If you’re looking for an alternative idea for a night in with friends, why not try a wine and chocolate night. If you love wine, and love chocolate, it sounds like the perfect combination. And to help, this article is here to make sure you make all the right decisions with a simple guide to pairing the two.

Pairing wine and chocolate: The basics

Before diving in with a bar of Dairy Milk and a bottle of Shiraz, there are few tips and tricks to making the right pairing.

Both chocolate and wine can have an intense taste, which is why the right pairing is so important.

To start the night, try a wine that is slightly sweeter than the chocolate. Sweet wines include sherry, port, and Madeira.

If you are a keen wine drinker and can tell the difference between light- and full-bodied options, try to match this with the heaviness or sweetness of the chocolate.

When setting up your pairing night, it’s worth working your way through the chocolate or wine in a logical way. Start with white chocolates and get darker, or set up the lighter-bodied wines together before trying the full-bodied glasses. By starting with the lighter tastes of white chocolate, you’ll avoid being overpowered by dark chocolate and being unable to taste anything else.

White chocolate

As white chocolate often has that classic buttery taste, it’s ideal for pairing with sweeter wines such as sherry and muscat. These drinks will draw out the creamy texture of the chocolate and highlight any slight fruitiness.

If you’re looking for a riskier pairing, you could opt for a Zinfandel. This will contrast the white chocolate taste but draw out the fruity taste of the wine much more.

Milk chocolate

A light-bodied Pinot Noir or medium Merlot will work perfectly with a creamy milk chocolate. Whether you choose a chunk of chocolate on its own, or want to spruce it up with a chocolate mousse or a cheesecake, this pair will leave you wanting more.

On the other side, a sparkling wine or dessert wine such as muscat can go just as well. The acidity of bubbly intensifies the gentler tastes within the chocolate, allowing you to find a new appreciation for this guilty pleasure.

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate tends to have a higher cocoa content, which adds a bittersweetness. With this in mind, dark chocolate should be paired with a fuller-bodied wine with flavor-intense fruits. Across the globe, the spicy hints in a Zinfandel are commonly paired with dark chocolate in order to create a deliciously intense flavor combination.

Nutty chocolate

You can pair delicious nutty treats such as Mozart Kugel chocolates with Madeira, port and sherry. These dessert wines combine with the hazelnut and marzipan in the chocolate to create a sweet and delightful taste that’s perfect for ending the night on a high.

Creating food and drink pairings can be a case of trial and error, and personal tastes. But with a little research into the best combinations, you could find yourself indulging in chocolate and wine a little more frequently.

In the United States in 2018, renewable energy made up 17% of the total electricity generated.

If you want to harness some of that renewable home energy to power your home, you may be wondering which energy-saving technology you should go with.

Thankfully, we have the best home sustainability tips to lower your bill and save on power, so make sure you keep reading!

1. Wind Power

Wind power normally comes from one of the huge wind turbines that you’ve probably seen, but you don’t need one of those to power your home. You can normally find a grid-connected wind system.

These are cheaper to install because they’re a smaller system. However, you may also need a small wind turbine as well, depending on how much power you use and how big your house is.

One of the benefits of using this type of energy is that if you generate too much electricity that you don’t end up using, the utility company will normally give you cash back as well. Wind turbines also qualify for the tax rebate from the United States as well.

2. Solar Power

Harnessing the power of the sun can also give you great potential solar savings. You’ll harness the sun by installing solar photovoltaic panels onto your roof.

These panels absorb the sun’s rays, and then they’ll turn the rays into energy that you can use to run your home.

They’ll power your home even when it isn’t sunny outside. This happens because on the sunny days, the panel will generate more electricity than needed, and then it will store some as a backup for when the sun isn’t shining. If you don’t end up using any of that extra power, you can sell it to the national electricity grid and make some extra cash.

While sustainability is great, you’ll also be able to cut down on your electricity bills.

3. Hydropower

If you live near a river or a stream that is always flowing, you could harness that energy to power your home as well.

