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Delicious Football-Themed Desserts for Game Day

September 15, 2016 by

Whether you’re hosting your own football viewing party or attending a game day potluck at a friend’s house, there are a number of football-themed desserts that your fellow fans will love. Here are three great recipes that will sweeten up the big game.

Pumpkin Football Cakes [bhg.com]
The pumpkin flavor makes these whoopie pie-style cakes perfect for the fall season, and their football shape makes them feel truly festive. This simple recipe even shows you how to make your own buttercream frosting for the football’s stitches.

Pull Apart Touchdown Cupcakes [foodnetwork.com]
Create a miniature replica of the football field using delicious cupcakes with this fun and creative DIY recipe. Bright green icing with white details create the field itself, while cookie sticks, gummy candies, and marshmallows add the teams and the finishing touches.

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Footballs [domesticfits.com]
While you might think of chocolate covered strawberries as an elegant dessert, this cute and quirky recipe brings them down to earth just in time for the big game. By simply melting white chocolate, you can use it to transform the strawberries into realistic footballs that your guests will adore. Because this recipe doesn’t require any baking, this is one that the kids can even help make!

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Speed Through Household Chores With These Cleaning Shortcuts

August 18, 2016 by

The faster you get your cleaning done, the more time you’ll have to spend time with friends and family. The trick to quick cleaning is to have a system and to stick to it. Set a time limit for each room and you’ll be finished before you know it. Follow these tips for quick and efficient cleaning!

  • Keep up with daily cleaning tasks to help maintain your home's tidiness. By doing simple tasks every day, the cleaning will be much easier and not be so overwhelming.
  • Use a tote or bucket to keep all your cleaning supplies in. You can bring this from room to room and you won’t need to waste time searching for the supplies you need.
  • Use a vacuum to clean all of your floor surfaces. You should also use an extension cord for the vacuum to allow you to reach multiple areas without taking the time to keep plugging it in.
  • On your shower walls and door, use a squeegee after every use. This will prevent soap scum and water spots later on.
  • Focus on what you are cleaning and cut out anything that might distract you, e.g., your phone and the TV!

13 Tips to Help You Speed-Clean Your Home [Better Homes and Gardens]
Clean Your House in Less Than an Hour [Woman’s Day]
Speed Cleaning: Tips For Fast & Efficient Housekeeping [The Inspired Room]

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Fast and Easy Grilled Dessert Recipes

July 21, 2016 by

Whether it’s the dog days of summer or the crisp chill of fall is already in the air, preparing dinner on the barbecue grill is always enjoyable. While burgers and kabobs are usually on your arsenal of grillable foods, you may have overlooked the number of desserts that can also be prepared on the grill! Here are a few of our favorite grilled dessert recipes:

Honey-Rum Grilled Bananas [tasteofhome.com]
The sweetness of the bananas and the flavor of the rum are perfectly accented by the smoky flavor from the grill in this recipe, creating a taste that will make you feel like you’ve traveled to a tropical paradise.

Banana Nutella S’mores [foodandwine.com]
Everyone loves making s’mores, but if your taste buds have grown up a bit, you may want to incorporate a more complex flavor into the campsite favorite. This recipe uses a hazelnut spread instead of the usual milk chocolate, which tastes even better when cooked over an open fire.

Grilled Peach Melba [marthastewart.com]
This Southern dessert is positively meant for the grill. Top your warm peaches with vanilla ice cream and watch as it melts over the sweet, blackened fruit.

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3 Healthy Weight Loss Tips for Men

June 16, 2016 by

No one ever said that it'd be easy to lose weight, but that doesn’t mean that the process has to be miserable, either! If you’re finally ready to make the commitment to a healthier lifestyle — and, in turn, a lower weight — these simple tips will help you to get started.

