What's Really in Your Bag of Chips: The Air to Snack Ratio

We’ve all been there. You open a bag of chips, look inside and feel a sense of disappointment when you realize the bag is filled with mostly air. So what gives? Has your favorite snack settled in transit or did the good folks over at the distribution center pulled a fast one on you.

Why is there air in my bag of chips?

Before going any further, let’s first address the purpose of air in a bag of chips. First of all, it’s not actually air in the bag, but instead, nitrogen. This process is called “slack fill” and does a couple things for your salty treats.

1. Protection: Without a nitrogen stuffed bag, your chips would likely be pulverized into crumbs during transit. Slack fill helps protect the chips during its journey from distribution center to grocery aisle.

1. Freshness: No one likes stale chips. Nitrogen helps keep you snacks crispy. If the bag was filled with air, oxygen would cause the oils in the chip to go rancid and your chip to become stale.

You must be wondering, which chips have the most air per bag. Well, after continuous frustration and inflated expectations, someone finally decided to look into the air to chip ratio of America’s favorite snack brands. Kitchen Cabinet Kings put together a study, on the 14 most popular chip brands, that measures the air to chip ratio. Find out how your favorite brands stack up and which ones give you the best bang for your buck.

Budget Your Family Trip to Dublin with These Tips!

Though Ireland is famous for its whiskey and Guinness, don’t think for a moment that Ireland isn’t an adventure for the whole family. This land is full of rich history and beautiful views -- along with hearty meals -- that can inspire even the youngest of children. When you’re traveling on a budget, keep these tips in mind to make the most out of your trip.

Know the exchange rate

A dollar in the United States isn’t worth quite as much as the euro, making each purchase in Ireland a little more pricey. While they have similar values -- €1 is worth just over $1 -- it can be easy to forget how much you’re really spending if you’ve been paying with a credit card. 

Stay in a hostel

With nearly 500,000 residents, Dublin is easily Ireland’s largest city, drawing people from all over the world; as such, they offer affordable lodgings. When you think "hostel," you might imagine college students filling every nook and cranny, but hostels are a great way to save some money and many are family-friendly. Many have rooms that fit upwards of five people, so you can fill an entire room with just your family, no strangers included. Hostels usually come with a complimentary Irish breakfast that will be sure to keep you full for hours after you’re done.

If you still don’t like the idea of hostels, bed and breakfasts are another great option. They may be a bit pricier, but they often come with amenities you’d likely see in a hotel, including a full Irish breakfast or a cheaper dinner option. Go to coupon sites or other lodging sites like Airbnb to see local deals in Dublin.

Eat early

When your full Irish breakfast finally wears off, it might be time to consider a late lunch or early dinner. If you can hold off until around four or five, many restaurants offer early dinner specials during the lulls in normal business hours -- this can save you 25% if you look for the right dinner deals. Scope out restaurants that offer local deals and grab a few snacks for any late-night cravings.

Check out museums

All of the museums in Dublin are free to the public and cover a range of historic and cultural Irish hallmarks: the famine, art, history, religion. Many castles also serve as a type of modern museum: Ireland is rich with castles and the Dublin area houses some of the best in the land. While your kids might get bored or sad in some of the more serious exhibits, many local parks are situated nearby, and they often meld history and nature into one -- St. Stephen’s Green is a great, free romp, and you’ll get to see busts of famous Irish artists and generals. 

If museums aren’t your family’s pint of Guinness, then try the Dublin Zoo -- this zoo houses over 600 animals and the great Irish weather means it’s open year-round. Just be sure to bring a few snacks from a local grocery store with you when you enter -- eating out all the time can really add up.

Keep in mind that Ireland is one of the more expensive vacation destinations. Do some saving, pack light, and always scope out local deals to save a few bucks where you can. Ireland’s beauty is incomparable and there are plenty of family-friendly options to guarantee your entire family has a great vacation. 

Paintsation by Goliath

Get ready to create with Paint-Sation! Each of these self-contained paint pods includes 1.4 ounces of paint. Simply touch your brush along the specially-designed bristles, and you’re ready to paint! But if you turn the pod upside-down, the paint won’t drip out! Moms and kids will agree – this paint is Paintsation-al! Use the Paint-Sation paint pods with Paint-Sation Easelor Paint-Sation On-The-Go.

Paint-Sation:
• Paint won’t spill out – even if it is turned upside down or dropped!
• Touch any brush to the bristles to transfer paint without splatter
• Each color has its own pod, which snap together for easy storage
• This set comes with 5 bright and fun colors!

