Christmas Ornaments

How to Make Christmas Ornaments

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How to Make Christmas Ornaments

 

Sparkling, shimmering, magical baubles are the must-have ornament for any self-respecting Christmas tree. However, we get tired of using the same ones repeatedly. If you feel like a change, don’t hesitate: make your baubles to match your Christmas theme of the year!

This post gives you some ideas on making Christmas ornaments and explains how to proceed.

Case 1: Make Christmas ornaments out of string

These aerial ornaments are also fun to make, even if the work is messy… Kids will love it!

Materials

For this project, you will need:

– an inflatable balloon;

– Vaseline;

– wallpaper paste;

– disposable gloves;

– string;

– a cup;

– a salad bowl;

– glue varnish;

– a needle;

– and glitter.

Inflate a small balloon until it reaches the size of an orange. Tie the end well.

Coat the balloon with petroleum jelly or fatty cream (which will make it easier to peel off the string later).

Mix wallpaper paste in a bowl.

Protect yourself with disposable gloves.

Soak a long string length (not too thick or thin) in the glue.

Starting at the top of the balloon (knotted end), glue string to the balloon, forming an airy mesh around it.

Let it dry in a cup until the string net is rigid (24 hours minimum).

Pierce the balloon with a needle and remove it from its net (this operation is made easier by the Vaseline).

Optional: To make your ball of string shine, spray it with glue varnish, sprinkle it with glitter powder (in hobby stores) and shake the excess over a plate. It’s especially magical if you glitter a ball of white string this way.

 Case 2: Garnish clear balls

Get transparent balls that open in half (in hobby stores) and decorate them as you like:

Styrofoam balls (sold at hobby stores) and a few dry branch trimmings or holly sprigs.

Styrofoam balls and a miniature tree, or a piece of tree branch placed vertically.

Styrofoam balls and an elf, a miniature Santa Claus, mini mushrooms or mini Yule log decorations.

White or coloured feathers.

Silver sugar beads.

Artificial flowers, etc.

Another technique: open the ball and spray the inside with glue varnish from a can. Sprinkle the glaze with powdered glitter, shake the excess over a plate and close the ball.

 Case 3: Make Styrofoam balls sparkle

Materials

For this project, you will need:

– Styrofoam balls;

– Sequins;

– Pins;

– Ribbon.

Fabrication

Get polystyrene balls (in hobby stores) of the diameter of your choice.

Get sequins with a hole in the middle.

Attach a sequin by pushing the pin into the Styrofoam with a regular pin.

Attach a second sequin slightly overlapping the first, and so on until the ball is completely covered, leaving a small space at the end. You can make a plain ball or decorate it with patterns you like.

Cut 8 cm of 2 mm wide ribbon. Form a loop and pin the base of the loop securely to the space in the ball.

Finish masking the space with a few last sequins and pins.

 Case 4: Transforming old balls with fabric

Materials

For this project, you will need:

– fabric;

– old Christmas ornaments;

– scissors and scalloped scissors;

– 2 mm wide assorted ribbon;

– 8 mm wide matching ribbon.

Obtain yardage of fabric:

e.g. plain, or better crinkled, polyester taffeta: this is both an inexpensive and shimmery material;

or lightweight printed cotton, such as stripes, polka dots, or a Christmas theme.

Gather your Christmas ornaments from previous years.

Christmas Ornaments

Cut a square from the fabric large enough for each bauble to enclose the bauble completely.

Place the ball in the middle of the square.

Cut 10 cm of 2 mm wide ribbon.

Wrap the ball as tightly as possible with the fabric, arranging the folds that form harmoniously.

Tie the fabric at the top of the ball securely with the ribbon, trapping a branch of greenery or a small decoration (flower…) if you wish.

Tie the two ends of the ribbon together to form the ball attachment.

If possible, trim the excess fabric with a pair of serrated scissors, which will prevent the material from fraying and finish the ball nicely.

With a larger piece of ribbon (8 mm), form a pretty bow around the ball.

The advantage of this method is that you can customize your baubles next year in a different way at little cost.

 Case 5: Transform your old balls with a snow effect

Materials

For this project, you will need:

– Styrofoam balls;

– acrylic paint;

– a paintbrush;

– glue varnish in a spray can.

Fabrication

This technique is to be used with old, chipped or faded balls.

If you are in a hurry, spray them with artificial snow and, if you want a more refined result, make them sparkle by sticking some rhinestones on them.

If you want more original customization, coat your balls with polystyrene balls (in hobby stores):

Either paint the ball with white acrylic paint or leave it as is (you will see its original colour, not entirely camouflaged by the polystyrene balls).

Fill a bowl with Styrofoam balls

Spray the entire surface of the ball with spray glue.

Holding the ball by its attachment, dip it into the bowl until it is completely covered with the Styrofoam beads, using a spoon if necessary.

Let the ball dry.

Note: you can customize white Styrofoam balls in the same way.

Read more:

– 3 Steps to Make Your Christmas Decorations;

– How to Make Your Christmas Candles?

street

Street Culture: A Passion, A Way Of Life

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The expression “street culture” or “urban culture” covers all the cultural, artistic, and sometimes sporting practices originating from large urban complexes’ underprivileged areas. This culture started in the 80s with the arrival of hip-hop.