  1. Jump-start your workout routine in the first week. Because your weight loss plan will involve a combination of diet and exercise, you’ll need to work out every day of the first week in order to get both your body and mind in the routine. This doesn’t mean that you have to go all out every single day, however; simply start out with a combination of light cardio and body weight workouts for 30 to 60 minutes each day.
  2. Keep a food diary. Instead of hopping on the bandwagon of a fleeting fad diet, begin a healthier relationship with food by keeping a food diary of everything that you eat. This will hold you accountable for every indulgence, and it will help you to monitor the amount of fat and calories that you consume.
  3. Be realistic. If you have a big event in the next two weeks, you won’t be able to force a full-body transformation by that time. Instead, focus on realistic weight loss goals that will produce results over time.

Men's Health [WebMD]
How to Lose Weight in 4 Weeks [Xfinity]
7 Weight Loss Steps for Men [About Health]

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Where (and How) to Shop for Groceries Online

May 19, 2016 by

You shop for clothes, shoes and books online… but what about your groceries? If you hate battling the crowds at the grocery store (or simply can’t find the time to make it there), online grocery shopping may be the answer to your problems. Here are a few great places to shop for groceries online!

Peapod
Whether you want to pick up your groceries on the way home from work without ever leaving your car or simply have them delivered straight to your door, Peapod offers custom options for all types of anti-grocery shoppers. Browse the site’s large selection of organic produce, high-quality meats and seafood items, and fully prepared meals, and be sure to take advantage of its frequent sales and coupons.

Amazon
Your favorite place to shop for electronics may also become your go-to place to shop for groceries. By using the Prime Pantry option, you can fill a box with your favorite snacks, spices and fresh groceries—all for a flat shipping rate of $5.99.

Fresh Direct
Fresh Direct offers one of the largest selections of grocery items of any site, including deli meats and cheeses, bakery items, baby foods, and even wines and spirits. There are new products being added daily, as well as frequent sales just like the ones at the traditional grocery store.

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How to Add a Touch of Springtime to Your Home’s Decor

April 21, 2016 by

If you’re bursting with excitement about the warmer temperatures, longer days, and cheery sunshine that come along with the changing seasons, you can channel that springtime energy into your home by using just a few simple decorating tips. Here are some of the best ways to fill your living space with the bright, bountiful look of spring.

Lavender Linens [southernliving.com]
While you may have stocked your bathroom with plush, white towels to keep warm during the winter, the springtime calls for something lighter and more colorful. Invest in some lavender colored linens in the bathroom, and imagine yourself enjoying a warm weather getaway at a quaint B&B.

Milk Pail Garden Pots [marthastewart.com]
Use this gardening DIY to incorporate rustic milk pails into your springtime decor. Old-fashioned milk pails are commonly found at flea markets and agriculture supply stores, and they gain a chic look when filled with full, green ferns.

Bountiful Spring Bouquets [designsponge.com]
One of the best ways to add the feeling of spring to your home is by displaying fresh flowers, and this expert tutorial will show you how to arrange a florist-quality bouquet. Place them in a wooden crate for a country-inspired look that’s perfect for spring.

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Chemical-Free Ways to Clean Your Oven at Hardrock Canyon

March 17, 2016 by

You’re always on the hunt for chemical-free ways to clean your home, but when it comes to really heavy duty cleaning in areas like the oven, it may seem almost impossible. Luckily, it is possible to clean your oven without using chemicals—it just takes a bit of ingenuity and a few smart tips from the pros.

  1. Take out the oven racks and let them soak in a tub of hot water.
  2. Make a paste of ¼ cup of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of coarse salt and just enough warm water to create a thick consistency.
  3. Using a durable sponge, scrub the paste into the stained parts in your oven. Concentrate on areas that see a lot of spills and drips, such as the bottoms and around the racks.
  4. Let the past sit on the stains for an hour or two, depending on their severity.
  5. Using the same sponge rinsed out with clean water, wipe away the paste and give it a second good scrub. You may also want to use a finer grade steel wool for difficult stains.
  6. For extra cleaning power, spray the entire oven with a spray bottle filled with white vinegar, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.
  7. Before replacing the oven racks, scrub them using simple steel wool and an all-natural dishwasher detergent to break down grease.

