You are here: Home / Archives for Miscellaneous

Keep or Toss? Decluttering Rules to Live By

August 25, 2015 by

You’re not exactly a pack rat, but you definitely have more than a few items in the back of your closet that you haven’t looked at in a few years. Most people would say that their homes could benefit from a bit of de-cluttering, and these helpful tips will show you just how to do it.

  • Keep papers within reach. By keeping papers within eyesight, you’ll be more likely to deal with your paper mess before it accumulates into something much more difficult to manage.
  • Ask a few questions. When you’re going through the items in your home, ask yourself questions like: Have I used this in the past year? Does this benefit my life? Is it broken? If, so can I fix it? If you say no to most of these questions, put it in the donation pile.
  • Create a donation pile. Speaking of that donation pile, start one! You’ll feel a lot less guilty about getting rid of your unused items if you know they’re going to someone who will really appreciate them.
  • Clear off surfaces. After you clean out hidden spaces like closets and under the bed, make a rule that you’ll always keep surfaces like counters and desks free of clutter. Not only will your home feel more organized, this will ensure that it looks more organized, as well.

18 Five-Minute Decluttering Tips to Start Conquering Your Mess [Zen Habits]
25 Ways to Clean Out the Clutter [Good Housekeeping]
Keep or Toss: Questions & Tips to Help You Declutter [Apartment Therapy]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Pucker Up! Here Are 6 Ways to Clean With Lemons

July 28, 2015 by

Not only do lemons smell great, they’re also packed full of naturally disinfecting properties that are said to be safer and gentler on your household than store bought cleaners. If you want to make the switch to a green cleaning routine, check out these tips for cleaning with lemons in every room in your home.

  1. Clean the copper bottoms of frequently used pots and pans by sprinkling coarse salt on half of a lemon and scrubbing away.
  2. If you’re unsure of how to properly disinfect wooden cutting boards, rub lemon juice onto stained areas and watch as they fade away overnight. You can also use lemon juice to clean your cutting boards after each use.
  3. Remove odors from your microwave by filling a cup 3/4 of the way full with tap water, then adding two tablespoons of lemon juice. Heat the mixture to boiling, and then let it sit for approximately 10 minutes to fully dilute odors.
  4. Create an all-purpose cleaner for countertops and tables by filling a spray bottle with diluted lemon juice.
  5. Clean grout from the bathtub or shower by using lemon juice and an old toothbrush. Simply dip the toothbrush in the lemon juice, then scrub until the debris disappears.
  6. Polish the faucets on your bathtub and bathroom sink by gently rubbing them with half of a lemon and coarse salt.

Cleaning With Lemon Juice [DIY Network]
24 Things You Can Clean With Lemon [Mother Nature Network]
10 Ways to Clean the Kitchen with Lemon Juice [How Stuff Works]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

How to Help Preserve the Health of Your Eyes

June 30, 2015 by

You lift weights for your muscles and use fancy creams for your skin, but what do you do to protect your eyes? The eyes are often overlooked, but they are some of the most important parts of the body. Here are a few simple things that you can do to help ensure good eye health for years to come.

  1. Have a comprehensive exam. If you don’t wear glasses or contacts, you might go for years between eye exams. The only real way to know how healthy your eyes are is by having a comprehensive dilated exam administered by an eye care professional, so be sure to schedule an appointment.
  2. Eat the right foods. Yes, it’s common knowledge that carrots are good for your eyes, but other foods that can help improve the health of your eyes, as well. Dark, leafy vegetables, fruits, and fish high in omega-3 fatty acids have all been linked to improving eye health.
  3. Keep them protected. Sunglasses don’t just look cool, they also serve a very important purpose. Wearing sunglasses helps to shield your eyes from the harmful UV rays from the sun, so be sure to choose ones that block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation.

Eye Health Tips [Information for Healthy Vision]
10 Eye Health Tips to Protect Your Vision [Real Simple]
Five Tips For Eye Health [Eating Well]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Curb Your Appetite Using Fresh Produce

June 23, 2015 by

Fresh produce is delicious, and it’s also filled with nutrients that are essential to your overall health. If you’re a newbie to the world of cooking with produce, these snack and meal ideas will show you how to fill up on fresh fruits and vegetables instead of your usual salty snacks.

