Blog

There are few things in life quite as fun and rewarding as hosting a party or big event. Fun is almost always flowing when we’re together with family and friends, and many people relish the opportunity to be a great host. If you are planning out your next big party, be sure to start thinking about a unique and eye catching drink menu for guests. Let’s face it, most of your party guests are going to head to the bar as soon as they arrive and you’re going to want to be sure to have lots of options.

If you are having trouble deciding what to pick up at the liquor store, don’t sweat it! There are tons of exciting drink ideas and recipes out there for you to experiment with. As long as you put in just enough preparation and thought, your drink menu will be an even bigger hit than the inflatable sport mascots or nacho dip. Let’s take a look at some fun drink ideas for your next big party.

Chocolate Orange Cocktails

What party would be complete without some cocktails on the menu? Sure, some of your guests probably aren’t in a cocktail mood, but those guests can just drink some light beer or, even worse, a non-alcoholic drink!

Now, everyone knows more traditional cocktails, and sometimes even those can get a bit boring. So, why not introduce a little bit of flavor anarchy into the mix? Consider mixing up some delicious and sweet chocolate orange cocktails. These cocktails are great as an after dinner treat, or make great pairing drinks with light appetizers or starters.

To get going, all you will need is some shaved chocolate, vodka, orange juice, orange syrup, and orange zest.

A Flaming Volcano

How about a flaming volcano? While that name is pretty intimidating, we promise none of your party guests will end up like the residents of Pompeii; at worst they may wake up with a hangover!

This type of concoction actually involves live fire, so do be careful if you are considering adding this to your bar menu, and be sure to let anyone who orders a flaming volcano to know what to expect. 

If you are determined to have an eruption of fun at your big gathering pick up some 151 proof rum, vodka, lemon lime soda, falernum, simple syrup, and blue curaçao.

Classic Old Fashioned

Why not incorporate a classic while you’re at it? Listen, fun and new drinks are absolutely a part of wowing party guests, but at the end of the day, the classics are classics for a reason. So, you’ve decided you want some oldie but goodies on your drink menu, but which drink should you choose?

You absolutely can not go wrong with an old fashioned. A tried and true drink that has been on the lips of bar patrons and bartenders for decades. This bourbon cocktail’s roots can be traced back to Louisville, Kentucky and some say you can taste just a little bit of the south in every gulp. If you are running low on bourbon, whiskey can definitely also get the job done in a pinch. 

In order to put this classic crowd pleaser together, you’re going to need to find yourself some super fine sugar, toasted sugar, or a sugar cube works as well. Once you’ve got your sugar squared away, pick up some bitters. There are a few different types of bitters that work, but agnostura is traditionally used.

Then be sure to stock up on bourbon and whiskey, and finally, grab some oranges and cocktail cherries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 400 deaths and 78,000 crashes occur each year due to tire failure. To steer clear of becoming a statistic, you must understand some basic tire safety principles and how bald tires cause serious accidents. Avoid waiting too long to get your replacement tires for motorcycles by knowing what to look for when you’re inspecting your tires.

How Long Do Motorcycle Tires Last?

Every rider and machine are unique thanks to different riding styles, frequency and terrains. A person who takes a cruiser bike out on the highway a couple of weekends a month may experience slower tire wear rates than an individual riding a street bike for the daily commute or a motocross racer hitting the dirt during open riding sessions every weekend. Add in the smaller contact footprint and high power-to-weight ratios and you can see why it’s difficult to estimate the average lifespan of a motorcycle tire.

The Risks of Running on Bald Tires

Your tires’ tread performs the critical function of providing traction, especially on slick, hard or soft surfaces. It can also channel water away from each tire. Without it, you have nothing to grip the road and your wheels could spin out of control. This loss of control impacts your ability to safely steer and ride your bike. Bald tires present a higher accident risk in several ways:

• Excessive heat buildup
• Hydroplaning
• Loss of air pressure
• Slipping
• Blowouts

Proper tread is also key to keeping your tires cool since its grooves also allow airflow to cool the material. Without it, excessive friction generates more heat and weakens the tire’s surface. The lack of tread and grooves also leads to hydroplaning, since there’s nothing to redirect water away. Bald tires offer less surface area, preventing reliable grip on snow or ice. Finally, bald tires lose air at a much faster rate. Underinflated tires can cause skidding, making it harder to control your bike.

