Three Reasons to Invest in the Designer Bag You've Always Wanted

There is definitely something about a designer bag that makes it such a covetable item for most women who love fashion. Bags can add a touch of high fashion class to even the most everyday outfit and can easily become one of your absolute favorite possessions. Of course, they are not an insignificant purchase when it comes to the price tag. While they definitely are worth it in terms of how long they can stay in style and be a useful part of your wardrobe, it can sometimes be hard to persuade yourself to part with the money for the bag of your dreams.

If you've been putting off allowing yourself a designer bag because it seems like too luxurious a purchase, here are three reasons why you should let yourself have that special bag you've always wanted!

It Can be a Literal Investment

No, not just in terms of the joy you'll get from owning it. A high-end designer bag not only retains a lot of its value if you decide to sell it at a later date to buy a new one, but some classic bags can actually gain value as they become valuable vintage pieces and a part of fashion history or a collection.

Of course, your main priority is to get a bag that you will enjoy while you own it, but thinking about getting a bag in an iconic style that will still be worth something if you take good care of it can be a good way to justify the price. Something chic and classic like some of the latest Saint Laurent bags from SSENSE could be just the thing. Saint Laurent bags are one of the many beautiful brands you can find to buy at SSENSE, so it is well worth browsing their collection.

It Can Redefine Your Look Like No Other Item

Your bag is something you take everywhere, and so if you want to make just one single purchase that can completely upgrade how you look whatever else you are wearing, then a bag is the thing to choose. It is more eye-catching and useful than jewelry, more versatile than designer shoes, and if you pick a classic design it will look good for all seasons.

It's Useful!

While some accessories we buy just because we love how they look, most don't really serve a purpose that one couldn't do without. You don't really need a necklace or even a watch, or a scarf or belt. You do need a bag, however, and so while you may be able to get by just fine with a cheaper one from a fast fashion brand, a designer bag is still a less frivolous fashion purchase than a lot of other accessories.

As you can see, there are some great points here that can really help to justify splurging on that stunning bag you have always wished was your own!

Benefits of Homeschooling at Night and Other Odd Times

As parents embark on the homeschooling journey with their children, often creating a schedule becomes the most complicated part of the entire homeschooling process. Usually, when the idea of schoolwork comes up, people think about the schedules that kids in school systems are put on. Days usually start by 8 a.m. and conclude by 3:30 p.m. or so.

However, one of the benefits of homeschooling is that you don’t have to abide by someone else’s schedule. Not all kids are their most productive at 8 a.m. Maybe your child is a night owl who performs better after 6 p.m. There are quite a few benefits to starting homeschooling at night or other “odd” times throughout the day.

1. Allows You to Do Schooling Around Work Schedules

When parents in a homeschooling household work odd hours, it might be challenging to complete coursework during the normal school day hours. If someone works overnights, starting schoolwork at 8 a.m. isn’t going to be conducive for their lifestyle. Instead, you might decide that 3 p.m. is a better time to do schoolwork. For those who work 12-hour shifts, your homeschooling schedules might look completely different than those who work a normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. job or stay at home with their children.

2. Makes It Easier to Schedule Appointments

We’ve all had to try to schedule doctor’s appointments around the many other commitments we have. By leaving more time open during the day, you can schedule all of your doctor’s appointments as well as other things like tax appointments during regular business hours without much hassle. Plus, doctors often have patients competing for the evening appointment times, so it might take a while to get in to see your doctors.

3. Gives You Time for Field Trips and Other Activities

It is not fun to sit around doing regular schoolwork all of the time. From time to time, it is important to schedule additional activities and field trips. You might be using these outings as learning experiences as well. Maybe once a month you have an afternoon outing to a place with some educational value like the zoo, botanical garden, or museum.
Taking time out of the morning or afternoon allows you to go to those places when they aren’t going to be crowded and busy like they would be in the evenings and on weekends.

4. Allows Others to Help with Teaching

In some households, a spouse might be a better teacher in one subject than the main teacher. If one parent is a whiz at math but works all day, it might be best to hold off on math lessons until that parent is back from work.