It encompasses fashion, dance, music, sports, as well as street art… However, this culture is, above all, a passion, even a way of life. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and learn more about street art and culture.

What do we mean by urban culture?

street

Urban culture was once defined generically as the art of living in a heterogeneous and dense environment. This culture is a set of skills that allow one to adjust to the lifestyle of the urban environment. Indeed, living in a conurbation can completely change the body’s modes of perception and relationship to the world around us.

For a few years now, urban culture has become very present in disadvantaged neighborhoods, and groups together sport with the various urban arts. With street culture, the disciplines are varied: musical genres and dance styles (rap, hip-hop, slam, human beatbox), street sports (rollerblading, skateboarding, BMX, street basketball, parkour, street soccer…), graffiti, piercings, and tattoos, etc.

The “urban culture” is understood with the definition of the word culture, which is the whole of the intellectual and artistic activities shared by the total of a group of individuals. This group of people must share moral values, the same language, and the same history.

However, the “urban culture” has become globalized, with a whole linguistic diversity. But despite the communication made complex through the word, the street culture uses from now on gestural language through rap and the dress of urban style.

Functioning of some street culture disciplines

1. The use of the skateboard

street

The skateboard, generally called skateboard, was born in the United States in the middle of the 50s. The skateboard constitutes the set of very diversified uses of this board, which from a simple child’s game, passes by means of locomotion in the streets to finish with the sports and ludic uses.

However, its visibility and sound can disturb citizens. Thus, skateboarders must comply with the standards and regulations.

Since the mid-90s, demand for specialized equipment for skateboarders has emerged, including the launch of skateparks. This was done in order to channel skateboarders away from the public space. Indeed, skateparks create jobs specialized in urban culture, including specialized stores, professional trainers, etc.

2. Graffiti

street

The appearance of graffiti dates back to the early 60s, with a simple function of marking territory. Over time, it has become a systematic signature placed in key points for better visibility. All graffiti artists share a passion for drawing, allowing them to express their need for recognition and their fantasy of power in different ways.

Therefore, it is often perceived as a teenage rebellion. And yet, it is a way of life for some. Indeed, many adults pursue their professional careers in graffiti. New York graffiti pioneer and legend Dondi White (1961-1998) inspired American designer Virgil Abloh, who presented the show of his label Off-White on the eve of his first show for Louis Vuitton men.

The name “Dondi” is spread on white T-shirts decorated with graffiti, with extra-large sleeves that reach below the elbows, in a spirit of 80 / 90. The Simpsons” cartoon is also featured on T-shirts, sweaters, and sweatshirts.

The look of the character of Jim Stark, played by James Dean in “La Fureur de Vivre”, has also inspired the designer, who offers his version of the set of red jacket, white T-shirt, and jeans of the hero, which also gives its name to the collection.

3. Hip-hop street dance

street

Hip-hop dance is a dance style inspired by African-American cultures. It has all the characteristics of popular group dances, inspired by everyday life. Thus, street dance is based on the principle of reciprocity and exchange between dancers, cultivating a personal creative style within difference.

Hip-hoppers began their performance on the street before educators trained them in contemporary dance. Indeed, hip-hop technique has become taught through institutions and by contemporary choreographers who work closely with street groups. This is to allow them to have access to artistic maturity.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about street culture.

Hanging Candle Jar

How to Make a Hanging Candle Jar

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How to Make a Hanging Candle Jar

Contents

    – Make a candle holder from a glass yogourt pot

    – Make a hanging candle jar from a tin can

What could be more magical than myriad candle holders hanging in trees or around the house to brighten up summer nights or warm-up cold December evenings? Since you’ll need many of them, you can make them from recycled materials.

This how-to guide explains how to make a hanging candle jar by recycling your glass yogourt cups and tin cans and adding a metal handle. You can also remove the handle and make candle holders put on a piece of furniture or even on the ground to draw a lighted path in the night.

These candle holders are illuminated with tea lights and bought in large quantities because they do not last long.

Materials needed to make hanging candle holders.

Flathead nails 

Wire 

Hammer 

Universal pliers 

Make a hanging candle jar from a glass yogourt pot

Hanging Candle Jar

To make a basic candle jar, you will need:

    – a glass yogourt pot;

    – wire;

    – a pair of pliers.

Next:

    – Take a glass yogourt pot that matches the shape shown here: the important thing is that a slightly wider part follows a slightly constricted part at the top.

    – Cut a piece of wire with pliers.

    – With this wire, wrap a tight ring around the top of the pot, at the level of its slightly narrowed part. Close the ring by twisting the two ends of the wire together.

    – Cut another piece of wire to make a handle (any length), which you will attach securely to the ring.

Note: it is often more practical to decorate the candle holder first (except for model n° 1) and then put the ring and the handle.

Candle holder n°1: natural candle holder

    – Leave the glass transparent.

    – Attach a crown of small red berries picked in nature or small pine cones tied with raffia to the neck.

Candle jar n° 2: candle jar painted with stained glass paint

Candle Jar

Stained glass paint is a paint that stays translucent, colouring your candle holders to give them a festive look and letting an excellent light filter through.

