5 Tips for Creating the Perfect Bed and Breakfast

September 15, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Welcoming guests to your bed and breakfast is a rewarding experience that offers many benefits. It can also be challenging when you’re new to the industry. If you’re a big love of traveling, then you’re most likely going to want to have your guest feel just as happy as you do when you’re staying in nice accommodation. It’s true that the bed and breakfast business is a booming industry. It provides a service that is hard to find in the market.

With this, it also comes with its own set of challenges. So here are some handy tips if you’re thinking of dipping your toes in the hospitality industry and wanting to create the perfect bed and breakfast.

Choose Your Location Wisely

Location, location, location: The first thing you should do is choose a good location for your bed and breakfast. Keep in mind that it should have free parking, be centrally located, have plenty of restaurants nearby (to offer discounts or deals), have easy access to major highways, as well as other attractions like golf courses/ tennis courts/ wineries/ museums. You should also consider the weather when choosing an area for the indoor part of your B&B because some areas are colder then others during certain seasons.

Is there privacy in the home for the guests? In order to find these types of details, there are several websites that offer information about specific locations that you can check out, but you will need to do the research. If this is in your own home, is it worth it? If you’re buying property for this venture, is the location worth it?

Plan Ahead

It’s important that you plan ahead with everything from marketing strategies to staffing needs before opening up your doors for the first time. This still ties in with location as everything needs to be well-located. Plus, where will you purchase the needed products such as cleaning supplies and food?

Have a Pristine Space

Since you will have guests paying you to stay there, you’ll need to have a squeaky clean space. This is also going to need to include Pressure Washing the outside of the building/ house, and the curb appeal needs to be prioritized too.

Don’t Over Extend Yourself

It’s vital that you are not over-extending yourself with too many rooms or amenities. There should only be enough room for what you need so that your guests can enjoy their stay without any complications. If this is just you and your family (so no employees), then something like two to three rooms will be plenty.

Remember, it Takes Time

While there are so many people who believe that this is so simple, it truly isn’t. Whether you choose AirBnB or a full-fledged Bed and Breakfast business is totally up to you, but just remember that it takes a lot of time and patience. This is an industry that is seriously not for everyone and it’s not as simple as having a clean room for guests. Just like hotels and other spaces, this is going to be all about the experience.

Filed Under: lifestyle items Tagged With: check in

Things To Add To Your Dream Kitchen

September 15, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Everybody has a perfect kitchen in their minds, and if you’re like most people, you’re always adding new items to your mental wish list. However, there might be a few things you missed.

Equipment Garage

Are you tired of having so many gadgets cluttering up your counters and room? Make sure to include a closet made to house these products in an accessible but hidden location when designing your ideal kitchen. The cabinet must have enough room to fit even your blender inside without running out of room.

Unique Cabinets

Speaking of cabinets, take it a step further and customize every one of them to make the most of your available space. The perfect kitchen will have the appropriate cupboards for it, providing space for a window or door as needed so you have a place to keep whatever you desire.

A deep two-sink basin

Is there ever enough space in the sink? The past says no! You won’t regret choosing a deeper sink than usual. Farmhouse sinks are one alternative available on the market, but if you want traditional metal, go for a double sink so you have more space than the typical one.

Touch-Sensitive Faucet

This is essential if you cook often. With these useful models, you simply need to bump them with any naked part of your body, such as the back of your hand, your elbow, etc. It can get messy when your hands are coated with dough and you need to turn on the faucet, but It will automatically turn on the faucet so you may wash your hands without making a mess all over.

A pot filler

The pot-filler, a tap that swings out over the stove to fill a pot where it is on the burner, is yet another indispensable cooking tool. It’s an easy feature to add and saves time and effort because you don’t have to carry a heavy pot of splashing liquid to the burner. The fact that it makes your life easier more than makes up for that, though.

Counter space

Utilizing every square inch of space should be your main priority when designing your ideal kitchen, with a special attention to work surfaces and countertops. It’s easy to underestimate how much counter space you’ll need for anything from cooking to exhibiting gadgets and appliances to working from home to enjoying meals with your loved ones, so be sure to think through all of your potential uses for your worktops.

Lighting is vitally important

In any space, but notably the kitchen, lighting is crucial. This is due to the fact that it serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. To make food preparation easier, think about installing hidden spotlights beneath your wall cabinets, statement lights over your kitchen island that you can dim to suit the mood you want to set, and even plinth lights that run along the base of your floor cabinets to softly light up your kitchen walkways at night. Even adding lamps to your kitchen countertops is a way to alter the ambiance.

