Work From Home Essentials To Make You More Productive

 COVID-19 has affected our lives tremendously in many ways especially our job. Many people have gone jobless, but some were lucky enough to be able to work from home. It's been over a year since the pandemic started. Working from home for more than a year now has probably worn off your productivity. You probably miss having a conversation with your colleague, or you maybe you just miss your comfortable office space.

This pandemic will most likely let you work at your home a little longer. I know it's hard to work productively at home, but these smart products from Amazon will possibly help get you moving and make you more inspired to do your tasks.

1. HUANUO Lap Desk

You don't want to get out of your bed, but you have emails to send. Then, this adjustable laptop stand is best for you. This bamboo lap desk can either be used as a breakfast tray or your laptop desk. Working from your bed or couch is a lot easier and more comfortable with this. This lap desk fits a 15.6inch laptop and it has a storage pocket for your pens or mobile phone. It is foldable and its height and angles can be adjusted.

2. Everlasting Foot Rest

You will probably swear your feet to this ergonomic memory foam foot pillow. Not only this gives comfort to your feet but this also encourages body alignment. You can either use this as a foot rest under your home office desk or as a rocker when you flip it over.

3. Leather Desk Pad Protector

I know you want a desk pad that can fully accommodate your laptop, keyboard, mobile phone, mouse, and pend. Then, this non-slip PU leather desk blotter is right for you. It's not just aesthetically pleasing but it can also protect your desk from scratches, spills, heat, and scuffs. This waterproof desk writing pad for your office or home is made of durable leather.

4. Everlasting Chair Seat Cushion

Work in comfort at your home with this memory foam coccyx seat cushion. This prevents you from having unwanted bottom sweats which make working on your flat chair seating uncomfortable. You can also use this as a car seat cushion or gaming chair butt pillow.

5. Hbada Office Swivel Chair

Aesthetic-wise, this beautiful chair can complete the look of your lovely home office. This sleek ergonomic office chair can take away your spinal pain because it has a backrest that fits the natural curve of the lower back. You can adjust its tilt tension up to 120 degrees and its height is adjustable from 17.7 inch to 21.2 inch, and it can carry a weight capacity of 250lb.

Banana Oatmeal Bread: Easy Baking Recipe

Banana Oatmeal Bread is a quick and easy recipe to make. If you have very ripe bananas at home, this is the best time to turn them into a loaf of delicious and moist bread. Your family will definitely enjoy this for breakfast or snacks.

 Ingredients:

• 2 Mashed Riped Bananas
• 1/2 cup Instant Oatmeal
• 1 cup All-Purpose Flour
• 1/2 cup White Sugar
• 1 tsp Baking Soda
• 1 tsp Baking Powder
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 Eggs
• 1/4 cup Milk
• 3 tbsp Vegetable Oil
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• 1/4 cup crushed Cashew (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F or 175 degrees C. Then, grease a 9x5-inch loaf pan and set it aside
2. In a bowl, combine all the dry ingredients (oatmeal, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt), then mix until completely incorporated.
3. Add the mashed bananas, eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil. Mix altogether.
4. Toss in the crushed cashew and mix. You can use any nuts or raisins as a substitute. This is completely optional.
5. Pour the mixture into a greased pan and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

Inutak: Easy Dessert Recipe

What is Inutak?

Inutak is a delicious Filipino delicacy made out of glutinous rice, purple or ube yam, coconut milk, evaporated milk, and sugar. It's called Inutak because of its charred brown toppings that look like a brain.

This recipe is very quick and easy to make. You can create this sumptuous dessert in less than an hour.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Glutinous Rice Flour
• 1/2 cup Sugar
• 1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
• 3 cups Coconut Milk
• 1/3 cup Purple Yam / Ube Jam / Ube Halaya
• 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
• Purple Food Color

Directions:

• In a medium heat pan, combine glutinous rice flour, sugar, evaporated milk, and coconut milk.
• Keep stirring until the mixture thickens.
• Transfer 1/4 of the cooked mixture to a separate bowl, set aside the remaining mixture
• Add the Purple Yam to the 1/4 cooked mixture and combine
• Add purple food coloring to reach the purple consistency
• In a pan, put the spread and flatten the purple mixture at the bottom, then the white mixture at the top.
•  Pour coconut cream on the top layer and broil at 200°C for 15-20 minutes until the top turns to a golden brown or charred.
• Let it cool and serve!

Huoyanshan Nature Reserve: The Fire Mountain (火炎山)

 

Top of the Trail

Huoyanshan (Huoyan Mountain) Nature Reserve is known for its unique formation of sharp bare hills that was caused by tectonic movements. Rain and wind have caused the large section of the mountain to break off and creating the sharp edges and slopes.

Huoyan Mountain is found between Sanyi Township and Yuanli Township in Miaoli Country of Taiwan. From its main peak, it measures about 596 meters above sea level while the north peak is about 614 meters above sea level. 

How We Get There:

• From Zhunan Station (TRA), we head south to Sanyi Station.
• From Sanyi Station, we took a yellow cab and dropped off at the base of of the trail
• We just show to the driver the photo of the place
• Taxi fare was 250ntd for two pax

Base of the trail

Things You Should Know:

• The place has no entrance fee. 
• You don't need a guide to trek this mountain because it was an easy and quick hike. You just have to follow the trail.
• It will only take 3-4 hours (roundtrip) to finish the hike.
• Some points of the trail can be a bit dangerous, so watch out for steep slopes and unsteady rocks.
• Best season to trek is during autumn when its a bit sunny and cool-windy at the same time.
• There's not much people who hike this place. So, foot traffic is not a problem.

If you're in Miaoli County and looking for a quick adventure, you should definitely try this one. You'll be in awe how the perfectly cut slopes of the mountain was made.

Hukou Old Street: Back In Time

 

The Hukou Old Street (湖口老街) 

This place may not be on your travel list, but I'm telling you, this town will take you back in time. You'll be missing a lot in Taiwan culture if you don't pay a visit to this historical area of Hukou, Hsinchu. Old-fashioned Taiwanese brick architecture, antique pieces of stuff for sale, and local food are just some of the few things that collectively made the ambient of this area artistic and unique.

What to expect: There isn't much to see here aside from the old buildings and antiques, and you can pretty much explore the entire old street for half an hour or less. You may find a lot of locals here on busy days, but the streets can get almost empty on ordinary days.

Address: Hukoulao Street, Hukou Township, Hsinchu County, 303