When Should I Replace My Tires?

As a responsible rider, you should regularly monitor the condition of your tires. Tread depth is the best indicator of a tire’s health and performance capacity. Replace your tires when their tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch.

If you haven’t bought a tire depth gauge from your trusted cheap motorcycle parts supplier, the easiest way to check this is with the “penny test.” Simply insert a penny into one of the tire’s grooves. If the tread’s surface doesn’t meet or cover the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head, you need new tires right away. Don’t forget to check for other signs such as cracking, punctures or pressure loss. Keep in mind that tires over five years old are unsafe to use regardless of the amount of remaining tread.

Safety Comes First on Your Bike

It’s common knowledge among most powersports enthusiasts that riding on bald tires is extremely dangerous. Yet it’s easy to underestimate just how unsafe bald tires are. Now that you’ve armed yourself with good information, check out your powersports parts supplier for dependable replacements.

When you consider your choices for kitchen doors, there are a lot of options to choose from. Conventional thinking would dictate a plain wooden or Laminex doors painted in white, but bold kitchen designers can do a lot with darker colours. The exact colours that you choose will depend on a number of factors, such as natural light, existing decor, and your own personal tastes. So, it’s not possible to suggest a colour that would suit every need and we can only discuss the issue as a general concept. Let’s take a closer look at how darker colour schemes and laminated doors could work in a kitchen space.

The Kitchen Size and Natural Light Levels

If your home has plenty of natural light and your available kitchen space is on the expansive side, a darker colour scheme for your Laminex doors and cabinetry could work well. In fact, the darker surfaces could tone down excessive quantities of natural lights to more acceptable levels that are easier to live with. But, if the space is already dark or smaller adopting a darker colour scheme can quickly make the kitchen feel small and claustrophobic. However, if you like darker colours and you have a smaller kitchen, all is not lost. Instead of going for broad swathes of darker colours you could accent certain areas with an odd splash of a favourite dark colour instead.

Consider Kids and Pets in Your Kitchen

Many homes are filled with life in the form of smaller kids and pets, and they don’t mix well with pure white surfaces. Unless you want to spend a great deal of time wiping down white doors, drawers and cabinet frontages, it’s a great idea to avoid white surfaces in your kitchen. Darker surfaces work well here, if you’re the only person cleaning the kitchen on a regular basis, you can clean less often, and the space will still look great.

Reflecting Your Personality in Darker Colours

An expanse of white colour may look clean, but it’s probably not the best choice if you want to put some of your personality into the kitchen. Many homeowners like to use their kitchen as a place to entertain and socialise with their guests. A bare white gathering spot isn’t particularly inspiring, and it makes better sense to choose colours that reflect your personality. There is no need to go overboard; if you have a smaller kitchen choose some accents here and there to promote your colour scheme. You could go all out for a bolder statement or be more subtle if you want to show a more sophisticated and understated side of yourself.

Ignore the Latest Kitchen Design Trends

Let’s face it, trends come and go so quickly that it’s not a good idea to design your kitchen based on these fleeting fancies. It’s a better idea to choose colours that you can live with for at least the next few years when you may want a refresh. If you’re in the market for Laminex kitchen cabinet panels and frames, get in touch with The Kitchen Door Company today.

Join the discussion on this topic with Live SV by visiting our contact page.

Air conditioning units have become a much more common sight, even in the United Kingdom, as more businesses and residential properties make use of air conditioning. Air conditioning is undoubtedly great during the hot summer months, but you can make use of air conditioning at different times of the year as well, particularly if you want your indoor environment to be at a constant temperature all year round. There are now units which work as combination air conditioning and heating systems so you can make use of the same unit at different times and seasons. But air conditioning is an investment, and if you want your investment to last, it’s essential to maintain it. Here, then, are the top things you can do to maintain and prolong the lifespan of the air conditioner.

• Maintain the filters

The filters are the most essential components of any air conditioning unit, and it’s crucial for you to ensure that they are regularly cleaned or replaced. If the unit’s filters are blocked, airflow will be restricted, and your air conditioning system will be less efficient. Also, if the flow of air in the system is obstructed in any way, the air which goes through the filter might allow dirt to affect the evaporator coil, and this can impair the capacity of the unit’s coils to absorb heat. If you swap a clogged and dirty filter with a new, clean one, you can actually lower your unit’s consumption of energy by as much as 15%.

If you have a central air conditioning system, its filters are usually located along the length of the return duct. You can find filters along ceilings, walls, or furnaces, and sometimes they are in the unit itself. If you have a room air conditioner, you will often find the filter mounted right on the grille which faces the room.

Keep in mind, though, that some filters may be reusable. There are various types of filters, so find out which filters your unit or system has. If you can, try to clean the filters every two months when the air conditioner is working a lot. If your environment is dusty, you may need to clean (or replace) the filters more often.

• Maintain the coils

As the professionals in Surrey air conditioning from Sub-Cool FM will attest, your unit’s condenser and evaporator coils may also gather dirt over a period of time. The dirt can limit the air flow and it can also insulate the coil, inhibiting the coil’s ability to suck up the heat. To prevent this, you should check the coils each year and clean them when necessary. Here’s another thing: condenser coils located outdoors can also become quite dirty if the environment outdoors is dusty or has a lot of foliage. Check the coil to see if any dirt or foliage has collected in the fins. One thing you can do to minimise the debris and dirt on the outdoor part of the unit is to clean out or cut any foliage surrounding the unit.

• Maintain the drains

You can also do your part in maintaining the drains by passing a wire (make sure it is stiff and strong) through the drain channels of the unit. If the drain channels are clogged, this can affect the unit’s efficiency when it comes to decreasing humidity.

Image attributed to Pixabay.com

For more articles like this, check out the LiveSV blog category!

Kids are usually vulnerable when they use mobile devices. They are not mature and responsible enough in using the device. It is why several parents disagree with the idea of allowing their kids to use a phone. If you understand the value of mobile devices and you do not want to block your children from using them, it is okay. Just make sure that you consider these safety tips.

Teach them the safety features

Some kids are experts in watching videos on YouTube or controlling buttons in playing video games. However, they might not understand simple features like key lock, vibrate, alarm and speed dials. Teach them the necessary information they need to follow to ensure safety. Let them know that you saved data in the contacts. They can only receive or call the numbers saved.

Limit their usage

You also need to tell your kids that they can use the mobile device provided that they do not use it all the time. They need to stay smart in using the device and stop when they reach their screen time limit. You also need to ban them from using it during specific times like dinner or bedtime.

Teach responsibility

Let your kids know the right thing to do with their phones especially when sending text messages, answering phone calls and using other communication features. When they understand social media and they are already using it, you need to teach them how to do it right. Inform them about the risks of posting personal details and private photos online. You can also talk about cyberbullying and how they can avoid being a victim.

Staying organised

Kids might be quite messy with their stuff. They keep losing their toys and school supplies. The same thing could happen with their mobile devices and accessories like a charger. You need to inform your kids about staying organised. Make sure that you tell them where to keep things to avoid forgetting them. Imagine if they are alone at school and they cannot use their phone since they forgot to bring their charger.

Texting while walking

You need to inform your kids about road safety signs that they need to follow. The most important thing to remember is that when they cross the street, they cannot continue texting or calling. They should also not wear their headphones; otherwise, they will get distracted and put themselves at risk. They need to focus on the road and check for vehicles first before crossing the street.

Use of radiation blockers

Your kids are still at their formative age when their bodies are still developing. Make sure that you inform them about the use of radiation blockers like the ones found at www.lifeenergysolutions.com. It is crucial that they know the risks that come with radiation penetrating the body. They can wear a protective device like a piece of jewellery, or they can keep it in their bag.

You want your kids to remain safe and healthy by following these tips. It is your responsibility as a parent to let them know the ways to stay safe.

Image: https://unsplash.com/photos/FPt10LXK0cg

Maintaining your pet’s hygiene can be a difficult task, especially for certain breeds of dogs. Whether you’re a new dog owner or have had your pup for years, you may have questions about grooming. In fact, most pet owners have the same question: How often should you groom your pet? Thankfully, this schedule lists all the most important grooming tasks, along with a schedule to help you stay on track.

The Ideal Pet Grooming Schedule

While each and every dog is different, here is a schedule to follow as a general rule of thumb for all your pet’s hygiene tasks.

Bathing: Most professionals recommend bathing your dog approximately once a month. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors or gets smelly, you can bathe as often as once a week. If it is too difficult to bathe your pet this often, consider using a dry shampoo to keep your pet clean between regular baths. When giving your dog a full bath, remember to use pet or baby shampoo. Regular shampoo or harsh detergents can irritate a dog’s skin, causing a condition like dermatitis. If your dog develops dermatitis, allergy medicine like Apoquel can help.

Trimming nails: If your dog’s nails make a “click” sound as they walk, it’s time for a trim. This will vary from one dog to the next, but the average is every month or two. If your pet spends a lot of time walking on pavement or similar surfaces, you may find that you need to trim her nails less frequently. In some cases, the pavement can help keep the nails filed down. Conversely, if your pet spend a lot of time indoors or her nails grow quickly, she may need more frequent trims.

Tooth brushing: In general, you should brush your dog’s teeth as often as you brush your own to prevent plaque and tartar buildup – at least once or twice a day, if possible. If that’s not possible, a few times a week should be considered the minimum for good oral health. You can also invest in treats that promote dental health to help keep bad breath and gum disease away.

Fur brushing: While bathing is important for your pet’s hygiene, regular brushing is the best way to remove dirt and debris from your dog’s coat. Experts recommend brushing your dog every other day to keep him clean and healthy. You can use a regular pet brush or a specialized brush to reduce shedding.

Ear cleaning: Dogs are fairly prone to ear infections, so it’s important to keep your pet’s ears clean. You should remember to clean your dog’s ears at least once a week to keep ear infections away. A quick swipe with a cotton ball and ear cleaner should do the trick.

Shaving: If you decide to have your pet shaved or groomed, the schedule really depends on your personal choice. Most groomers recommend scheduling an appointment every six to eight weeks to maintain your pet’s style. If your pet’s hair grows quickly or you prefer very short hair, you may need more frequent appointments.

Pet hygiene tasks aren’t always fun, but they are necessary for your pet’s health. Of course, regular bathing and grooming are also the best way to keep the smells and excess hair at bay. If you have any additional questions about maintaining your pet’s hygiene, your veterinarian should be able to help.

AVI or audio video interleaved is one of the most common type of file formats that is used by people. This is a file format which is used to store both audio and video information digitally. It is mainly used for playback purposes. This type of file platform is known to have an in-built support in all the Windows Platform. Apart from the Windows platform, the file format is also supported by other major platforms as well. An AVI file format is known to come with an extension .avi. In case you didn’t know but you can also combine two AVI files into one.Having said that, now let’s look into some of the important things that you should know about AVI file format.

Things To Know

Since, AVI file format is a popular file format, it will be better for you to know a few important things about it. In case, you are looking forward convert your AVI file you can make use of a video editor or converter like Movavi.

1. AVI file format is based on the RIFF file format. RIFF stands for Resource Interchange File Format. This type of file format is known to allocate the information in a particular file into chunks or blocks. Each of these blocks can be tagged as AVI.
2. An AVI file is known to have a very simple structure. These type of files mainly consists of two parts, the header which is followed by blocks of information. Sometimes AVI files may also come with a third component which is an optional one. The third optional part consists of offsets and has an idx1 tag.
3. You can achieve the desired compression ratio of an AVI audio format by making use of various codecs that are currently available out there.
4. One of the biggest advantages of using AVI file format is that it comes with an excellent quality audio fidelity.
5. AVI file format is used in the making of playable disks and DVD. This allows the disk to store important audio and video information.
6. In case, you didn’t know but an AVI file format can also run without the aid of particular software or a hardware device.
7. AVI file format is a widely used video format for short movies, advertisements and promos. This is mainly because of it’s high compression capabilities. Not just that, but even people finds it quite comfortable to work with these type of files.
8. Since the quality of AVI files are exceptionally good, they are considered to be great for master files. With the help of these master files you can also create files in other types of formats as well.

If you wish to convert your AVI file you can make use of a video converter like Movavi.

After going through the mentioned points, hopefully now you have a basic idea about AVI files. AVI files are one of the most popular types of file format used out there.