Lilac City Momma

Lynn

Top 5 Fun Things To Do In Utah

by

Utah is a place of great natural beauty and is a great tourist destination. With several national parks, this is a wonderful place for hikers and nature enthusiasts. So to fill up your Utah vacations guide here is the Top 5 Fun Things to do in Utah.

1. Park City

A popular skiing destination, Park City is the home of several ski hills, including Deer Valley Resort, Canyons Resort, and the Park City Mountain Resort. The home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Olympic Sports Park is another great place to visit while here. A great winter destination Park City is also the home of the United States largest independent film festival Sundance Film Festival.

2. Zion National Park

Only a few hours from Las Vegas, Zion National Park is a prime destination for its great natural beauty. With hikes from the easy to the hard, as well as sightseeing bus there is a way for anyone to enjoy the marvellous scenery of Zion Park. Taking one of the easier hikes is a great way to keep your kids occupied while on vacation. The Zion Canyon is home to the more impressive of the park’s sand stone monoliths. Other areas of interest are the Narrows, the Kolob Arch, the second largest arch in the world, and Lava Point, which offers a panoramic view of the entire park.

3. Arches National Park

Outside the town of Moab, the Arches National Park is home to more than two thousand natural stone arches. The unusual geographical nature of this park makes it the home of the greatest density of natural stone arches in the world. The Delicate Arch has to be the most well known spot in the Arches National Park, the horseshoe stone formation creating a frame for the far off mountains, but there are numerous trails and hikes to explore the other many stone formations from the Double Arch to the Devil’s Garden.

4. Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Though receiving less visitors than many of the natural parks the Grand Staircase is no less interesting despite, or perhaps because of its remoteness. Visitors are able to see a range of landscapes from canyons and arches to waterfalls and forest. One of the more popular destinations here is Lower Calf Creek Falls and its hiking trail.

Also the home of the abandoned town Paria and the Paria film sets, the ghost town was a popular location to film westerns. Films with scenes recorded here include Billy the Kid(1941), Sergeants 3 (1961) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).

5. Golden Spike National Historic Site

North of the Great Salt Lake is the home of the place the Union Pacific and Central Pacific rail-roads met, this site was the place where in 1869 a ceremonial golden spike join the two rail systems into the USA’s first transcontinental railway system. With an exhibition housed at the Visitor’s Centre, the importance of the site is elaborated on. There are also recreations of the golden spike ceremony seasonally. The Golden Spike National Historic Site is a great place to visit for those interested in history.

From hiking to skiing those who enjoy physical pursuits would enjoy a trip to Utah. The striking natural scenery of Utah also draws tourists around the world and this list should let you fill up your Utah travel guide for your visit.

6 Recommended Cold Canapés for Your Next Party

by

When holding a holiday party, one of the most stressful parts of the preparation is often the food. This is especially true if you are trying to come up with a menu that is both appealing and different from what everyone else is offered. The solution is to offer a variety of different cold canapés, giving your guests a variety to choose from. Canapés are also visually stunning, making them extremely appealing despite their tiny size. Here are our top picks for this holiday season;

  1. Chicken Curry  Canapés

Everyone loves take-out curry, and these canapés put a fun twist on an old favourite. Often paired with delicious fruit of some kind, they provide the quintessential single bit full of flavour experience that you would expect from this kind of food. These also work well for parties where children will be present, ensuring that everyone will be happy.

  1. Vegetable Topped Crostinis

Most people love the crisp and tantalizing mouth feel that they get from a good crostini. Pairing this with a pureed or dried vegetable and the possibility of fresh cheese just makes sense. The combination of crisp and soft is heightened when using a savoury vegetable or dry toppings. These are often the first canapés gone at holiday parties. You could also spiralize your vegetables for a fancy look. 

  1. Mozzarella Tarts

A classic tart shape, filled with mozzarella, fresh herbs, and topped off with a tomato. This is a great palette cleansing option that appeals to more sophisticated guests. The flaky crust and barely cooked tomato serve to make the creamy cheese and herb combination all the more delicious. They are also one of the most impressive looking canapés, sure to please even the pickiest of guests.