You should call a professional to come and help you, but it’s actually not that hard to set it up yourself. You should find the deepest stretch of the river or stream and channel that through a generator.

The water flowing into the generator will create more energy for your home, and some people find this source more stable than wind. So as long as your water is running, your home will be powered.

You don’t need any fuel to use this electricity either, because this is very earth-friendly.

Discover More About Renewable Home Energy

These are only a few of the renewable home energy options that you have available, but there are many more of them out there.

We know that keeping up with the latest trends in suitability can be overwhelming, but we’re here to help you out.

If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this one.

A good night’s sleep isn’t just the best way to recharge your batteries after a long day, it also has many additional benefits for your health. People who don’t get enough sleep are more prone to gaining weight, have difficulty shaking off illnesses, and can be less productive during the day. A lack of sleep can also have a profound effect on your mood, increasing anxiety, frustration, and even depressive tendencies.

Everyone knows that sleeping well is important, but we’ve all lain awake in bed at night, unable to settle regardless of how welcoming we make the bed. What people don’t often think about is how much our sleep is affected by the things that we eat – not just immediately prior to going to bed, but also throughout the day. If you’re struggling to enter the land of nod, here are some dietary hacks which might just be the ticket you need to get those extra zzzzs.

Reduce Caffeine

This one might seem obvious as caffeine is a well-known stimulant, but that’s also the reason many people turn to coffee to keep them going through an evening, especially if they’re working late. What a lot of people don’t know is that caffeine can stay in the bloodstream for up to 6 hours, so if you’re a fan of a coffee on your commute home, it might still be stopping you from feeling sleepy well into the night. Try switching to decaf or limiting caffeine-rich drinks like coffee and cola to the morning.

Watch the Alcohol

Although a drink before bedtime can help you fall asleep, it has long-lasting effects which can mean that the quality of the sleep you do get is not as good as it should be. During the night, we cycle between deep sleep and light sleep, with the former being where we get the most rest. Drinking too much alcohol before bed disrupts this cycle, sending you into a deep sleep straight away but then your brain stays in light sleep for the rest of the night. That means when you wake up you feel more like you’ve only had a nap than a full night’s slumber.

Aid Digestion

The last thing you need before bedtime is indigestion, so make sure you stay away from foods which will keep your stomach working overtime. Fatty foods, processed foods, and anything with a spicy kick will keep your stomach gurgling away long after you’ve started counting sheep. Try and eat them earlier in the evening to give your body plenty of time to process them.

But it’s also not helpful to go to sleep feeling hungry. Sometimes we need an extra evening snack to avoid a different kind of stomach gurgle! There are foods which contain chemicals like serotonin, melatonin, and tryptophan, which your brain makes to help you fall asleep, so snacking on these before bedtime will give it a head start. Good choices include bananas, berries, turkey, and tart cherry juice. Just make sure you don’t add extra sugar, as this will have the opposite effect.

Create a Calming Environment

Of course, it won’t matter what you eat if your bedroom atmosphere isn’t conducive to sleep. While you might not be able to do anything about traffic noises and streetlights, you can adapt the room to make it as comfortable as can be. Investing in a good bed, like one of these from Divan Beds Centre, will help your body to relax. Blackout blinds and curtains will deal with any unwanted light sources, and you might want to consider using a sound app to create a relaxing ambience. What could be more soothing than the sound of waves lapping on the shore?

Conclusion

Preparation for a good night’s sleep starts long before you make it to the bedroom. If you’re having trouble nodding off or waking up unrested, try moderating your diet and see if that makes any difference.

Nothing is more satisfying than completing a do-it-yourself project. The feeling of accomplishment you get when you know that you have truly built something from the ground up is hard to match. In fabrication and manufacturing, welding is the ultimate way of bonding two surfaces together. There are plenty of great DIY projects to take on that involve welding. It is important not to jump into a welding project without the proper training and equipment. Always wear gloves, overalls and a mask and weld in a properly ventilated environment. Now that the safety talk is out of the way, let’s get down to business. Here are some great DIY projects to keep the amateur welder occupied.

