All-Around Pinay Mama

How to Design a Kitchen Diner for Entertaining Friends

January 24, 2023

A kitchen diner is a multi-functional space that is perfect for entertaining friends. Instead of a formal dinner party, where you’re stuck in the kitchen while they drink all the pinot noir, you can hang out together: eating, drinking, and having a laugh.

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Courtesy: Pixabay

Many modern homes have a kitchen diner but if you want to maximize the space you have, here are some great design ideas.

Have Different Zones

For a kitchen diner to be practical, it needs to have clear zones. Have an area for food preparation, one for eating, and one for relaxing. This can be achieved in different ways but using different styles of countertops is a good solution. For example, you could install granite or copper countertops in food prep areas, and a solid wood countertop for a breakfast bar. Continue the theme with a dining table made from a similar type of wood, combined with some stylish rattan and mango wood dining chairs.

If your zones are clear, it makes it easier to control clutter and mess.

Indoor-Outdoor Dining

Indoor-outdoor dining is a popular trend, and it’s perfect for evenings when you want to entertain friends. You can open up your kitchen-diner and take advantage of your outdoor space. On a warm summer’s evening, move your dining table outside and then come back in when it cools off.

Minimize the Clutter

One of the biggest problems with kitchen diners is keeping the mess under control. The last thing you need while entertaining friends is for them to see piles of washing up and food mess. They might not mind so much, but it’s not a great look for any host.

While it’s impossible to maintain a spotless kitchen unless you are the Queen of Microwave Meals, you can at least design your space to hide the worst of the clutter.

One way to do this is by adding a breakfast bar that divides the kitchen and dining area. Because a breakfast bar is generally higher than a regular countertop, it hides a lot of the clutter from food preparation. If you have your sink on the counter behind the breakfast bar, it allows you to keep all the dirty pots out of sight when people are seated at the dining table.

Décor and Lighting

Install the right kind of lighting for each area. Low lighting helps to create the right ambiance for entertaining. Flexible pendants hanging above a dining area offer targeted light, so you can turn off your main task lighting once you have finished cooking. Install a dimmer switch for overhead lights and stick with bulbs on the warm spectrum, as they are more suited to cozy nights with some tasty food, good conversation, and a few bottles of wine. Finally, use decorative touches to make your kitchen diner more comfortable. Have a small sofa and some chairs for when the meal is over, so people can relax while they chat. Music is essential for kitchen parties; go with Bluetooth speakers for seamless integration with a smartphone.

Games that Teach Kids to Recycle and Maximize Energy Production

December 30, 2022

Parents should expose their children to the fact that consumerism is associated with environmental responsibility, especially the 3Rs such as reducing. reusing, and recycling. We have to teach by example these 3Rs and give these a thought and don't just continue consuming and tosing because doing so contributes to the betterment of our children's environmental situation in the years to come.

"If you want grown-ups to recycle, just tell their kids the importance of recycling and they'll be all over it." -Bill Nye
Photo Credit: Shirley810 of Pixabay

We don’t need to become experts on doing and teaching the 3Rs but it's a must for us to understand the bigger picture in order for us to teach and practice these mindfully and responsibly.

Children especially the younger ones have minds like sponges. Based on experience, as a mom and teacher, they like to take part in helping the environment and it all starts with being motivated through learning activities that they find most effective and fun. Of course, since kids nowadays are born with technology, playing online games and learning from them motivates them. That's why just recently, I spent time looking for a one-stop online portal where easy games teach kids to recycle and maximize energy production could be found. I am so glad that I found one, I enjoyed trying and testing them before I let my "ausome son" play them. Indeed, he enjoyed them too and they made him motivated to start doing the 3Rs.

Twin The Bin

Twin The Bin is a game where players move the recycling bin across the screen to collect a specific types of recyclable.

How to Play:

The character can be a boy or a girl.
You are given instructions on what to collect at the start of each round.
You are instructed to collect plastic, glass, paper, or organic goods on each round.

Garbage moves across the top of the screen on a conveyer belt, where four slides periodically push some of the garbage off the platform so it falls below.
Move the bin from side to side while collecting the specific type of recyclable.
Do your best to avoid getting other objects in your recycling bin.
Every 45 seconds or so you get another wave, which has you collect a different type of garbage for recycling.

Each item you collect correctly is equivalent to 20 points.
You lose 10 points when you collect an item from the wrong category.
Games last three minutes.

Sort The Trash

In Sort The Trash recycling game, players move the recycling bin across the screen to collect recyclables while avoiding other garbage.

online games, recycling games, online game review

How to Play:

To avoid collecting batteries, straws, plastic bags, and compost items like apples, eggs, bananas, or used paper coffee cups, drag them from side to side.
Avoid missing recyclables with your bin or else you will get a strike.
Similarly, if you collect non-recyclable items you get a strike.

