tricks Archives – www.jocajic.com

WINTER SKINCARE SWITCHUP: Simple Changes Your Skin Needs Now

January 8, 2026 No Comments

Hiya!

I hope you’re keeping warm and enjoying the New Year so far. I’m doing great, but I’ve definitely noticed the dry, crisp air chill—and my skin has noticed too!
Just like we swap out our light summer clothes for cosy knits, our skincare routine needs a little seasonal maintenance. When the humidity drops, and we start using indoor heating, our skin can get dry, flaky, and a little bit sensitive.
You know I’m all about simple, skincare that makes sense in real life. This isn’t about buying 10 new products, although I have done that before; it’s about making a few simple substitutions to keep your skin hydrated all season long.
Here are the three simplest swaps to make in your beauty routine this winter:

1. SWAP YOUR CLEANSER (Go Creamy, Not Foamy)

That super-foaming gel cleanser you loved in the summer for controlling oil? It might be too harsh now. Foaming cleansers can strip your skin’s natural moisture barrier, leaving it tight and irritated in the cold.
Instead, move to a cream, milk, or oil cleanser. These formulas cleanse just as effectively but are much gentler. They keep essential moisture locked in, which is crucial for fighting off dryness. My skin immediately feels calmer and less sensitive when I make this change!

HOME, LIFESTYLE

8 KITCHEN GADGETS FOR EASIER COOKING

January 1, 2026 4 Comments

Happy New Year,

If you’re currently reading this while surrounded by leftover holiday snacks and a slightly exhausted Christmas tree, please know: you are my people. While the rest of the world seems to be shouting about “New Year, New Me,” I’m over here just trying to remember what day of the week it is.

The truth is, big changes don’t have to happen overnight. If you aren’t feeling that “grand transformation” spark just yet, don’t worry, you aren’t behind. Today’s post is all about easing into the year at your own pace and finding joy in the small, messy and wonderful beginnings. So, how about checking out these 8 clever kitchen gadgets for easier cooking?

1. The Multi-blade Vegetable Chopper

If you find yourself procrastinating on cooking because of the “mountain of onions” standing in your way, this is your new best friend. These choppers allow you to dice, slice, and spiralize an entire onion or bell pepper in one swift motion. It cuts prep time and keeps the onion vapours away from your eyes. Usually best when used for batch cooking, salads, and homemade salsas.

2. Smart Wireless Meat Thermometer

No more cutting into a steak to “see if it’s done” or hovering over the oven. A wireless thermometer (like the Meater) syncs to your phone and alerts you the second your meat reaches the perfect internal temperature. It eliminates the guesswork and ensures you never serve dry chicken or overcooked roast again. Great for Sunday roasts, grilling, and thick-cut steaks.

3. Clip-On Pot Strainer

Bulky colanders take up half the dishwasher and even more space in the cabinet. A silicone clip-on strainer (often called a Snap N’ Strain) attaches directly to the edge of almost any pot or pan. You can drain pasta or grease with one hand, and it’s small enough to tuck into a drawer. Useful during pasta nights and browning ground beef.

HOME, LIFESTYLE

THE POST-CHRISTMAS RESET: Reclaiming Your Home (The Easy Way)

December 26, 2025 2 Comments

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas filled with love, laughter, and far too much good food. I’m doing great, though I am currently sitting in the middle of what looks like a wrapping paper explosion—anyone else?

As much as I love the magic of the big day, that period between Christmas and New Year’s can feel a bit… well, chaotic. The house is full of new gadgets, the fridge is bursting with leftovers, and I usually have no idea what day of the week it is!

Instead of stressing about a massive “Deep Clean,” I like to follow a “Gentle Reset” routine. It’s about clearing the clutter so you can actually enjoy the last few days of the year without feeling overwhelmed. Here is my simple, step-by-step guide to getting your home (and your sanity) back in order with the post-Christmas reset.

1. TACKLE THE “Wrapping Paper Avalanche”

Before you do anything else, grab a large bin bag and do a quick sweep of the main living areas. Clear away all the ripped paper, empty boxes, and plastic packaging. It’s amazing how much “space” you get back just by removing the trash. If you have high-quality gift bags or ribbons, put them in one designated box to reuse next year—but if it’s crumpled, let it go!

HOME, LIFESTYLE

5 TIPS TO SPRING CLEAN THE LAZY WAY WITHOUT GETTING FRUSTRATED

March 1, 2024 25 Comments

It’s been a while,

Hello everyone, how you all doing? I hope you are fine. I know it’s been long and I have been MIA for a while but I was on a mini holiday visiting friends and family and promised myself not to do any blogging. It wasn’t easy but I actually managed to even stay two days without seeing my laptop which is unheard of. Anyway I am back and ready to get back to it and get on with some writing. Who wouldn’t love 5 tips to spring clean the lazy way without getting frustrated? I know I would. I am not perfect and so if I am able to figure out ways to make spring cleaning faster and easier then I am all for it. In case you missed my useful tips to help you get organised, then do drop by here first. So lets get started.