Fire Pit

Every backyard can be improved with a fire pit. Luckily for the amateur welder, a good fire pit is one of the easier projects that can be taken on and is suitable for a first fabrication. Steel is the best material for a fire pit as it is relatively heat resistant no matter what quality it is. This project guide helpfully takes you step by step through the process of building a welded fire pit using sheet steel.

New Car Bumpers

Modern car bumpers are made of a highly resistant plastic known as ABS. Few people know that ABS can be very easily welded. Companies like Hot Air Tools sell silicone welding rods and hot air welding machines designed specifically to fuse plastics at a molecular level. Building cool (and safe) new car bumpers is a great way of improving your plastic welding skills.

Wine Rack

Combine your twin loves: drinking wine and welding steel. All you need to create a great DIY wine rack is some sturdy steel chains or rods and your trusty arc welding kit. There are plenty of different designs you can go for that will fit in any home. Check out the great Mediterranean wine rack design detailed by Popular Mechanics. Popular mechanics’ website also contains some great guides that can be of great use to the beginner welder.

Car Inspection Ramps

If you need to lift your car to inspect your exhaust heat shield, change the oil or make minor repairs, you’ll want to have a more sturdy lifting device than your regular jack. While a jack is fine for changing a tire, it is nowhere near safe enough if you are going to be spending any time underneath the body of the car. Car inspection ramps are a great project for the beginner welder. Make sure to use high-quality steel and to thoroughly inspect the integrity of all of your welded joints before rolling your car onto your new project. There are plenty of schematics for car inspection ramps online that will help you get a grasp of how the project should be completed.

Any kind of car lifting is inherently dangerous when the wrong precautions are taken. Always test your ramps before getting under the car and always raise your car on a flat surface.

 

There’s nothing better than watching the expression on your partner’s face when they open the perfect gift. That being said, finding the perfect gift for any occasion is by no means a simple feat. Over time, looking for a gift that truly displays your affection and your appreciation can be difficult. Fortunately, while coming up with our own ideas may be offering up nothing, there are plenty of great ideas online that can help you jumpstart the gift-sourcing process. If you want to find the right gift for your loved one, here are a few amazing gift ideas for your partner.

1. Buy them jewelry that they will cherish and wear every day.

Jewelry is great for two reasons. First, products like necklaces, pendants, or bracelets can be easily worn to enhance any outfit and allow your partner to personalize their looks. Second, when jewelry is given by a loved one, wearing it can be a symbol of love and a way for your partner to carry you around, always.

Set aside some time to look for the perfect necklace that your partner would love to wear. From sterling silver pendant necklaces to gemstone necklaces that feature an assortment of jewels, there are so many great new arrivals and best sellers out there that your partner is sure to love. You may even want to customize your partner’s jewelry by engraving it to make it a truly unique gift that will be as timeless as your love for them.

2. Give your partner a subscription box for something that they’re passionate about.

Gifts that keep on giving are arguably the best gifts to give, and what better gift could you give over time than a subscription box? Subscription boxes provide your partner with a steady stream of products and goods that help them enjoy their passion, whatever it may be. Whether your partner wants a subscription box that provides them with new outfits over time, a wine subscription box that they can use to kick back and relax at the end of the week, or a coffee subscription box so that they can start every morning right, a subscription box is a gift that your partner will greatly appreciate. Additionally, it gives them something to look forward to every month when it ships to your home.

3. Create your own gift, rather than going out and buying one.

Homemade gifts are heavily underrated, which may be due to some thinking that they’re not capable of creating a gift that their partner will love. However, creating a gift that will be cherished for years to come may be easier than you believe. For example, if your anniversary is coming up, taking the time to create a scrapbook of your most memorable pictures as a couple can be one great way to celebrate your relationship with your partner. If you’re feeling even more adventurous, finding something from your first date and framing it is just another excellent example of how you can create a gift that your partner will cherish. When it comes to homemade gifts that will leave a lasting impression on your partner, the only limit is your imagination.

