A general rule of thumb is that where there is a party, there is sure to be good food. Depending on the type of party going on, you may see different types of dishes being offered. For the classic party thrown for an upcoming birthday, the available choices of food may also vary.

It all comes down to a host’s personal tastes, as well as trying to cater to the tastes of your guests. However, you are granted enough flexibility to ensure that everyone’s taste buds are satisfied.

A catering company has plenty of creative ideas to make your birthday party a roaring success. Here are eight of the best catering ideas for a birthday party in order to serve stellar food:

Idea #1: Fruits

For starters, no type of catering event is without some sort of finger food. If you need the basics, as it relates to your birthday party, be sure to provide fruit in some capacity. To ensure that it is favorable to all guests invited, including the birthday boy or girl, try including multiple types of fruits too.

The best types to start with are your classic sliced apples or strawberries. Other great, albeit unconventional, choices to incorporate in your catering are honeydew, cantaloupe, or pineapple. Plus, fruits are relatively inexpensive as well, so you won’t have to worry about breaking the bank here.

Idea #2: Roasted Potatoes

To properly whet the appetite of your guests, be sure to include appetizers when you prepare catering ideas for a birthday party. Roasted potatoes are a great choice for birthday parties, as they are wholesome and can be cooked in various ways. Party guests are always trying to get their fill of good hors d’oeuvres, and potatoes are representative of that.

Roasted potatoes can also be served with various dips, to further ensure that appetites are catered to. From spicy salsa to tzatziki, the catering options can be diverse and delicious. Just be sure to have them in abundance; having too few available might have your guests wondering where the rest are!

Idea #3: Nachos

Like roasted potatoes, nachos are a great way to satisfy the initial cravings of your birthday party guests. However, just ensure that it isn’t served in the archaic platter consisting of just salsa.

Having loaded nachos, full of jalapeños, other vegetables and cheese, will definitely leave your guests wanting more. Get creative with the “loaded” aspect of this dish!

Idea #4: Sliders

Nothing beats a good burger. However, sometimes it may take an inordinate amount of time to prepare a regular-sized burger in vast quantities. To guarantee that your birthday party guest’s get their fix, you can prepare sliders to compensate.

The best part about sliders is that they can be prepared in various ways to meet various tastes. For birthday parties specifically, try having a catering theme for your sliders. For example, a saucy, pulled pork set of sliders are sure to turn heads!

Idea #5: Pizza

Like the aforementioned burger, pizza will forever remain one of the best catering ideas for a birthday party. You’d be hard-pressed to go to any birthday party, and not find pizza being served in some capacity. This is because the dish is so versatile, and can either be prepared or ordered in several ways.

For birthday parties, always ensure that the standard choices, such as pepperoni or vegetable, are offered. If you are looking to spice things up, ask your guests beforehand what some of their preferences are, in terms of toppings. This way, you’ll guarantee that all ordered boxes have been used appropriately!

Idea #6: Skewers

Skewers are an incredibly popular ideas for birthday party catering. Like pizza, this type of dish is extremely versatile, and can be prepared to meet the various tastes of your guests. For example, you can make them as a meat-only choice through the use of grilled chicken.

Or, skewers can also come in a vegetable-only option. Grilled vegetables used on skewers are a solid choice to serve, as they come packed with fantastic taste. If you really want to up your catering game, mix-and-match various ingredients, in order to put a unique spin on this catering idea!

Idea #7: Chips And Popcorn

The choice here is really yours; however, have at least one available for serving. Similar to fruits, chips and popcorn are a great way to encourage small talk amongst your guests. You can also add in further toppings as well, creating your own, tasty gourmet popcorn or chip mix!

Idea #8: Snack Boards

Snack boards are a fantastic way to group multiple foods and dips into one, convenient place. Cheese boards in particular allow for guests of all ages to get creative with their finalized plate. Plus, every dish will be different; snack boards have always been known to encourage creativity!

One thing to note when conducting catering for a birthday party is to ensure quantity and quality are present. You want all of your guests to equally be satisfied with what has been offered. Get creative, and don’t forget the birthday cake!

Most people think that vegan meals may not be appropriate for pregnancy. However, many dietetic associations have confirmed that a well-planned vegan diet can be suitable for the entire pregnancy life cycle.

In fact, pregnancy is an excellent time to consider healthy vegan meals and nutrition. The key to a nutritional vegan pregnancy meal plan is straightforward. You just have to include fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, wholegrain products, beans, nuts and seeds, which will help to meet most of your nutrient needs for a healthy pregnancy.

Before you start any vegan pregnancy meal plan, make sure you know all the necessary vitamins and calories you need for your pregnancy period as a well-balanced vegan diet can help your fertility and pregnancy go smoothly. It is vital to remember to eat healthy when pregnant. And even with a vegan diet, you still get to enjoy a delicious meal with the right amount of protein, fiber, vitamins and overall nutrients.

Here are seven foods to include in your vegan pregnancy meal plan:

1. Vegan Pancakes

You can start your morning with vegan pancakes consisting of blackberries and peanut butter. For lunch, you can have a light calorie white bean and avocado toast with sliced cucumbers.

Finally, for dinner, you can prepare a healthy falafel salad with lemon-tahini dressing. The plans offer a well-balanced dose of calories, protein, carbohydrates and fiber.

2. Banana Muffins

There is the concern that with a vegan pregnancy meal plan you may not be consuming the right amount of protein and fiber. You can alleviate these concerns with a banana muffin.

For this vegan pregnancy meal, you have a good range of protein and fiber. Start your day with a banana muffin and for lunch move to a healthy and leafy salad with some black eye peas.

End your day with a filling dinner consisting of roasted cauliflower and potato curry soup. In the soup, you can also add citrus, tomatoes, cabbage and broccoli with regular meals to boost iron and zinc absorption. You can acquire a good source of the necessary minerals from enriched cereals, wheat, soy products, pumpkin, sunflower seeds and dark chocolate as well.

3. Vegan Oatmeal

Start your morning with a full bowl of vegan oatmeal and add a few raspberries as a topping. Your vegan pregnancy meal plan should also mash avocado and white beans to make a fiber-rich and creamy topping for your toast. And for dinner, prepare a healthy spinach wrap that is delicious and packed with the essential nutrients.

4. Strawberry Smoothies

Wake up to a refreshing strawberry smoothie that can be blended in about 5 minutes will all the ingredients. It is the perfect breakfast drink to satisfy the sweet tooth while staying healthy.

Tofu stir-fry with a bit of rice for lunch offers a flavored packed meal containing crispy tofu and fresh vegetables like broccoli and spinach. Your vegan meal pregnancy plan will be complete with brown rice and a mixed vegetable combination.

5. Apple Cinnamon Waffles

Warm apple cinnamon waffles are a hearty breakfast, and so is the baked potato lunch with sauteed tomato toppings. With a filling lunch, you can unwind with a simple, yet tasty mushroom soup packed with the essential prenatal nutrients.

6. Peanut Butter Toast

For a source of protein, you can start your morning with a peanut butter toast using whole grain bread and add a few toppings like banana, raspberries and strawberries. You can always experiment with different toppings.

For lunch, try out a new recipe like roasted carrot hummus with pita bread. You can add a mix of vegetables for a substantial meal. If you are looking for a low calorie, high nutrient meal for dinner, consider the Greek-inspired lentil with a bowl of freshly cut salad.

7. Blueberry Pancakes

Pancakes are irresistible, and yes, you can enjoy a healthy pancake while being pregnant. Ensure it is wholegrain and relish the sweet taste of the blueberries. This is a healthy and tasty way to jump-start the morning. For lunch, you can have a light yet delicious meal of mixed beans and crispy sprouts. And end your day with an all-time favorite veggie pizza. Homemade pizzas with fresh veggie toppings are the best way to ensure you are eating healthy during your pregnancy.

Pregnancy involves a significant change with not just your routine and sleep, but also the type of meals you eat. During this period, you have to exercise, evaluate your lifestyle practices, and keep tabs on your physical and emotional health. The food you eat will play a significant role in the development of your baby and your personal health.

Spending time outdoors, it is oh-so important. Yet there is a growing tendency for people to stay inside: we work inside and then we play on our computers, spending even more time inside. What’s worse? Kids are doing this as well.

Water sports are a great way to get you and your kids out of the house. Most water sports can’t be done in a pool, so you’ll really have to go outside or enjoy the facilities at a summer sports camp. Plus, they are all lots of fun, so convincing kids to do them shouldn’t be a problem.

Below are the seven best water sports for kids to do during the summer:

1. Stand-up Paddleboard (SUP)

This is a relatively new water sport that has really taken off in popularity over the past couple decades. This popularity means that it shouldn’t be hard to find a place that offer it near you. There are many rental shops catering to this sport inside cities – so you probably won’t have to travel far for this one.

The sport itself? It involves standing on a board that looks a lot like a surfboard, but is actually far more stable, and paddling around. It may sound tricky – and, I won’t lie, there is the very real possibility that you are going to fall into the water – but it’s actually surprisingly easy.

2. Surfing

One of the best water sports for kids is surfing. It has a reputation as a cool sport. So why not try it out with your kids?

There are lots of beaches offering rental equipment. Head out with the family and rent boards for the day, you can also get a private instructor for a few hours to help you get the hang of it.

It involves lots of swimming and swimming in waves, so make sure that your kids are up for it. If they are, then you can easily spend the whole day spotting waves and doing your best to ride them!

3. Canoeing

You can spend an entire summer canoeing. You can canoe on a local river or lake or make your way to a national park for a multi-day canoe-camping trip. It’s not an adrenaline builder, but it’s a great opportunity to get in touch with nature.

Canoes generally fit 2-4 people, making this a great activity for the whole family. It is also a pretty easy activity to learn. It’s as simple as moving your paddle through the water and doing so with increasing efficiency as time goes on.

It will also really help you and your kids to get in touch with nature. In a canoe, the water is right there, a few inches from you. It even feels like you are sitting in it. It also gives you a different perspective on the landscape; since you have probably only seen the world from the edge of the lake not the middle of it.

4. Kayaking

Great for many of the same reasons as canoeing. But kayaking is generally a solo affair. There are double kayaks but these are less common and more difficult to paddle.

It’s a great option for slightly older kids who might be looking to do things on their own. You can rent many kayaks and set out as a family, but your kids will still get a sense of independence.

5. Tubing down a river

This one is popular in many places. You do need to have access to a river with a sufficiently strong current and should stick to locations where it is a common practice.

It requires essentially no special skills. Though, your children should have a basic knowledge of how to swim before attempting it. You just rent a tube, sit in it, and let the current take you away.

6. White water rafting

This water sport needs to be done with a company specializing in it. They will make sure that you are well equipped and take you on a river that is suited to your level. You also won’t be able to do it with very young kids, as this activity often has age or height restrictions.

The adrenaline rush of it all will appeal to kids. It will also leave them with a really cool story to tell, one that may even make them want to spend even more time outside and in the water.

7. Skim boarding

This is a water sport that is simple and easy to practice. Also, because it’s done at the very edge of the water it can be practiced by those who don’t know how to swim quite as well (though, for safety reasons, you should still make sure that your kids have some knowledge of swimming).

It involves a small wooden board that looks a bit like a surfboard, that you ride on the thin layer of water that waves leave on the edge of the beach after crashing in. You run, throw down the board, jump onto it, and ride it. It’s best done on flat beaches, where this thin layer of water will extend far. It’s fun, easy and will appeal to kids.

