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Make These DIY Holiday Gifts

December 2, 2015 by

If you’re strapped for cash this holiday season or a bit burned out from all of the crowded malls, you may want to make gifts by hand for your loved ones instead of purchasing them. Here are three great ideas for handmade holiday gifts that are much more special than something store-bought.

Mason Jar Soup Mixes
If you’re searching for the perfect gift for a foodie friend, try making homemade soup mixes in adorable mason jars. This tutorial offers more than 30 different types of soups to choose from, and the various ingredients will look decorative and colorful when layered inside of the jar.

Snuggly Shawl
This stylish shawl is easy to make as a gift no matter your level of knitting expertise. It’s so simple that you can work on it bit by bit while you relax at home, and the end result is so fashionable and functional that your loved one will wear it all winter long.

Peppermint Candy Sugar Scrub
For the beauty product enthusiast, this DIY sugar scrub is a luxurious and deliciously scented holiday gift. All of the ingredients are entirely natural and safe to use, and the lovely pink and white colors look adorable when poured into the glass jar. Best of all, the peppermint scent is perfect for the winter season.

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Hold the Sauce: Deliciously Unexpected Ways to Enjoy Cranberries

November 3, 2015 by

The usual cranberry sauce can start to feel a bit overdone come Thanksgiving time, but that doesn’t mean that you should rule out cranberries entirely. This tart berry offers a wonderful fall flavor, and they can be used in ways that you might not have ever imagined. Check out these creative culinary uses for cranberries.

Cranberry-Apple Brined Pork Chops [cranberries.org]
Applesauce isn’t the only fruit sauce that pairs well with hearty pork chops. This recipe involves brining the pork with cranberry juice and some simple spices for up to eight hours in the refrigerator before baking, ensuring that the sweet and tart flavor is incorporated into every bite.

Cranberry-Orange Pancakes with Cranberry-Maple Syrup [myrecipes.com]
This recipe offers a double dose of cranberry first thing in the morning, which is a great way to start the day. Zesty cranberry and orange add a full flavor to the buttermilk pancakes, while the cranberry-infused maple syrup topping gives the short stack a sweet flavor that’s perfect for fall.

Cranberry-Maple Bread Pudding [marthastewart.com]
Make the most of that seemingly useless stale bread by turning it into a bread pudding with a complex cranberry-maple compote topping. Since the bread is already made, this recipe is especially great as a last-minute dessert.

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Fall Is Here! Read About the Health Benefits of Pumpkins and Squash!

October 6, 2015 by

Now that fall is here, your meal plans are filled with pumpkins and squash. You love these foods because of their delicious taste and cooking versatility, but did you know that they’re also filled with health benefits? Here are just a few of the most beneficial nutrients in pumpkins and squash.

  1. Pumpkins contain a great deal of vitamin A, which boosts the immune system to prevent you from getting sick once the seasons change. Vitamin A also helps to maintain the health of your eyes.
  2. The carotenoids that give pumpkins their bright orange color protect you against heart disease, prevent wrinkles on the skin and even fight off the free radicals that cause cancer.
  3. Pumpkins are great for digestion because they contain a good deal of fiber. The fiber also balances your blood sugar and lowers bad cholesterol, which is especially important as you age.
  4. Just one serving of butternut squash offers 35% of your recommended daily dose of vitamin C. This essential vitamin can greatly reduce your risk for heart attack.
  5. Acorn, butternut and spaghetti squashes are filled with anti-inflammatory properties, which alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and soothe aching joints.

Eat Your Pumpkin! 9 Reasons Why It's Good For You [Mind Body Green]
6 Health Secrets of Winter Squash [Organic Authority]

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Did You Know You Can Cook These Recipes in the Microwave?

September 9, 2015 by

If you think that the microwave is only good for re-heating leftovers and preparing microwave dinners, think again. This common kitchen appliance is actually a great tool for preparing scratch-made dinners, desserts, and even breakfast dishes! These three recipes will show you how it's done.

The Moistest Chocolate Mug Cake [tablefortwoblog.com]
By combining a few simple baking ingredients in your morning coffee mug, you can create a one-serving dessert that’s perfect when you’re craving a sweet treat. Best of all, this simple cake takes just two minutes to make in the microwave.

