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How to Shake (or Stir!) the Perfect Cocktail

August 18, 2016 by

If you think you need to venture to the bar to find a unique, tasty cocktail, think again. You can easily mix up your own creative cocktails and mocktails in the comfort of your own home. The most important part of a great drink is how long the flavor lingers in your mouth. You want to intrigue your taste buds and mind after the sip goes down. These tips are sure to leave a unique, lasting flavor on your tongue.

  • Choose a good quality base liquor or flavor of your cocktail.
  • Use a generous amount of the base spirit.
  • Mix in a tart or sweet ingredient such as lime juice, simple syrup, or liqueur. Remember to keep it simple and balanced, as this will make the flavors last in your mouth.
  • Add a few drops of bitters or a hydrosol, such as rosewater, to add aromatics to your drink.
  • A cocktail that contains delicate flavors or ingredients should be stirred. Be sure to shake any cocktail containing juice or egg whites.
  • To avoid diluting your drink, use larger ice cubes that will melt at a slower pace. In your glass, the ice should be visible about the alcohol line.
  • Take some time to make your cocktail look presentable. A simple lemon twist can add a touch of elegance to your drink.

From A Genius Mixologist: The Only Ratio You Need For Perfect Cocktails [Fast Company]
How to make cocktails: follow these 10 golden rules [The Guardian]
How to Make Perfect Cocktails [Williams-Sonoma Taste]

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Cool and Unusual Uses for Fabric Softener Sheets

March 17, 2016 by

While you likely already know that you can use fabric softener sheets for, well, making your fabrics softer, you may not know that there are a number of other uses for these handy household items. Here are just a few smart and surprising things to do with your dryer sheets.

  • Wipe up fine, powdery spills like flour or makeup using dryer sheets, because the anti-static properties help to pick up these hard-to-scoop messes.
  • Likewise, dryer sheets also make great DIY dusters for shelves, television screens, and baseboards.
  • Freshen up musty places by placing dryer sheets inside of your smelly winter boots, gym bag, or in a musty closet.
  • Remove pet hair from just about any surface (including your clothing) by wrapping a dryer sheet around your hand and gently running it over the surface.
  • In the summertime, stuff dryer sheets in your pockets to repel mosquitos.
  • Remove hard water stains from faucets and the door of a shower by running a dry dryer sheet over the surface.
  • End static on your hair and clothing in the winter by running a dryer sheet all over yourself.

10 New Uses for Dryer Sheets [Real Simple]
20 Household Uses for Used (Yes, Used) Dryer Sheets [Apartment Therapy]
25 Alternative Uses for Fabric-Softener Dryer Sheets [Curbly]

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How to Get Your Home at Indigo Ready for Houseguests

February 18, 2016 by

The next time you host guests in your home, prepare in advance by setting a game plan well ahead of time. These smart and stress-free tips will show you exactly how to get your home ready for houseguests, even if you don’t exactly have a separate guest wing to work with.

  1. Create a designated space. Everyone likes to have a feeling of privacy and a place to decompress, which you can easily create for your guests even if you don’t have a closed-off guestroom. Simply give them free run of a living room or den, or create your own guest quarters by investing in a room divider.
  2. Test out the bed. Since you don’t normally sleep in the guest bed (or air mattress, or sofa…), it’s always smart to test it out first to ensure its comfort. If it’s not up to snuff, add a foam mattress topper, more blankets, or other affordable improvements.
  3. Create an overnight kit. Stock a small caddy with shower supplies, water bottles, pain relievers, and snack bars, as well as anything else that your guests might ask for.
  4. Change the linens. Be sure to put clean, fresh-smelling sheets on the bed and provide enough clean towels for all of your guests.
  5. Feel out their schedules. Once they arrive, work around their schedules to prevent stepping on any toes.

Make Your Overnight Guests Feel at Home [Southern Living]
Hosting Overnight Guests [Life Your Way]
Real Life Advice: Hosting Guests Without a Guestroom [Apartment Therapy]
Getting Ready for Overnight Guests [Real Simple]

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How to Get the Most Storage Space Out of Your Freezer

October 22, 2015 by

If you’re looking for a way to add extra storage space to your current freezer, these smart tips may be of service.

