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Tackle Spring Cleaning With These Helpful Tips

April 18, 2014 by

The change from winter to spring is typically accompanied by a desire to have a bright, clean home. You're tired of the dingy, cold effects of winter snow and ice, and everything just feels a bit less than fresh. If you’re planning a spring cleaning routine but don’t know where to begin, these seven tips will help you get started.

  • Set all clocks ahead one hour for Daylight Savings Time.
  • Change the batteries in things like smoke detectors, remote controls, and alarm clocks.
  • Flip or rotate your mattress to ensure that it lasts for years to come.
  • Protect hardwood floors against scratches by adding padded, adhesive discs to the legs of chairs and tables.
  • Clean the refrigerator using a few teaspoons of baking soda diluted in hot water. Also be sure to toss out expired or unused food items.
  • Wash pillows to prevent seasonal allergens common in the springtime from accumulating inside.
  • Re-stock cleaning supplies to prepare yourself for any number of household messes and spills that come with the spring season.

    Spring Cleaning [Martha Stewart]
    28 Spring Cleaning Tips [Country Living]

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Expect a New York Pizzeria Experience at Manhattan Pizza

April 15, 2014 by

Enjoy a real New York-style pizza at Manhattan Pizza. This comfy-casual spot is the place to go for traditional pizza shop favorites. Why is the pizza so good here? It’s all about the ingredients. Fresh dough is topped with tasty sauce, cheese, veggies, and meats. Baked the right way, it makes for a crust that’s crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, a perfect platform for a good pie. For lunch or dinner you can also get a big Manhattan sub, some wings, or a half-pound burger. But that’s not all; there are also some traditional Greek selections, too. (The classic gyro is a popular favorite.)

Open Sundays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Manhattan Pizza offers take-out and delivery.

Manhattan Pizza
43930 Farmwell Hunt Plaza
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 858-1388
http://www.manhattanpizza.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/manhattan-pizza-ashburn

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Check Your Baby Name’s Popularity on the U.S. Social Security Website

April 11, 2014 by

If you're an expecting parent, you probably already know that the process of choosing the perfect name for your baby is quite a feat, from getting your partner on the same page to ensuring your little one won't share her name with countless classmates at school.

We can't help sway your partner's vote, but did you know that you can screen a name's popularity on the U.S. Social Security website? There are a few ways to go about your research: 1) You can see the top ten boys and girls names from the previous year, 2) search the most popular names by year (all the way back to 1879!), or 3) input a name to view its popularity over time. You can even view the most popular names by state or decade.

How does your baby's name (or your own name!) rank on the lists?

Popular Baby Names [Social Security]

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Taste Why Banjara Indian Cuisine Is a Staple of the Ashburn Dining Scene

April 8, 2014 by

Get some tasty Indian cuisine at a relaxing place in Ashburn at Banjara Indian Cuisine. You’ll like the elegant, contemporary ambiance; the subdued lighting from the chandelier complements the cozy booths and live plants to create a memorable setting for lunch with friends, a family dinner, and even a date night.

Banjara Indian Cuisine is open daily for lunch and dinner. The lunch buffet always has some good selections, and the dinner menu features a large variety of curries, entrees, and house specialties. If you're having trouble deciding what to order, regulars recommend the chicken tikka masala, and vegetarians will happy to know that many meat-free dishes occupy the menu. Be sure to accompany your meal with a mango lassi, and leave room for rice pudding or the gulab jamun, fried milk balls in sweet rose syrup.

This popular dining destination also offers catering and take-out.

Banjara Indian Cuisine
44050 Ashburn Shopping Plaza
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 723-0040
http://www.banjaracuisine.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/banjara-indian-cuisine-ashburn

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Fast and Easy Ways to Spruce Up Your Living Space

April 4, 2014 by

You don't need to invest tons of time and money into home decorating projects. Many times just accomplishing small projects can make a big difference in the look and feel of your home. Here are four simple projects you can complete this weekend.

Artwork
Eye-catching artwork can have quite an impact on your living space, but there's no need to go out and buy a huge, expensive painting when you can make it yourself. Check out these DIY wall art projects for inspiration.

Polish Fixtures
Put on your cleaning gear and polish fixtures like door knobs, candle sticks, and faucets. It's easy to forget how shiny and bright these fixtures can be. Take a few minutes to polish, and it'll seem like you have all new fixtures.

Update a Bookcase
If you have a shelving unit in your living room, like a bookcase or entertainment unit, you can give the room a whole new feel by adding a little color to the bookcase. Paint the inside of the book case or cover it in wrapping paper. Check out this easy tutorial.

Organize Your Kitchen
Place baking supplies in glass containers, like mason jars that are clearly labeled, then organize snacks using small baskets. It will make cooking a lot easier since you'll be able to see and find things easily!

10 DIY Wall Art Ideas — Personalized! [The Nest]
Weekend DIY Ideas: 7 Projects You Can Accomplish In Under One Hour [Huffington Post]
Adding Interest to Bookshelves [New House to Home]
The Up-cycled Pantry Makeover! [Lewisville Love]

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Lace Up Your Skates, Take to the Ice at Ashburn Ice House

April 1, 2014 by

Lace up your skates and have some fun at the Ashburn Ice House. This indoor ice rink has something for everyone, whatever your interests.

If you’ve always wanted to learn to skate, there are U.S. Figure Skating certified classes for children and adults. Small class sizes ensure that much of the instruction is one on one. Perhaps you’ve always had a desire to play hockey. This is the place to not only take hockey lessons, but to also join hockey leagues. Adults appreciate the “pick up” hockey games at night and during lunch hour, and little ones enjoy Ashburn Ice House's summer camps.