1-Minute Microwave Quiche [fullthymestudent.com]
Quiche certainly isn’t the easiest breakfast to make, but with this simplified recipe it becomes a whole lot easier. Simply blend eggs with fresh veggies, herbs, and bread and cook it all in a mug — in just one minute, no less.

Lemon Shrimp with Rice [marthastewart.com]
Ingredients like Sauvignon Blanc wine, chopped, fresh herbs, and fresh shrimp combine to make a meal with more gourmet flair than your usual microwave dinner. Prepare the other ingredients while the rice cooks, and then pop the whole thing in the microwave for an additional two minutes before serving.

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Four Fascinating Facts About Humans in Space

August 4, 2015 by

Are you fascinated by space exploration? Do you dream of joining the 12 people in history who've walked on the moon? Before you don your space suit, check out these interesting facts about humans in space!

1) Before you can even think about becoming an astronaut, you must log at least 1,000 hours of flying in a jet aircraft. This will prepare you, at least somewhat, to go from zero to 17,000 miles per hour in less than nine minutes on the Space Shuttle.

2) Once you've been launched into space, astronauts receive 3.8 pounds of food a day. Most of the food is precooked and processed so that it doesn't require refrigeration. Some fresh fruits and vegetables are on board, but they must be consumed within the first couple days. Astronauts can season their meals with ketchup, mustard, and taco sauce, among other condiments provided on the Space Shuttle.

3) The food consumed during Apollo 11 included bacon squares, sugar cookie cubes, beef stew, and fruit cake. The astronauts quenched their thirst with coffee, fruit juice, and orange drink.

4) On Earth, space suits weigh a whopping 280 pounds. It takes the better part of an hour to put on a space suit, and each astronaut wears special undergarments.

For more interesting space facts, check out NASA's website.

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Update Basic Magnets and Pushpins WIth These Fun Tutorials

June 2, 2015 by

Who says office supplies have to be boring? Here are a few crafty ways to transform your basic pushpins and magnets into something eye-catching, playful, and perhaps a bit chic.

Bottle Cap Magnets and Thumbtacks [marthastewart.com]
Start saving up those used bottle caps, because you’re certainly going to want to try this adorable DIY project from Martha Stewart. Simply glue a small photo inside of each bottlecap, then use contact cement to attach them to the magnets and pushpins and create a tiny photo gallery.

DIY Gold Magnetic Letters [inspiredbycharm.com]
If you loved making silly words and phrases from those colorful magnetic letters as a kid, you’ll enjoy this chic, updated version just as much. Just cover those childish magnets with luxe gold spray paint for a modern, updated look.

Washi Tape Clothespins [designertrapped.com]
By covering affordable wooden clothespins with different types of colorful washi tape, you can create this fun project in less than an hour. Add adhesive magnets to the backs of each clothespin to use them on the refrigerator, or line them up on a wire to hang photos from a wall.

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Clever Decorating and Storage Ideas for the Bedroom

May 5, 2015 by

Between trying on clothes every morning to tossing and turning in the covers every night, the place that should be your sleep sanctuary can start to look a bit more lived-in than you’d like. Here are some smart tips for decorating and storing your essentials in your bedroom.

  • Add a wall-mounted nightstand. Maximize the square footage in your bedroom by installing a wall-mounted nightstand. You could even use a shelf with an attached drawer.
  • Mount a cabinet above the bed. To really free up floor space, consider forgoing a traditional headboard in favor of a flat, hanging cabinet mounted just above the bed.
  • Add light curtains. While many people prefer light-blocking curtains in the bedroom, these can make a room feel smaller. Choose light, gauzy options in a neutral color to bring more openness to the room — and help you spring out of bed in the morning!
  • Add an under-bed “dresser.” Buy a bed with built-in storage, or slide lidded storage containers under your bed. Either is a good option for storing out-of-season clothing, blankets, and other bulky items.
  • Add a desk at the foot of the bed. Create a bedroom workspace by investing in a skinny desk facing the end of the bed. It can also double as a vanity.