When you get three strikes it is game over.
As you advance through the game the items fall faster.
Before losing, see how many recyclables you can collect.

Wind And Solar

Wind and Solar is a game that promotes sustainable energy. Players adjust the placements of windmills and solar panels to maximize energy production.

How to Play:

Look at the wind lines on the screen and move the blades on the windmill up or down to catch the wind. If you are catching the wind the windmill blades will spin and if you are not they will stop.
Observe the clouds in the sky and their movement. Move the solar cells left or right as needed to maximize sun exposure while minimizing the time spent under clouds. There are green and orange indicators at the bottom of the solar panel which indicates if you are capturing direct sunlight.

The upper left corner of the game has a timer that starts at 1:30.
Next to the timer, there is a total energy meter and a scale with houses that shows how much energy you created.
The game has a pause button in the upper right corner.

Dear parents, remember this: Our children will be the ones to take care of the environment in the future. Environmental education is one of the keys to opening their minds to the fact that the lives of millions of species will depend on them to avoid extinction. Let us teach them NOW!

Why You Should Consider Credit Counseling

July 21, 2021

Receiving a call from your bank stating that you are eligible to own a credit card sounds tempting because having it on the palm of your hands means that you are capable of cashless spending or buying something that is out of your budget at the moment due to the notion that it could be paid later. When you think of the cons in having one especially now that we are in a pandemic and cashless payments is encouraged, owning a credit card is indeed a necessity. You should not be afraid to avail one because it makes shopping or spending more convenient and safe especially when you shop both online or at a store or travel in and out of the country that may not prompt you to bring a huge amount of cash if you don't want to.

Credit Counseling, Credit Counselor, Credit Card Debt

In line with this, owning a credit card comes with great responsibility. It is advisable that you should have one if you have money to pay for your debt on time. It may be considered as a privilege to some but using it irresponsibly may cause a lot of trouble. In my opinion, it is not wise to get a credit card if you have no money to pay for your debt which happens to some credit card users who don't have the capacity to control its usage.

In line with this, when it happens that you cannot pay your credit card debt on time, you also have to pay for the "interest on interest" called compounded rate which means that your debt becomes more expensive throughout the course when you can't pay your debt. It is stressful most especially when debt collectors are bombarding you with calls or worse, harassment. This is where you need to seek the help of credit counselors.

Why do you need credit counseling?

If you need someone to give you the best professional advice on how to manage your debts, do proper budgeting, discuss about consumer credit, or perhaps suggest an extra source of income, a good credit counselor is the one you should talk to. He may provide you with a tailored-fit one-on-one credit counseling sessions or give you educational materials, seminars, and workshops to help you determine your financial issues. What makes it advantageous to have a credit counselor to consult with is that he may assist you in creating a budget scheme to pay your debt smoothly while saving. A credit counselor is specialized or trained to handle credit card debts so you are in good hands when you find the best.

In consonance, the easiest way to find a reliable credit counselor is via referral. Recommendation from friends and loved ones may give you peace of mind that you are not dealing with someone untrustworthy. In case that you don't have any referrals, you may browse through the internet and checkout different credit counseling firms with good reputation so that you can fix your credit card issues in no time, not adding more stress and problems on your end.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Reasons to Choose Rings Made of Moissanite Gems Over Diamonds

June 09, 2021

When selecting an engagement ring, you may want to check all the available options comparing them to diamonds because diamonds are pretty expensive and might not fit your budget. One of the choices that you may consider is moissanite. Moissanite may be compared to a diamond in terms of durability, hardness, shininess, and much more. This gem that looks like a diamond was discovered 120 years ago. It is made of silicon carbide and may occur both naturally and artificially.

Here are some of the reasons to choose rings made of moissanite over diamonds:

Hardness

Engagement rings are designated to be worn every day after the engagement and are vulnerable to harsh environments and treatments. Thus, choosing materials that are resistant to scratches is important. Moissanite rings are resilient, therefore fit to be worn daily. Compared to diamonds, moissanite gems have a hardness of 9.25 while diamonds have ten, meaning they are quite as compact, hence, durable.

Appearance

Fire disperse refers to the amount of white light dispersed in the gem reflected on its inner surfaces. To measure how much a gemstone refracts light at various angles is a gem's brilliance refractive index. In line with these, moissanite rings sparkle more than diamond rings. Moissanite tends to shine like a vibrant rainbow while a diamond does not. When the two are placed together, they are indistinguishable, only different in refractive colors.

Weight

Diamond and moissanite have different weight compositions. Moissanite rings are ten times lighter than diamond rings. By the way, a carat is a measurement of a stone's weight, not the size (as often perceived); a 1 carat ideal round cut diamond measures 6.5 mm while the same diameter would be 0.88 carat in moissanite. Therefore, moissanite rings are lighter, hence, more convenient to wear with daily activities.