Additional materials: brush, stained glass paint

    – Paint the entire candle jar a single colour and make a series of different coloured candle jars.

    – You can also paint the candle jar with different colours and patterns to your liking.

Candle jar #3: striped candle jar

Additional materials: adhesive, jam jar, brush, paint

    – Place strips of adhesive horizontally on a jam jar, leaving a wide gap between 2 strips.

    – Paint the transparent parts of the jar with matte acrylic paint (white is charming) or stained glass paint (red if Christmas is coming). You can safely spill over the adhesive.

    – Let dry completely, remove the tape.

Candle holder #4: openwork candle holder

Additional materials: venilia, acrylic paint, brush

    – Cut out a pattern of your choice (star, tree, heart…) from a piece of adhesive Venilia, regardless of its colour.

    – Glue the pattern on the yogourt pot.

    – Paint the pot with acrylic paint or spray it with gold paint or artificial snow.

    – Let it dry completely, remove the Venilia: the transparent patterns will let the light through.

Candle holder #5: lace candle holder

Additional material: adhesive lace tape

    – Glue parallel strips of lace tape (available in colours, some with Christmas motifs) all around the pot.

    – Leave a gap between the two strips.

That’s it! All of these simple projects can be done by children.

Make a hanging candle jar from a tin can

Candle Jar

To make a candle jar from a can, you will need:

    – a tin can;

    – a large flat head nail and a hammer;

    – wire.

Equipped with this:

    – Rinse an empty can. Carefully remove all traces of wrapping paper from the outside.

    – Wedge the can firmly to prevent any mishap.

    – Place a sharp nail at the top of the can, near the edge.

    – With a hammer, tap the nail until a hole is made.

    – Make a second hole diametrically opposite the first, at the top of the box.

    – Cut a small length of wire.

    – Use the two holes to hang a handle closed at the ends by a loop of wire folded over itself.

Suggestion #1: Perforated candle jar with no real pattern

    – Make a lot of holes, scattered randomly all over the box.

    – If you want to get bigger holes, replace the screw with a punch: tap the punch handle with the hammer until you get the desired hole width.

Note: some cans are too soft and may bend when you tap to drive the screw or punch. If this happens, fill the can with water and freeze it. Then punch the can filled with frozen water.

Suggestion #2: Perforated candle holder in a pattern

    – With a felt-tip pen, draw dots on the box to form the pattern of your choice: star, tree, letter of the alphabet, number (for a birthday), etc.

    – Punch the box according to the dots drawn with the felt pen.

Note: You can paint the cans with matte acrylic paint for more refinement, but raw candle holders also look great.

queer

Top 5 Best Queer Movies Everyone Should Watch

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The image of homosexuality and queerness in cinema has evolved since the 1960s, when the LGBT theme, long censored, began to develop. The time of La Cage aux Folles and Pédale douce, which shared an extravagant, mannered, and reductive portrait of the queer community, is over. No, queer people are not depraved sex addicts, as depicted in the 1933 silent short film Lot in Sodom.

However, it was not until Ang Lee’s Brokeback Mountain in 2006 that homosexuality became democratized and integrated into the mores. Today, cinema tends to be more truthful and respectful. So, without further ado, let’s dive into this blog and see some of the best queer movies.

History

queer

If the representation of queer couples seems to be more common in TV series today, it has not always been the case. Prior to the 1980s, displaying sexual orientation, especially homosexuality and queerness, in a TV series was not a popular choice for society and viewers.

Except for representing a population considered at the time as marginal, unbalanced, sick, or asocial, same-sex love relationships were not put forward. The subject is still taboo. Everything must remain suggested or ambiguous rather than clearly expressed.

Fortunately, the representation on the screen of lesbian or gay relationships has evolved and is more and more present since the 1990s. Today we have the opportunity to discover some LGBTQIA+ series on Netflix that put forward interesting, deep, and less and less caricatured roles of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or trans characters.

1. Call Me By Your Name

queer

Summer of 1983. The last carefree moments of a world still spared from AIDS. David Bowie, Johnny Cash, and Duran Duran are playing over and over on the airwaves. Somewhere in a country house in Northern Italy, Luca Guadagnino sets up his queer romantic fresco adapted from André Aciman’s novel.

It is the story of a queer love affair and the awakening of desire between Elio Perlman, a young Franco-American just 17 years old on vacation with his family, and Oliver, a student who has come to deepen his knowledge of Greco-Roman culture with Elio’s father. Timeless and spiked with 80’s accents, the duo’s wardrobe evokes the ardor of a bohemian summer and the sensuality of bodies languishing in the sun.

2. 120 Beats Per Minute

queer

At the beginning of the 90s, AIDS has been ravaging for about ten years, and few people are aware of it at the time. The Act-Up Paris activists are there to raise awareness during the time of happenings. Among this small group of committed people, Sean, a young eccentric with an unalterable conviction, HIV positive since he was 16, falls under the spell of Nathan, a charismatic and healthy young man, who decides to commit himself body and soul to the association.