  1. Salmon  Canapés

The classic choice, salmon is one of the most versatile fish in the entire world. Whether is is being paired with cream cheese, sprinkled with lemon, or cured and served by itself, salmon is usually something that most of your guests can agree on. The small bite sized offerings that are served at parties are usually enough to entice the taste buds but not overload them with fishy taste as well, making it the perfect medium for serving up salmon.

  1. Prawn  Canapés

Often served on top of sinfully sweet mousse, prawns are a classic party favourite. Bright and cheery, their natural shape and size lends themselves well to being used as a finger food. Prawns also pair well with a number of different flavours, allowing you to have several different varieties at one party.

  1. Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Canapés

These classic flavours compliment each other and are always fresh and welcoming. Ripe tomatoes seem to melt over creamy mozzarella, while the fresh flavour of basil bursts over the tongue. These are often served on bamboo skewers or on toothpicks, allowing the tomato to remain whole for the best possible eating experience. The secret to making these canapés great is using the best possible ingredients and preparing them no more than 5 hours before serving time.

Top Tips for a Successful 3D Ultrasound

by

When it comes to your pregnancy, you are probably doing all that you can to make sure that everything goes right – you are watching what you eat, are being careful in your movements and activities, and are making it a point to stay positive and stress-free. This is an exciting time for you and your loved ones, so staying positive isn’t such a difficult thing, right? But if you want to have an even more positive experience, you should take advantage of an elective 3D ultrasound.

If you’ve decided to go for a 3D ultrasound, you should know that it’s a great way to see your baby – and to bond with your baby. You have to prepare yourself, though, so that you can have the best pictures and images and have a truly memorable experience. Here are some top tips to remember for a successful 3D ultrasound.

Choose the right time

In order to get the best images, the best time to schedule your 3D ultrasound is around 24 weeks to 34 weeks into your pregnancy. If you really want the clearest pictures, the experts confirm that the period between your 27th week and your 32nd week is ideal. For face close-ups, between 27 weeks to 28 weeks is perfect as well. The thing is that if you wait too long to schedule your ultrasound appointment (after your 32nd week, for example), there may not be too much fluid surrounding your baby, which may result in less-than-perfect images. Additionally, after your 32nd week, your baby may have descended deeper into your pelvis, which affects your view of the baby.

Fill up

Another way to have a successful 3D ultrasound is to fill up with water. This basically means drinking as much water as you can, starting a week or two weeks prior to your ultrasound scan. The ideal amount of water would be around eight glasses each day. When you drink a lot of water, your amniotic fluid will clear up, and there will also be more than enough liquid or fluid surrounding your baby. One more tip: an hour or two before your appointment, eat some veggies and fruit or drink some fruit juice. The sugar in the drink will help your baby ‘wake up’ for optimum images.

If you have scheduled a 4D ultrasound where you can see your unborn baby move around, you can help make it a success by choosing a time when your baby is usually active or awake.

Finding a 3D ultrasound specialist is not that difficult nowadays, although it’s always best to choose one who is fully qualified and who has a good reputation. Look for locally-based 3D ultrasound professionals by doing a search for ‘3D ultrasound near me,’ and you should be good to go.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

4 Practical Tips for Cleaning Your Glass Shower Enclosure

by

A glass shower enclosure is a good addition to your bathroom. It makes you feel excited heading to the shower each morning. You also have something to look forward to when you head home after a long day at work. Once you are inside, you can just isolate yourself and forget everything that is going on around you. But if you’re a busy mom like me, you will want to keep it clean and spend the least amount of time doing it. 

Even if you spend quite a lot of money to have this enclosure installed, it is an investment worth the price. The enclosure needs to be properly cleaned and maintained just like any other item inside your bathroom. Here are some tips to guide you when cleaning.

