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3 Easy Diet Swaps

October 11, 2013 by

Dieting doesn't mean cutting out your favorite foods — just switch them for healthier, low-calorie versions. Check out these tips:

Dip
Don't fear dips anymore. Switch out high calorie dips with Greek yogurt-based dips. It has way less calories and more protein. Trying dipping veggies!

Popcorn
Craving something salty? Instead of reaching for that bag of chips, pop some popcorn. You'll get the same satisfying salty flavor for less calories, just watch your toppings!

Pizza
You can still have pizza while dieting! Instead of ordering a deep dish pizza with all the toppings go for a flatbread pizza with veggies. Or even better, make your own pizza. For a snack size use an English muffin with a little bit of tomato sauce and low-fat mozzarella cheese.

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Trip Idea: Springfield, Illinois

October 3, 2013 by

No tour of state capitals would be complete without a visit to Springfield! Illinois's capital, as you might have guessed, features lots and lots on the life of Lincoln. But there's more to see and do! Here are some top destinations if you're planning a visit:

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum
Explore the life and legacy of the man who many call America's greatest president. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Holidays. Make sure you make a stop at Lincoln's Tomb located just a few miles away. 

Dana-Thomas House
Head over to the Dana-Thomas House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1902. Take a tour through the house to see a bowling alley, wine cellar, string quartet band lofts, beautiful stained glass, and more. Explore the 35 room house from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. 

D'arcy's Pint
Relax with an authentic Irish meal after a day of site seeing. The warm and cozy environment is perfect for enjoying a pint of beer and some traditional bar food. Make sure your try the "horseshoe," a Springfield classic made with Texas toast, your choice of protein (hamburger, chicken, bacon, turkey, etc.) then topped with fries and homemade cheese sauce. 

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Easy Entertaining Idea: Charcuterie Plate

September 27, 2013 by

Don't stress the next time you have unexpected guests for lunch or dinner. You can put together a quick charcuterie plate, using staples you probably already have on hand. Here are some basic ingredients:

  • Keep a couple different types of cured meats in the fridge. Popular meats include prosciutto, salami, soppressata, and mortadella. Just about any thin, salty, dried meat will work.
  • Use a loaf of bread like ciabatta or focaccia bread. Breads that work best have a thicker crust and soft inside so they can complement the meat.
  • No plate would be complete without cheese. Add two different cheeses which can be easily sliced or cubed.
  • A few dips or spreads will finish off the tray. Even simple things like mustard or jam pair well with cheese, meat, and bread.
  • Have some olives? Put them on the tray. Small fruits or nuts work well too!

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Interesting Facts About Warren Buffet

September 24, 2013 by

Perhaps you've heard of Warren Buffet? Nicknamed the Oracle of Omaha, Buffet is a celebrated American business magnate consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people. Here are five fascinating facts about this American success story:

He's a Regular Guy
Sure, he's enormously wealthy. But Buffet still inhabits the same three-bedroom Omaha, Nebraska house he purchased over fifty years ago. He drives his own car and doesn't employ private driver or security team.

He Likes Simplicity
Buffet has only two rules for his managers: First, don't lose your shareholders' money. Secondly, don't forget the first rule.

He's Always Been Talented
Buffet's gift for finance was apparent when he was a young man. He purchased his first share when he was just eleven years old, later expressing regret that he hadn't begun even sooner! At fourteen, he bought a small farm with money earned on a paper-delivery route.

Harvard Wouldn't Accept Him
After graduating a year early from the University of Nebraska, Buffet applied to Harvard Business School. Harvard rejected him as "too young." Buffet matriculated to Columbia instead. There he met an important mentor: investor Ben Graham.

He's Generous
Most of Buffet's fortune has been donated to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, an organization that advances health and education initiatives around the world.

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Stay Motivated While Working Out With These Apps

September 19, 2013 by

It's important to stay motivated while working out. There are plenty of apps on the market that aim to make it easier. Here are our favorite apps for working out. 

Fit Radio
Available for iPhones and Android, Fit Radio creates the perfect workout mix to keep you motivated during your workout. The app picks only upbeat tunes, making sure you stay pumped up with great music. 

Nike Training Club
his app is like your personal trainer — but way cheaper. Just enter your goal and work out level. Nike Training Club will give you a list of exercises with detailed instructions and audio guides. When you're workout is done, you'll receive a report with time spent and calories burned. Available for iPhone and Android. 

RunKeeper
If you're a runner, you need this app. Using your phone's GPS, this app will track your progress while running, walking, or biking. Check your pace, distance, and time. Audio cues will give you motivation and progress while you're running. Available for iPhone and Android. 

Pocket Yoga
Now you can practice yoga anywhere with Pocket Yoga. Choose your difficulty level and duration to begin a yoga class. You'll be guided through each pose with audio instructions. Available for iPhone and Android. 

