Recipe

Smoothies with healthy fruit are a win-win proposition for a diverting snack

Saipan is a perfect place to find local tropical fruit – which are a great source of immune-system boosting ingredients.

Fruit is always great for everybody in the family to munch on, but for an easy prepare-ahead way to have fruit, try a smoothie.

Local fruit can be adapted to be part of any recipe. If the fruit is tart or not sweet enough for children or your family’s preferences, try adding honey instead of sugar.

As an afternoon activity, smoothie making can keep children in the family occupied, particularly if they are not able to play with friends due to the current COVID-19 restrictions.

Smoothies can also be made ahead, and you can mix and mingle the below recipe or change up ingredients for variety.

Other ingredients can include vanilla ice cream, canned fruit such as mandarin oranges, and fresh mango.

Here’s an easy recipe, with fruits available now.

INGREDIENTS

• Two ripe kiwi fruit • Large ripe banana, or two or three small local bananas • Half or two thirds cup of orange juice • Tbsp of honey

INSTRUCTIONS:

Pulverize all ingredients in a mixer. Decant into cups or glasses. Note: Makes one large or two small smoothies

Snack packing can turn into an afternoon activity

Nuts and raisins are a relatively economical anytime snack that you can buy in big packets to suit your own preferences and mix at home.

Mixing nuts and raisins — and the occasional pack of chocolate such as M&Ms — is another activity that children can prepare. Have children decorate paper that can be twisted, tied with ribbon and piled into a basket for easy snack-grabbing.

BY RIANNE PEREDO

Because beauty salons and barber shops are closed, now is the best time to learn how to cut hair. It’s easier than you’d think as long as you are careful and have the proper tools.

CUTTING YOUR OWN HAIR (OR YOUR KIDS’)

You don’t have to be a professional to do proper hair maintenance, like this quick trim for adults and kids alike:

Use a pair of styling shears, not scissors A pair of styling shears will ensure that your hair will look the best.

Trim your hair according to hair texture If your hair is curly or wavy, trim it while it’s dry; if it’s straight, use a spray bottle of water to dampen it before trimming.

Use your fingers as a guide of where to trim Hold strands of hair between your index and middle finger to section it off and determine where to trim.

Check if both sides are even As you trim your hair, check that both sides match up in length.

Apply a hair serum or mousse A finishing product can seal the hair cuticle and also prevent flyaways.

Nail salons may be temporarily closed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have nice nails. Doing your nails at home is simple with a few key products to ensure they don’t chip within days.

Start with a base coat Base coat is just as important as top coat in regard to making your manicure last.

Apply nail polish It is much better to apply nail polish in thin layers rather than thick ones to cut down on drying time.

Finish with top coat A good top coat will seal in the color underneath to prevent chipping from happening quickly.

TIP: Make sure you’re brushing in the same pattern on every nail — side, side, middle and then a swipe along the tip.

Working from home: BUSINESS CASUAL OR JUST CASUAL?

BY RIANNE PEREDO

In 2017, the U.S. Census reported that 5.2% of Americans work from home, which is about eight million people. While the numbers of those working from home has surely risen due to the Coronavirus, the sentiment remains — a large chunk of U.S. citizens work from home, and territories like Guam and Saipan are following suit in the wake of COVID-19.

Working from home, or remotely, has become more commonplace as technology has made productivity easier and more efficient.

The question is, “What do I wear?” Whether a work-from-home veteran or a newbie, choosing an outfit for the day is no easy task. Some people still choose to dress for the office while working at home, while others choose more casual outfits.

Beach Road Magazine asked a couple people about their thoughts regarding attire and working from home.

“I feel like most men would prefer to wear loungewear [like] hoodies and joggers. As a student and going to school online, being in such clothing doesn’t affect my productivity whatsoever, but for online business meetings, I still believe men should still maintain their professionalism through wearing formal/ semi formal clothing.”

– John Delos Reyes