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Game-Day Eats Any Football Fan Will Love to Try

September 15, 2016 by

If there’s one thing all football fans can agree on, it’s that you have to have the perfect snacks to get you through the big game. The next time you have your friends over to Firewheel to watch some football, make these game-day eats that everyone will love.

Super Quick Chili [myrecipes.com]
While cooking chili may seem like an all-day affair, it doesn’t have to be when you have a recipe like this one. In just under 30 minutes you can create a perfectly spicy, flavorful chili and serve it in miniature bread bowls made out of store-bought dinner rolls.

Asiago-Artichoke Dip [bhg.com]
Make your usual cheese dip a bit more sophisticated with this unique but equally simple recipe. The addition of prosciutto and green onions gives the cheesy concoction a big burst of flavor, and you can serve it with your choice of bagel chips, toasted bread slices, or gourmet crackers for easy dipping.

Crispy Baked Chicken Wings [bonappetit.com]
If you want to make classic chicken wings a bit healthier, this baked recipe is a great option. Instead of frying the wings in a deep fryer, this recipe involves baking them in the oven with a complex ginger-soy glaze that’s still spicy enough to satisfy your hot wing cravings.

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Tell Mosquitoes to Buzz Off With These Household Recipes for Bug Repellent

July 21, 2016 by

We all know that a bite from a mosquito can cause redness, swelling, and an uncomfortable amount of itching. Thankfully, there are many different ways to keep mosquitoes away using all natural ingredients. Follow these simple tips and natural repellent recipes to keep the mosquitoes away this summer.

  • You can easily make your own citronella candles to place around your outdoor space. Citronella essential oil is known to be one of the most effective ways to repel mosquitoes.
  • Mosquitoes hate lavender. To keep them out of your home, add a few drops of lavender oil onto a ribbon and place the ribbon around open windows. This is sure to keep them from entering.
  • Make your own repellent spray using oils such as citronella, lemongrass, and eucalyptus to spray on your skin before you go outside.
  • You can also make your repellent spray out of geranium, tea tree, and peppermint.
  • You can also easily make your own repellent lotion using coconut oil, peppermint, lavender, or clove essential oil.

13 Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away [Natural Living Ideas]
All-Natural Homemade Bug Spray Recipes That Work! [Wellness Mama]
DIY: Homemade Insect Repellent Sprays and Lotions [Inhabitat]

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Stay Cool (and in Shape!) With These Summer Fitness Tips

July 14, 2016 by

Taking your workout outdoors this summer? Staying hydrated and maintaining your body’s electrolytes and salts is crucial, especially during hot weather. Keep these tips in mind before breaking a sweat this season!

  • Running at the right hour of the day is important. You want to avoid exercising outside between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. because the sun is strongest then.
  • Wear light colors to reflect the sun and opt for cotton or other lighweight, sweat-wicking fabrics. Also be sure to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high SPF.
  • You want to drink 7 to 10 ounces of water every 15 minutes, even when you’re not thirsty. Continue to drink water before and after your workout.
  • Refrain from drinking hot coffee before your workout. It can leave you dehydrated and can prevent your body from cooling down effectively.
  • Eat a snack with protein and carbohydrates 30 minutes after your workout.

5 Ways to Exercise Safely in the Heat [U.S. News]
8 Tips for Exercising in Summer Heat [Active]
Essential Tips for Outdoor Exercise [Arm & Hammer]

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Autumn Has Arrived! Fun Craft Ideas the Whole Family Can Make

November 19, 2015 by

Once the weather gets cooler and your family spends more time indoors, you might want to find fun and creative ways to keep everyone occupied. Luckily, there are a number of fall-ready craft ideas that the whole family will love to make. Here are just a few.

Tree Branch Coasters [countryliving.com]
If someone in your family is handy with a saw, you can make these tree branch coasters that you’ll use every day. This rustic craft is made using slices from a tree limb, and once the sawing is done, everyone in the family will have fun sanding them down and adding cute leaf motifs.

Gourd Birdhouse [marthastewart.com]
Give birds a place to nest this fall with this creative birdhouse made out of a gourd. Simply create a tunnel-like opening for the birds to enter, add some comfy nesting materials inside and hang the whole thing from a sturdy branch or pipe.

Fall Terrarium [midwestliving.com]
Turn summer’s popular succulent-filled terrariums into something festive for fall with this fun DIY project. Add some mounded moss as the base inside of the terrarium jar or other glass vessel, and then top it with small pumpkins, gourds, twigs, and other foraged finds from outside.

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How to Tell the Difference Between a Cold and the Flu

January 22, 2015 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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How to Find Pick-Your-Own Pumpkins Near You

October 16, 2014 by

The kids are already excited about carving pumpkins, but they’ll absolutely love to visit a pumpkin patch to choose their own before getting started. But wait, is there a pumpkin patch in our area? If you want to take your children to pick pumpkins but don’t know where to begin, these two websites can help!

PickYourOwn.org
This information-packed site is filled with great ideas for all types of farms and orchards, so of course its list of pumpkin patches is quite extensive. Simply choose our state’s name from the complete list and read up on the various pumpkin growers in our area. There are even maps that pinpoint the exact locations of pumpkin patches, orchards, and other local purveyors.

Local Harvest
This well-respected site is one of the most cumulative resources for all things fresh, organic and local, including pumpkins. Its interactive map offers markings for each of the possible facilities near us, and there are also ratings from other Local Harvest users so that you can decide which one seems like the best choice for your family. Choose the U-Pick option from the initial drop-down search bar to filter your results to only pumpkin patches.

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