Additionally, some parents like to wait until they have some helping hands to do science experiments and art projects because they can get messy really fast. There is no shame in pushing some lessons to later in the day if that is what works best for your family.

5. Allows Students to Work When They Are Most Productive

Like we mentioned before, not everyone is a morning person. In some cases, children do their best work in the evening. It is important for many parents to allow their children to work on schooling when they are at their most focused and productive. This means that some children will need to have night homeschooling as an option.

Doing class work at night allows these kids to sleep in until they are well-rested without compromising on the amount of time they have to get their work done.

6. Allows a Tutor to Teach Students

Not every homeschooler is taught by a parent. Some children are homeschooled by a tutor who has other students or works full-time, which means that lessons need to work around a different schedule. If you’re interested in homeschooling, but don’t want to teach your children yourself, you will need to have a little flexibility when it comes down to the timing of your children’s education. You might be able to find tutors that can even teach your child when it best suits the student.

There are so many reasons that a parent may need or choose to homeschool at a time that isn’t considered normal schooling hours. However you need to work homeschooling into your routine is fine, as long as it works for you and your family. Find a homeschooling curriculum that works wells for your family and work it in however you need to support your child’s education.

5 Tips For Navigating the Nightlife in New York City

The Big Apple is known for many things, and because of the sights and sounds of places like Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and Chinatown. There is never a shortage of things to do. Choosing New York City as a travel destination will bring you a wealth of choices on what to eat, where to stay, where to shop, what to see, and how to get there. Just when you think you can’t fit any more into your day, you have a whole new set of options for eating and entertainment after dark. Here are five tips for navigating the nightlife in New York City.

1. Choose Your Lodging

If you plan on staying in New York overnight, the best thing to do is find a fabulous place to lay your head once you have exhausted your energy. A word of warning- don’t wait until the last minute to book a room. For places like the Westgate New York Grand Central, the accommodations are both luxurious and in high demand. If you want to end your night in style, be sure to book your accommodations at westgatenyc.com as early as possible. You don’t have to visit to know that a stay here is a true New York attraction. With the ability to look at rooms and accommodations online, you can find enough on their Hotel Info page to book your room with confidence.

2. Choose Your Travel

Navigating around NYC is easy even for a tourist. If you really want the full experience, ride the subway or buses operated by the MTA New York City Transit. With easy to follow colored lines for the different sections of towns, as well as an app that can be downloaded to your smartphone, it is an inexpensive and efficient way to travel around the city. Parking comes at a premium in the bustling big city, so if you choose to skip the MTA, perhaps a brisk walk or a bike ride would be the best way to move between activities.

3. Choose Your Dinner

Going out after dark is one of the highlights of a New York City vacation experience. How else will you get the full and dazzling effect of the lights and signs hanging over Times Square? There is a reason it is called The City That Never Sleeps. If you want to catch an early dinner in order to save some room for some late-night eats and a well-deserved drink, there are plenty of options. If you choose to skip dinner and go straight into endless entertainment, you will always be able to find an authentic pizza joint or sandwich shop ready to fill your belly.

4. Choose Your Experience

There are hundreds of entertainment options out there in the Big City, and your tastes and preferences won’t be too eclectic to be met. Comedy shows, burlesque clubs, Broadway musicals, street performers, jazz clubs, and whatever else you can think of come alive after dusk. You are guaranteed to get your money’s worth when you choose to explore the stage, theatre, or performances that brighten the nightlife of New York City. Depending on the season you choose to visit, Coney Island offers amazing firework displays or you can catch a free movie in the Brooklyn Bridge Park. If your preferences desire something more sophisticated, you can head over to a trivia night at Professors Thom’s down in Manhattan or The Wolfhounds over in Queens. There is no shortage of places to both feed your belly and mind while in NYC.

5. Choose Your Keepsake

No trip or vacation is complete without some sort of memento that tells your friends and family where you had the time of your life. Most notable, Chinatown is a New York City staple when looking for the perfect, although maybe cheesy, gift or souvenir from the city. Part of the thrill is haggling over the price, but for some, the attraction is more with the dozens of shops that carry anything imaginable with a giant New York City logo on it. You can’t go back home empty-handed.