Finding a gift that will amaze your partner can be difficult if you’ve already gone through many stellar gift ideas in the past. Fortunately, with the right inspiration and guidance, you will soon find more than enough gift ideas to last you for this occasion and every occasion moving forward. If you’re ready to wow your partner this year, use the three suggestions above to get started on your gift-giving journey.

 

For a long time, the covid restrictions dictated that gatherings were not allowed, but as more and more cities, states and countries start allowing things to open up again, events are slowly creeping their way back into our daily life. This of course, isn’t events to the scale and extent of big concerts and large scale weddings, but we are starting to see more business gatherings, small weddings and hybrid events that have both an in-person component along with a virtual one.

It’s not impossible to have an event in today’s environment, but it is going to be a lot harder, and there will be a lot more things to consider. The key thing is focusing on safety and making sure people can carry out the measures that will keep everyone safe. Whether you’re planning a small business summit or planning a themed birthday party, remember to create a solid plan and stick to it. What does it take to plan a safe and successful event in the time of covid? Here are the key things you need to consider.

Start With The Numbers

The number of people that you’re going to have in attendance will have a lot of bearing on how the event will be structured. First, be clear on what your state’s maximum attendance is. That number should guide you in every other decision you’re going to make in this process. If the limit is 50 people, create your guest/attendant list with that number in mind. Don’t make the mistake of inviting a lot of people above the limit with the expectation of cancellations. Assume that everyone is going to say yes and work with that.

Location and Setting

Now that you know how many people are going to be at the event, it’s time to deal with the next critical thing, where your event is going to be held and what the setting is going to be. The worst thing in this pandemic is being in an enclosed space, so remember the key is open space, big rooms or even open air if need be. If there’s a lot of space, social distancing becomes easier, and people have room to move around freely without feeling restricted.

You can also have an event that’s a mix between indoor and outdoor. Companies like American Pavillion offer large tent rentals which can allow you to have your event on a large clearing of land, with a big tent so that there’s still an indoor component. This allows you to have a lot of space, but still shelter that isn’t a walled-in room. That is the perfect way to create a balance and to also cover your basis on keeping people safe. For people who are hosting a business conference or summit, there are ways to make sure that people can attend and still be safe. One thing you can do is spread everyone out, and instead of having many people at one table, you can have one person per table.

Attendant Awareness

Whoever is going to attend your event has to know what the restrictions are in advance so that they are prepared. The last thing you want to do is brief your guests when they get there. When you invite them, give them a list of all the requirements from the social distancing, to how things will be set up and what will be expected of them. This gives them a chance to plan accordingly and also for you to know that you have guests who are fully aware. Guests want to know that you as the event organizer care about their safety. When we brief them beforehand, we show that we care and give them the peace of mind to have a good time.

Meeting Points

The one thing that will make an event complicated is food and refreshments. Points where people gather are going to be potential areas where people can come in contact. Luckily reducing the numbers of attendants will help spread people out, and when it comes to how people eat and drink, having a wait staff who can serve people while they stay in one place can help, instead of a buffet. Also making sure people wear their masks anytime they are away from their tables will also reduce the chance of potential issues.

There are still ways to have a great event even if things are a little different to what we’re used to. The success of your event is really down to how well you plan it, and looking ahead to some of the issues that might arise, and following through with all the restrictions and requirements. Remember there is still the option of having a mix between online and in-person to cater to different people and to keep things like numbers manageable.

Use new flooring

If your floor is getting old and you feel that it just isn’t looking great anymore, then now is the time to make a change and purchase a new type of floor. If you are looking for a new lust-worthy floor that will last for decades, that is very durable and that is suitable for all types of homes, then herringbone flooring is a good place to style to use, as this style of flooring suits a wide range of consumer’s flooring needs.

Paint your walls

In order for a house to really feel like a home, you need to be fond of the way your home’s interior looks. Home interior trends seem to change every year and we as consumers tastes change along with the times. You may have loved your red walls 10+ years ago, but do you really love them now? the chances are that you probably don’t.

If you are stuck for ideas on the sorts of colour pallets that will complement your home interior, then Instagram or Pinterest will give you lots of inspiration and the interior styles that are featured on Instagram really do vary, so there will be colour schemes that you will really appreciate.

The use of pastel colours have always been popular, especially if you are looking to give your home a slight feminine style. All pastel colours look very nice together, so you could use all the colours together and create an ice cream/candy floss themed room.

Use soft furnishings

The use of soft furnishings is a cost effective and easy way of bringing comfort to a room. Soft furnishings are especially needed during colder winter months, or if you are just having a lazy Sunday on the sofa and you want a nice soft warm throw to snuggle up in. Furthermore, soft furnishings are not always exclusively blankets, throws and cushions, they are also more practical items, such as curtains and rugs which give character to a room, which will therefore make a room seem more homely.

Use new lights

Lighting is actually a very important feature of creating a home, in the UK unfortunately we do lack natural light because of our mostly cloudy weather. So, it is almost essential to add lighting where necessary. Lighting can either be bright, vibrant and good for those who work from home, or they can either be slightly duller and have more of a warmth within their tone, to create more of warm and cosy ambience.

Add a fireplace to your living room

Fireplaces add such a warmth and cosy feel to a living room. However, most modern houses are not built with a fireplace as it is a relatively old concept of heating a house, but some may argue a home doesn’t feel like a home without having at least one fireplace. However, not to worry! Actual fireplace heaters are available to purchase, that can look very genuine and they still have a flame and like a fireplace they can adequately heat up a room.

It feels like spring has sprung out of nowhere this year! From the big freeze of the arctic vortex to Spring Equinox coming and going, this year, it feels like spring is needed even more.

Life is still quite tough for a lot of us, with the pandemic showing signs of ebbing but still worrying for a lot, and for many people staying at home will be on the cards for a bit longer.

Sort Out Your Home

With staying home in mind, it’s time to start thinking about those jobs you need to get done this spring and start setting aside the time to do them, so you can have a relaxing summer break knowing that your house is in the best condition possible.

Some of these jobs only need to be done once a year, but others you should probably put on your quarterly maintenance plan to ensure everything stays in working order.

Check Your Plumbing

Get a local plumber in to check your plumbing this spring, and make sure everything is ready for that summer break.

The last thing you want during the summer is an issue with your water supply, which means you can’t get adequate drinking water into the house or aren’t able to have showers or use the pool.

Using a local plumber also supports local businesses, and local businesses have been really hard hit by this pandemic. You will find plumbers in Tulsa OK, to give you some great options and prices, and you’ll be doing your bit to help a local business survive too.

Clear Your Guttering

Guttering can get clogged up at any time of the year, and over autumn and winter, you’re likely to get a lot of debris from dirt, leaves, and even moss stuck in the guttering.

If you didn’t clear your guttering in wintertime, get it done right at the beginning of spring, before wild birds spot it as a wonderful place to make a nest!

Jetwash and Reseal Your Decking

Wooden decking looks fantastic, but it takes a lot of maintenance to keep it looking at its best.

When the weather warms up and you’ve got a few dry days to look forwards to, give your decking a good jetwash and a reseal; this will make sure it’s in the best condition for the next year ahead.

Paint Fences and Sidings

Over winter, your fences and siding will take a lot, especially with the very harsh weather we’ve had this year.

It’s best to give them a good paint and reseal, just like you do with your wooden deck, to ensure that they will last. You can also take this time to check the wood and replace any rotten or broken panels.

Start Your Garden

Less maintenance and more calming!

Starting your garden now allows you maximum time to enjoy it over the summer months, whether you’re going to be planting a beautiful bloom of colors or digging for victory with your own raised bed vegetable garden!