  1. Opt for fruits and vegetables to stay fuller, longer. Although eating carrots instead of potato chips might seem like a lighter snack, produce actually keeps you feeling fuller for longer than other foods. That’s because processed foods are deficient in fiber, while fruits and vegetables are filled with fiber.
  2. Fill your breakfast with fresh veggies. Instead of eating a carb-heavy breakfast, fill a simple omelet with your favorite fresh vegetables for a boost of vitamins and nutrients.
  3. Make a simple salad for lunch. If you usually grab a greasy fast food meal because you don’t have time for lunch, try topping fresh tomato and cucumber slices with tuna or chicken salad for an equally quick (and healthy) lunch.
  4. Have a snack. Replace your usual snack with apple slices, carrot sticks, or celery plus your favorite dips and spreads.
  5. Stir-fry your dinner. If you’re unsure of how to prepare veggies for dinner, simply stir-fry your favorites in a low-fat sauce with some lean protein.

5 Reasons Vegetables May Help You Lose Weight and Live Longer [Atkins]
Fruit and Vegetables in a Weight Loss Diet [Weight Loss Resources]
How to Use Fruits and Vegetables to Help Manage Your Weight [CDC]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Use Apple Cider Vinegar Beyond the Kitchen

May 26, 2015 by

Many natural cleaning enthusiasts have been touting the amazing benefits of apple cider vinegar for years, but vinegar's list of uses often ends in the kitchen. You may be surprised to find that there are a number of other ways to use apple cider vinegar in every room in your home. Here are a few of the best.

  1. Use it like an odor eliminator. Instead of masking odors with a perfume-heavy scented spray, neutralize odors by letting a dish of apple cider vinegar permeate the air.
  2. Clear your sinuses. Sip some warm water with a bit of apple cider vinegar to help break up mucus in your sinuses and even kill the bacteria that causes the common cold. (Be sure to consult with your doctor first.)
  3. Soothe sunburned skin. Instead of using a cream or lotion, rub sunburned skin (or bug bites, rashes and poison ivy) with apple cider vinegar to relieve the itch naturally. Do so at the instruction of your physician.
  4. Rinse hair. Many people cite apple cider vinegar as the source of their shiny, silky locks. Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 4 cups of water and use it as a weekly hair rinse.

7 Surprising Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar [The Dr. Oz Show]
25 Ways Apple Cider Vinegar Will Change Your Life [Mamavation]
15 Reasons to Use Apple Cider Vinegar Every Day [Mind Body Green]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

Add a Touch of Color to Your Space With These Easy-Care Blooming Houseplants

April 27, 2015 by

If you want to breathe new life into your home’s decor, there are few better ways than by adding a few blooming houseplants. These unique plants give you a pop of green and a burst of bright color from their blossoming flowers, and they’re surprisingly easy to care for.

  • Begonia. Although most people think of begonias as outdoor plants, they also look beautiful inside your home. Types with fibrous roots work best indoors, and they bloom almost continuously throughout the year.
  • Peace lily. This elegant plant features a beautiful, white flower against its lush green leaves, and it’s one of the easiest to keep alive. The peace lily even does well in low light.
  • African violet. If you’re looking for a plant that will last for years to come, this is the one to choose. Their purple, red, or white flowers bloom almost year-round.
  • Orchid. Although orchids can be quite finicky plants, they flourish when placed in bright, indirect sunlight. Plus, they’re some of the most beautiful flowering houseplants.
  • Geranium. If you’re prone to forgetting a few waterings here and there, the geranium is the plant for you. These vibrant flowers thrive in dry soil between waterings, and they really bloom when placed in a bright window.