Filed Under: home Tagged With: check in, home

Making Family Meals Simple

September 8, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

When you have children, you’re going to find that you take on a whole lot more responsibility than when you were only catering to your own needs or your own and your partner’s needs. You suddenly become entirely responsible for another person’s happiness, health and wellbeing. This means that you’re going to find yourself focusing on all sorts of areas that can help your little one to lead a better life. You’ll spend time understanding parenting methods. You’ll spend time looking into good schools for their education. You can take time to make sure that they’re attending healthcare appointments like vaccines, dental checkups and more. You can ensure you’re helping them to invest themselves in hobbies and social activities. The list goes on. But one key area that you have to focus on is their diet. All people, including kids, need to enjoy a healthy balanced diet, but many parents find that they struggle for time when it comes to delivering on this front. Here are some suggestions that can make family mealtimes as simple and straightforward as possible.

Meal Planning

The first step towards making family meal times good and healthy is to take time meal planning. When you have a clear idea of what meals you’re going to enjoy throughout the week, the more likely you are to stick to the healthy meals you had in mind. All too often we turn to convenience food for – well, the sake of convenience. The issue is that convenience foods are often nutritional void and may contain excess salts and sugars. Meal planning doesn’t have to mean coming up with difficult to make options. Keep things simple, but keep them balanced. You may be able to find inspiration from recipes like Bacon Wrapped Smoked Pork Tenderloin. There are plenty of options out there and you’re bound to find a few favorites that will become a more regular part of your routine.

Meal Prepping

It’s all good and well having a meal plan in place, but many people will still fall off the wagon here. They’ll have good intentions, but won’t actually follow through with them. You can help to keep things on track with meal prepping. Meal prepping is when you collect and partially prepare your meals ahead of time. This means that no matter how busy you may be, or how little time you may feel you have on your hands, you will be able to put together healthy meals with minimal effort and time involved. Look at what elements of each meal you can prepare beforehand. This could be chopping vegetables, marinating meat or anything else. You may even want to fully prepare meals that can then be frozen or stored in tupperware for heating up at a later date.

Hopefully, some of the information and ideas above will help you to create healthier and more wholesome meals with less effort. Give them a try and see how you get on with them.

Filed Under: family Tagged With: check in, cooking, family time

How to Recover After a Personal Injury

September 6, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Personal injuries happen at the most inconvenient times and change your priorities completely. If you want to recover effectively, you need to give yourself time and space and focus on the treatment program. At the same time, you can contact a personal injury lawyer about a payout.

Take Time Out

No matter how severe the injury is, the first thing you need to do is take time out. After an injury at work or on the sports field, your body and mind need time to recover; even if you think you are alright to return to action, you are probably still in shock or somewhat traumatized by the event.

injury sports injury

Time out gives you space to reflect on the event and the injury and to think ahead about the course of action. At this stage, you have options. You might want to contact a lawyer and seek compensation for the injury; you might also want to try an alternative therapy to aid recovery.

Contact a Lawyer

If you suffered an injury in the workplace, the first thing you should do is contact a Personal Injury Lawyer and seek compensation. Even if you think you are not eligible for any payout, a compensation lawyer can give you all the information you need to start an official claim.

A personal injury lawyer operates on a no-win no, fee basis, so you don’t have to pay anything upfront for their services. Additionally, a personal injury lawyer is keen to take on your case because they receive a percentage of the payout. This also means they work hard for you.

Treatment Plans

Of course, you probably want to get back to work and start earning again as soon as possible or get back on the field to help your team win games, but recovering from an injury takes time, and going back too soon risks further injury. Instead, choose an effective treatment plan to use.

Treatment plans depend on the type of injury sustained; you might visit a physiotherapist for a muscle injury or sprain, a psychiatrist for brain trauma, or a chiropractor for a back issue. It’s important to consult professionals and make sure you follow the treatment plan accordingly.

Pain Reducers

Whether you have suffered a sprain, ligament tear, or broken bone, you will experience pain and inflammation for some time. Depending on the severity of the injury, you might be in significant discomfort for weeks or even months. Make sure you have suitable pain reducers at this time.

