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How to Host a Successful Clothing Swap

October 16, 2014 by

Clothing swaps are becoming increasingly popular ways to recycle your old clothes and gain some new-to-you favorites in return. By simply inviting a few friends to bring a few items each, you can organize a clothing swap in no time. Here are a few tips for pulling it off.

  1. Get the word out. It’s best to invite 10 to 15 people for maximum swapping possibilities. Send out email invitations about one month in advance describing how to event works so that guests have ample time to start cleaning out their closets.
  2. Choose the perfect space. If you live in a studio apartment, it may be best to host the swap at a friend’s house with a larger common space. Choose a living room or even a covered area in the backyard if it’s warm outside.
  3. Get organized. Even among close friends, things can get a bit crazy if you simply dump the clothes into a pile and have at it. Create a type of system where each guest gets a certain number of items, or have the previous owners “auction” their pieces off by telling a background story about each item.
  4. Settle fights efficiently. If more than one person wants a particular item, develop a system for deciding who should get it. Choose a name out of a hat, or if your friends feel comfortable, let the group decide who wears it best.

13 Rules for a Successful Clothing Swap [Oprah]
10 Tips for Hosting a Successful Clothing Swap [Women’s Day]
Swap 'Til You Drop: Throwing a Clothing-Swap Party is On-Trend [Bethenny]

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Check Out These Helpful Android Apps for New Parents

September 18, 2014 by

You just had a baby, and with the surplus of advice you’ve been given things may start to feel a bit overwhelming. Although it may seem out of the ordinary, your Android phone could be one of your most reliable resources for managing a baby-proofed household. Here are two great Android apps that will help new parents stay organized and free of stress:

Baby Care
Track your baby’s growth and daily activities with Baby Care, a detailed organization app for parents. The app enables you to effortlessly remember when your little one last napped, ate and went to the bathroom, and it also measures his or her height and weight throughout infancy.

My Baby Today
Similar to a social media site, My Baby Today enables new parents to connect with other new parents to share advice, funny stories and support through the struggles of parenting. Helpful checklists will keep you organized, personalized daily reminders keep you informed about your baby’s development and the photo album will ensure that you never forget a moment.

Sounds for Baby Sleep Music
If your baby is a fussy sleeper, the soothing sounds and relaxing music on the Sounds for Baby Sleep Music app may help to lull him or her into dreamland. Choose from eight distinct sounds to target the one that your little one likes best.

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Easy Ways to Incorporate More Iron Into Your Diet

August 21, 2014 by

While you may think that iron is only important to bodybuilders and Popeye, it’s actually a very beneficial mineral that all humans need to survive. In fact, if your body doesn’t get enough iron you could start to suffer from anemia, an iron-deficiency that causes fatigue, weakness, and brittle nails and hair. These healthful foods will help to provide you with the right amount of iron each day.

  1. Mollusks. Seafoods like clams, oysters, and mussels have some of the highest levels of iron of any food groups. Oysters contain the most, offering 53 milligrams of iron in just a 20-count serving. Because the average person’s recommended percent daily value is just 18 milligrams per day, this means that you can get 295% of your daily value from an weekly oyster night at your favorite seafood spot.
  2. Liver. While you may have hated liver and onions as a child, liver is actually filled with quite a few health benefits. Beef liver is very low in fat and calories, and it also provides an incredible 26 milligrams of iron in just one 4-ounce serving. If you don’t eat beef, you can also get similar amounts of iron from chicken, pork, lamb, or turkey liver.

Best Foods for Iron [Huffington Post]
Top 10 Iron-Rich Foods [WebMD]
Top 10 Foods Highest in Iron [Healthaliciousness]
Iron Rich Foods [American Red Cross]

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Where to Shop Modern Home Furnishings Online

July 24, 2014 by

Few eras had as definitive a design aesthetic as the 1950s and 1960s. The mid-century modern styles made popular in these decades are seeing a major revival in modern furniture styles, channeling the clean lines, pin legs, and rich materials that devoted fans love. Here are two great websites to shop for modern home furnishings and decor.