The fun at Ashburn Ice House really picks up when the free skate hours take place. Bring your own skates or rent a pair here, then hit the ice with your friends. Open seven days a week, Ashburn Ice House is also popular spot for birthday parties.

Ashburn Ice House
21595 Smith Switch Road
Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 858-0300
http://ashburnice.pointstreaksites.com/view/ashburnice/home-page#.UshONPRDv08
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ashburn-ice-house-ashburn

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Bake Your Own Bread With These Recipe Sites

March 28, 2014 by

Who doesn’t love the taste of warm, crusty bread right out of the oven? Though homemade bread may seem intimidating to many at-home chefs, these simple websites offer bread recipes for cooks of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a sweet cinnamon raisin loaf for tomorrow’s breakfast or an elaborate multigrain baguette for a dinner party, these websites have recipes for every type of bread imaginable.

All Recipes
All Recipes is a go-to website for just about any recipe you can think of, and their bread section leaves nothing to be desired. It features recipes of the day with mouth-watering photos of breads, muffins, and biscuits, as well as a variety of staff picks that are tested by the site’s knowledgeable employees. If you have a specific bread in mind, All Recipes also offers a handy search bar that allows you to search by the name, ingredient, or purpose of the bread.

Food Network
If you’ve ever watched a show on the Food Network and wondered how to make the fresh, delicious breads from your favorite shows, the bread section of the network’s website is the place to go. This page offers simple, instructional recipes for the simplest no-knead breads to the most complex bread puddings, and they’re all ranked by level of difficulty.

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Three Heart-Healthy Soup Recipes

March 25, 2014 by

It’s one thing to count calories, but finding foods that are just as beneficial to your health as they are to your weight is another story. These delicious soup recipes provide beneficial vitamins and nutrients, keep your heart strong and help you take control of your weight as they warm you up during colder months.

Homemade Turkey Soup
Perfect for using up those turkey dinner leftovers, this hearty turkey soup is full of flavor from its variety of spices. Turkey is a lean meat that provides energizing protein without the extra fat, and the broth base keeps it from weighing you down. At under 250 calories, this makes a light meal that will still fill you up.

Mexican Pozole
If you love the spicy taste of authentic Mexican food, this traditional soup is for you. With lean beef and a large helping of tomatoes, it provides beneficial nutrients as well as exciting flavor.

Rockport Fish Chowder
While other chowders are high in calories due to their creamy base, this lighter version provides the same rich texture without the extra calories. By using low-fat milk and a variety of veggies, you can create a delicious fish chowder that will help keep your diet on track.

For more healthy soup recipes, visit the NIH website.

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3 Tips to Simplify Your Spring Cleaning Routine

March 21, 2014 by

Spring has sprung! It’s time to open the windows wide, scrub the floors, and replace your heavy, winter down comforter with something light and fresh. These three tips will help you plan your spring cleaning attack.

  1. Stock your cleaning supply kit. There’s nothing more frustrating than going to polish your furniture and realizing that you’re out of wood oil. Before you begin your spring cleaning, make sure that you have new bottles of window cleaner, bathroom scrub, oven cleaner, white vinegar, baking soda and all of the brushes, towels, and sponges that go along with them.
  2. Begin by de-cluttering. Throw away or donate anything that you no longer use, and pack away heavy winter coats or large blankets that you won’t need for the next few months. This will give you an open surface for your deeper cleaning.
  3. Get the whole family on board. Spring cleaning is a task that’s much too large for one person, so plan a day when the whole family can help. Plan it in advance to ensure that everyone can take part in the action, and assign tasks to stay on track with your plan.

Top 10 Spring Cleaning Tips [HowStuffWorks]
Ultimate Spring Cleaning Guide [BHG]

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Oil Pulling 101: What You Need to Know About Oil Pulling

March 14, 2014 by

Have you heard of oil pulling? This new holistic health craze, which is actually an ancient Ayurvedic detoxification remedy, is said to boost overall health simply by swishing oil around the mouth once daily. The oil emulsifies with saliva in the mouth, becoming a cleansing agent that removes harmful bacteria, toxins, and plaque from the teeth and gums. The practice is also said to ease sinus congestion. But does oil pulling actually work? That's for you to decide—after checking in with your doctor or dentist first, of course.

If you'd like to give oil pulling a test spin, here's a handy guide to get you started.

1. Choose your oil.
The oils recommended for oil pulling are coconut, sesame, olive, and sunflower. You'll only need one tablespoon per pulling. If you choose coconut oil, let it liquefy before beginning your session.

2. Swish—and then swish some more.
Swish the oil around your mouth, just as you would with mouthwash. "Pull" the oil through your teeth. Your goal is to swish the oil until it becomes viscous and white. It usually takes 10 to 20 minutes to achieve this consistency, although beginner pullers can work their way up to that time.

3. Spit and rinse.
Once you've reached your allotted time, spit the oil into a trash can—not the toilet or sink, as the oil can clog pipes. (Don't swallow the oil!) Rinse your mouth with warm water, then brush your teeth. How often you practice oil pulling is up to you, although optimal benefits are said to achieved when oil pulling is performed several times per week.

Oil Pulling With Coconut Oil to Transform Your Dental Health [Authority Nutrition]
Oil Pulling: The Habit That Can Transform Your Health [Food Matters]
Oil Pulling for Oral Health [Wellness Mama]
What is Oil Pulling? [Coconut Oil Pulling]

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