5 of the Most Expensive, High-End Culinary Gadgets of 2017

Cooking and crockery tools have undergone a revolution – the likes that the world has never seen before. Since a lot of people spend their time cooking and creating dishes, it only makes sense that they would be willing to invest huge sums of money to acquire high-end cooking equipment. Whether you prefer, a high-end bread maker or the world’s most interactive microwave, kitchen gadgets are all the rage in this contemporary consumerist world. More consumers and kitchen connoisseurs are starting to invest in kitchen equipment not only for their physical appearance but also as a status symbol – especially given the advent of smart devices for the home and kitchen.

More and more manufacturers are stepping their game up to quench this demand for high-end, high quality appliances, from espresso machines that make the finest coffee in such a small package, to mini-processors for chopping small items, and to ovens that you can literally cook from remotely.

Let’s take a gander at some of the priciest kitchen gadgets out there in the market today – and maybe, just maybe…actually afford them!

1. The Skybar Wine Preservation & Serving System: $1,000

The Skybar Wine Preservation & Serving System This product from Skybar was created to chill as many as three individual bottles of wine. You can use the device to chill any type of wine including white and rose. Once the wine is chill, you can enjoy your preferred pouring and the preserved bottles can last for as long as 10 days.

2. The Hammacher Juicer: $9,900

The Hammacher Juicer This juicer is available for purchase for a little under ten thousand dollars. With this juicer, you can make the perfect glass of orange juice. The juice produced should rival the kind that is served in high-end restaurants. This machine can squeeze close to 30 oranges in a minute and it extracts approximately 90oz of orange juice. Aside from oranges, it can also be used on pomegranate or grapefruit.

3. The Victoria Arduino Venus Century Espresso Machine: $20,000

Victoria Arduino Coffee has become a staple in today’s society. Judging by the large number of coffee shops located in every corner of our neighborhoods, coffee is not going anywhere anytime soon. This grand Arduino Venus Century espresso machine will cost you a whopping $20,000. Its technical capabilities and features are impressive. There are only 100 pieces of this machine available in the market, which only makes consumers desire it more.

4. The Meneghini Arredamenti Refrigerator: $41,000

The Meneghini Arredamenti Refrigerator This refrigerator is more like a piece of expensive furniture owing to its opulence and size. Its Italian design can accommodate a whole grocery store as it comes complete with a large ice compartment and a pantry.

5. The Sveid Custom-Made Corkscrew: $70,000

Sveid Custom-Made Corkscrew This custom made corkscrew will set you back a cool $70,000. This corkscrew can be disassembled to more than 50 pieces and it is produced from the same kind of titanium used to construct airplanes. It is also valuable in eighteen karat platinum if your gadget collection is really over the top.

That’s just some of 2017’s stars in terms of cooking and kitchen appliances – did we miss something? Let us know in the comments section so we can take a look at them in the next edition!

Four Must-Have Girly Items for your Beauty Regimen

Every fabulous and girly girl who embraces her femininity as a positive and beautiful thing should have certain tools and devices in her possession that allow the process of getting ready and glamorous effortless.

That being said, maintaining a beauty regimen can be difficult especially if time does not permit you to be as creative as you would like to be in the beauty department. However, the right tools can drastically improve the way you get ready for a night out on the town or for a busy day at work. Fortunately, there are endless array options in terms of appliances present in the market to suit every person’s budgetary demands and needs. From high-end products that will typically cost an arm and a leg to more affordable yet nonetheless effective tools for styling and profiling, here are the 4 most important appliances in the girly girl’s walk-in closet.

1. A Blow Dryer Worth Its Salt

A blow-dryer is of course the first tool that every woman should have in the walk-in closet. Blow dryers are handy for drying hair and can even be used for styling purposes. Rather than spending money on regular trips to the salon, blow dryers are the perfect way for girls to style and take care of their hair at home. Dryers are also valuable to girls with thin hair because they automatically add volume when used in certain ways. Blow-dryers are available for purchase for as little as 10 dollars to as much as hundreds of dollars depending on the quality and features.

2. Hot Rollers Galore

Hot rollers should also be included because they help to increase your hair’s body, volume, and bounce. Depending on the size of curls that you want, you can use large or small rollers to achieve your desired look. Hot rollers are really easy to use; all one has to do is section the hair into different parts, and the rollers are placed in. They are easy to use and provide the perfect hairdo on the go.

3. Curling Irons: The Piece De Resistance

A curling iron allows girls to get desirable curls on both natural hair, as well as on extensions. Curling irons use different levels of heat, which means that the curls last longer through the day. You should try to collect curling irons of different sizes for variety, which shouldn’t be a problem because they are cheap and easy to use – and a walk-in closet without one or two of them just seems weird, as That’s Foxy says.

4. Hair Dryers For Every Occasion

Hair dryers are perfect for drying hair quickly, and they are also helpful in hair processes such as deep conditioning and styling. With a hair dryer, a girl can experiment with different styles without the weekly expense of a trip to the salon.

A Primer on Preventing Allergies at Home – Before They Strike

Your house is the safest place for you and other family members but unfortunately, it can also be a haven for allergy triggers. You may not have control over what happens outside your house, but you have the power to reduce or even eliminate allergen levels in your home. Sceduale regular home cleaning sessions in the weekend. It is important to realize that most allergens thrive on moisture and humidity. The following steps will help to remove allergy causing agents but most importantly, prevent them from developing in the first place.

1. Keep the House Dry and Cool at All Times

When the house is maintained under these conditions, it becomes impossible for mold, dust mites and roaches to infest and bedevil your living space. The ideal humidity level inside the house should be below 50% but this largely depends on the outside humidity or weather conditions. A dehumidifier and air conditioner can be used in cases where this level is difficult to achieve naturally. The only condition if using a dehumidifier is to empty it daily or have it connected to a drain. Maintaining optimum humidity also involves getting rid of any materials inside the house as soon as they are wet, e.g. from flooding, spillages, etc.

2. Consider Using Hypoallergenic Flooring Materials

People who are prone to dust allergies have better lives if the floor of the area where they spend most of their time is made from either linoleum, tiles, hardwood or vinyl. These types of floors are easy to clean and this keeps them free from allergens. If the desire to have cloth rugs is there, the size should be small to facilitate regular cleaning. Carpets that cannot be cleaned all the time such as wall-to-wall carpeting should be vacuumed frequently. Once a week is good enough and if possible, asks a family member who is not allergic to dust to do it. It is also a good idea to invest in a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter for trapping the allergens.

3. Declare Your Home as a Smoke-Free Zone

Tobacco smoke is the leading cause of asthma attacks in small children and should be avoided inside the house. To completely keep the house free of smoke, you need to invest in smokeless cooking equipment such as those that use electricity and natural gas. Candles and some air-fresheners produce smoke and while they do make a room to smell nice, they can be serious allergy triggers. A diffuser can help you if you live with a smoker, as smoke cannot be completely removed anyway. You can find several reviews on diffusers if you choose to go down this route – given a chance between cigarette smoke and aromatherapy oil, I think we all know what to choose, right?

A regular allergen check is important to keep your house safe all the time. Pets should be kept clean at all times and if possible have specific areas for playing and staying. Such controls will help you to monitor and keep away allergic reactions that may take place in the house.

Preventing allergies (hay fever, etc.) at home is possible – you can simply identify potential triggers then create a routine of how to maintain an allergen-free atmosphere. Easier said than done, but better done than otherwise.

Cutworms, Aphids, Thrips and Mites: The Bane of All Green Thumbs

Gardening can be a therapeutic exercise. Nothing can be more as relaxing as whiling a nice morning away in the garden, tending to your lawn and your garden as your centerpieces in the great American fashion of doing so.

Imagine yourself riding on a John Deere classic lawnmower while chomping down firmly on a Cuban cigar. Or whatever it is you use for a lawnmower (but if you haven’t yet, check out the detailed reviews from lawnmowerlane.com before making a purchase – you’ll thank us later).