West Elm
Popular home goods store West Elm carries mid-century modern inspired furniture and cozy, simple home decor items for fairly affordable prices. Many of the credenzas, chairs, and dressers are almost exact replicas of the rectangular teak creations from that era, and the rugs, duvet covers, and other textiles feature bold geometric prints that accent each piece perfectly.

Dwell Studios
Dwell Studios carries home goods with a bit higher price tags, but the sleek lines and high quality leather and upholstery make them completely worth the price to mid-century furniture devotees. The website carries chairs and sofas with modern style’s signature slender legs and low, square shapes, as well as decor accessories like ‘70s-inspired sculptures and decanters that look like they came straight from a vintage bar cart.

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Sweet Recipes for Tres Leches Cake

June 19, 2014 by

If you haven’t heard of tres leches cake before, you’re in for a real treat. This traditional Latin American cake combines a simple sponge cake with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream to create a moist, delicious cake that’s unlike any other type of dessert. Here are two delicious ways to prepare a unique tres leches cake.

The Pioneer Woman’s Tres Leches Cake [The Pioneer Woman]
The Pioneer Woman’s Tres Leches Cake recipe involves a homemade sponge cake that’s already moist and delicious. She recommends drizzling the three milk mixtures all over the entire cake once it’s cool, and she even proposes the option of adding rum to give the cake an even more distinct flavor.

Tres Leches Cake [Allrecipes]
With three layers— cake itself, the filling, and the topping—this Tres Leches Cake uses a traditional recipe that makes it taste just as sweet and delicious as the original. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top to add a bit of extra spice to the rich, creamy flavor.

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Have a Surplus of Mint on Your Hands? Try These 3 Recipes!

June 5, 2014 by

Even gardeners lacking any sort of green thumb can grow mint. This herb is loved (and loathed!) for its tendency to take over an entire garden, offering a veritable bounty of green leaves all summer long. Whether you're dealing with a surplus of mint from your own windowsill garden or you were gifted a mint bundle from an exasperated coworker, these three recipes will put the herb to good use.

Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream [The Kitchn]
Mint leaves are crushed, then steeped in a cream and sugar mixture for an hour, imbuing the ice cream with a fragrant, herbal taste. Chunks of dark chocolate are added into the mix at the end.

Warm Rice Salad with Peas and Mint [Huffpost Taste]
Regular rice is elevated in this summery side salad. Cooked rice is flavored with garlic and shallots, then brightened with the contrasting flavors of lemon juice, mint, and fresh peas.

Basil Mint Parsley Raw "Pesto" Sauce Recipe [Gluten-Free Goddess]
Cheese and nuts are omitted in this recipe for raw pesto sauce, which relies solely on basil, mint, parsley, garlic, olive oil, and salt to create a refreshing sauce for pasta, salmon, grilled corn — whatever you desire!

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5 Easy Ways to Improve Your Memory

May 14, 2014 by

We’ve all been there: You get to the grocery store and completely blank on what you need to buy, or maybe you forget the names of people you know you’ve met a dozen times. If you want to learn how to improve your memory and avoid these situations, these five tips can help.

  1. Get enough exercise and sleep. Physical activity increases oxygen to the brain, which enhances its activity. When you’re sleep deprived, your brain doesn’t operate at full capacity. Get a full eight hours to improve your memory.
  2. Hang out with friends. While many people think that completing a complicated puzzle improves your brain’s capacity for memory, this isn’t entirely true. Our brains want to remember things that make us happy, such as spending time with friends.
  3. Decrease stress. Chronic stress destroys brain cells and damages the hippocampus, both of which are necessary for memory. Check with a doctor to see if anti-anxiety medication may benefit you.
  4. Improve your diet. Certain nutrients in food can help to improve memory, including omega 3s in fish, vitamins in fruits and veggies, and antioxidants in green tea.
  5. Try new things. Stimulating your brain with activities that are out of the ordinary keeps it growing and developing. Read a difficult book, start an art project, or learn an instrument to help improve your memory.