A medical professional should be able to prescribe medicine to reduce your inflammation and general discomfort, but if your need something extra, consider painkillers that contain codeine and CBD products that are effective at eliminating short-term pain and inflammation in the area.

Final Thoughts

Personal injuries are unfortunate turn of events that land you in recovery mode. It’s inconvenient, uncomfortable, and unwelcome, but unfortunately, you don’t have much choice except to work through it. But don’t forget to look into compensation claims for your injury.

Filed Under: health Tagged With: check in, health, injury

How to Keep the Kids Entertained at Home

September 6, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

When the kids are at home and bored, it can be stressful for you as a parent. Obviously, you want them to be engaged and entertained, but you don’t always know how to make that happen. There are only so many times you can go over the same activities.

But there are lots of solutions and fun ideas out there that should help to keep your kids entertained at home, even on a dull and rainy day. So if you’re looking for some fresh ideas that you can make use of in your family home, read on and find out about some of the best.

Get a Science Kit and Experiment

Kids often love playing around with science kits, and the great thing about them is that they’re not only fun but also educational as well. And that can only be a positive combination. So if you have kids that are starting to get interested in science and chemicals and fun things like that, you could get a cheap science kit and play around with it for an afternoon or two. It could be a lot of fun and help them to understand an important school subject better too.

Have Them Make Their Own Show

If you have younger kids, it can be fun for them to dress up and use their imaginations. One way to harness that kind of fun and fill a whole day with it is to challenge them to create their own show that they then later perform for you the parents. This is best if you have a few kids and they can work together and create different roles and characters. It’s a sweet activity and they often have a lot of fun with this kind of thing.

Play Some Board Games Together

Playing board games with your kids is always a good way to get them thinking and to add a little competitive edge to proceedings. If everyone’s invested in it and engaged with the game, it can be a lot of fun. It’s very easy for an entire day or afternoon to pass by when you get invested in a few good board games. And if you find the right board games, it’s something that the whole family can enjoy and get involved with.

Do Some Gardening

Getting out in the garden can be a good time if the weather’s pleasant. There are all kinds of garden activities you can do together with your kids, depending on their ages. You could start the process of growing some fruit or vegetables in your garden, for example. That way, they can see the process over time and eventually eat the foods that they prepared themselves. It’s a good experience and lesson for them.

Design a Treasure Hunt for Them

Treasure hunts can be a good time for younger families; older kids might not be as interested but younger children tend to enjoy the whole process of going on a treasure hunt and the excitement that comes with it. It’s up to you how creative you want to be with it and how extensive you want the hunt to be. But what matters most is having a good time with the family.

Find Fun New TV Shows

Finding a fun new TV show that they can focus on and be engaged in might be the solution. Of course, you don’t want your kids to be staring at screens all the time, but when they find something fun and it keeps them happy for a few hours, there’s nothing wrong with letting them enjoy it. You might want to let them watch 3-2-1 Penguins the TV series, for example. There are plenty of great options to stream these days.

Arrange a Play Date

Arranging a play date with other kids from their class and their parents is a good way to keep them entertained for a day. When you know the parents of the other kids, you can arrange a play date that you can oversee and then another time, the other parents can oversee it at their home. This means that you can also create some time for yourself occasionally.

As you can see, there are plenty of fun and creative ways to ensure your kids aren’t constantly feeling bored and frustrated on a day or weekend at home. And you don’t always have to go out and spend lots of money to keep them entertained either. Each of the ideas above should keep them engaged.

Filed Under: lifestyle items Tagged With: check in, kids

3 Easy Weekend Getaway Ideas for a Quick Break

September 6, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

You no longer have to wait for major holidays or breaks to go on holiday. Weekend getaways are a great way to unwind and destress. In a recent study, nearly 34% of people prefer to take weekend getaways compared to going on longer trips. Sometimes, you need a quick recharge to keep you going and energized during busy periods. If you want to take a quick break, here are 3 easy weekend getaway ideas worth considering.

Visit a Beach Town

Beaches are wonderful places to relax, sink your toes in the sun, and enjoy the ocean breeze. If you’ve never been to the beach before, especially if you’ve lived in a non-coastal state your entire life, now is the perfect time to create some amazing memories. Going to the beach and enjoying your time under the sun can be extremely calming and help you clear your thoughts and refresh your mind. Plus, hearing the sound of the waves can greatly improve your mood.

