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Plan Your Dream Wedding With Help From These Two Websites

November 19, 2015 by

The wedding-planning process is an exciting time in the life of any bride or groom, but it can difficult to know exactly where to start. Whether you're planning backyard nuptials or an elaborate affair on a tropical island, these two image-heavy websites can help point you in the direction of your dream wedding.

Style Me Pretty
Arguably the most popular wedding blog out there, Style Me Pretty posts user-submitted photos from newlyweds. Each post tells the story of the bride's day through beautiful photos, which are supplemented with wedding planning advice and tips from the bride.

Once Wed
Similar to Style Me Pretty, Once Wed is eye candy for brides-to-be. Ooh and aah over images of real brides' gowns, bouquet, and shoes, then scroll down to learn how she coordinated her bridal party, decorated her tablescapes, and decided upon invitations. Borrow some of her ideas for your own wedding.

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How to Make This Year’s Halloween Party Your Best Ever

October 22, 2015 by

So you’ve decided to throw a Halloween party at your home, but where do you start? Luckily, a spooky Halloween theme offers an almost endless list of decoration and refreshment ideas to make your party a ghoulish good time. Here’s just a bit of inspiration.

Severed Finger Invitation [marthastewart.com]
Give your guests a fright before the party even starts by sending them a severed "finger" in a box as a party invitation!

Spiked Witch’s Brew [celebrations.com]
For refreshments, serve a black cauldron filled with a spiked punch that looks like witch’s brew. You can even make it “smoke” by adding dry ice to the cauldron.

Monster Face Paint [marthastewart.com]
Entertain the little ones at a Halloween party by setting up a face painting station. Even if the party isn’t a costume party, they’ll love to wear their new monster face around all night.

Mad Scientist Party [rachaelraymag.com]
If you prefer to go all-out with a unique theme, a mad scientist party is one that your guests probably haven’t seen before. Decorate with beakers and test tubes, don a white lab coat and a wild wig, and turn your kitchen into a laboratory filled with experimental refreshments.

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Watching Your Waistline? Check Out These Weight Loss Tips for Women

September 17, 2015 by

Just about every website and magazine today claims to offer miracle diet tips, but the only real way to lose weight is by exercising regularly and watching what you eat. These smart (and realistic!) tips can help keep women on track to shedding those extra pounds.

  1. Determine your individual calorie intake. Sure, counting calories is important for everyone, but not every woman’s body requires the same amount of calories each day. Work with a doctor to determine your recommended daily amount based on your weight loss goals.
  2. Practice portion control. Even if your diet already consists of mainly lean meats, fruits, and veggies, many people go overboard when it comes to portion control. Measure out your portions beforehand to stay on track.
  3. Forgo diet treats. Every American supermarket is filled with “diet” versions of unhealthy treats, but in most cases, you’re better off opting for a smaller serving size of the real deal. That way, you won’t be tempted to overindulge.
  4. Balance cardio and strength workouts. Most people prefer one or the other when it comes to their gym habits, but it’s important to balance both types of exercise if you really want to lose weight.
  5. Amp up your workouts. Practice short bursts of intense activity, which burn far more calories and help you to lose weight faster.

Our 75 Best Tips for Losing Weight [Women’s Day]
7 Weight Loss Mistakes Even Healthy Women Make [Prevention]
7 Weight Loss Challenges and Tips for Women [ShareCare]

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Two HGTV Shows to Flip Out About

August 20, 2015 by

Flipping a home involves purchasing an old, usually run-down property and, with a bit of elbow grease and a whole lot of hardwood floors, turning it into something that turns a profit. If this entire process sounds fascinating to you, you’ll simply flip over these two HGTV programs dedicated to flipping houses.

Rehab Addict
Pint-sized contractor Nicole Curtis packs a huge punch with the houses that she flips on HGTV's Rehab Addict. The show follows Curtis as she lovingly scoops up dilapidated homes in Detroit and Minneapolis and transforms them into something that anyone would be proud to live in. Unlike many home renovation shows that center around granite countertops and other trendy design details, Curtis aims to preserve the historic details and original character of every home she renovates. After watching her plead her case to city officials and argue with her own quirky family, you’ll be hooked on this entertaining HGTV show!

Flipping the Block
If you have a bit of a competitive streak, you’ll love HGTV’s competition program Flipping the Block. This brand new eight-part series features four teams of contractors and home renovation experts as they compete to re-do identical condos and see which one sells for the most money.

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Heading to a Picnic? Keep These Food Storage Safety Guidelines in Mind!

July 23, 2015 by

The only thing that can spoil a picnic more than rain is spoilage in another area: the food! You might be so concerned about mastering your mom’s potato salad recipe that you forget to properly protect it from the hot sun, and that will put quite a damper on your fun day outdoors. Follow these safety tips for properly storing and serving picnic food:

  • Keep cold foods cold. This may seem obvious, but you’ll need to thoroughly line a cooler with ice or frozen gel packs to ensure that your food stays cold even as the temperatures rise. This includes things like creamy salads, meats, and cheeses.
  • Use a thermometer. Perishable foods should be stored at a temperature of 40°F or below, so use a thermometer to make sure that you maintain that temperature all day long.
  • Keep the cooler closed. Store water and soft drinks in a separate cooler from the perishable food to minimize the how often the cooler is opened throughout the day.
  • Prevent cross-contamination. If you’re grilling meats at your picnic, be sure to thoroughly wrap them in plastic wrap or store them in plastic containers. Always wash your hands after handling raw meat, and don’t let meats touch fruit, veggies, or other foods.