Design Dozen: 12 Clever Space-Saving Solutions for Small Bedrooms [Apartment Therapy]
169 So Cool Headboard Ideas That You Won’t Need More [Shelterness]
12 Bedroom Storage Ideas to Optimize Your Space [Decoholic]

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7 Funky Food Facts You’ll Find Hard to Believe

April 7, 2015 by

How much do you really know about that cold cereal and ice cream stocking your fridge? Here are seven funky food facts guaranteed to throw you for a loop.

1) Peeps candy has its own brand of lip balm. Presented in a twist-up tube, flavors include vanilla marshmallow cream and cotton candy marshmallow cream.

2) Eat that ice cream too fast? There's a medical term for that: sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.

3) Artificial vanilla flavoring is sometimes created using an ingredient in beaver urine.

4) Even though McDonalds is synonymous with hamburgers, the fast food giant got its start as a hot dog stand.

5) Mull this over before your next bite: Every "loop" in Froot Loops cereal tastes the same, no matter their color.

6) A powerful antioxidant, cinnamon can help stabilize blood sugar and reduce the likelihood of blood clots.

7) Your fish dinner likely hails from the state of Alaska. The state is responsible for more than half of the seafood caught in the U.S.

For more food facts, check out these sites:
57 Fascinating Business Facts That Will Blow Your Mind [Buzzfeed]
65 Amazing Facts That Will Blow Your Mind [Buzzfeed]
Interesting and funny facts that will blow your mind! [Science & Nature]
47 Shocking Food & Nutrition Facts That’ll Blow Rainbow Confetti Out Of Your Noggin [Lean It Up]
17 Shocking Food Facts That Will Make You Question Everything [Buzzfeed]

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Where to Shop for Organic Bedding Online

March 3, 2015 by

If you’re dedicated to living simply and naturally in all aspects of your life, your loyalty to organic products doesn’t end with the foods that you eat. Organic bedding is another great way to use safe, sustainably produced products that are better for both you and the environment. Here are three wonderful websites where you can buy organic bedding.

Coyuchi
Coyuchi is a Northern California company that creates home textiles that are made only from products found in nature. Each of the items in the brand’s bedding collections are made of 100% cotton, and they’ve gathered quite a dedicated fan base over the past 20 years.

West Elm
While West Elm isn’t an entirely organic company, the popular home goods store carries an impressive line of organic bedding that’s both soft and durable. These pieces include duvet covers, sheet sets, and pillow shams made of 100% organic cotton matelassé, and each item is certified organic by the Global Organics Textile Standards to meet strict harvest-to-market criteria.

Plover Organic
If you want to decrease your carbon footprint, Plover Organic is the perfect place to shop for stylish, sustainable home textiles. All of the bedding pieces are made of 100% organic cotton grown from non-genetically engineered seeds in soil that’s entirely free of pesticides, so you can feel good about each product from start to finish.

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How to Remove Stubborn Grass, Oil and Sweat Stains

February 3, 2015 by

You're elated that your child's slide into homebase cinched the game; you're not so happy about the grass stain that you need to remove when you get home. Keep these stain-fighting tips handy so you can meet common household stains with a plan of attack.

To remove grass stains:
This tip should help save Junior's uniform: As soon as possible, pretreat the grass stain with liquid detergent, then rinse thoroughly. If the garment can be bleached (check the label), then soak the garment in a diluted solution of bleach and water for no longer than fifteen minutes. If you'd prefer to steer clear of bleach, you can try rubbing a mixture of white vinegar and baking soda into the grass stain, letting it sit, then rinsing.

To remove oil-based stains:
Oil-based stains include mayonnaise, salad dressings, cooking oils, butter, face creams, and grease. First, apply talcum powder or cornstarch directly to the stain; this will help absorb the oil but may require several applications. Scrape or brush off the powder between applications, then toss the garment into the wash on a regular cycle.

To remove sweat stains:
Sweat stains are equally embarrassing and stubborn, but can be conquered if you follow the correct steps. Attack the stain with a cocktail of equal parts water and lemon juice, then hang the garment outside in the sunshine. (You'll need nice weather for this one.) The sunlight will help bleach the stain.

17 Easy Stain Removal Tips [Lifescript]
The Entertainer’s Guide to Stain Removal [Real Simple]
Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal [Ohio State University]

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