The character of Sean, played by the troubling Nahuel Perez Biscayart, an Argentinian-born actor spotted in Benoît Jacquot’s Au fond des Bois in 2010, is surely one of the association’s most enraged activists. He is not afraid of violence; he engages in a fight with his body. At the beginning of the film, a nervous body that, sick, will lose weight as it goes along until it is abandoned in a love story with a tragic ending.

3. Matthias and Maxime

queer

Xavier Dolan’s credo in each of his films? To sublimate relationships, whether they are singular or complex. With Matthias and Maxime, in which he plays one of the main roles, Xavier Dolan wanted to return to a more intimate cinema.

Two childhood friends have to kiss for a short film directed by the young Erika, the sister of a member of their group. They didn’t know that this kiss and budding romance would challenge their feelings and turn their lives and their band of friends upside down.

4. Kill Your Darlings

queer

First love experiences, youth on acid, queerness, and murderous madness… The (true) story of Kill Your Darlings takes place during the Beat Generation. More than a simple literary movement, it is a revolution in the world of writing. In Manhattan, in August 1944, Lucien Carr (Dans DeHaan), a friend of Jack Kerouac’s whom he met through his wife, Edie Parker, kills David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall).

The latter was a gym teacher fourteen years older than him with whom Lucien has a very ambiguous relationship, with a knife. He weights the body with stones before throwing it into the Hudson and asks Jack Kerouac, the poet and writer Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe), for help in concealing his crime. The latter, under Lucien’s spell, hesitates for a long time.

5. A Single Man

queer

Simply overwhelming. Written by Tom Ford himself (let’s not forget that the fashion designer is also a director), A Single Man portrays George Falconer (Colin Firth), a university professor who has lost all faith in life since the accidental death partner.

His friend Charley, played by the excellent Julianne Moore and one of his students, witnessed his sadness which plunges him into a deep depression. Tom Ford told Hamish Bowles for Vogue, “My greatest achievement was making A Single Man. I love Nocturnal Animals, but A Single Man is such a personal film.”

I said it then, and I’ll say it again: when Jack (Tom Ford’s son) grows up, if he wants to know who I was at 48, all he has to do is watch this film. I modeled George’s character after mine. It’s very personal. Being able to express all of that was the most fun and rewarding thing I’ve ever done.

Sound off in the comments section below and tell us what you want to read next and if you want to read more about queer movie recommendations.

Christmas Candles

How to Make Your Christmas Candles

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How to Make Your Christmas Candles

Summary

– Idea 1: Make a scented Christmas candle

– Tip #2: Make a Christmas candle jar

– Idea 3: Make shell candles for Christmas

Whether they are scented, poured in a glass jar or in small shells to decorate the Christmas table, or placed in original candle holders, candles are a must for the end-of-year celebrations. Simple to make, they give your home a joyful and warm atmosphere.

Here are three ideas to make a Christmas candle.

Idea 1: Make a scented Christmas candle

Christmas Candles

To make scented candles, gather the following materials:

– glass jars, small glasses, pretty cups, or any other container of your choice;

– Wax pellets, ideally soy wax, which spreads its fragrance more quickly because it burns at a relatively low temperature;

Tip: If you don’t have wax tablets, you can use leftover candles.

– a candle wick (a coated wick with a small round metal foot) or a wick taken from a half-burnt candle;

– Liquid candle perfume or essential oils;

– Liquid candle dye or food colouring.

Good to know: the ingredients needed to make the candles are available in hobby stores or on the Internet.

Melt the wax

Put the wax pellets in a small saucepan and place it in a larger saucepan filled with water.

Melt the wax in a double boiler until it becomes liquid.

Important: Never place a pan of wax directly on the heat as it may ignite; even in a double boiler, keep your eyes on the melting wax.

Add a scent

Choose a fragrance that evokes Christmas and the holiday season:

– In the ranges of perfumes for candles, there are in particular greedy scents (gingerbread, speculoos, mulled wine…), woody fragrances (Christmas tree, holly), or perfumes reminding the fire in the fireplace.

– Among the EO, prefer those whose flash point, i.e., the temperature at which the essential oil becomes flammable, is higher than 65°C.

Example: it is the case of essential oils of cinnamon (bark or leaves), clove (cloves or leaves), and cedar of the Atlas.

– If you use perfume for candles, dose it according to the manufacturer’s recommendations; if you use essential oil, use 5 to 10 drops for a glass, depending on the desired intensity.

– Add the fragrance or essential oil to the melted wax, turn off the heat, and mix well with the wooden spatula.

Add the colourant

Then add one or more colourants while mixing well with the wooden spatula to obtain a colour evocative of the chosen fragrance: light brown for a gingerbread scented candle, green for a holly scented candle, etc.

Pour the wax into the verrine and place the wick.

Arrange the verrines in front of you. Then:

– At the bottom of each verrine, pour 2 cm of slightly cooled but still liquid wax.

– Place the coated wick in the center, with the metal disk at the bottom of the verrine.

Tip: If the wick doesn’t hold on its own, wrap the top end around a chopstick placed across the verrine.

– Finish filling the verrines with melted wax and chill for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.

Good to know: if you use beeswax, it is not recommended to put it in the fridge.

– Finally, cut each strand to leave only about 2 cm.

