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How Much Do You Know About the ‘80s? Take These Fun Quizzes to Find Out!

March 19, 2015 by

The 1980s were all about hair metal, neon colors, and totally tubular lingo, but it may be difficult to remember the specifics about this wonderfully over-the-top decade. Take these fun online quizzes to discover just how much you remember about the ‘80s.

The Totally 80s POP CULTURE Trivia Quiz
With cheesy photos from the best in ‘80s pop culture to go along with each question, this quiz is just as much fun to look at as it is to take. From cast members from sitcoms like Who’s the Boss? to the names of analog video games, you’ll have to stretch your memory pretty far in order to ace these questions.

The Ultimate ’80s Kids Trivia Quiz
If you were a kid growing up in the 1980s, you likely remember a whole different type of music, movies and television than adults who were teasing their hair and rocking acid wash jeans. Take this quiz to see how much you remember about your childhood years.

Do You Know the '80s?
Well, do you? From the fashions to the movie stars, this quiz covers just about everything that you loved most about the ‘80s. It’s also only ten questions long, so you can test your knowledge in just a few minutes.

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How to Get the Best Price on Furniture

March 5, 2015 by

Purchasing furniture can be a big investment, and it can take quite a toll on your bank account no matter your budget. Here are a few smart ways that can help you save money on furniture while still investing in high quality pieces that will last for years to come.

  • Don’t fall for zero percent down. Many furniture stores offer deals like this in order to get you to purchase all of your furniture at once, but it usually isn’t worth it. Instead of paying a large markup for zero percent down, be patient and space out your purchases to get what you really want.
  • Visit estate sales. If you’re searching for bargains, estate sales are a great option. You can often find gently used furniture that was once very expensive at a markdown, provided that you don’t mind hunting for buried treasure.
  • Seek out floor sample sales (and ignore most other types). While most furniture sales are gimmicks or hardly very helpful, you’ll get the best bang for your buck from a floor sample sale. Because these items are technically “used” (though only in the store), they’re always marked down significantly.
  • Shop at furniture outlets. Instead of shopping at discount furniture stores full of poor quality pieces, shop high quality items with very minor damage at a furniture outlet.

Furniture Shopping Tips: The Best Secrets For Furnishing A Home On A Budget, From Real People [HuffPost Home]
How to Save Money When You Buy Furniture [About Home]
How to Buy Furniture [WikiHow]

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New to Cooking? Memorize These Four Common Cooking Terms

February 19, 2015 by

Reading a recipe might require you to learn a few new terms to make sure that the end result is as delicious as possible. So even if you’re a seasoned chef, brushing up on the definitions of key cooking terms is always helpful. Here are four must-know cooking terms:

  1. Beat. An easily recognized and commonly used term, to beat means to mix an ingredient in itself so quickly that air is incorporated, making a smooth mixture.
  2. Au jus. This is a common word on restaurant menus, but most people don’t consider what it actually means. It’s a way of referring to the natural juices of the food.
  3. Truss. If you read a recipe and it asks you to truss the food while cooking or grilling, that means to bind it together with skewers so it holds its shape during the process.
  4. Julienne. To julienne means to cut food into thin strips. The term often refers to preparing vegetables.

The Basic Kitchen: Glossary of Cooking Terms [Le Petites Gourmettes]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes and Gardens]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Cookery]
Culinary Terms: Food Dictionary and Glossary of Cooking Terms [Culinary Arts About.com]

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Resume Writing Tips for Job Seekers

January 22, 2015 by

Making a good first impression plays a huge role in landing your dream job, and, for most people, that first impression begins with a resume. Here are a few simple tips to help you write a resume that’s equal parts smart, savvy, and interesting.

  1. Make it easy to read. While you want your resume to look aesthetically pleasing (even more so if you’re in a creative profession), it should first and foremost be easy to read. Choose a simple font, place the most important points at the top, and limit your resume to just one page.
  2. Include up-to-date contact information. This one may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s one of the most important parts of the whole resume. Be sure to include your cell phone number, home phone number, email address, and physical address.
  3. Add an objective. Before listing your experience, state an objective that clearly defines your career goals.
  4. Include popular keywords. Consider the increasingly digital state of the job market and treat your resume like any other online content. Include keywords related to your chosen field so that you’ll increase the chance of employers finding it online.
  5. Take it to the streets. Once your resume is complete, don’t be shy about handing out physical copies anywhere and everywhere you go—you never know where your big break will come from.

Top 10 Resume Writing Tips [About Careers]
6 Tips for Writing an Effective Resume [ASME]
Resume Writing Tips [Yale University]

Public Domain/Public Domain
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How to Tell the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu

December 18, 2014 by

Getting a little cold is fairly commonplace during the colder winter months, and it doesn’t usually require much treatment other than rest and chicken noodle soup. The flu, however, is a more serious issue, and although this virus usually requires antibiotics to kick, it can be quite difficult to tell the two apart. Here are a few smart ways to tell if you have a cold or the flu—and maybe even help you to catch it early on. (Remember to seek the professional advice of your physician!)

  1. A cold usually comes with a sore throat, runny nose, and sometimes even a cough in the fourth or fifth days. These symptoms are usually fairly mild and cause more discomfort than pain and misery. If it is a cold, these symptoms will last for about a week.
  2. The flu, on the other hand, comes with similar but more severe symptoms very early on. Your throat will be sore, your head and other muscles will ache, and you’ll likely have congestion and a cough. These symptoms could last for one week or longer, but they can turn into pneumonia if left untreated.
  3. While an everyday cold doesn’t usually come with a fever, the flu often does. If your temperature reaches 100 degrees or higher, you're likely looking at a case of the flu.