Not only will a quick getaway to a beach town be good for your mind, but it will also be good for your body. You can take long scenic walks along the shore to keep your body active and prepared for your daily routines when you return home. If you’re looking for a quick trip, look no further than visiting a beach town. Many of these towns are filled with beautiful beach houses for rent, as well as hotels and inns. There are also tons of activities that you can try.

Go on a Cruise

When you think about going on a cruise, you’re more likely to think about hitting the high seas for seven days or more. Of course, you need more time to visit new destinations, try the various restaurants onboard, and participate in several activities. However, it can quickly get stale.

Fortunately, short cruises have become more popular, especially for people who want to vacation on water but not for long days. It’s the perfect opportunity for people who are too busy to take a lot of time off, and is relatively inexpensive. If you’re interested in going on a short cruise, why not consider the Margaritaville at Sea?

Spontaneous Round Trip

Suppose you truly want to feel like you’re on a mini-vacation. Why not try something spontaneous like going on a roundtrip flight to another city you’ve always dreamed of visiting, whether New York City, Chicago, or San Francisco? You can spend your weekend visiting hotspots and immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of your destination, so keep this in mind. Plus, you can meet new people and discover new places that will enhance your vacation.

Are you inspired to go on a mini-vacation and take a quick break from the hustle and bustle of your daily routine? Fortunately, with these tips, you can prepare for your next quick break. There are even more ideas to help you prepare for a quick break.

Filed Under: traveling Tagged With: check in, travel

Things To Know About Taking Your Baby Outside For The First Time

September 6, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

When you first have a baby, you’ve got to get used to a lot of new things. You’ve got a new bundle of joy in your life, but you’re also going to be stressed out here and there, and always worried about providing the best for your baby. Eventually you’ll be able to calm down and realize you’re a great parent, but it takes a little while to get there.

And nothing is more worrying than knowing you’ve got to introduce your baby to the big bad world outside. Taking your baby outside for the first time is a big step, and it’s one a lot of parents approach with trepidation. But just like getting into a sleeping and feeding routine, it’s something you can get used to, even if you feel like you don’t know what you’re doing.

As such, here are our tips for taking your baby outside and making sure they love being out. It can be a hard adjustment, for both of you, but it has to be done. Babies love being in nature, and you need to show yourself that being out with your newborn isn’t as scary as it seems.

Picking Your Moment

Taking your baby outside is a personal decision, and you should only do so when you feel ready. Of course, your baby will need to see the outside at some point, but you can take a week or two if you feel like it. For now you could simply be happy being indoors with your little one, and they don’t know much different until you do take them out.

Indeed, a lot of new parents like to spend these initial stages inside to better bond and get used to each other, and only then does the idea of going outside start to come in. So pick your moment; it could be now, it could be at the end of the month. It’s up to you, and you should never feel rushed into going out there before you’re truly ready.

Pack Your Bag Well Ahead of Time

Once you do decide it’s time to head out, it’s best to pack your outdoors bag early. Get everything you need in there well ahead of time, to give you a chance to double check. We all know how easy it is to forget about things when you’ve got a fussy baby in front of you.

It’s best to get all your hygiene items in there now and keep them there – buy separate supplies for outings. You should also pack extra clothing and blankets in case the weather turns. If you’re breastfeeding, you might feel like taking a privacy cover out with you, but if not be sure to have plenty of water and dry formula all packed up too.

Dress Right

Dressing for heading out with a baby is fairly simple, but it can feel like a complicated decision. Above all else, you need to feel comfortable. You need to feel like you can walk a good way with the baby in front of you, which usually means putting on comfy jeans and well worn shoes that won’t leave you with blisters.

And the same goes for your baby! They need to be comfortable, but you also need to keep an eye on the temperature. Babies can’t quite regulate their own temperature in the first few months, so be sure to wrap up warm. Make sure the sun isn’t directly on them, and always have a rain cover ready to go just in case.

Make Sure Baby is Settled

Your baby is about to head out into the world for the first time, so they should be feeling comfortable and calm before being taken out the front door. As such, most parents wait until their baby has been fed before going out; it’s much easier to take a sleepy baby out than it is one who’s awake and alert and hungry.

You should still think about taking food out with you, but if your little one has recently had a meal, your trip should be calm and without worry. If they wake up it’ll be far less of a drama, and you can just whip them out and let them feed again if need be. They’ll soon take to being outside as a normal thing, and won’t fuss much even without that pre-walk feed.