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Trip Idea: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

September 16, 2013 by

Need a vacation? You can enjoy more than 60 miles of sand, sun, and fun in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Family Kingdom
Take a break from the beach and check out this great, family friendly amusement park. More than 30 thrilling rides fill this amusement park like wooden coasters, steel coasters, log flumes, and a whole water park. 

Ripley's Aquarium
Don't go looking for sharks in the water, instead you'll find them at Ripley's Aquarium. When you need a break from the sun, or the weather has become rainy, spend an afternoon exploring the 85,000 square foot aquarium with a marine life petting zoo. 

The Beach
Don't forget the reason most people come: the beach! The beaches in South Carolina are free so all you need is a beach towel and a cool drink. Some areas have lifeguards on duty and beach chairs to rent. When you need something to eat just take a short walk to the boardwalk.

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Want Better Gas Mileage? Follow These Car Maintenance Tips

August 15, 2013 by

Sure, it may seem like gas prices only go up. But you don't have to invest in an expensive hybrid car to reduce your costs at the pump. With some simple regular maintenance, you can get better gas mileage from your existing vehicle, and also extend its life! The Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov site offers some useful car maintenance tips, such as:

  • Keep your engine tuned. Proper tuning can improve gas mileage by 4%!
  • Maintain proper tire pressure. Keeping tires properly inflated can improve your car's gas mileage by up to 3.3%.
  • Use the right motor oil. The wrong grade of motor oil can reduce your car's performance, along with its fuel economy.

The Department of Energy's site even helps calculate how much money you could save per gallon of gas. 4% may not seem like a big deal, but accrued over time, proper car maintenance can lead to big savings!

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Favorite Ways to Brew a Delicious Cup of Coffee

August 8, 2013 by

Even if you can't make it to Starbucks, you can always brew great coffee at home. You're probably familiar with automatic drip coffeemakers, but there are a whole host of other ways to make an excellent cup of coffee.

Automatic drip coffeemakers offer one great advantage: consistency. Their easy drip and heat settings create a reliably decent cup of coffee each time. The drawback's that their common warming plates can burn coffee if the pot's left on for too long.

Single serve coffee pods like K-Cups help brew only as much coffee as you want and can make a cup very quickly. They're also a bit more expensive than other options and create more waste.

French presses have become very popular over the last few years. A simple machine, the French press is a glass vessel in which hot water is poured over roughly ground coffee. After steeping the grounds for a few moments, you'll push down a wire mesh screen, strain the grounds, and have a robust, dark coffee. Time it quite carefully or the coffee will be too light or dark!

Cold-brewed coffee has also become popular recently. This method involves steeping grounds in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, straining the grounds, and mixing small quantities of the coffee concentrate with hot water, cold water, or even milk for a very smooth coffee.

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Summer Staycation Ideas

July 25, 2013 by

If money’s tight and you can’t swing airfare to a beautiful beach or other tropical destination, why not consider a staycation? These at-home holidays are more and more popular in recent years, and here are some fun ideas for your own.

Research Your Town
Chances are your town has an interesting history, but it may not be something you've ever really considered! Why not take some time this summer to learn about its past history, its buildings, and what your neighborhood was like years ago?

International Cuisine Potluck
Spend some time reasearching the food of another country, then have a potluck where guests each bring a unique dish. Indian cuisine, Thai cuisine, and other national cuisines offer some enjoyable new tastes to experience together.

Game Tournament
Each night, play a different board or card game with your family members. Record the winner every night and have an awards ceremony at the end of the “season” giving prizes for various things.

Geocaching
This popular hobby can be enjoyed just about anywhere. People hide waterproof containers with logbooks in various locations all over the world, and anybody with a GPS and a sense of adventure can follow clues to find them.

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4 Craft Inspiration Apps

June 20, 2013 by

Crafting encompasses a lot of different hobbies from drawing, painting, knitting, scrapbooking, and more. Instead of turning to books when you need inspiration, there are now a lot of apps available right at the tip of your fingers. Check out these apps when you want to get crafty!

Pinterest
With categories designed for crafts and DIY, Pinterest is a great place to start looking for inspiration for a new project or store projects you want to try. Just save your favorite pins, and you will have all your project inspiration available when you need them.

Michaels
All the resources of the crafting store is in one place with Michaels' app. There is a shopping list creator, daily inspiration, and tips for projects. 

Craftgawker
Stuck on what to make next? Turn to Craftgawker, a visual inspiration board devoted to crafts. With crafts of all types from paper projects to knitting you are sure to find something. Save your favorite projects to come back to later. 

Craft Finder
Find crafts based on age and skill level. You can organize crafts by completed, work in progress, or projects you want to make. Each craft comes with step by step instructions to walk you through each project.

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