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Baking Tip: How To Tell If Your Baking Soda Has Expired

April 26, 2013 by

Baking soda and baking powder both have quite a long shelf life. But they won't last forever, and The Kitchn has helpfully offered some simple hacks to figure out whether your baking soda and baking powder are still good:

Baking Powder
Stir 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder into 1/2 cup of very hot water. The soda will immediately start to bubble if it's still good.

Baking Soda
Use the same method, but add 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar to the water before adding the soda. As before, if it bubbles up, your baking soda is still good to use.

Don't see any bubbles? You'll need to buy more. A bit of fizz means there's still some life left in them. Learn more over at The Kitchn.

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Foot Care Tips for an Active Lifestyle

April 12, 2013 by

Your feet are one of the most important parts of your body, and you subject them to a lot of abuse every single day. Foot pain can be seriously debilitating, whether it be from strains, blisters or other issues. Here are some helpful tips for keeping your feet in good shape.

The most important thing you can do for your feet is wearing the right kind of shoe. Not only should they fit snugly, but they should also be appropriate for the kind of activity you are doing. Different kinds of shoes are designed for different things, so make sure your shoe offers the ideal combination of support and comfort.

Good sock selection is also very important. It’s important to wear socks that will wick moisture away from your feet as you exercise. Excess moisture left on the skin can result in blisters, fungal infections and more.

Toenail care is essential for healthy feet. You should always trim your toenails in straight lines perpendicular to your toes. This prevents ingrown nails and other issues. Make sure not to trim down the side of the nail.

If you feel anything unusual with your feet, you should consult a podiatrist immediately. Left undiagnosed, foot problems can lead to very significant health issues that can impact you greatly.

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The Big Clean: What To Tackle To Get Your Home Spick-And-Span

February 15, 2013 by

If your home's in need of a "big clean", and you're feeling a bit overwhelmed, check out the list below that breaks down the major tasks that need handling to leave your home wonderfully spick-and-span. Like any big project, breaking it down into manageable tasks can make it far easier to tackle. Apartment Therapy's "Stress Free Plan" to pre-party cleaning offers a guide to stuff that you'd probably should be cleaning about once a month, regardless of how often you have company. You can accomplish everything on their "Big Clean" list in just about five hours, including such tasks as:

  • Cleaning kitchen stuff like your cabinets, sink, stovetop, and refrigerator.
  • Scouring nooks and crannies like windowsills, doorjambs, and the spots behind and beneath furniture.
  • Scrubbing the tub and toilet, and cleaning your shower curtain.
  • Discarding built-up clutter, like recycling or stuff for donation.

Want to learn more? Click here to visit Apartment Therapy.

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Foot Care Tips For Runners

November 30, 2012 by
Whether you’re a serious runner, occasional jogger, or complete beginner, you need to take good care of you feet so that they hold up when you hit the track, road, or trail. Here are some tips to help you keep your feet as healthy and pain-free as possible so that you can enjoy every stride along the way:
 
Wear the Proper Shoes
If you’re going to run on any sort of regular basis, it’s important to invest in a good pair of running shoes. Don’t throw on a pair of casual non-running-specific sneakers and hope for the best. Do some online research to learn about running shoes that might be particularly well-suited to your needs. Then go to a store that specializes in athletic and running gear and work with a salesperson that will be able to help you find the right shoe for you. Don’t be afraid to try on several pairs, run around the store a bit while wearing them, and take your time deciding. A salesperson knowledgeable about running shoes will be able to identify your gait (whether your roll your feet inward or outward) and guide you toward the best running shoes for your particular feet.
 
Protect Against Blisters 
Painful blisters and feet sore from strain will put a major damper in your running plans. There are a variety socks on the market that are designed especially for the purpose of wicking away moisture and keeping blisters at bay, so invest in at least a few pairs of those. You can also rub some anti-chaffing balm on blister-prone areas, with “Bodyglide” being a particularly popular and effective productive for that purpose. If you do start to develop a blister, make sure you have some padded blister-specific bandages at hand to put on the sore spots when you’re running and also when you’re walking around in normal shoes. In addition, make sure that you air your bare feet out as much possible when you’re not running or walking around because exposing the blister-prone areas to fresh air will help them dry out and heal faster. 
 
Know When To Stop
One of the biggest causes of chronic foot problems in runners is that people don’t always listen sufficiently to their bodies. If you have a mildly painful issue with your foot (such as a mild case of sesamoiditis, a common runners’ condition), it’s not always a good idea to push through it. Foot issues will often get worse and go from small to significant if you don’t give your feet a rest. So it’s important to make sure you temper your running schedule to allow for foot issues to heal before they go from minor to worse to potentially chronic. While you’re taking a break from running, you can find other lower-impact, more foot-friendly ways of getting a workout that will benefit your cardiovascular system (such as the elliptical machine, spin bike, recumbent bike, or regular road bike). 
 
Consider Shoe Inserts
If you want an extremely comfortable and form-fitting shoe that will specifically accommodate your unique feet, consider investing in orthotic inserts. You can get orthotics over the counter or have them prescribed and specially made for you by a podiatrist. Orthotics are often used to treat many forms of running-related injury, including heel pain, shin splints, and chronic blisters. They work by balancing and reducing the amount of stress that your feet experience upon impact. They are also effective at correcting imbalances in your gait, such as a tendency toward overpronation or underpronation – essentially, they help your foot achieve proper alignment, which can be a major preventative measure when it comes to a variety of running-related foot issues. 
 
Avoid Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s Foot is one of the most common foot issues that occur for a runner. It is a fungal condition of the feet and toes that can flare up as a result of running in sweaty socks and shoes. Luckily, though Athlete’s Foot can be pretty uncomfortable, it’s also one of the least chronic and most easily treatable foot issues that a runner can face. Since the fungus thrives and grows in wet conditions, some preventative measures you can take include washing and drying your feet soon after a run and alternating running shoes and socks so the accumulated sweat has time to dry out.  If you do develop a case of athlete’s foot, there are several over-the-counter antifungal creams that can help and your doctor can also prescribe oral antifungal medications if the condition doesn’t clear up within a few weeks. 
 
 
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Prepping For The Holidays: Dishes To Make Now And Freeze

November 23, 2012 by

The holidays are a time meant to be enjoyed with loved ones, but often times, more time is spent in the kitchen than in the family room enjoying your guests. In order to make holiday entertaining easier, why not prep parts of your holiday meal in advance. That way, you can still boast about your homemade meal, without slaving all day in the kitchen! The Kitchn offered a list of holiday food you can make in advance, freeze, and reheat just in time for holiday celebrations. Here's a list of dishes that store well in the freezer:

  • Breads
  • Stuffing
  • Gravy
  • Casseroles
  • Cookies

Want to learn more? Visit The Kitchn.

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