Planning a trip is always fun and exciting! But when it comes time to pack your suitcase, stress levels may increase. You always want to make sure you’ve thought of everything – especially if you’re embarking on a longer trip – but don’t want to overpack at the same time.

Learning how to pack a suitcase is important to making your next vacation easier to prepare. Once you know how to pack a suitcase, you can focus on all the fun you’ll be having on your trip and not worry so much about the packing!

To make your packing experience better and easier, here are six tips that will help on how to pack a suitcase efficiently. Let’s get packing!

1. Pack with the right type of suitcase

Finding the right suitcase will differ for everyone and the type of travel you do (long stretches, or short trips), but generally, it’s best to go with a suitcase that will fit just enough items, giving you no extra room to overpack.

According to the New York Times, buying a hard-sided suitcase, no more than 22 inches tall (so it can also work as a carry-on) with a structured shell is the way to go.

2. Make a list of what you want to pack

Sit down and make a list of all the things you think you will need for your trip. Include everything, even small items like hair elastics and nail cutters. Once you have your list together, leave it for a few minutes, then come back to it and start cutting things down.

Do you really need five pairs of jeans for a weekend trip? Or three sweaters when traveling to a tropical destination? The answer is most likely no. It’s also recommended to limit the “Just in case I need it” category. If you do end up needing it, you can buy it. When you pack a suitcase, the goal is to have a list of just the essentials, which will already make packing easier.

3. Pack the suitcase in the right order

Now that you have your list of what to pack in a suitcase, start thinking about where things will go in your suitcase. It’s recommended to put heavier items like shoes and hair dryers toward the base of your suitcase to help it from tipping over when it’s standing up. From there you can start putting other items in.

4. Roll clothing into the suitcase

The best way to maximize space in a suitcase is to roll your clothing. Start by laying out three similar items – three t-shirts, three pairs of pants, three pairs of underwear, etc. – and roll everything up. One roll of clothing will actually be three articles of clothing, which will save you tons of space. Roll up the rest of your items and tightly pack them in. Then you can lay bulkier items like sweaters and jackets on top. Items that crease easily can be put into a dry-cleaning bag or garbage bag and laid on top as well.

Another thing you can do is purchase packing cubes. These give your bag structure – you can pack t-shirts in one, pants in another. If you’re travelling with a spouse and are sharing a bag, you can both get different coloured cubes, so you know whose cube is who’s. These will be great for putting dirty clothes in on the way home, so they’re not mingling with your clean clothes.

If you are going to travel to a warmer climate, check the weather at your destination so you can pack weather appropriate clothing and not your whole wardrobe!

5. Properly pack toiletries

According to Marie Kondo, author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing,” it’s recommended to keep a separate toiletry bag for traveling. It’s a good idea to always have this little bag packed. This will help ensure that you never forget toothpaste or soap again!

Another great idea when it comes to toiletries is to invest is solid toiletries, like solid soap, shampoo, and conditioner. Use a knife to portion the bars out ahead of time and store them in a small container. This will take up less room in your suitcase.

To help you pack a suitcase more efficiently, you can also consider buying all-in-one options like shampoo and conditioner in one and creams that combine foundation, moisturizer and sunblock.

6. Use up the extra space in the suitcase

A great packing hack is to fill your shoes with small items like socks and underwear. You can also store small items in there – just put them in a plastic bag first so they don’t get all dirty. Another packing hack is to wear your bulkiest items on the plane. That way you don’t need to pack them!

And one final hack – create extra space by putting your usual purse in a larger tote if you are travelling by plane. That way you can fit more items in your carry-on bag, and it will store nicely under the seat in front of you.

One of the most uncomfortable feelings to have is knowing that you are being watched. Whether you are walking home alone at night or believe that your house is being observed, it is an unsettling apprehension. If it is in regards to the latter, you might want to learn how to tell if a burglar is watching your house, and take extra precautions in the event of a burglary.