Keep the Car to Pram Transition Easy

If you’re planning to go on a little journey, the easiest way to transport your baby is via the car. And that means you should get used to clipping your baby in and out of a car seat. Take your time to feel relaxed with getting your baby in and out, and making sure they’re strapped in safely.

However, you can still make this easier for yourself and buy a stroller that doubles up as a car seat. Indeed, more and more pushchairs of this variety are on the market, and you can check out the common car seat stroller features right here. If you can just lift the whole seat in and out, there’s nothing to worry about.

Start Short and Build Up

Start by going on short walks, and then slowly let them get longer and longer. You don’t want to rush yourself or your baby down a long winding road, only to be tired and feel like crying knowing you have to get back up it again. It won’t make you feel any more positive about going outside with your newborn, and your baby will pick up on these vibes and start to hate it too.

So take it slow, go at your own pace, and don’t let other parents who go on long adventures with their baby make you feel bad. It’s up to you to introduce your baby to the outside world, and you can take as much time as you like in doing so.

Get Some Professional Advice

If you’re really worried about going out and about with your baby for the first time, talk to your doctor. Get to know their opinion on your worries, and also how your baby’s health might fare. If a professional tells you it’ll all be fine, you can feel a lot stronger in your decision to pack them into the pram and set off.

Of course, it’s always a slight worry to be out where all kinds of infections could linger, but there’s still only a small chance anyone could catch something. If you go out early in the morning or early afternoon, you’re far less likely to run into crowds of any kind. Plan your trips around work rushes, lunch periods, and the school run, and you’ll find being out far more peaceful than you ever expected.

Taking Your Baby Out for the First Time is Special

Taking your baby outside for the first time is daunting, but it should also be an exciting time. This is your baby’s first step into the outside world, and getting used to being part of what’s going on. And as a parent, this is a lovely chance for you and your child to bond in a new way.

Exploring together, and being a safe base for your baby, both go a long way to building the love you’ve always wanted to experience! So keep the advice above in mind if you’re worried about the idea – it’ll happen one day, but you still don’t have to rush into it.

Filed Under: baby Tagged With: ASAP, baby, check in

Common Health Issues To Watch Out For As You Age

August 25, 2022 by Samantha Leave a Comment

As you get older, you are more likely to have health problems. Many of these health problems can be fixed, though, if they are caught early enough. Even for health problems that can’t be fixed, there are often ways to slow them down or stop them completely. On the other hand, there may be ways to learn how to deal with health problems better. Some of the most common health issues that older people have are listed below.

doctor

Vision Loss

Loss of sight is a normal part of getting older. Most people have presbyopia, which is the progressive decrease of the capacity to focus on things close up. You can easily fix this problem by going to an eye doctor and getting a pair of reading glasses. Most people don’t feel this way until they are in their 40s.

Cataracts are a more serious eye disease that can cause you to lose your sight more quickly. This is when our eyes’ lenses get cloudy. This is often caused by genes, but bad habits like smoking and drinking a lot can make it more likely to happen. If your vision seems foggy, you see halos often, and you can’t see at night, you might want to see a doctor and have cataracts checked out. Surgery is the best way to treat cataracts, which could help you see normally again. You shouldn’t ignore the fact that cataracts are forming because you could go blind in the long run.

Hearing Loss

As people age, many of them lose their hearing. This is usually a normal part of getting older, but some people can lose their hearing faster if they are exposed to loud noises. Getting a hearing aid is often the best way to treat hearing loss. An audiologist can help you figure out what your prescription is, and it’s wise to have regular hearing tests to ensure all is well.

Some older people get a condition called tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ears. There may be hearing aids that can help with this problem.

Breathing Problems

As people get older, some of them have trouble breathing. This could be caused by a chest infection, the flu, or damage to the lungs from smoking for many years.

People who have the flu or a chest infection often lose their breath quickly. As you get older, these kinds of illnesses can get worse, so you should see a doctor as soon as you have trouble breathing. Most of the time, medicine can be given to help treat these conditions. Getting a flu shot every year can keep you from getting the flu.

When someone smokes, it makes COPD much harder to treat. Giving up smoking can help your lungs heal, but in more serious cases, you may need more help, like surgery. You should see a doctor as soon as you notice that you are having trouble breathing. Your doctor may give you an inhaler to help you breathe better.

Filed Under: health Tagged With: check in