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Manage Your Weight With Fruits and Veggies

June 19, 2014 by

Few foods are better to help manage your weight than nutritious fruits and vegetables. If you want to learn more about using fruits and veggies to achieve your goal weight and stay healthy, these tips from the CDC can help:

Prepare them Properly
To get the most nutrition value, it's best to consume many fruits and vegetables raw or steamed. Steaming cooks them without causing valuable nutrients to dissipate. Avoid adding high calorie, high fat dressings.

Replace Snacks with Fruits and Veggies
The basic idea behind dieting is math: burn more calories than you consume. Fruits and vegtables can help because they're nutritious without being high in empty calories.

Add Fruits and Vegetables to Recipes
For a sneaky way to start eating more of these healthy foods, simply add them to foods you already eat. If you’re making soup, add some vegetables. When you eat your morning cereal, top it with some berries or a cut banana.

How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight [CDC]

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Explore the Country’s Most Visited National Parks

May 14, 2014 by

Looking for adventure? Challenges, education, and exploration await at our country's 401 national parks— 84 million acres' worth, with at least one park in every single state across the U.S.! Here are the country's three most-visited National Park Service sites and reasons why you should visit:

1) Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 9,354,695 visitors in 2013
Straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers 800 spectacular miles of trails over 521,490 acres. In addition to hiking, visitors can camp, picnic, bicycle, explore historical sites, or fish the park's 700 miles of streams. (See a full list of to-dos here.) Watch your step: A trip to this national park might put you within range of a black bear, elk, or white-tailed deer.

2) Blue Ridge Parkway: 12,877,368 visitors in 2013
Awe-inspiring mountain passes are the hallmark of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic 469-mile drive that connects Virginia's Shenandoah National Park with North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A good old-fashioned road trip along the Parkway promises pit stops way better than your standard fuel-up: Expect scenic overlooks, hiking trails that lead to secluded waterfalls, and plenty of native flora and fauna. Check out suggested itineraries here.

3) Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 14,289,121 visitors in 2013
America's most visited national park site, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area comprises 24 attractions in and around San Francisco, California. These include Alcatraz, the Muir Woods redwoods forest, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. Read more about the Golden Gate National Recreation Area here.

Ten Most Visited Parks [National Parks Conservation Association]

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Explore the World of Science With These 2 Websites

April 17, 2014 by

The world of science covers a wide range of areas, from astronomy to geography to biology. Whether you’re an experienced scientist or a student who simply loves science, these fascinating websites will provide hours of video, audio, and text devoted to your favorite subject.

Popular Science
The beloved science magazine Popular Science now has a website with just as much up-to-date scientific news. Here you’ll find the latest information about technology, cars, aviation, space, geology, and a variety of other universally appealing subjects. The Popular Science website also features high-quality video, beautiful photo galleries, and links to interesting blogs that you won’t find in the print magazine.

Science Mag
Science Mag is a science website with a more intellectual tone, covering both the latest news in the science world and new findings from various fields. High-resolution images and exciting podcasts make the site more interactive, and webinars allow visitors to really become a part of the research. Science Mag covers the worlds of medicine, geology, technology, and a number of other subjects, and it even offers aspiring scientists advice for breaking into the field of science.

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Let Freedom Ring: 4 Fun Facts About the Liberty Bell

March 20, 2014 by

The Liberty Bell is a symbol of our nation’s independence, and it dates all the way back to the late 1700s. This beautiful icon is rich with American history, and even non-history buffs will appreciate its inspiring story. Here are a few key facts about the Liberty Bell.

The bell was originally cast in 1751.
The Pennsylvania colonists were so pleased that William Penn gave them the freedom to choose their own religion that the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the bell for the State House.

The original bell cracked and had to be replaced.
The first bell was cast in England, but cracked soon after arriving in Philadelphia. Two local craftsmen cast a new bell in 1753 out of metal from the original.

The Liberty Bell traveled around the country on tours.
In the late 1800s, the bell was such a symbol of freedom that it traveled around the U.S. to fairs and expositions to help unite the people after the Civil War. It returned to Philadelphia in 1915.

The bell weighs approximately 2,000 pounds.
It is made of 70% copper, 25% tin, and traces of lead, gold, silver, zinc, and arsenic. It still uses its original yoke, which is made of American elm and weighs 100 pounds.