There’s something just inherently relaxing about it.

But even the most carefully tended garden will at some point be attacked by pests – pests that will absolutely bedevil your garden. While most organic gardeners will be at a crossroad on how to control these pests, the extensive damage usually might cause loo of an entire crop. To identify the presence of pests, look at the general condition and appearance of the leaves because that is the main area of attack. The use of chemical pesticides although instantaneous may affect the quality of food and health of other animals and should only be used if anything else has failed. It is possible to keep these pests away without having to use chemical-based pesticides or insecticides.

1. Cutworms

Cutworms are active at night meaning that you will never see them in action destroying your plants but the extent of damage will appear to increase with each day. They are pests at the larvae stage and their body measures 1 inch in length. These grey or black worms can be found in almost all seedlings and vegetables as soon as they are transplanted. The most serious damage to young plants is to chew the stem at ground level, killing the seedling. Use of collars on seedling transplants, late planting and hand picking of the worms are effective organic control measures for cutworms.

2. Aphids

These pests are rather tiny and have long antennae projecting from the pear shaped critters. They are commonly found on fruit trees, vegetables and flowers. By sucking the sap out of a plant, an aphid infestation could lead to foliage distortion and in extreme cases loss of leaves entirely. Aphids can be controlled by spraying plants with solutions of neem, insecticidal soap, garlic, hot pepper and encouraging traditional pest predators such as lacewings, lady beetles and aphid midges.

3. Thrips

Also known as the thunder-fly, thrips are tiny black insects that destroy plants by sucking sap from the petals and leaves. The affected plants will have white patches on their leaves and petals regardless of whether they are indoors or outdoors. Use of biological controls is effective in getting rid of the pests and reducing their damage.

4. Red Spider Mites

It is not easy to spot the red spider mites because other than being tiny, they dwell under the leaves from where they suck sap. The resultant damage is seen as yellow mottling on the surface of leaves which later develops into fine webs. Raising the humidity in the growing area plus use of biological controls can help reduce the effect of these mites but organic sprays can also be used.

Important Cooking Appliances Every Home Kitchen Should Have

A good kitchen should contain proper waste segregation, good layout and appliances necessary for the preparation of various meals. If you are wondering what these are, there are several appliances that you should seriously consider getting to make your kitchen experience satisfying and worthwhile.

Electric mixer

If you like to bake, having an electric mixer is a must. You can get either a hand mixer, for smaller and simpler mixing tasks, or a stand mixer, for frequent use on recipes with more amounts of ingredients. This tool can make mixing together eggs, whipped cream, and other ingredients much easier and faster. It is also able to create a smoother batter for your bread, cakes, and pastries.

Blender

A blender is a versatile kitchen appliance that can be used to make a wide array of foods. It’s very useful for those who like to loose weight; You can make all kinds of smoothies with vegetables and fruits. For instance you can make your own fresh and very healthy almond milk (by soaking almonds in water overnight and put them in the blender), powdered sugar (by blending regular sugar), salad dressing (by mixing and blending together vinegar, oil, garlic, and herbs), and juice (by blending your favorite fruits and vegetables with water). Find the best rated blenders today to enjoy all of these benefits!

Toaster oven

A toaster oven does more than just making toasted bread. It works like a miniature oven, with the ability to cook meat, pastries, and other foods, without occupying too much space and using up a lot of electricity. It can be used to prepare fish, beef, chicken, and pork dishes for main meals; make snacks, such as nachos, French fries, pizzas, and fish sticks; and bake bread and cookies.

Pressure cooker

An energy-efficient kitchen appliance, a pressure cooker has the ability to cook food much faster than other cooking techniques. It makes use of pressure created by boiling water or other types of liquid inside a sealed vessel to cook food. Some tasty recipes you can try with it are pot roast, barbecue pork, beef chili, chicken soup, mashed potatoes, lasagna, and beef stew.

Food processor

A food processor is quite similar to a blender in terms of functions. The difference between the two lies in their blades. The former’s blades can be detached, reattached, and interchanged, while the latter’s cannot as they are fixed.