  1. Know what to freeze. Start streamlining what you freeze in the first place by knowing what will last and what won’t. In general, leafy vegetables, dairy products, and fried foods are not meant to freeze.
  2. Separate items into portions. If you’re freezing something that would otherwise stick together after freezing, such as chicken breasts or soup, separate it into serving-sized portions so that you can easily thaw only the part that you need.
  3. Use containers. Instead of piling all of your food into one large pile in the freezer, invest in freezer-safe storage containers from the local home goods store.
  4. Use labels. Label everything in the freezer, from individual food items (unless they’re still in the original packaging) to your storage containers.
  5. Mind the door. The door of the freezer is the warmest part, so don’t store things that can easily melt on its shelves. Save this space for less delicate foods, such as nuts, alcohol, or frozen fruits.

Fridge and Freezer Organization [The Container Store]
The Best Way to Organize Your Freezer [The Kitchn]
8 Better Ways to Keep Your Freezer Super-Organized [Good Housekeeping]

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Your Kids Can Hone Their Math Skills on These Fun, Free Websites

August 20, 2015 by

It can be difficult to help a child who is struggling with math, whether they’re learning basic elementary addition or complex algebraic equations. If your son or daughter needs a bit of extra practice outside of the classroom, these fun and free math websites can help improve their skills and make them excited about learning.

Knowledge Adventure’s Math Games
Knowledge Adventure is a colorful website that enables users to tailor math games to their child’s specific grade level. Each game features adorable cartoon characters, exciting graphics, and fun levels that are so silly, your little one may not even know that they’re also educational.

Math Playground
This rainbow-hued collection of games spans math-related topics like addition, multiplication, fractions, and pre-algebra. Kids can navigate the site’s easy-to-use features entirely on their own, or you can browse by grade level to find games related to the specific areas where your child is struggling.

Fun Brain
Fun Brain is an educational website that offers fun games in a variety of different schools subjects, and its Math Arcade section includes five games perfect for elementary students. Choose between games like Space Slingshot and Math Baseball to make learning arithmetic fun for your child.

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3 Common Hair Care Mistakes You Might Be Making

June 18, 2015 by

We've all been stricken with a bad hair day now and then, but if you're regularly waking up with unruly tresses, it could be a signal that you need to reevaluate your hair care routine. Here are three common hair care mistakes you might be making:

1) Washing too often.
Unless your hair is excessively oily, you probably don't need to wash your hair every day. Doing so strips your hair of its natural oils, making tresses lifeless and more prone to breakage. To keep your hair looking fresh between washes, consider using a dry shampoo, or simply rinse your hair with cool water only while showering.

2) Applying conditioner only on the ends of your hair.
You've likely heard that conditioner should only be applied to the bottom half of your locks, especially if you have fine, limp hair. However, no matter your hair type, your whole head of hair should receive regular conditioning to prevent breakage and tangles. Use a light conditioner if you're concerned about volume, and be sure to rinse thoroughly. To prevent product build-up, suds up with clarifying shampoo every so often.

3) Misusing heat styling tools.
If you regularly style your hair using dryers, flat irons, curling irons, or other heat styling tools, be sure to first apply a product intended to prevent damage caused by heat. Allow your hair to air dry at least part of the way before taking a blowdryer to your tresses. Also, be sure that your hair is completely dry before attempting to use any heat styling tools.

Top 5 Most Common Hair Care Mistakes Solved! [Daily Makeover]
The 10 Biggest Hair Care Mistakes [Women's Health]
5 Shampoo Mistakes You Had No Idea You Were Making [Oprah]
13 Things You're Doing Wrong With Your Hair [HuffPost]

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Laundry and Clothing Care Basics Everyone Should Know

March 5, 2015 by

Doing the laundry is a necessary annoyance, but modern amenities have done a lot to make this weekly chore a less daunting. Here are the basic rules for properly washing and caring for your most essential articles of clothing.

  1. Sort by color. You’ve likely heard that you need to separate your lights from your darks, but this step is especially important when washing denim or new clothes that have yet to be washed.
  2. Use the right water temperature. As a general rule, wash delicate clothing that could shrink or bleed in cold water. For heavily soiled items, whites, and towels, use hot water instead.
  3. Use the proper detergent. Not all detergents are created equal, so choose a type specially formulated for cold water, hot water, or even a brand made with color-safe bleach to remove stains from colored clothing. As a bonus, using the right type of detergent can even extend the lifespan of your clothes.
  4. Secure buttons. Dab a bit of clear nail polish in the center of shirt buttons to help prevent them from loosening. Even better, learn how to replace one yourself if you frequently wear button-down shirts.
  5. Keep zippers smooth. Rub zippers with wax every few weeks to keep them from catching or sticking.