Tip #2: Make a Christmas candle jar

To make a candle jar, you will need:

– a small glass jar or a cylindrical glass;

– paper of your choice (gold paper, coloured paper, kraft paper, or even simple newspaper)

– glue;

– wax pellets;

– a wick;

– string (optional).

Good to know: if you don’t want to pour wax or don’t have time to do it, you can put a simple tealight in the candle jar.

Pour the candle into the jar.

Once you have melted the wax in a water bath:

– Pour 2 cm of warm but still liquid wax into the jar.

– Place the wick in the center, with the metal washer at the bottom of the jar.

– Top up with melted wax and chill for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.

Tip: If you wish, you can add fragrance and colouring to the melted wax before pouring.

Make the candle holder.

From the paper, you have chosen, cut out a rectangle with the following dimensions

– the height of the pot minus 2 or 3 cm;

– length enough to go around the pot plus 1 cm.

On the reverse side of the paper, draw the design you want (heart, star, tree…), then hollow it out with scissors. Glue the paper rectangle around the jar.

Tip: You can tie a string with a bow around the neck of the jar.

Tip #3: Make seashell candles for Christmas

Seashells collected on the beach and painted gold or silver make great holiday candles.

Before you begin, gather the different elements you need:

– seashells;

– a can of gold or silver paint;

– wax pellets and wicks.

Then move on to making your candles:

– Bomb the outside of the shells with gold or silver paint.

– Melt the wax in a double boiler, pour it into the shells and place a wick in each shell.

– Cut the wick to 2 cm when the wax has cooled completely.

Materials needed to make Christmas candles.

Christmas Candles

 

Spray paint can

Saucepan

Paper scissors

Gel glue

Essential oils

Jam jar

Wooden spatula

What Are the Different Ways To Cook a Pizza?

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A good pizza is always an absolute pleasure for our taste buds. It can be enjoyed with family, friends, colleagues or alone. If you are used to having a ready-made pizza delivered to you, change a little and make your own pizza. If you don’t know how to do it, discover the cooking methods in the following article.

Pizza Cooked on a Wood Fire

Baking in a wood-fired oven always brings to mind that typical smoky smell. The wood-fired oven can reach 400° C in 5 minutes maximum. But once it is lit, the flame must be maintained. Get this device from a pizza oven dealer to cook a pizza the right way.

Electric Oven Pizza

Electric ovens take much longer to cook a good pizza. It needs to be preheated to 400° C for an hour. Nevertheless, it is more convenient because a simple connection to the mains makes it work. The prices of electric ovens for the general public vary from 500 to 1,500 € depending on their brand and capacity. Professional models can cost up to €5,000 or more.

Pizza in a Gas Oven

If you are impatient by nature, put your pizza dough in a gas oven. This is because the flame is maintenance-free once it’s turned on, and the oven doesn’t take long to reach the required temperature. A quality gas oven is available from 1,500 € and up to 4,000 € for professional use.

Pizza in the Pan

If you find that the prices of the various types of ovens mentioned above are out of your reach, don’t panic. You can cook your pizza with a simple pan. You’ll just have to make sure that the dough can be contained in your pan. Then pre-cook both sides for a few minutes until they are a little golden before spreading the sauce and toppings on top.

Basic 4 Cheese Pizza Recipe

Want to have a barbecue, pizza, and raclette party with your family? Surprise your family and friends by preparing a 100% DIY meal. To find a barbecue oven, simply contact a specialized company. Here is a suggestion that may inspire you to make your first 4 cheese pizzas at home. For the dough, you will need

  • 300 g of flour
  • 3 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar
  • 1 packet of baker’s yeast
  • 1 pinch of salt

First, pour the flour, salt, olive oil, and sugar into a bowl. Then, dilute the baker’s yeast in a small glass of warm water. Then pour the mixture into the bowl and knead until you get a ball. Flour it and cover it with a cloth and let it rise for an hour before rolling it out in a pan.

Food, Snack, Meat, Culinary Art, Cheese, Close Up

For the Ingredients, You Will Need:

  • 200 g pizza tomato sauce
  • 65 g of cheddar cheese
  • 40 g gorgonzola cheese
  • 50 g of gruyere cheese
  • 1 ball mozzarella cheese
  • Choice of salt and pepper or basil

Once the dough is rolled out, pour the tomato coulis all around, make sure it is evenly distributed, and leave 1 cm empty around the edge. Then spread the 4 cheeses, cut them into small cubes, on top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper or basil, and you’re done. At this point, you can opt for one of the cooking methods mentioned above.

 

Sweet Table

7 Steps to Make a Sweet Table

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Contents

– Step 1: Choose a theme for your sweet table

– Step 2: Place a tablecloth on your table

– Step 3: Look for containers

– Step 4: Think of treats that are as pretty as they are tasty

– Step 5: Organize your sweet table

– Step 6: Decorate the wall behind the sweet table

– Step 7: Personalize your sweet table

The sweet table is a concept from across the Atlantic that is starting to take off worldwide. The idea is to set a gourmet table around a theme. For instance, in the setup for a buffet, the table is more particularly furnished with sweets and sweet foods, but salty foods can also find their place.