Before using a food processor, you should know that there are different blades for different functions. There is one for chopping and slicing, one for pureeing, a different one for grating and shredding, another one for kneading dough and mixing, and another for grinding meat and fruits. With this kitchen appliance, you can make mayonnaise, nut butter, flour, sauces, soups, spreads, salsas, dips, ground meat, ice cream or soft serve, bread or cookie crumbs, and many more.

Essential Winter Preparation for a More Efficient Working Routine

Truth be told, it’s already challenging to stay focused at work every day when there are all forms of distractions around us. Whether you work for a company, you have your own business or you are a home-based worker, staying focused can be a challenge or even rather difficult. They say it depends on the person. Some people focus and work better than others. While that can be true to some extent, only you know what’s going on inside of you. With that being said, it is safe to assume that during the winter season, most people have a harder time staying focused at work. Especially if winter comes in your country during the holidays, then expect the weather and the holiday rush to get the most out of you. But still, life must go on. You need to pay bills. You have to get your chores and errands done. You have to work. If you’re looking for ways to stay focused at work during winter, here are some tips you can keep in mind.

1. Be prepared.

One of the things that will distract you from work is when you worry about what is going on outside during the winter. Make sure your car is weather-proof so that you won’t have to worry about leaving it in the parking area, and use a snow blower for your driveway to get rid of excessive snow. We found you great electric snow blower reviews so you can easily pick the one that you like the best. Using the snow blower is also a form of exercise too! It might not make you sweat it out like you would using a shovel but at least you’re moving. And you won’t be worried about coming home to a house buried in snow if you do this in the morning.

2. Wear the right clothes; pay attention to the temperature.

When it’s too cold, one tends to get distracted. You have to get up every once in a while from your desk to get a cup of coffee or change the temperature on the heater. When you’re wearing clothes that are way too warm while working, it’s hard to keep focus too. It is best to program your heater at a temperature you prefer the most and wear the right clothes for indoors and another layer of warm clothing when you’re heading outdoors.

3. Eat your breakfast and exercise in the morning.

The best way to stay focused is by starting your day right. Breakfast, as we all know, is the most important meal of the day. Do not miss it. Exercise and sweat it out before showering and getting ready for work. This will keep you up and energized the rest of the day.

4. Have something warm to drink at different times of the day.

For most, a warm cup of coffee in the morning is enough. But during the winter season, one tends to feel sleepy and go out of focus due to the weather. Consider using a bigger mug and drink some more coffee. If you are not much of a coffee drinker, you can try warm tea or chocolate drinks to make you feel warm and awake.

5. Write down your schedule.

Have a checklist of your things to do. Just like anytime during the rest of the year, you need this to monitor what you have done so far and what else you need to do. If you see that you haven’t gone far with your checklist yet, then you have to force yourself to focus.

Five Reasons You Should Workout With a Friend

Trying to lose weight and stay fit is never easy. Even with all those workout videos you will see online with these very fit individuals making even the most unusual formations and workout schemes seem very simple, once you try it, you know it won’t be easy at all. You may have already signed up for gym membership or you’re trying other forms of exercises and that’s actually good. The only thing you have to watch out for now is consistency. You need to turn exercising into a habit in order for you to stay fit, healthy and even sculpted if that’s what you’re aiming for.

There are some people who prefer working out alone. They use these hours as their “alone time” and would even consider workout sessions their own relaxing moments. For others, they need a workout buddy. A workout buddy can be someone you’ve met in the gym or even a colleague or a long time friend. Whoever you choose to be your workout buddy, you will surely enjoy sessions more with a friend. In fact, here are 5 reasons that will prove that!

1. You will not get bored.

Especially if it has already become a routine and you’ve been doing the same workout sessions for weeks or months, things could get boring. Yes, you’re sweating it out and you’re keeping it busy at the gym, but there are dull moments for sure. However, if you workout with a friend, you know that you have someone to talk to, share music with, or have coffee or an energizing after workout meal with.

2. You will actually look forward to workout sessions.

Instead of dreading workout sessions and those days when you’re scheduled to go to the gym, when you’re working out with a friend, you might even look forward to these days. Especially if your workout buddy is someone who you don’t live with or work with, catching up while working out will be something to look forward to. You can meet up in the gym or you can even make your own small gym at home. You don’t necessarily need a lot of big workout gear. You also can get some dumbells, jump ropes and things like that. If you do have a little more space but still not a ballroom, you can decide to go for the best and most compact treadmill with manual incline, it gives you the opportunity to do a full workout at home.

3. Someone will be there to motivate you.

Having a workout buddy is one great way to motivate yourself. If you feel like you’re about to give up, someone will tell you that you can do it and you must not quit. Your friend will tell you that you’re actually looking better and doing better with each workout so now’s not the time to stop.

4. You can turn it into a friendly competition.

You can even turn workout sessions into a friendly competition when working out with a friend. It could be as simple as who can stay longest while on the treadmill on a specific speed and angle. Whoever wins most points by the end of the week will be treat the other a hearty meal on your cheat day.

5. You can monitor your progress together.

When you have a friend with you while working out, you can monitor your progress together. You’ll know whether your progress is actually normal or if you’re doing any good because you have someone to compare your measurements or results with.

Four Transportation Alternatives to Get You to Work

Air pollution, heavy traffic, expensive parking fees and gasoline prices – these are just some of the many reasons why driving your own car to and from work every day is no longer as ideal as it was in the past. Unless your job requires you to drive from one location to another throughout the day, it’s sometimes no longer practical to bring your own car daily. It is good to be reminded that driving to work isn’t always the only option you have. There are other transportation methods you can try out. Check out the list below.

1. Ride a Bike to Work

Bikes are probably the most environment-friendly means of transportation; and it’s healthy too because you are basically traveling and exercising, plus you can loose some weight at the same time. Although you might need to bring extra clothes because biking can make you sweat and especially if you live in the city, you may have to wear facial masks to ensure that you won’t be breathing in all the pollution. Biking may take a bit more time especially if you live quite a distance from your place of business or work but if you manage your time well, wake a little bit earlier in the morning, this means of transportation is a great alternative – and there are almost zero costs when riding a bike!

2. Hoverboards, Electric Bicycles and More

If an actual bike is quite tiring for you and you’re not the type who would want to skateboard your way to work, then you can take a look into modern means of transportation. Hoverboards are fairly new in the market and are usually enjoyed just for fun. However, you can actually use this for travel especially if your workplace is just a short distance away.
On the internet you can also find the best electric scooters for kids and grown ups, which are great for longer distances because they require no effort from your part. You can also find electric bicycles, but these still require physical work. And yes, you will probably spend money on electricity when charging these, but not nearly as much as how you would be spending on gas and parking!

3. Carpooling

There are many ways to carpool. You can check with your co-workers if anyone passes by your neighborhood or you can check with your neighbors if they work in the same area of your office. You can also do it with friends or family members. Sometime, all you have to do is ask. You can even check on social media, online ads and there are actually carpooling apps – check if there’s one that’s available in your city.

4. Take Public Transportation

Calculate how much you’re spending when you take your car to work. Take into consideration gas, parking fees and car maintenance too. Then try taking public transportation – bus, trains, cab, etc. Find out if this comes out cheaper and more affordable. However, it is understandable if you’re choosing comfort and convenience of driving a car rather than taking public transportation. Weigh your options and choose what’s most ideal for you.

Five Reasons You Should Schedule Regular Home Maintenance

The responsibility of a homeowner to his house doesn’t simply end the moment a mortgage has already been paid in full. The truth is, spending and caring for your home never ends. Every day, you have to spend time cleaning it. You have to spend money to maintain it. If you don’t do this, sooner or later, your home’s structure will deteriorate and it won’t be such a livable place anymore. If you are quite hesitant on home maintenance procedures, such as calling professionals to get the job done for you, then you should realize by now that this is necessary thing to do if you want to preserve your home.