Laundry Basics – Sorting it Out [For Better Living]
How to Care for Your Clothes [How Stuff Works]
Keep Your Clothes Clean and Bright [She Knows]
4 Clothing Care Skills Millennials Probably Don’t Know (But Need to Learn) [Real Simple]

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4 Uses for Baking Soda That Might Surprise You

January 8, 2015 by

Whether you want to save a bit of money or eliminate the amount of unnatural chemicals in your household, making your own cleaning and beauty products is a great option. Baking soda is one of the most versatile products you can use, and it works just as effectively as most store-bought products. Here are a few ways to create your own household cleansers using baking soda.

  1. Toothpaste. To create an all-natural toothpaste, all you have to do is mix baking soda with a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution. Mix it until it forms a paste, and then use it just as you would your regular toothpaste. Though it doesn’t have the minty taste of a commercial toothpaste, this baking soda mixture will clean your teeth just as effectively.
  2. Facial Scrub. If you’ve ever shopped at a beauty supply store, you know how expensive those fancy facial scrubs can be. You can achieve the same skin smoothing results in a much more natural way by using baking soda. Just mix three parts baking soda with one part water and give your face a good scrub.
  3. Coffee Pot Cleaner. Baking soda is also great for cleaning hard-to-reach places like the inside of your coffee pot. Just rinse the pot in a solution made of 1/4 cup of baking soda and one quart of warm water.
  4. Dishwasher Deodorizer. If your dishwasher smells a bit funky after frequent use, freshen it up by using baking soda. Just sprinkle some all over the bottom of the dishwasher and then let it run through one full rinse cycle.

75 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda [Life Hackery]
31 Surprising Baking Soda Uses [All You]
51 Fantastic Uses for Baking Soda [Care2]

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3 Ways to Make a Great First Impression

December 18, 2014 by

The old adage is true: You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Because the saying rings true in both social and professional situations, it's helpful to remember a few key pieces of advice when meeting new people. Here are three handy tips:

1) Dress to impress.
Wear clothing that's appropriate for the occasion. Doing so will help bolster your confidence, which will, in turn, be relayed to the other party. If you're headed for a job interview, accessorize minimally, and be sure that your hair and nails appear well-groomed.

2) Be aware of your body language.
Whether you're at a cocktail party or interviewing for a job, crossed arms tell the other people in the room that you're unavailable for conversation. Similarly, excessive fidgeting, slouching, and avoiding eye contact signal that you're anxious and lacking confidence. Sit up tall (just like Mom used to advise!) and smile warmly when warranted by conversation.

3) Don't talk too much.
This might seem counterintuitive when meeting new people, but steamrolling conversation can make you seem self-absorbed. If you find that you tend to ramble when nervous, remind yourself to ask plenty of questions about the other person. This will show that you're truly interested in getting to know them. Offer information about yourself when asked.

5 Ways To Make a Killer First Impression [Forbes]
How to Make a Good First Impression [Real Simple]
Making a Great First Impression [Mind Tools]
It Takes Just 3 Seconds To Make A Brilliant First Impression [Business Insider]

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How to Host Your Own At-Home Wine Tasting

October 16, 2014 by

Few things are more enjoyable than sipping a glass of wine with your closest friends. Hosting a wine tasting is a unique way that you can do just that, and it enables you and your fellow wine lovers to sample some wines that you may have never tried before. Here are a three tips for pulling off a successful at-home wine tasting.

  1. Choose a theme. Choose a theme for each tasting in order to cover all of the different types of wines, such as a Chardonnay night or an afternoon of Pinot Noirs. Tell each of your guests to bring a bottle from a different part of the world, a different year, or a different brand.
  2. Prepare the glasses properly. You don’t need to invest in expensive wine glasses, but be sure to provide one glass for each person. Fill the glass an inch below its equator. After tasting one type of wine, rinse the glass with the type of wine you’ll be tasting next in order to rid the glass of traces of the previous wine.
  3. Serve snacks. Provide small snacks like cheese, crackers, or delicate cookies to help guests cleanse their palates in between wines and provide some sustenance throughout the evening.

How To Have The Perfect Wine Tasting At Home [HuffPost Taste]
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party [Real Simple]
How to Host a Wine Tasting [Food & Wine]

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