This post reveals all the tips to set up a refined sweet table for a birthday, a baptism, a baby shower, or any other celebration.

1. Choose a theme for your sweet table

You can decline a sweet table theme in colours, shapes, foods, decorations…

Here are some ideas for themes:

– a colour or a harmony of colours;

– polka dots, stripes, stars, flowers;

– a season, a country, the sea;

– a calendar holiday: Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, May 1st…

2. Place a tablecloth on your table

The tablecloth is an integral part of your decor. Choose it with care.

– Preferably, choose a tablecloth that falls to the ground: a sheet can do the trick.

– Match the colour of the tablecloth to your theme. If your décor is very colourful, a neutral or pastel-coloured tablecloth will be a good choice.

– As a general rule, choose a plain tablecloth that best complements your table decor.

Variation: layer two tablecloths, for example, the first one with a pattern (stripes, polka dots, flowers…), on top of which you will layer a shorter plain tablecloth.

3. Look for containers

Once you’ve decided on a theme, go hunting for containers:

– Use as much as you can of what you already own, even if it means diverting their use: plates, saucers, cups, bowls… but also vases, teapots, jars, mini-bottles, stemware, trays, boxes, aquariums, and even cardboard egg cartons (to be painted in the colours of your sweet table).

Tip: recycle containers that are not the right colour (vases, for example) by covering them with paper in the table’s colours.

– Make your cake stands by gluing pretty plates to candle holders, vases, or stemware with a bit of extra glue. Use them to display your large cakes, but also individual cakes.

4. Create treats that are as pretty as they are tasty

Sweet Table

Set the scene for your cakes

– To match your theme, use food colouring to colour the frosting on individual cupcakes and large cakes.

– For a touch of sparkle, use cake glitter (both edible available at bakery stores).

– Decline the shapes and patterns if applicable:

◦ Shortbread, cake, and canapés are cut into star shapes for a “star” theme.

◦ Large cake sprinkled with small round chocolate dragees for a “polka dot” theme.

◦ Cupcakes, meringues, or macaroons arranged in a rosette for a “flowers” theme, etc.

Set the scene with pretty candies

Decorative and tasty, candies have a special place on a sweet table :

– Showcase them in clear jars or simple stemware.

– Thread soft candies (marshmallows, strawberries, and jelly beans…) onto wooden skewers to present them on skewers.

– Stab lollipops into boxes filled with tiny candies.

Scatter the candies all over the table, or group them to turn part of your table into a candy bar.

You can also make a candy tree.

5. Organize your sweet table

Give your sweet table some shape

– Place the tallest containers at the back: vases, cake stands, bottles, large jars…

– Create an intermediate level with stemmed glasses, salad bowls, bowls…

– Place plates, dishes, and trays in the front.

Tip: You can use white painted boxes or simple cardboard boxes covered with pretty paper for the back of the table to display certain delicacies up high.

Play with symmetry

Without being absolute, a certain symmetry confers elegance to your sweet table. Start from a central axis and plan a few symmetrical containers on each side: plates, vases, bottles, jars…

Note: the containers can be identical, but the contents are different.

Test before the big day

– Lay out your various empty containers.

– Take a step back to check the levels, the symmetry, and the general harmony.

– When you are satisfied with the result, take a picture to reproduce the layout later.

6. Decorate the wall behind the sweet table

Usually, the sweet table is leaning against a wall. In this case, decorate the wall, for example, with:

– a draped fabric;

– long intertwined ribbons;

– garlands of pennants, hearts, stars, flowers… ;

– paper flowers, rosettes, or fans make your own or buy them in birthday stores.

7. Personalize your sweet table

– In your cakes and cupcakes, prick various small decorations:

◦ Wooden sticks adorned with small pennants made of colourful masking tape.

◦ Spikes dressed with flags, hearts, stars, or circles cut from coloured paper or printed origami paper.

◦ Mini windmills.

– Glue party-themed labels on the bottles.

– Tie ribbons around the neck of the bottles.

– Dress drink cans in paper with table colours and glue a cute label on them.

– Display drinks in individual mini-bottles with straws.

– Arrange colourful straws in clear vases or jars.

– Decorate your table with fresh flowers: flowering branches, traditional bouquets, mini-bouquets, floating flowers…

Tip: present your bouquets in clear vases or containers and colour the water to match your theme.

Dancing as a Hobby: 5 Reasons It’s Good for Your Health

Wear comfortable clothes because it’s time to dance! Yes, you’ve read that right! Although dancing is generally considered a recreational activity, limited to weddings and parties, it is much more than that. Dancing has many benefits for physical and mental health, as well as social well-being.

Another important feature of dance is that all you need is your body; in other words, no fancy equipment, no ballrooms, no fancy trainers. A little space and your favorite music is all you need!

Whether you like ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap or just moving around your living room, here are some reasons why dancing is good for you.

  1. Dancing Makes You Sweat

In general, many ways of dancing can be considered low-impact cardiovascular exercise. However, just because it is “low impact” doesn’t mean it won’t make you sweat!

Dancing is considered a low-impact exercise because many dance styles have a very low impact on the joints; but beyond that, dancing can actually give you more than a cardiovascular workout.