Ethical Concerns

Speaking of ethics, it may be inferred that the term "diamond" is somewhat "unethical" due to natural mining and environmental concerns. Mostly, moissanite is lab-made and its silicon carbide element makes its abundance limitless. Thus, moissanite germs are more environmentally safe and convenient than diamonds.

Availability of Different Designs

Just like diamonds, jewelers can cut moissanite in different shapes according to your preferences. It is also possible for you to choose or customize the moissanite engagement rings' setting and band to ensure they fit your lifestyle and personality.

Cost

Diamonds are expensive, especially the natural ones that are mined compared to lab-made. Diamonds are also sporadic, hence, prices often fluctuate and you need to save up for months or even years before you may purchase them. Moissanite is cheaper and meets the qualities that are comparable to diamonds such as hardness and appearance.

Therefore, not all precious stones are expensive and moissanite gems are among them. Moissanite rings may give you the look and satisfaction that diamond rings may give without you breaking the bank.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Basic Home Decorating Tips

January 27, 2021

The pandemic has brought different ways for you to alleviate your stress. One of those is to keep yourself busy and productive. In a time like this that you are given a chance to work or study from home, you may realize that it should be given a minimal or even an overall transformation to keep you more inspired and motivated.

Basics on Home Decorating, Wall Art, Tapestries, Interior Design, Basic Home Decorating Tips

If you are planning to turn your nook conducive to stay at and refreshing to the eyes, you have to consider the following questions:

Does my home need to be repainted?

Does my wallpaper need to be replaced?

Does my home seem to be too plain or overly decorated?

Does the ceiling of my home too high or low?

Do the rooms of my home need more storage for toys, clothes, books, and other stuff?

Do I have to discard, donate, or sell some things or furniture to make my home more spacious?

What shall I do to make my home reflect who lives in it?

"The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them."

- DAVID HICKS

Asking yourself these kinds of questions may help you know whether you need to purchase, dispose of, or change something in your home. By doing so, you may be able to determine the design elements that you want to achieve and also the furniture, paint, wallpaper, wall art, decorations, curtains, and other home essentials that you are going to use to suit your taste. If you still have no idea how to do it, there are online interior design magazines where you can get ideas or inspirations. Pinterest is also a great resource for your home designing needs and pegs. Then when you already decide on the design and color scheme that you want, further ask yourself why you want them and why you choose them.

"Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style."

- BILLY BALDWIN

Decorating a home is not easy and it requires time, resources, and effort that's why planning is the best way to start. You may print out the design inspirations that you prefer then make a visual or mood board while listing all the things that you need. If you prefer to work with an interior designer since you are at a loss, then do it. If you cannot afford it, asking a friend with an innate talent in interior design that would love to do it for you in exchange for your services in your line of work may save you money.

Planning your home project

"If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail."

- BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

If you plan to shop for new shelves, beds, chairs, side or coffee tables, or other furniture, sketching a floor plan of the room that requires any of those is highly recommended. Include in your sketch the electrical outlets, windows, doors, and other important details that may affect the traffic and placement of your furniture. It is quite challenging to go to malls or furniture shops due to the pandemic nowadays so online shopping is the best option. Never forget to measure your space when you plan to shop for furniture online to determine whether the specifications of the item that you choose fit your space or not.

Understanding design basics

Knowing the design basics especially when you are planning to do your home decorating on your own is very important. Like planning, it saves time and effort on your part.

Straight draperies and high-backed chairs are perfect for a room with a low ceiling. The use of vertical lines also may give an illusion of height and may always carry the eye upward.

To give an illusion of a huge space and make a high ceiling look lower, focus on using horizontal lines like a long sofa, long table, or low bookcases.

Floor plants, low coffee table, long-slung chairs, and other eye-catching and low-placed objects can make a room with a low ceiling seems to look more in proportion.

Complex patterns or designs can make small rooms appear even smaller. Simple colors, furniture, decors, and tapestries may keep the entire space cozy and pleasing to the eyes.

When you match the wall color with an oversized piece of furniture, a room will appear larger, particularly if both the walls and furniture are a light color.

A small room may appear larger than it is when very large mirrors on one wall are installed because they reflect the rest of the room.

Room dividers or furniture put in the middle of the room, such as a sofa or bookshelf, can offer the effect of two rooms in one.

The brightness and darkness of the room may depend on the texture of the furnishing. Glossy surfaces such as tile, satin, and porcelain reflect light and add brightness to the room while matte or rough surfaces such as woven fabric, carpet, and brick absorb light and create a soft atmosphere.

Updating the hardware such as curtain rods, drawer pulls, and doorknobs may give any room a quick facelift.

As the renowned American interior designer, Albert Hadley, said, "The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live. It is about the realities of what makes for an attractive, civilized, meaningful environment, not about fashion or what's in or what's out. This is not an easy job." So make sure that you do to your home what makes you happy while following the basics of home decorating.

Photo Credit: Pixabay