How to Improve Your Memory [Help Guide]
Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Memory [Discovery]
7 Tricks to Improve Your Memory [Health]

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Get Into a Fitness Routine With These Motivational Tips

April 17, 2014 by

You’re certainly not the first person to admit that sticking to a fitness routine is hard, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. All it takes is time, patience, and a reliable fitness plan that works with your lifestyle. Here are some great tips that will help you to get in shape and feel better about your body.

1. Stop beating yourself up. Many people enter into a workout regime with a negative mindset because they feel bad about their bodies, but this isn’t a healthy way to begin. You need to think about the good things rather than focusing on the negatives.

2. Something is better than nothing. Don’t feel like your workout was a failure if you couldn’t complete it. We all have off days, and just getting onto the treadmill is a small victory in itself.

3. Make it a habit. Begin by telling yourself that you’ll work out every day for 30 days. While at first you may just be counting down until those 30 days are over, you’ll eventually become used to working out and it will become a part of your daily routine.

4. Make exercise possible. Sure, you could work out at 5 a.m. before work, but are you actually going to? Schedule your workouts at times that are accessible and easy to manage with the rest of your schedule.

How To Motivate Yourself Into an Exercise Routine [Lifehacker]
15 Tips to Restart the Exercise Habit [Lifehack]
7 Habits of Highly Effective Exercisers [Fitness]

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Two Great Websites for Muffin Recipes

March 20, 2014 by

If you’re growing tired of the usual blueberry muffin recipe, it might be time to switch things up in the kitchen. Put your baking skills to the test with these wonderful muffin recipes from two of the best recipe sites from around the web..

Cooking Light
Cooking Light’s list of Healthy Muffin Recipes is the perfect resource for the health-conscious baker. Muffins don’t need to be packed with calories in order to taste great, and there are a number of simple ingredient substitutions that can help to make your muffins a bit more nutritious. The Tuscan Lemon Muffins are made with olive oil and fresh lemon juice instead of sugary sweeteners or phony flavors, and even the seemingly indulgent Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Muffins are a bit healthier than the store-bought kind.

Martha Stewart
For truly creative muffin recipes, Martha Stewart’s website is one of the best resources. Beautiful photos provide endless inspiration, while the easy-to-follow recipes are simple enough for even the amateur home baker. Try the easy Applesauce Muffins with light, fluffy icing, or bake some Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins for a thicker consistency and sweet, spicy flavor. Whether you prefer something dessert-like or a muffin that’s a bit more savory, Martha Stewart has a muffin recipe for everyone.

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Eat Healthfully When Dining Out

March 6, 2014 by

You know the feeling: you go out to a restaurant, and you’re instantly overwhelmed by the amount of options on the menu. Your companions order a few appetizers for the table, and you might have a cocktail as well. You’re already a bit full when the meal arrives, but it’s so delicious that you can’t help but eat it anyway. Before you know it, you've eaten too much!

If you’re familiar with this situation, these helpful tips from the USDA can help you keep you on track:

  • Set the tone by taking control of your beverages. Choose water or unsweetened iced tea instead of sugary beverages.
  • Start your meal with a salad. This helps to avoid fried or fattening appetizers, gives you full serving of vegetables and keeps you from overdoing it once your meal comes.
  • Ask for dressings or sauces on the side so that you can control the amount you consume.
  • If portions are large, limit yourself by immediately putting half in a takeout box or sharing with a friend.
  • Avoid dishes with words like “fried” or “sautéed” in favor of things like “steamed” or “grilled”.
  • If you order a sandwich, ask for whole wheat bread instead of the usual white.

For more helpful tips for eating healthfully at restaurants, visit the USDA website.

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