Many dance styles activate multiple muscle groups at once, while improving your endurance, flexibility, coordination and balance.

However, in order to work up a sweat, you need to put in some effort. If your dance style falls between 5 and 7 on a 1-10 effort scale, you’ll definitely get a good cardio session!

If you feel like the treadmill isn’t for you, dancing is the best way to get your body moving, burn calories and shed pounds while having fun!

  1. Improve Your Balance and Coordination

If you’ve ever seen a professional dancer dance, you’ve probably noticed their incredible sense of balance and body control. One of the main reasons why dancing is good for your health is that it can help you increase your balance, improve your coordination and improve the way you move your body.

Studies have shown that dancing improves seniors’ balance, walking speed, reaction time and cognitive performance. Many dance styles, including tango, ballroom, jazz, folk, ballet and contemporary, are known to promote balance and coordination.

  1. Instantly Lift Your Moodhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/good-news/seven-seas/couple-dancing-outdoors.jpg

Have you ever put on your favorite music and started dancing with all your might? I’m sure you felt great after doing so!

Moving your body to the beat of the music is a proven way to reduce stress and release endorphins.

Dancing is the only physical activity that has the ability to dispel anxiety, depression and stress; even if it’s only for a few minutes, dancing makes you feel refreshed and energized.

Take control of your emotions by dancing; after all, it’s a form of expression that can help you improve your self-esteem and well-being.

  1. It Helps You Build Stamina

Taking dance classes as exercise is one of the best things you can do to build your stamina. By performing any type of dance, many of the muscles involved work simultaneously, which helps promote your health and physical performance.

In addition, dancing has been shown to help strengthen bones, as aerobic movements help keep them dense. This is why dancing is a great way to prevent the development of diseases such as osteoporosis.

  1. Keep Your Mind Active

Learning an entire dance routine is not something to be underestimated! Learning and memorizing a routine (even a simple one) usually takes a lot of time and effort. Learning over 100 different steps in one routine is a challenge for even the most skilled dancers.

Unlike many other cardiovascular exercises that involve repeating a single movement (like running, for example), dancing can be much more technical. As a result, dance has become an activity known to promote mental agility, acuity and memory.

Developing a love of dance can also help you develop an interest in other aspects of your life, and raising your self-esteem can lead to increased independence. So sign up for a dancing class today! Meanwhile, what’s your favorite hobby until now? Share it with us in the comments below.

 

Hobbies: Express Yourself in Unique Ways (Part One)

Whether it’s called a hobby, a pastime or an interest, most everyone has one. And if they don’t, they’d like to have one. Hobbies are a way to rest and relax, which reduces stress. A hobby also provides a special time for enjoyment, either alone or with someone else. Hobbies help us form friendships and express ourselves in unique ways.

 

In a time when we are all so busy, it can be difficult to fit a hobby into our busy schedule. In this article, we’ll help you find out if you already have a hobby and identify it. We’ll also help you discover your passion by providing a list of interests that can become a hobby. In addition, we have a list of hobbies for men and a list of hobbies for women. We conclude the article with cool hobbies and some inexpensive hobbies if finances are necessary.

 

List of Interests

 

You may already have a hobby and not realize it. Anything you do or have that gives pleasure can be called a hobby. A hobby is defined as any interest or activity that is regularly pursued for relaxation or enjoyment. If you garden, watch sports or collect anything, you already have a hobby. We’ve started this article with a list of interests to help you discover if you have a hobby, but you’re not aware of it. Remember that something you do is often not a hobby if it doesn’t give you pleasure.

 

To define your hobby, you first need to look at what you are interested in doing, seeing or saving. Hobbies and interests vary greatly from person to person and can even change depending on your age and how much time you can indulge your interest.

 

Many people are lucky enough to turn their hobby or interest into a full-time job and earn a living. Often this happens completely by accident. One starts collecting something or spending time with a particular interest and suddenly finds themselves spending almost all of their time and money doing it while earning their life they both enjoy and feel they are fulfilling.

To determine if you have an interest that fits a hobby, list everything you do and then underline the activities you enjoy the most. See if any of the activities you’ve highlighted fit together. For example, you may enjoy cooking and also listed coupons. These two activities can be combined into one coupon hobby to save money on unique foods you want to cook.

Many of the interests on this list have the potential to provide income. Many ‘professional’ cooks started out cooking as their hobby. Some of the items produced with hobbies, such as refinished furniture, blogs and creative writing can be shared with others or sold for additional income.

Read through the categories and lists of interests that follow to help you find a hobby you will truly enjoy!

 

Nature Interests

If you love the outdoors, but strenuous physical activity is not your thing, choose an activity that promotes environmental awareness and allows you to enjoy the beauty of nature. Gardening, bird watching and animal care all fall into this category. Consider the following:

 

Flower or Vegetable Gardening

You don’t need a large area to indulge your love of growing beautiful flowers or your own food. Any small plot or flower bed will work, or you can plant containers if your space is severely limited.

 

Feeding and Observing Local Birds

Our feathered friends need help finding food and water, especially during cold weather or dry, hot summers. Provide both and your garden will become a haven for birds and provide hours of enjoyment.