BLOGGING, HOME

5 SIMPLE WAYS TO COME UP WITH BLOG POST IDEAS WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING

January 12, 2023 108 Comments

Having writer’s block?

Well, hey there I hope you’re all having a fabulous end of the week and are ready for the weekend. Talking about writer’s block, we’ve all been there where you know you need to have a post published but you haven’t even written it or have no idea what you are going to write about. You are not alone, happens to the most of us unless you are one of those super people who never run out of ideas and can come up with a year’s worth of content in an hour. If that’s you, then don’t bother reading this just give me your secret and I will be good. But if you have a hard time coming up with blog posts, then here are 5 simple ways to come up with blog post ideas when you have nothing to write about.

BLOGGING, HOME

10 EASY TIPS TO INCREASE BLOGGING PRODUCTIVITY EVEN AS A BEGINNER

September 5, 2022 38 Comments

10 WAYS TO INCREASE BLOGGING PRODUCTIVITY

Hey there,

I know it’s been a while since I was here and I do apologise, after my recipe series I just stepped back and haven’t really been doing any writing which is wrong by the way since I end up not being productive. This is actually my third year blogging and as much as it’s been wonderful, I’ve had ups and downs which made me realise alot of things and just my life in general. Anyway, I do hope you’ve all been doing great and are ready for this year to come to an end. Talking about blogging, I am here today with 10 easy tips to increase blogging productivity even as a beginner.

If you haven’t started a blog yet, below are some helpful posts

HOME, LIFESTYLE

10 SIMPLE DAILY HABITS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE

August 2, 2022 18 Comments

Hello Everyone,

I hope you’re all having a great week so far, I wrote a post a year ago on how I was going to let the universe guide me and how I had no set goals for the year. I also said that I would go with the flow and see what happens, well I am here now to tell you the results. Let’s just say that after a few months of being mindful and happy, life happened and I was back to setting goals and following routines all over again. I ended up coming up with daily habits that I made sure to stick with and so far so good. To be honest, it was hard at first but with little tweaks here and there, I am able to do them now. I decided to come and share with you these 10 simple daily habits that will change your life.

What is a habit?

Simply put, a habit is something that you do all the time and regularly without knowing that your doing it sometimes. Now that we’ve taken care of that, it makes you to start thinking of what you’ve been doing without even knowing it right? No need to worry you can be able to rectify that with these simple daily habits that will change your life.

HOME, LIFESTYLE

9 TIPS TO MAKE YOUR EXERCISE ROUTINE LAST

March 10, 2022 No Comments

Hello everyone,

It’s been more than a month since I have been here and as much I wanted to keep going, life happens and I had to take a break. Corona hit me for a while then kids got sick and everything was just up in the air and I had no other choice but to be away for some time. Anyway, I decided to come back today and finish some of the posts I had and just try and get back on it. Since we are past new year resolutions and all, I have decided that watching my health and getting a routine down is the only way to go and so today I have for you 9 tips to make your exercise routine last and help reach your health goals this year.

FOOD, HOME

HOW TO MAKE COCONUT MANGO PANNA COTTA

September 20, 2021 No Comments

Hello Friends,

I hope you’re all having a great day today. I am back with a recipe for you on how to make coconut mango panna cotta. This one right here is one pretty dessert and perfect for entertaining too. Since the warmer weather is starting to leave us, one last summery dessert won’t hurt. Both flavours complement each other really well and just makes it look and taste incredibly tropical, making you want a vacation real bad. This is a recipe you would need to start a day to two ahead since you would need to let the first layer set first before adding the second layer, but don’t worry because it’s totally worth it. I also served them in wine glasses but if you have clear ramekins, that would be great too to be able to appreciate the layers. Okay, onto the recipe now. You will need;

BLOGGING, HOME

WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE STARTING YOUR BLOG

April 8, 2021 140 Comments

Hello There,

Happy end of the week everybody, I hope that you are all having a great one. Today, I have another post for you and it’s all in the name of blogging. We all know how to start a blog, getting blog post ideas, writing posts and even the promotion of blog posts. Now, let’s go back a bit and go through the basics of whether or not you are doing things right or just hoping for the best when starting your blog or thinking about it. If you’re already blogging for a while then this is not for you, but if you’re still dreading to push the publish button or are yet to even have a domain, then I suggest you go through some of these points. Here are some tips on what not to do when you are starting your blog in my opinion.