Home maintenance procedures include general cleaning, plumbing, electric maintenance, repainting and a whole lot more. To give you that added confidence that you’re doing the right thing by calling on professional maintenance services, here are 5 reasons we’re listing down for you.

1. Living in a clean home is good for your family’s health.

Walls may already be infested by termites and pests. Tiles may be too dirty and basic cleaning materials won’t do the job anymore. Dust and bacteria may already be living within mattresses. All these and more are the things you should be worrying about as these could be harmful to your family’s health. You can only do so much by sweeping, mopping and vacuuming your home. Let a professional show you how it’s supposed to be done.

2. The stability of your home’s structure is significant for your family’s safety.

As mentioned, there may be pests infesting parts of your home. The structure might already be weak without you noticing it. The patch on the ceiling might be more than just rainwater that went through the roof. To ensure that there won’t be any accidents happening in the future, the structure of your home should always be stable and this can only be guaranteed with regular maintenance.

3. Professional skills, experience and equipment are needed to get the job done properly.

You don’t have all the skills needed to maintain your home unless you’re in the cleaning or maintenance industry as well. You might be doing well enough when cleaning your home but you don’t have the expertise in plumbing or say electrical repair. Your garden hose does not do a better clean wash then a pressure washer in cleaning your roof and driveway.

4. A house is a reflection of its owners/occupants.

Your home is a reflection of you. Where you live defines you. If it’s a dirty and rather run down home, what kind of impression do you think you’re making? A clean and bright home makes a much better impression of its occupants.

5. Regular maintenance will help increase the value of your property.

As earlier mentioned, your property will deteriorate without necessary maintenance. If you regularly maintain and improve your property, of course, its value will increase. Should you decide to sell it in the future, then you can expect a better price tag.

How to Lose Weight When Feeling Lazy

A lot of us want a fit and healthy body. Especially with all the weight we are about to gain or have already gained through the holiday season, the cold weather makes it so difficult to get up and just exercise. So how can you possibly lose weight when there’s just a lot of great food and you’re feeling super lazy? Of course, there’s really no short cut to a fit and healthy body. You have to work for it. But we have to admit that there will always be days when we don’t feel like getting up and sweating it out. Here are tips you can take into consideration so you can still take those inches off your belly even when you’re feeling a bit lazy.When it comes to food, try a little bit of everything.

When it comes to food, try a little bit of everything.

You don’t have to have the largest slab of steak on your plate and double servings of mashed potato and veggies. If there’s so much food to choose from, by all means, try everything just to satisfy your hungry tummy and your taste buds. Settle for smaller servings and just savor the taste so you won’t have to get a few more servings after that.Ride an indoor stationary bike.
Ride an indoor stationary bike.

Ride an indoor bike and lose the weight. It’s easy because you’re basically sitting down and just working out using your legs. You can watch TV while biking and you won’t even notice the time go by.Drink lots of water.
Drink lots of water.

Drinking water doesn’t require a lot of effort, does it? You don’t have to be all active and jumpy just to go to the kitchen and get a glass of water every so often. This cleans your body’s system and water has become proven to be a great part of effective weight loss.Go on a rowing machine.
Go on a rowing machine.

Most gyms have a rowing machine or you can actually buy one for your home so you don’t have to get out of the house. According to Home Rower, a rowing machine lets you work out both your upper and lower body while basically sitting down. Your feet are in place and it your hands and arms are the only parts of your body that exerts a lot of effort. Much like a stationary bike, when you’re sitting down, it just feels a whole lot better.Motivate yourself.
Motivate yourself.

The key to losing weight is self-motivation. In the first place, when you’re lazy, you’re probably not going anywhere and you won’t see any changes in your body. It is understandable if you feel lazy today but a bit of self-motivation will do the job. Simple tasks like cleaning your house, already contribute to weight loss and needs to be done anyway. Remind yourself why you want to lose weight and how beautiful or handsome you can be with a slimmer and fitter body. Remind yourself how you want to live a longer life and that’s possible when you take care of your body. It all starts within you and if you get up today, you can make most out of your day!