If you are wanting to get the most out of your trip to New York City, don’t just leave the excursion to daytime travel. Get out your dancing shoes, put on a party face, and check out the nightlife the Big Apple has to offer.

Easy Small Batch Homemade Mac and Cheese Recipe

For ages, macaroni and cheese has been one of those quintessential comfort foods that most anyone enjoys. Of course, it is not considered a diet-friendly dish, but we don't really eat it for that reason, to begin with. Nothing beats a nice creamy, cheesy scoop of homemade baked macaroni and cheese. There is something irresistible about the corner edges that crisp up just a little while baking that is the perfect texture and bite.

Growing up Guyanese, our macaroni and cheese wasn't like the classic American style. Ours had extra things in it like onion, scallions, and hot pepper. It was also baked firm so it could be cut into thick slices. While it was still delicious, I always preferred the more classic version. One of the things that can sometimes be a turn off when making mac and cheese is having such a huge amount left over. While that might not be a bad problem to have, some of us do not want to have too much of a good thing.

I have been working on a small-batch mac and cheese recipe that is perfect for smaller families. This recipe is so good since it doesn't require a lot of ingredients, and doesn't take a whole lot of time to prepare. Of course, you can always make a double batch for larger families, potluck meals, or if you simply can't get enough. Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning (optional) OR 1 tsp salt and pepper to taste
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 cups milk

How to make it:

1. Heat oven to 350°. Cook pasta according to package directions in well-salted water, then drain. 

2. While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large saucepan and add flour. Whisk until butter and flour are well combined. Add Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper. 

3. Whisk in milk and bring to a low boil, until slightly thickened. 

4. Add shredded cheese, reserving a little to sprinkle on top for baking. 

5. Add in drained pasta to cheese sauce mixture, then pour into a 9x9 baking dish. Top with remaining cheese and bake for 20-25 minutes.  

Tips: 

• Sprinkle either cayenne pepper or paprika on top before baking for extra color and flavor. 
• Crush buttery crackers and top before baking if you like extra texture and crunch. 
• Add ham or crumbled bacon or turkey bacon, and sweet green peas or green onions to make it an entree. 
• You can experiment with other types of cheese like Swiss, colby-jack, or gouda. 
• Make this dish vegan by using plant-based butter, cheese and milk. I have made it before and t comes out great! 

This small batch mac and cheese is sure to please anyone who wants an ooey-gooey comfort classic. As a matter of fact, it's so easy to make that it can be whipped up in no time, even on a school night. You can Pin this recipe for later.

Be sure to check out these other delicious recipes:
Shelly's Easy and Moist Meatloaf
Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Perfect Greek Pasta Salad

Build-A-Bear Workshop Opens New Store in Walmart on Centre Pointe Dr in North Charleston, SC

BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP® IS OPENING A NEW STORE AT WALMART SUPERCENTER ON CENTRE POINT DRIVE IN NORTH CHARLESTON, SC

Full-line Workshop to Feature the Build-A-Bear Make-Your Own Experience, Furry Friends and More

Beginning September 19, shoppers at Walmart on Centre Point Drive in North Charleston, SC will be able to make a new Build-A-Bear® furry friend when they are shopping at Walmart. The full-line experiential retail Workshops will be available in a leased space in the Walmart store and offer the signature Build-A-Bear Make-Your-Own experience, as well as an assortment of furry friends and accessories that appeal to kids and adults alike, including Condo Cubs, a brand-new collection of furry friends starting at $10 each.

The Store hours: 10am – 8pm and the address is: Build-A-Bear Workshop at Walmart Supercenter #3367, 4920 Centre Point Drive, North Charleston, SC 29418

About Build-A-Bear®

Build-A-Bear® is a global brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop has over 450 stores worldwide where Guests can create customizable furry friends, including corporately-managed stores in the United States, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. Buildabear.com is the online destination for unique furry-friend gifts, featuring The-Bear-Builder™, a shopping configurator that helps create customized gift options. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:BBW) posted total revenue of $336.6 million in fiscal 2018.