 

Create a family room

Some may say, a family home needs a family room. In simple terms, a family room is basically a room where a family spends most of their time together. Living rooms and lounges is where families tend to group together, so focus on making your living room comfortable for the whole family. Adding soft furnishings is a good way to ensure that a room becomes more comfortable, this is because soft furnishings often include: throws, blankets, cushions and rugs.

Have a lovely green garden

When you picture a perfect family home, a beautiful green garden is almost always part of the picture. However, not everyone wants the upkeep and maintenance that is required as part of keeping a garden looking perfect. Luckily, artificial grass offers a solution to this issue, you can own a vibrant, realistic looking grass lawn without needing to cut and water the grass, artificial grass also lasts for years, so it is a long-term solution.

Have a study

A study room is great for professional people who work from home, because it gives a quiet, private place to complete work related tasks. Equally, a study is also suitable for children and teenagers, because it’s also a space that allows them to complete homework and study.

Have a playroom

A children’s playroom is a good idea for homeowners who are particularly house proud. This is because a playroom is a space which keeps children’s toys and mess inside one room, instead of it being scattered around the whole home. Of course, having a play room within the home also benefits the children, because they are free to get messy and play around without disrupting other people in the house.

Add a dining table to your kitchen/diner

Many families in the UK no longer seat and eat dinner together round a dinner table and they usually sit on the sofa and eat their meals on their lap, whilst there is nothing actually wrong with choosing to eat your dinner this way, but it may prevent a family from sitting together and socialising with no distractions from televisions and digital devices. A perfect ideal family home almost always has a table of some sort for members of the family to seat and eat meals on.

Turn a spare room in to a guest room

Owning a guest room seems to be a luxury, because when you own a guest room it is obvious that you already have sufficient space in a home, to be able to keep a room spare in its usage. However, you do not always need a luxurious high-end budget to be able to own a decent guest room. Second hand furniture and soft furnishings are ideal to be used in a guest room, as the furniture will only be used occasionally, so it doesn’t matter if some items are a little bit warn with wear and tear, or not of perfect, brand-new quality.

 

My wife and I did very well last January in managing to pull off the wedding of our dreams, right before this pandemic kicked in. Of course we had no idea at the time what would unfold in the months to come, but nonetheless it was a bullet that we were more than happy to have dodged. We had planned the outdoor wedding for long time and I have to be honest that it was touch and go whether or not we were going to be able to come through with all of our plans. In retrospect it went very well and based on that I wanted to share some tips with anyone out there who is planning such a wedding, to help it go off without a problem.

Spare Toilets

It didn’t take long for the toilets in the venue which we were outside of to fill up and that is why I am so thankful that the guys at Diamond Environmental Services were able to step in and help. I was actually a friend of ours who first suggested that we get extra toilets, based on her own experience of her wedding. This is a suggestion that I am more than happy to pass on.

Getting Enough Juice

One issue which we managed to prevent at the 11th hour was not having enough power, and it is easy to underestimate just how much juice you are going to need for something like this. When you break down the number of lights which you are going to need, the DJ booth and every other electrical outlet which is required for this type of event, you quickly recognize just how much you will need, and a generator is going to be absolutely essential here. Even if you are able to hook up to the mains of the venue, this is still a necessary step that I would recommend.

Walkways

Something else we nearly slipped up was walkways, and making sure that they were solid enough for people. The issue on our wedding day was that we had a very light drop of rain, which was enough to make the plastic walkways that we had in place slippy. We were able to use the stone pathways of the venue but had that not been the case then we would have been in trouble. The last thing that you guests want is their high quality shoes to get ruined because you haven’t planned well enough for the weather.

The Venue

If you are going to have a wedding outside a venue then I would suggest trying to get the marquee as close as possible to it, in order to make your lives easier. Again this is why we were thankful to have the extra toilets because there were some who just did not want to make the long walk into the venue and back again.

Some helpful tips to make sure that your day is amazing.