Is It a Cold or The Flu? [NIAID]
Cold, Flu, & Cough Health Center [Web MD]
The Common Cold vs. The Flu… What You Need To Know [Health.com]

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Plan a Visit to These Unique Museums in Austin, Texas

December 4, 2014 by

A cutting edge city like Austin has much to offer to its visitors, and it even boasts the unofficial slogan, "Keep Austin Weird." Visit these thought-provoking attractions and see how Austin even takes a unique approach to something as basic as a day at the museum!

Bullock Texas State History Museum
Discover the tale of Texas at the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Located a few blocks from the Texas State Capitol building, this museum showcases the pride and history of the Lone Star State. You'll be captivated from the moment you're greeted by the 35-foot-tall bronze star sculpture that sits at the entrance to the museum. The cutting-edge Texas Spirit IMAX Theater will keep you on the edge of your seat, as it shows educational films that showcase state-of-the-art special effects. Be sure to check the museum's calendar for upcoming special events, which are sure to excite and amaze.

Museum of the Weird
Austin is openly proud to be unique, and this is very apparent at the Museum of the Weird. The museum is located right on Sixth Street in the heart of the city, and visitors can see strange and unusual items on a tour through some of the oddest pieces of recent history. Creep through twisted hallways, passing wax statues and giant movie monsters. You never know what will pop up next, and this museum will have your mouth on the ground and your brain in a tizzy. After your tour is over, be sure to stop by the gift shop and pick up a souvenir to commemorate this truly weird trip.

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Find Great Pumpkin Recipes at These Four Sites

November 20, 2014 by

Pumpkin pie, pumpkin cookies, pumpkin coffee, even pumpkin soup – no matter what it is, we can’t get enough pumpkin foods. Something about the warm, rich flavor of pumpkin feels so soothing on a cold winter day, and its versatility makes it the perfect ingredient for both savory meals and sweet desserts.

These four pumpkin recipe websites will make you rekindle your love for everyone’s favorite cold weather flavor:

How to Cook with Pumpkin [AllRecipes]

Pumpkin [Food Network]

My Favorite Pumpkin Recipes [The Pioneer Woman]

14 Great Pumpkin Recipes [Real Simple]

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Complement Your Halloween Costume With Cool Makeup Tutorials

October 16, 2014 by

No matter what you decide to be for Halloween, your costume would likely benefit from makeup—but we're not talking about mascara and lipstick here! If you’re clueless about makeup but want to create a really realistic look for the holiday, these online tutorials will teach you everything you need to know about adding stitches, attaching faux eyelashes, or even transforming yourself into a gory zombie.

Zombie Makeup Tutorial [fairestsfavorites.blogspot.com]
A zombie is a classic Halloween costume that requires some serious makeup skills to perfect. If you want to look truly undead, this costume makeup tutorial will show you how to make your skin pale and add some killer wounds and gashes.

Mermaid [hgtv.com]
For something a bit prettier, this creative mermaid tutorial uses many of the items that you might already have in your makeup kit to transform you into an underwater mermaid. Textured scales along the cheekbones are the most important detail, but pearl accents and dramatic blue lips help to complete the look.

Fairy [popsugar.com]
Another great costume idea is an ethereal fairy, and this makeup tutorial makes the costume look truly realistic. Best of all, this will help you to create a look that’s a bit edgier than most.

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How to Take the Stress Out of Back-to-School

September 18, 2014 by

From the school supply shopping to the transportation planning, going back to school can be stressful on both you and your little one. Luckily, these helpful tips will take the stress out of the beginning of a new school year.

  1. Instill a positive attitude. First and foremost, it’s important to help your child to think positively about the beginning of school. Ask a lot of questions about how he or she feels, and be sure to speak encouragingly whenever discussing school. Even the most confident child likely has a few butterflies about starting a new grade level, so be positive enough for the both of you.
  2. Create a back-to-school routine. After staying up late and sleeping in all summer, it can be difficult for children to get back into the swing of things once fall rolls around. A week or so before the first day, start instating a reasonable bedtime and serving a wholesome breakfast a bit earlier than usual to create good habits once school starts.
  3. Get organized. Purchase only the essentials when school shopping and pack them into a backpack a few days ahead of time. Obtain a bus assignment or other transportation information, and spend some time going over your child’s new schedule. Finally, be sure to set out a reliable camera to snap that priceless first day of school photo.

Ease Back-to-School Stress [School Family]
What Not to Take Back-to-School? Stress. It’s Toxic! [Healthy Child]
Ease back to school stress with these six tips [Good to Know]

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How to Take the Stress Out of Home Entertaining

September 4, 2014 by

Even the best party planners get stressed out when it comes time for a large get-together, but there are some simple tips that help to take the pressure out of entertaining. Here are a few smart ideas that will make your upcoming holiday party or gathering effortless and worry-free.

  1. Make a to-do list. Any expert entertainer will tell you that the easiest way to stay organized is by making a to-do list. Detail everything that you need to do to prepare and keep things separated by days. If you start the planning a week or so in advance, everything will come together on party day.
  2. Keep things relaxed. It doesn’t take fine china to set a beautiful table. Keep things low-key by using attractive paper tablecloths and napkins, and make sure that all of your flatware matches so that you can mix and match pieces depending on the type of food that you’re serving.
  3. Create a lively atmosphere. Do whatever it takes to make your guests feel welcome and comfortable, from creating a fun playlist to drawing up seating place cards that best match guests who don’t know one another. This ensures that the conversation will flow all night long.
  4. If all else fails, make enough food. If your guests love the food, you can almost guarantee a good party.

10 Tips To Help You Throw a Great Party Without Losing Your Mind (Or Blowing Your Budget) [The Kitchn]
12 Secrets to Hosting a Stress-Free Holiday Party [HGTV]
The Stress Less Dinner Party [Real Simple]

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