Thieves are always on the prowl in search of new homes to break into and subsequently rob. To maximize the security of your household, there are several obvious and subtle signs to take notice of. With the right knowledge, you’ll be in a better position to prevent a potential robbery.
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Here are seven signs to tell if a burglar is watching your house:

Sign #1: Motion sensors have been tripped in your house

You can tell if a burglar is watching your house through motion sensors. The mere sight of a security system can dissuade burglars from approaching. However, there are certain ways to get around them with enough preparation. That is why having motion sensors installed in your home is vital in order to prevent thieves from even watching your home in the first place.

Once armed, motion sensing security systems provide an extra layer of protection against would-be burglars. If someone is on your property looking for weaknesses in your residence to exploit, the system will trigger and contact emergency services. It never hurts to be properly invested!

Sign #2: There is new traffic nearby your house

Suspicious vehicles are how burglars are watching your house. If you constantly notice new vehicles or specific individuals in close proximity to your home, you might want to pay attention. It may be more than just a case of new traffic growing in your neighborhood. The most common sign to be aware of in this case is noticing a vehicle parked nearby. This could be an obvious sign of someone watching your home to burglarize it.

Burglars often sit in cars making notes about who is in the property and who leaves at certain times. Or, they may pose as a simple passerby out on a jog but secretly observing your residence at the same time. Try to get a good, clear look of these individuals if possible if your suspicions increase.

Sign #3: The burglar creates a fake emergency

One of the most common situations for a burglar to gain access into your household is to fake an emergency. They will usually appear at your doorstep, and abruptly try to explain that they themselves have been robbed or hurt in some fashion. If they don’t instantly try to gain access, they will use emotional tactics to gain your trust.

Once inside, they may begin observing potential pitfalls in your home that they could exploit at a later date. You should always remain aware and ready to call the authorities if you are unsure of an unwanted visitor’s intentions. Things can go awry if you are not careful.

Sign #4: The burglar is doing surveillance on your house

A burglar can be watching your house via a variety of surveillance devices, leading to an eventual attempt to rob your house. Criminals can do their research on your property, whether you are inside or not, simply by taking videos or a few key pictures. In a world of smartphones, virtually everyone has a camera on them.

It might not be easy at first to identify someone as a burglar, as they may be just taking a photo of the neighboring backdrop. However, if this becomes common, it may be necessary to make a note of it in case of a potential threat. Always remain vigilant, even if the person in question isn’t obviously close to your own residence.

Sign #5: You are the victim of solicitation scamming

Similar to the act of creating a fake emergency, a burglar could potentially impersonate a door-to-door salesperson in order to view your home. This is an approach used to conduct surveillance, so that they can identify weaknesses in your home.

Be on the lookout for any overtly friendly salesperson trying to offer services such as a free roof inspection. These specific services offered are done so that they have immediate access to your quarters. Remember, you are never obligated to open your door to anyone. If you must, however, a security system managing the front door will cover your bases.

Sign #6: The burglar marks the house with flyers

A common observation strategy employed by burglars not posing as a door-to-door salesperson is to impersonate a deliveryman. Pretending to go around the neighborhood while dropping off flyers at specific households is more intricate than you would initially believe. Flyers or stickers placed at particular homes indicate they are primed for burglarizing at a future date.

Sign #7: The burglar is caught trespassing in your house

This is a more obvious sign of a burglar attempting to rob your home, but it is a sign nonetheless. If you catch someone in your backyard prowling around looking into your windows, for example, they are most likely looking to burglarize your property. You’ll want to safely confront them and report the trespasser to the authorities immediately.

If you have never been robbed of your belongings before, it still pays to keep your eyes peeled and ears open. Whenever you feel that you or your home is being watched, trust your gut and take the appropriate actions. You are always better safe than sorry in the long run!