Parents and caregivers have got to try this product! It is the best painting setup I have ever used in my Child Care Center. It makes virtually no mess and storage is small and convenient for painting anywhere at anytime.

Ice Cream Cake Recipe

This ice cream cake is absolutely delicious and is completely comparable to Dairy Queen cakes but costs under $10 to make a big one! So if you have been searching high and low for the best, easiest, and cheapest recipe look no further! The one pictured is a loaf pan but this recipe can be doubled or tripled to make huge cakes!

You will need:

For the Crust
1 cup graham crumbs
1 tbsp cocoa powder
1 tbsp sugar
2 melted tbsp butter or margarine

For the middle
1 tub of vanilla ice cream

For the topping

1 package of Epicure Chocolate Fudge Sauce
or
1 container of chocolate fudge sauce from any grocery store

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. Take the ice cream out and let it sit on the counter to soften. Begin by mixing all the crust ingredients in a bowl until it resembles wet sand that will stick together when pressed.

2. Press the crust into the pan and put it in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes. Take the crust out and let it cool completely.

3. Mix the vanilla ice cream until it is soft and easy to use. Spread the ice cream on top of the crust and make it smooth and even on top. Put it in the freezer to harden for half an hour to an hour.

4. Prepare the fudge sauce. I used one package of Epicure Chocolate Fudge Sauce and I prepared it with one cup of milk and brought it to a rolling boil and then a simmer stirring constantly for 15 minutes until it thickened. I let it cool completely before pouring it over the hardened ice cream. You can do the same with any chocolate sauce or even cooked chocolate pudding mix. Let the cake harden completely about 4 hours.

5. Top with whipped cream and enjoy! You can add any toppings or fillings to this cake just like Dairy Queen does and make it your very own creation! Get creative, spoil yourself with a treat but save some cash by doing it yourself!

A Look at the Mobile Gaming Industry

The mobile gaming revolution has taken the world by storm. When the first iPhone was released in 2008, no one really expected the App Store to take off the way it did. However, it didn’t take long for gaming to catch up with the ever-changing modern lifestyle.

PC and console games are ambitious projects aimed at dedicated players. Mobile gaming, however, made games available to everyone who had a smartphone. Most importantly, it presented games in a positive light to people who never cared about games, to begin with. That is how this new platform began to affect the direction in which the industry was growing.

Mobile gaming made games accessible to players without expensive computers. However, it also made it much easier to create games. Games which come in a smaller format are a lot cheaper to develop. You don’t always need a large studio to make a video game. That freedom has opened the door to many young developers with fresh ideas.

Naturally, every new platform creates hosts of new changes. The popularity of mobile games is changing the visual and audio design of games and introducing creative new features. It is even affecting the way stories are told via games. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the current shape of the mobile gaming industry.

Virtual game studios

With the advent of mobile gaming, traditional game studios are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Only the largest and most successful developers still have studios. Such studios employ special selections of people who spend long periods of time working on large projects.

However, when it comes to developing mobile games, many aspects of this line of work are different. Statistically speaking, most game studios of today are virtual. Since these studios work on smaller, short-term projects, they find it much easier to employ freelancers. Their employees are located in various parts of the world.

Mobile gaming has created a huge, thriving market for app designers. App design is still not an easy career, though, as it takes a great deal of sacrifice to be recognized among the competition. What you can say for sure is that this fluctuation of talents is enriching the fields with countless new points of view.

Playing mobile slots

What makes smartphones so convenient is that they make many activities effortless and available on the go. Today, you can enhance almost any aspect of your life in one way or another with the right app.

Even online casinos have become available in the form of apps. Earlier, to play slots, you had to pay a visit to an actual casino. That would require time and effort. Nowadays, mobile slots are becoming more and more popular with a wide range of players. Smartphones have helped mobile slots evolve into a field of high-quality apps.

Developers all over the world have started creating mobile slots apps. Scandinavians are especially hard at work in this field. Norwegian slots players created portals such as Casinor.com to track down the best online casinos offering mobile slots games.

Playing slots generally involves money, and online slots are no exception to that rule. That is why safety is a special concern of slots players. Most of them resort to tried and tested reviews of online casinos to decide which one is worth their trust.

All the best online casinos offer mobile slots apps as a part of their deal. However, that is not all they provide to their users. For example, if you play blackjack at Wild Wins, you can experience the game in a number of fresh variants. Technology seems to be affecting the nature of gambling, too.