How To Clean an Oven Without Harsh Chemicals [Apartment Therapy]
Natural Oven Cleaning Recipe [Wellness Mama]
How To Clean an Oven With Baking Soda & Vinegar [The Kitchn]

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How to Speed Through Household Cleaning Tasks

February 18, 2016 by

Whether you’re pressed for time before dinner guests arrive or simply overwhelmed with the amount of items on your to-do list, just about everyone could use some help when it comes to cleaning. Here are a few smart ways to help you speed through household cleaning tasks.

  • Work in a circle. Instead of attacking things in each room at random, make a plan to work in a circle. In the kitchen, that might mean wiping down the refrigerator and tossing out expired foods, giving the stove a good scrub, wiping down counter and tabletops, then loading the dishwasher last.
  • Start with the worst first. If you dread cleaning the bathroom or tidying up the bedroom, start with that room first. By getting the hardest part out of the way when you have the most energy, you’ll speed through the rest of your chores.
  • Take inventory while cleaning. If you notice that something doesn’t need to be cleaned, such as the already-spotless windows, then eliminate it from the list to save time. Unless it’s something requiring sanitization, like the toilet, there’s no shame in leaving it be.
  • Do a final sweep. Once you’re done with the major cleaning tasks, give your home a final sweep, putting everything in its right place and creating an organized look.

Speed Cleaning [The Inspired Room]
30 Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips [Woman’s Day]
9 Tips For Speed Cleaning [About Home]
Clean Your Home in Less than 20 Minutes [SheKnows]

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How to Host a Successful Toy Swap With Your Friends, Family and Neighbors

January 21, 2016 by

If your children are too old for their current toys but you can’t bear to simply toss them out, you may be interested in hosting a toy swap with fellow parents. A toy swap enables you to swap your child’s old or unused toys with those of other children, bringing home a whole new haul of toys without spending a penny. Here are a few tips to help you pull off a successful toy swap.

  1. Create a list of guests. Try to pick guests who you feel comfortable with, who have children in varying ages, and who live fairly close to one another.
  2. Choose the perfect location. Because of the group of people and the large amount of toys, you’ll need to hold the swap in a large, fairly spacious room. If you don’t have this type of space in your own home, see if someone else would be willing to lend their living room.
  3. Send out invitations and guidelines. Emailing invitations seems to be the most convenient way to get the word out, so include a list of guidelines for the swap at that time. Describe what types of toys to bring, if they should be cleaned beforehand, how many toys to bring, and if there are any items that you won’t accept.
  4. Make it fun. Set out snacks, make sure everyone understands the rules, and keep things light-hearted!

How To Organize a Toy Swap or Toy Exchange [About Parenting]
How to Host a Toy Swap [30 Handmade Days]
How to Throw a Toy Exchange [Shareable]

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How to Make Holiday Travel Less Stressful

December 17, 2015 by

So you plan on travelling to a loved one’s house for the holidays, but unfortunately so did everyone else in the country. Holiday travel is undeniably stressful, but there are a few simple ways to make it a bit more bearable. Here are some tips to help navigate your airplane ride or road trip in a smart and savvy way.

  1. Book ahead of time. Instead of scrambling to book your trip at the last minute (and paying the inevitable high fees), book as far ahead of time as possible. This ensures that you’ll be able to get the flight or bus that you want, and it will likely save you a great deal of money along the way.
  2. Leave extra travel time. Whether you’re navigating crowds at the airport or fighting traffic on the highway, leaving good deal of extra time to allow for delays is always a good idea.
  3. Pack light. Since you likely have to bring presents with you on your journey, try to pack your suitcase as light as possible.
  4. Bring some entertainment along for the ride. If you’re driving home for the holidays, an audio book or a list of car games are some great options for passing the time. If you’ll be flying or taking a bus, try downloading a movie onto your phone or tablet.

Holiday Travel: Tips to Make It Less Stressful [Medicine Net]
Holiday Travel Slideshow: 10 Tips to Cut Stress [WebMD]
15 Tips for Healthy, Stress Reduced Holiday Travel [CNCA Health]

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