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Tips for Creating the Perfect Party Tablescape

February 20, 2014 by

Throwing a party means making sure all details are covered, including a fabulous tablescape. Don’t get overwhelmed trying to create an amazing centerpiece; instead, just follow these five great tips for setting a memorable table. 

1. Pick a shape and stick to it.
If you’ve got square or round plates, stay within that element so as not to clutter and overwhelm the eye. Pick up a few candles and vases full of similar shaped blooms, and you’re good to go.

2. Get a great tablecloth.
Sometimes, the right tablecloth can make a world of difference. Choose one with a gorgeous design and tone down your dishware or pick a bold color and spruce it up with interesting patterns on the plates.

3. Use what you have.
Personalize your table with old pictures, personal mementos, or local flair. This will add just the right amount of personality and creativity to your spread.

4. Plan out your seating arrangement.
Make a plan to determine who is sitting where and set the table accordingly. If not everyone drinks wine, you don’t need a wine glass at each place.

5. Get a great centerpiece.
If you dishes are much to look at, make sure your centerpiece is! Create a beautiful seasonal arrangement of flowers or plants or use candles to create a more intimate ambiance.

Creating the Perfect Tablescape [Common Floor]
How to Create a TableScape [Examiner]
How to Create Amazing Tablescapes [Lonny]
Set the Tone for Your Holiday with Tablescaping [Grand Forks Herald]

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Happy Presidents’ Day

February 17, 2014 by

Remembering the courage and vision of past and present leaders, we honor and share the spirit of Presidents' Day together as a nation.

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2014 by

Wishing everyone a day filled with fun and happy memories!

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3 Print Magazines for Architecture Enthusiasts

January 22, 2014 by

You love exploring a city's architecture whenever you travel, and good design is something you admire. Indulge your love for good architecture with these excellent print magazines that take you on a tour of the latest structures and give you background on the ones you already love.

Metropolis 
Metropolis is dedicated to all things design, with a focus on buildings and products. Learn to appreciate new ideas and gain a better understanding of traditional models with their informative articles and photo spreads.

Architectural Digest
A go-to magazine for many architecture lovers, Architectural Digest compiles the latest news for readers as well as professionals. Explore stunning photos of featured buildings and designs while staying in touch with the hottest trends.

Dwell
Dwell brings together architecture and interior design in a hip, modern magazine. Get great decorating ideas and find ways to better utilize your space. View photo spreads of off-beat homes and classic structures.

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The Facts About Dietary Supplements

December 18, 2013 by

Even if you try to eat a varied diet, it can be hard to get all the necessary nutrients. Many people turn to dietary supplements to fill in the holes. Are they safe for you? Here are some things you need to know about dietary supplements:

  • A dietary supplement can be a vitamin, mineral, herb, amino acid, or enzyme.
  • Dietary supplements are not drugs; they should not be used to treat a disease. They may claim to help with a certain ailment but are not actually approved to do so.
  • Eating a healthy diet is the best way to get all the nutrients you need. Taking a supplement is not a replacement for a healthy diet; supplements only aid in meeting the requirement.
  • It's important to do your research before taking any type of supplement. Some supplements should not be mixed with certain types of medication.
  • Just as it is not good to get too little of a supplement, it can also be bad to take in too much of something, especially iron, vitamin A, and vitamin D.
  • Remember: Claims on the label have not been certified by the FDA. 

Dietary Supplements: What You Need to Know [U.S. Food and Drug Administration]

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Find Great Long-Form Journalism Online

November 20, 2013 by

Long-form narrative articles were extremely popular in days gone by, but they've seen a steady decline in our increasingly digital, 140-character world. While longer pieces of journalism are a bit harder to find these days, several great websites have popped up to curate the best long-form writing. Here are three worth bookmarking:

Longreads
A reader-supported site hosted by The Atlantic, Longreads features the best fiction and nonfiction from all around the web. Each story is over 1,500 words long, and you can explore them all through the handy search bar or by browsing categories like sports or memoir.

Longform.org
Longform.org collects both new and classic long-form non-fiction pieces and compiles them into one convenient, expansive website. Best of all, readers can save articles to read later on a Kindle, Pocket, Instapaper, or Readability, allowing you to access them while on the train to work or even at the gym.

The Browser
Since 2008, the Browser has been recommending 5 to 6 pieces of long-form journalism and non-fiction to readers per day via their simple, easy-to-navigate website. The Browser’s content is carefully selected and always free, and they will even occasionally post an interesting video or a thought-provoking quote to keep readers on their toes.

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