Bypassing the consoles

Mobile gaming is also affecting the relationship between the publishers and the gamers. Earlier, publishers could not bypass the consoles on which the players would enjoy the games. Today, they can communicate with the players in a more direct way than ever before.

Thanks to the fact that there is no proxy, many mobile games today are completely free to play. The only way they make income is by showing ads to players.

Publishers realized that with ads, they could make it possible for players to buy products from within the game itself. In many cases, the game gives the player the option to watch a short ad video in order to access more content.

Most mobile gamers find ads in games annoying. However, ads are very important, and in many cases, you can thank them for the number of free apps out there. Perhaps in the future, we get to see a different business model which brings new changes to how game designers make money.

Final thoughts

Mobile games have completely transformed the idea of what gaming should be. What used to be a pretty rigid field has now become hectic in every possible way.

The huge market which exists for mobile games is attracting many users, as well as creators. Some of them flood the market with mediocre apps, while others struggle to be discovered.

Soon, it will become clear whether mobile gaming is just another fad, or if this platform is here to stay.

5 Hacks for Budget Friendly Family Camping

No matter how much you love camping, if you cannot afford it, it might become difficult for you to take your family out for a camping adventure. But being short on a budget shouldn't be the reason to hold you back from taking a necessary break and enjoying on a wonderful campsite. All you need to do is learn about how you can camp on a budget and still have a great family time. 

Planning and preparing beforehand will not only save you a lot of money but struggle. Something that most people don't know, camping is not only an excellent way for some outdoor fun with family members. In fact, if done right, it can be the best and most budget-friendly family vacation you can experience.

And planning a family camping on a budget doesn't mean compromising on the quality of your experience or going to an undesirable location. You can, in fact, go to popular destinations and enjoy everything that Mother Nature has to offer without breaking a bank.

We have compiled the top five hacks you can implement for a budget-friendly family camping experience.

1.      Choose the camping site wisely

A 'getaway' with family doesn't necessarily have to be far. You can pick a nice location nearby and save on fuel. The experience of your camping trip does not change depending on the distance from home.

A budget-friendly family camping can take place closer to home. There are no hard and fast rules about exotic locations where you have to drive or fly for an adventure. Other than trying out backyard slumber party, you can even check local and state parks to use as your campground.

Most of these are secured by park rangers and offer features like a picnic table, grill fire pit, etc. Again, you can save money on gas by choosing a nearby local park as your camping site without compromising on an awesome experience.

2.     Look for used camping gear

Instead of investing thousands of dollars in new camping gear, check out used items including Canvas Tents you can find at a fraction of cost. If you start looking early, you can lock incredible deals at thrift stores, garage sales, Facebook groups, eBay, Craigslist, and classified ads.

Most people who do not use their new camping gear as often can sell it at a very affordable price. Such deals can be particularly beneficial for kid gear and clothing, because kids grow up so quickly, that people often toss them out when they are not in use.

If you are lucky enough, you can even find a lot of camping tents under a hundred bucks!

3.     Rent your gear

Another great hack is to rent gear that you cannot find in a second-hand condition. Renting camping gear not only helps save you money but provides you with all necessary items and equipment you may not have purchased. Secondly, it is also a great option if you do not have enough storage space to keep your own gear.

You can find tons of places offering sleeping bags and tents on rent. Additionally, you may find equipment like bikes, rafts, climbing equipment, canoes, snowshoes, snowboards, skis, yard games and much more to ensure you have a great time with your family outdoors.

4.     Explore free recreation and camping activities

Camping is an outdoor adventure and thus involve most outdoor activities. Depending on your destination, options like mountain biking, boating, hiking, and skiing may be available to you. However, not all camping activities should be expensive.

Some of the best outdoor activities that wouldn't even cause you a penny include fishing, swimming, stargazing, hiking, and geocaching. Amidst the natural beauty of Mother Nature, do what comes to you naturally and make the most out of this experience.

5.     Use what you already have

Instead of investing in expensive sleeping pads, grab the yoga mat you already own. When you are camping on a budget, there are so many creative things you can do with the stuff you have at home. Be creative with your approach and bring every possible thing to use, especially equipment and gear.

Final Word

The cost of a budget-friendly family camping should not exceed $25 per night. The key is to select your campground wisely and after proper research. The cost may vary depending on the amenities and facilities you wish to enjoy. However, if those are kept on minimal, nothing can stop you from having a fantastic camping trip on a smaller budget. 