Eating Outdoors, Handling Food Safely [FDA]
Perfect Food Safe Picnics! [FoodSafety.gov]
Picnic Food Kids Will Love: Pack A Safe & Healthy Basket [Parents]

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Apartment Decorating 101: Tips Every Renter Should Know

June 18, 2015 by

While you may not be able to tear down walls or add new countertops in your rental, you actually have a lot of options for decorating your home. As long as you have bit of creativity and a vision for your space, you can achieve a look that works for you. Here are just a few decorating tips that every renter should know.

  • Add storage. To avoid clutter, add your own storage by using affordable bookshelves, dressers and shelving units.
  • Change the hardware. In a rental, anything that you can change back to the way it was before when you move out is fair game for changing. That means that you can add fun drawer pulls, bathroom hardware, and removable wallpaper.
  • Freshen up the window coverings. Dress your windows in breezy curtains, bamboo blinds, or privacy-enhancing drapes.
  • Hang art. One of the fastest and easiest ways to really add personality to a space is by hanging framed artwork on the walls. Just make sure to use temporary adhesives if your landlord doesn’t permit nails in the wall.
  • Add rugs. Colorful rugs brighten up any room in the home, and they feel soft underfoot!

The 10 Commandments of Rental Decor [The Everygirl]
11 Decor Ideas That Will Change Your Rental Apartment [HuffPost Home]
5 Easy + Affordable Decorating Tips for Renters [Design Happens]

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Watching Your Weight? Don’t Make These Dieting Mistakes!

June 4, 2015 by

You might think that you’re on a fairly healthy diet that will eventually lead to your goal weight, but some of your eating habits might actually do more harm than good when it comes to weight loss. Check out these common dieting mistakes to make sure that they’re not a part of your daily routine

  • Eating too fast. By rushing through every meal, you don’t give your body enough time to actually feel full. If you eat slower, you’re more likely to stop eating when you’ve actually had enough.
  • Forgoing meals. Instead of making you lose weight faster, skipping meals actually leads to consuming more calories later in the day. Even if you’re not feeling hungry at meal time, try eating a small snack to keep your appetite regulated.
  • Consuming liquid calories. Many dieters don’t realize just how many calories there are in many common beverages. Drinks like wine, beer, coffee, and even juices can add hundreds of unnecessary calories throughout the day.
  • Eating too-large portions. It’s always smart to measure the portion size of your food before eating it, as it is very difficult to judge the amount of calories simply by looking at a food. You can do this by using a food scale or carrying plastic containers in the recommended sizes.

Diet Mistakes: 6 Reasons You're Not Losing Weight [WebMD]
14 Diet Foods To Avoid [Prevention]
13 Healthy Foods to Avoid For Weight Loss! [Active Beat]
Jillian Michaels: Weight-Loss Tips That Work [Health]

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Resume Writing Tips for Job Seekers

May 21, 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]

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Curtains 101: How to Choose and Install the Right Window Treatments for Your Apartment

April 16, 2015 by

One of the fastest, most fail-proof ways to breathe new life into your home's decor is by swapping out your window treatments. Here are a few smart ways to help you choose the perfect curtains for your apartment and install them to best suit your specific space.

  • Choose the right size. When choosing curtains or drapes, go for something that is approximately 2 to 2.5 times the width of your windows. As for the length, make sure that they touch the floor when you hang them at the top of the window (or slightly above).
  • Keep it sheer. Unless you want to use your curtains for privacy, it’s best to go for something sheer so that you don’t block natural light.
  • Choose high quality hardware. If you have the extra funds, choosing a pricier type of curtain rod can make all the difference. This creates a more luxurious look, and you may find that the rod stands up to daily use a bit better than cheaper options.
  • Hang them high. Most interior designers recommend hanging your curtains all the way at the ceiling instead of just above the window. This creates a dramatic, catalog-worthy look and adds the illusion of height.
  • Add Roman shades. If heavy curtains aren’t your style, add Roman shades in a color that matches the rest of your room instead.

8 Window Treatment Ideas [Apartments.com]
Decor PSA: Hang Curtains High & Wide [Apartment Therapy]
Ask a Designer: How Do I Choose Window Treatments? [House Beautiful]

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Confused About Cholesterol? Learn More About It

March 19, 2015 by

How much cholesterol should a person really consume in a day? Are some types of cholesterol worse than others? There are a number of confusing “facts” floating around about the mysterious topic of cholesterol, and it may seem difficult to decide which ones are true. Here are a few definitive statements that will set the record straight and put you on the right track toward lower cholesterol. (Remember to consult with your doctor for medical advice!)

  1. Women should worry about their cholesterol just as much as men. Although many people think that cholesterol is man’s problem, once women enter menopause it affects them just as much. Menopause causes a woman’s “good” HDL cholesterol levels to decrease and their “bad” LDL levels to increase, which puts them at just as much risk.
  2. Everyone should practice a healthy diet and regular exercise routine to prevent high cholesterol. While being overweight or obese does put you at a much higher risk for high cholesterol, genetics are to blame for many instances of high cholesterol, as well. No matter how thin or physically fit you are, all adults should be concerned with their cholesterol levels.
  3. Whole foods are always better than packaged foods. There are many packaged foods that claim to be low in cholesterol, but they are often filled with other things (such as trans fats) that can also increase your cholesterol levels. Fruits, vegetables, and lean meats are always a better choice.

Common Misconceptions about Cholesterol [American Heart Association]
The Top 5 Cholesterol Myths [Health]
4 Dubious 'Facts' About High Cholesterol [Everyday Health]
Common Misconceptions About Cholesterol, Foods and Fats [Natural Therapy Pages]

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