  1. Use squeegees or microfibre cloths

When soap bubbles and water accumulate on the glass, it could pose health risks. You should not let this buildup happen. It can be easily removed with the help of a squeegee. This is like a windshield wiper that has a handle. This makes it easier for you to remove stains on the glass. If you don’t have one, you can use a small cloth just to wipe off the buildup of soap bubbles on the glass. It does not have to be done daily, but at least you do it once you notice stains and soap bubbles building up.

  1. Use a dryer sheet

If you want to instantly clean the glass, get a dryer sheet, damp it lightly and use it to scrub the entire glass shower enclosure. It easily wipes everything away. This is perfect if you don’t have enough time to clean everything. You can also add a cleaning agent to soften the fabric and allow the stains to be easily removed.

  1. Use an old shirt

If you have time to wipe the stains off, get a cleaning agent and put it in a spray bottle. Dilute it with water and use it to clean the glass enclosure. To remove the cleaning agent, use an old shirt. You can use the same shirt when cleaning up the enclosure in the future. A worn out shirt helps easily remove the stains out.

  1. Check the enclosure for problems

Aside from the cleanliness of the glass shower enclosure, you should also check it for any issues. There might be broken parts that have to be replaced. If the glass is cracked but is still intact, don’t wait for it to finally give in. Have someone come over and replace it. The same thing is true for the shower and other accessories found inside the enclosure. Maintenance is essential since it prevents more serious problems from happening.

It is nice to have a shower enclosure at home. Therefore, you need to make sure it will last for a long time.

The Proper Way to Fix a Budget for Your Kitchen Refurbishment

by

If you feel your kitchen is due for a remodeling, refurbishment, or a complete overhaul, you may be both excited and worried – thinking about that beautiful new kitchen can make you energised, but thinking about the possible expenses might make you anxious. That’s perfectly normal; refurbishing projects rarely go without a hitch and require some careful planning.

Luckily, there are experts who are willing to give you some invaluable – and free – advice. Are you planning to upgrade your kitchen? Are you worried about the costs? If you’re a mother like me, you have to worry about grocery costs, clothes and much more. So that you don’t worry about a kitchen upgrade cost, here’s the proper way to fix a budget for your kitchen refurbishment.

Think about the budget, and stick with it

This seems obvious but it can be tempting to add during the project, and that’s often a mistake. When fixing your budget, consider that your labour costs can amount to anywhere from a fifth to a third of your budget. Secondly, consider the reasons of (and the long-term implications of) your refurbishment. Are you planning to move in a couple of years? Is it worth a large investment? Do some research.

Break it down

Once you’ve fixed your budget, list down what you really want and what your priorities are. Breaking down your budget into categories can guide your decision-making process. On the average, certain items require more funds than others:

  • Labour – 20 to 35%
  • Cabinets and worktops such as beautiful quartz worktops London from J.R. Stone – about 33%
  • Appliances – between 20 and 30%
  • Tiling, windows, and other items vary greatly depending on the quality.

Establish a buffer

It’s very common to have unexpected expenses when it comes to construction or renovation projects. This is not necessarily due to bad management or poor design choices, but simply because during the process unforeseen problems can pop up – for example: cracks in the walls, or the discovery that the plumbing is in bad shape. Establish a buffer; expect to spend 20% more than planned.

Keep track

During the project, money is going to flow out the window at a very fast pace. To avoid misunderstandings and unpleasant surprises, make sure you keep careful track of your expenses, and regularly check whether or not this fits with your budget planning.

Here’s one more important factor to consider whilst your kitchen is undergoing its renovation: do you plan on staying in the house? Staying somewhere else will encourage you to spend more. Furthermore, even if you decide to stay in the home whilst the work is going on, you’re probably going to be spending more money on take-out food or eating out. These expenses might be trivial, but many small expenses do make a larger amount, and it has to be factored in from the start. Your project needs to be planned well, and this includes the budget. Keep track of it carefully.