Why Small And Medium-Sized Business Owners Need To Fund Staff Training

Far too many small business owners fail to pay for staff training for their employees. A worrying number of medium-sized company bosses follow suit. That is something everyone needs to change across the board, and there are lots of reasons for doing that. Regardless of the nature of your enterprise and what you do to make a profit, the same rules should apply. If you’re unsure as to the benefits of employee training, take a moment to read this post, and you should come away with a much better understanding of the advantages you can expect to encounter.

Staff training saves you money

While there is no getting away from the fact that you will have to make an investment if you want your employees to get an online masters in supply chain management or something similar; you will see a healthy return in the future. Sometimes you have to speculate to accumulate, and paying for training now means you won’t have to hire people with the skills you require who expect a high salary. Instead, you can train unskilled employees and help them to make a more substantial impact on your operation. You will also benefit from the knowledge your team picks up during their courses.

Staff training advances your business

You need to ensure you’re always on the lookout for new ways of doing things that will help you to boost productivity and reduce spending in your small business. When you pay for staff training; your employees will learn lots of new techniques that will put them in a better position to make suggestions for the advancement of your business. So, while the individual will benefit from having some extra qualifications, it is your company that will reap the rewards in the long run. Unless you want to outsource some of the tasks within your operation, educating your employees is the best strategy to follow.

Staff training keeps employees loyal

The last thing you want is for your workers to become disillusioned with your company and seek employment elsewhere. However, that can happen if you don’t take the time to make your team feel valued. An employer who pays for staff training motivates their workers by showing confidence in their abilities. The employee is unlikely to seek alternative means of employment if you show them how much they mean to your business. So, either send your workers to college one day each week, arrange some in-house training, or consider some of the routes you could try.

Photographer

It should become apparent to anyone reading this post that staff training is vital in the modern business world. New technology and concepts reach the market every day, and so you need to ensure your employees remain at the forefront of the industry. If you don’t keep on top of the latest advancements, there is a reasonable chance a rival firm will steal the lion’s share of the market. So, put a plan in place now, and work out which team members are most likely to benefit from training courses and higher education.  

Why do you need Pads after Birth?

Immediately after birth, the body experience changes since there has been a vacuum that is left in the womb where that baby has been lying for nine months.

When the placenta is detached from the body, a wound happens to occur. In the process of healing, some contractions occur in the uterus as the wound heals which cause an overflow of blood which may last up to eight weeks. This blood is known as Lochia which is bright red and it occurs to all women whether you had a normal or a caesarian section delivery.

Depending on your body type, the blood flow may be heavy or light, and therefore it is essential to use pads immediately after birth. This will help to avoid messing yourself and especially at this time when your baby needs to have an extra clean environment. Visitors will also be coming to celebrate with you the incoming of the bundle of joy in the family.

As such you cannot afford to be messy.

There are pads that are used immediately after birth which are well known as the postpartum pads. It’s important to prepare yourself and buy enough of them such that immediately after birth, you do not have to bother people to go and buy for you.

What to look for while buying the postpartum pads:

Every woman has her preference and choice; there are a variety of pads available in the stores and some of the factors that one should look for are;

1. How soft the pads are- First-time mothers who have never experience heavy flow especially the one that comes after birth may have a difficult time getting sores in their private parts. It’s therefore, necessary to choose the soft pads which will offer comfort as much as they may be expensive.

2. Make an early decision whether to buy disposable pads or re-usable- In instances where you heavily bleed, it’s recommended to buy disposables. It will just be a mess cleaning up a lot of blood, and at the end, it may not be hygienically okay.

3. Wings- There are currently good postpartum pads with wings that protect against any leakage and will offer all the comfort you would need.

4. Look for different sizes and buy a variety of them. There are times when the flow become light, and you do not have to use the heavy pads. Include pant liners because as the days go by, the blood flow will completely reduce leaving only dots that do not necessarily need pads.

5. Consider the type- This is because some give normal births while others are stitched after birth. Births like always radiant pads will work perfectly for those who have been stitched since they are soft and light. Though good they are a bit expensive but it’s better to consider such than to have uncomfortable days.

Conclusion

Ensure that before and after changing pads, you wash your hands to protect yourself and the baby against possible infections.

It’s essential to buy postpartum pads which are for use after delivery because they are soft and absorbent for heavy bleeding compared to the normal pads.