14 Best Asian Snacks and Delicious Desserts

Asian snacks are some of the most popular types of cuisine in the world. Whether you are looking for something sweet or a little bit salty, the best Asian snacks will have you craving for more. Below are some of the best Asian snacks you might want to sample soon:

Read More →
Share:

6 Best Types of Deck Materials for Homeowners

Cost, workability, durability, insect resistance; these are some of the critical factors you should consider as a homeowner when choosing the material to use in building a deck. Decks are flat surfaces with the ability to carry the same weight as a floor, but are typically constructed outdoors, at a higher point from the ground, and often connected to the main building. They act as extended living spaces and are a great alternative to patios.

With the numerous decking options available, there are some deck materials you absolutely can’t do without while starting to build a deck. The following six types of deck materials are highly recommended:

Read More →
Share:

6 Best Types of Flooring Materials for Kids and Pets

When getting a new floor for your home, considerations such as your family are critical, especially if this includes kids and pets. Other factors to consider include scratch-resistance, comfort, durability, colour and stain options, and water resistance. What you should go for is a practical flooring option that compliments both your taste and lifestyle. So, what are the best flooring options to consider when you have kids or pets?

Read More →
Share:

12 Wrapping Paper Alternatives and Substitutions

As wasteful as wrapping paper is, thankfully, there are many eco-friendly alternatives that produce less waste and which beautifully wrap any gift. Just looking around the house, you’re sure to find some of the wrapping paper alternatives on this list. Instead of going for the old newspaper, which can be rather ugly, here are some of the more unique possibilities available to you.

Read More →
Share:

8 Best Garden Flowers for Beautiful Homes

Making your garden look beautiful may be something you like to do as a personal project. Taking time to work in the yard can allow you to grow a gorgeous garden that all your neighbours will admire. In fact, a beautiful garden and a well-manicured lawn can increase the real estate value of your property with the best garden flowers! However, you’ll need to know what the best garden flowers are before you start working on your garden in this upcoming season.

Read More →
Share:

The Top 5 Benefits of Registered Education Savings Plans

Paying for college is becoming more difficult all the time, but fortunately there are now easy ways to save for your child’s education. A government-sponsored Registered Education Savings Plan (heritage RESP) allows you to start saving money for your children’s education as soon as they are born. The plans are simple to start and also reduce a lot of your stress in this area. Below are five of the main advantages of these types of savings plans.

1. There Are Choices in Investment Options
With a RESP, you can choose from among various types of investments, including mutual funds, GICs, and of course, stocks and bonds. This is similar to the rules for a TFSA or RRSP. Depending on the type of plan you choose, this means you can choose your investment options based on risk tolerance or even a certain objective. Above all else, it means you can feel more in control over your savings plan.

2. It Is an Extremely Easy Way to Save
With RESPs, you save money over time, and it is much less painful financially to do it this way. In addition, there is always the possibility that you could receive more government grants and money in other forms along the way, which means the amount of money you end up saving is likely to be bigger than you’d planned.

3. Government Grants Help Your Savings Efforts
Because of the way they are set up, RESPs come with the potential of getting various types of government grants that complement the money you’re already depositing into the account. This means that in addition to your own contributions, you also get “free” money from the government, which helps your savings account grow even faster throughout the years. Because of this, it is a good idea to continuously check the government websites in case any new opportunities for funding pop up along the way.

4. Anyone Can Contribute to the Plan
A Registered Heritage Education Savings Plan is set up so that anyone can add to the account. If you have a friend or family member who would like to make a donation to your RESP, they can do so. There are also group and family RESPs that you can create, allowing for many different ways to save for your child’s college education. You can easily donate to someone else’s account as well, because the accounts make it easy to donate to anyone you wish.

5. There Are Tax Advantages to Having a RESP
Finally, RESPs offer a great tax-free opportunity that can save you a lot of money at tax time. The money you contribute to the RESP is tax-free, and even though the money is taxable once it is being used, most students are in such low tax brackets that it won’t cost them much. The fact that the contributions are tax-free also allows for the money to build up a lot faster, so over time you’ll be surprised by the amount of money that is in your account.

Read More →
Share:

9 Best Foods for Clear Skin (Healthy and Effective!)

Acne is never any fun for anyone. Fortunately, you can eat the best foods for clear skin. Basically, if you eat certain foods, your skin can transform itself thereby becoming less riddled with acne. As the old saying goes, you are what you eat!

While facial acne is the most common form of acne for people to fret over, acne can frequently occur on the neck, back and shoulders as well. Regardless of where you have reoccurring and prevalent acne, eating the right foods can reduce breakouts and better your skin in the long run.

Certain foods raise your blood sugar quickly which results in the body releasing insulin causing more oil on your skin leading to an increased risk of acne. Here are some quick tips:

  • Pasta, white rice, white bread and sugar all cause spikes in insulin. Absolutely steer clear of these foods.
  • Milk has also been linked to acne in some individuals, it is wise to steer clear of milk too.
  • Keep in mind that everyone’s body is unique, what works for one person’s diet and skin may not necessarily work for another.
  • You may have to experiment a little to find out what works for you. Try keeping a journal while you experiment by writing down what you eat and any changes in your skin.
Read More →
Share:

9 Tasks to Test Child Safety at Home

Wasn’t it just yesterday when your baby came home from the hospital and screamed the whole night? While your sleep deprivation is still bad, your son or daughter is beginning to grow up. They’re showing all the signs that they’re getting older, from giggling to spending time on their belly to reacting to sound. Do you know what else they’re on the cusp of doing? Crawling.

That’s right. Today, they’re crawling. Tomorrow, they’re getting ready for college. (OK, one can wish, can’t they?)

You may have prepared for everything, but it’s most likely that you have not babyproofed your home for when your kid crawls. Good luck! They’re about to get into everything. So, what can you do?

Here are 9 tasks to test child safety at home and protect your crawling baby:

Read More →
Share:

8 Best Mom Hairstyles for Fashionable Mothers

Let’s face it, being a mother can be hectic, crazy and chaotic. Not to mention you’re probably the busiest you’ve ever been, but that doesn’t mean your hair has to be chaos too! When you’re a mom, you don’t have ample time to go to the hair salon or spend time styling your hair in the morning. Chances are you want something low maintenance that still looks fantastic.

Fortunately, there are a wide variety of hairstyles out there that require less daily maintenance. As a general rule of thumb, shorter hair requires less maintenance than long hair does, it also gives new born children less to tug on!

Cutting your hair short may make you feel as though you’re crossing over into “mom hair” territory, but the right short hairstyle can be chic, so long as it suits you. The style you choose depends on your hair type and facial structure. If you’re skeptical, ask your hairdresser what haircuts would best suit your facial features, hair features and busy mother lifestyle.

The trick is to get a mom hairstyle that works with your natural hair texture and also works with your face shape. Mothers tend to think that short hair is automatically easier, however, that’s only true if you have a cut that works with your natural hair. Below are the best mom hairstyles for fashionable mothers:

Read More →
Share: