets, Squash, Taters, It’s Tuber Season

The biggest stars of the winter produce aisle are all vegetables that come from the ground, and while there are some differences to the cooking times and seasoning you will use, they all have similar challenges, too. Whether you’re looking for something sweet and earthy like acorn squash or you’re in the mood for old-fashioned potato dishes, you will find they cook up best when they are heated for a long time, allowing them to soften, and they can be baked or steamed to taste.

Kale and Cabbage: Your Winter Greens

If you are looking to stay in season with your leafy greens, know that kale and cabbage make up the bulk of what’s available in the winter. You can prepare them in a variety of ways:

Steam them like spinach and puree for baby food
Boiled cabbage makes a great soup base
Baked kale chips for a crunch grownups and older kids will love
Fresh, crisp, and just out of the wash for salad

Leafy greens are some of the most important foods in any diet because they are rich in so many essential nutrients, and kale is so rich in these nutrients it is considered a superfood.

Finding the Best Baby Feeding Supplies

If you’re looking for ways to make these great winter vegetables into tasty baby food that is suitable for any child over 6 months, you need a great food processor that steam cooks, so you don’t lose nutrients or flavor. That’s why BÉABA made the Babycook®. Contact them today for more information about models and accessories, recipes, and more.

Benefits of Hosting a Christmas Lunch Versus a Christmas Party in Essex

December 29, 2017 by Mandy

If you’re responsible for planning this year’s Christmas event for your family or friends, you want to make sure that you plan the right type of gathering to encourage everyone to have a great time. While some groups of people prefer to share memories of the past year over a gourmet meal, others like to kick back and cut loose over a boozy night out. The kind of venue, decorations, and entertainment you should book all depends on the type of event you want to have. The first major decision you have to get out of the way is whether you should have a Christmas lunch, or a party held in the evening.

Advantages of Having a Christmas Lunch

A Christmas lunch can be a lot of fun for the right group of people. If you’re going to be seeing family and friends you haven’t seen all year, a lunch is great because it allows everyone time to sit and catch up in a quieter space. It’s also a good choice if you know your guest list includes a range of ages such as senior citizens, children, and adults. A lunch can also be held in many different types of venues, from the local pub to a fancy hotel in the city centre.

Advantages of Having a Party at Night

Great Christmas parties are the memories that can stay with people for many years. With merriment in the air and the alcohol flowing, it’s easy to get everyone in a good mood. Night Christmas parties typically last longer than lunches, giving you time to do more things. You can exchange gifts, swap stories, make toasts to your friends, eat a meal, and do some dancing; all in the space of the party time. Plus, a night Christmas party gives your friends or employees an excuse to get dressed up, get a babysitter, and have a good time. It can be a great break from the stress of getting ready for the holidays, but it can be harder on your budget, especially if you’re going to decorate and hire a DJ or band.

How Can You Make a Choice?

The key to making the right choice for your event is knowing your guest list. Are they lively people who are likely to enjoy the chance to cut loose, or are they more intellectual types who prefer stimulating conversation? The setting you choose and the timing of your party should match the preferences of most of the people who will be attending to help them feel comfortable.

No matter what kind of holiday celebration you’re going to have, choosing the right place from the wealth of Christmas Party Venues in Essex is a tough decision. There

are many great local places where you can host a lunch or a Christmas party and wish the year a farewell.

and have a wonderful time.