 

Raising or Fostering Animals

Love horses? Want to have your own fresh eggs? Worried about abandoned puppies finding their forever homes? All of these can become hobbies if you enjoy the pleasure of fostering or raising one or more animals.

 

Consider joining a group if you don’t have the space, but you still want an outdoor activity.

 

Volunteer at a local garden or animal shelter. Remember that hobbies involving animals require a commitment. Birds become dependent on the food and water you provide, so you’re making a long-term commitment when you start providing sustenance. Also consider the expense and space requirements of an animal. You may also need to check local zoning laws if you want chickens or a larger animal like a goat or horse.

 

Artistic Interests

Creative people find joy and personal expression in hobbies with their unique talents. Consider one of the following hobbies if you have artistic ability:

 

Painting, Drawing or Sculpture

Remember that the definition of a hobby is an activity that gives you pleasure. You may not be at a professional level with your painting, drawing or sculpture, but the important thing is that you enjoy it.

 

Photography

You can start taking photos with an inexpensive camera or even use your smart phone. As your skills improve, you may want better equipment. Feed or share your favourite photos online or create scrapbooks.

 

Blowing Ceramics or Glass

Check local community colleges or museums to see if they offer classes to get started with ceramics or glassblowing. One hobby shop makes marbles and another makes small glass animals.

 

Jewellery Making

The fun of jewelry is that you can wear and share your creations with friends.

 

Decor

Create a comfortable living space for every room in your home. You can completely change the look with paint and new fabric covers for existing furniture.

Creative Writing

They say everyone has a novel they could write. Consider writing yours. You might like to write poetry or funny verse, such as limericks or haiku.

Singing, Composing or Dancing

Musical hobbies include playing an instrument in addition to singing, composing and dancing. Many communities have bands, orchestras or a choir in which you can participate. Ballroom dancing and square dancing are options for those who love to dance.

In this first part, we’ve look at a list of several hobbies. Do you want to learn more? Come back to read the second part. Until then, have you already find something interesting? Let us know in the comments below.

Most Common Hobbies that Can Make You Rich (Part One)

Doing something you love with dedication during your free time is simply know as a hobby. There are a multitude of hobbies that you can try around the world, from the most basic ones to the wackiest. Yet some hobbies, even if done only by passion, could be a great way to make money. Want to learn more?

In this article, we’ve compiled some hobbies that can literally make you rich. Keep reading!

Paper Molding

Starting with the age-old art of origami, learning to fold paper will allow you to create almost anything, from jewelry to diaries and notebooks.

The best would be to start with the creation of paper: just take newspaper and scraps of any type of cellulose, macerate them in a bowl filled with water and let them sit for a long time.

As soon as the paper has dissolved, creating a soft paste, you will need to mix everything and then spread the resulting mixture on a special frame.

Once the sheet is dry, you will have a page of recycled craft paper that will be beautiful (and virtuous because eco-sustainable). You can add flower petals, seeds, scents, and dyes to personalize the sheets however you like.

Creative Recycling

From an apple box that turns into a creative shelf for books and trinkets to a pallet that changes function and becomes an outdoor chair, anything can be reinterpreted in a recycled fashion.

To indulge in this hobby, you need a good dose of innate creativity. And above all, to know how to look beyond appearances: if you see a vase for flowers in an old colander, then you will have a knack for creative recycling.

Your artwork will be welcome at flea markets as well as on any site selling handmade products for the home.

Nail Art

nail art

From the rainbow color very unicorn to seasonal trends like animal, polka dots or marine stripes, on the nails you can give free rein to all decorations. If you have a steady hand, a good talent and a lot of patience, then absolutely cultivate this hobby.

Experiment with fake nails, stones, plastic surfaces, etc. Or use your friends as “guinea pigs”. When you get really good at it, they’ll be lining up to get your nail artist’s dedication on their hands.

Soaps

There are two ways to make soap: a strong one, from grease and caustic soda a la Fight Club, and a mild one.

From a pre-existing base, i.e. pieces of neutral Marseille soap, you just have to scrape it into flakes to recreate a soap totally customized in fragrances, colors and added emollients.

So you can make a soap with honey, extra virgin olive oil or shea butter. You can also add coffee beans, cocoa powder, ground almonds/ Depending on the properties and function you want to assign to this soap (exfoliating with oats, moisturizing with milk, etc.), you can choose “many” combinations and variations.

Markets and artisanal trade applications will welcome your scented loot with open arms.

Cake Decorations

In the past, cake decorations were mostly for the little ones, but now everyone is in love with them.

From the now-famous cupcakes to cookies, from colorful Homer Simpson-style doughnuts to multi-layered cakes that look like they were carved and sculpted by Donatello, cake design has indeed become an artistic branch.

Those who are familiar with the kitchen and never neglect their visual sense in favor of taste are certainly potential cake designers.

This hobby is a little less easy to make money from, because selling food products requires hygiene certifications and not so simple procedures. However, if you discover a crazy talent then it is worth taking the path of marketing.

You now know the hobbies you can do that bring money. How about you? What is your favorite hobby? Is it part of the list? Let us know in the comments below.

Don’t forget to check out our second part.