Flowering Houseplants [About Home]
The 16 prettiest and most colorful indoor flowering plants [Today Home]
16 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Flowering Houseplants [AOL Real Estate]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Read About Some of the Country’s Weirdest, Wackiest Museums

April 21, 2015 by

While the Smithsonian is fascinating, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is always a sight to see, some lesser-known American museums are just as interesting—if a bit weirder! If you have a flair for all things out of the ordinary, these unique museums are worth a visit.

1) International Cryptozoology Museum
Cryptozoology is the study of “hidden animals” not verified by science, and this small museum in Portland, Maine, is dedicated to just that. From Bigfoot to Lake Monsters, take a tour of all of the world’s most intriguing—and mysterious—unknown species.

2) International Banana Museum
This fruity museum in North Shore, California, is filled with every type of banana-related item that its curators could hunt down, from salt and pepper shakers to staplers and even a banana record player. Be sure to visit the famous banana bar and sample a banana-flavored milkshake or banana split.

3) Mütter Museum
Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Mütter Museum is one of the finest museums of medical history in the world. While it is a bit creepy to see the 19th-century medical instruments and anatomical specimens, it is also completely fascinating.

4) The Museum of Bad Art
The name says it all at this silly museum in Somerville, Massachusetts. Keep in mind that it’s all in good fun, and just enjoy the truly awful displays of artistic expression.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

All-Natural Household Cleaners You Can Make Yourself

March 24, 2015 by

Yes, cleaning is a mundane chore, but it doesn't have to give you a headache—from chemicals, anyway! Making your own green household cleaners is easier than you might think. All you need is a few ingredients you probably already have at home. Here are three recipes for do-it-yourself cleaners that are equal parts effective, eco-friendly, and easy on the wallet.

1. Excellent Homemade 3-Ingredient All-Purpose Cleaner [Apartment Therapy]
Combine 1/4 cup lemon juice, two cups water, and one cup hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle. Suitable for a variety of cleaning tasks, this all-purpose solution can tackle everything from grimy windows to greasy stovetops. According to the pros at Apartment Therapy, the key to this recipe's effectiveness is the hydrogen peroxide, which is said to be a more powerful cleaning agent than vinegar.

2. DIY Tub/Shower Cleaner [Fabulessly Frugal]
If you have blue Dawn liquid soap and vinegar, you can tackle tough soap scum in your bathroom. Simply heat 12 ounces of white vinegar in the microwave, pour it into a spray bottle, add 10 ounces of blue Dawn, then gently shake the mixture. The key here is to use blue-colored Dawn; don't substitute another dish detergent.

3. Easy Laundry Soap [Potholes and Pantyhose]
This DIY version of laundry detergent will cost you a mere $.05 per load. The recipe requires one bar of Ivory soap and two cups of super washing soda and borax. You'll also need a blender or cheese grater for shredding the soap.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Fine Dining in Baltimore: Where Gourmet Fare Meets an Elegant Ambiance

February 24, 2015 by

Baltimore is beloved for its beautiful Inner Harbor and its rich, historic charm, and it is also home to a number of fine dining restaurants that promise innovative, elegant fare. Make a reservation at one of these upscale eateries in Charm City.

Cinghiale
Cinghiale's strange-sounding name translates into “wild boar” in Italian and refers to the restaurant’s Italian background. Rather than being inspired by modern Italy, Cinghiale takes its inspiration from 1950s and 1960s Milan, featuring a lively atmosphere in the dining room and a social wine bar with beautiful decor. The menu includes favorite dishes from northern and central Italy prepared with locally sourced meats and produce, and the wine list is truly one for the books.
822 Lancaster St., Baltimore, MD 21202; (410) 547-8282

Charleston
Furnished with red printed wallpaper, matching red dining chairs, white tablecloths, and exquisite chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, Charleston restaurant is an elegant respite in the heart of Baltimore. The ever-changing menu includes a combination of French cuisine and down-home, South Carolina favorites. Prix fixe tasting options enable guests to choose from three to six courses, and more than 800 wine options create the ideal pairing with any dish. Once dinner is complete, Charleston also offers an impressive list of cakes, mousses, and pies that regulars insist simply cannot be missed.
1000 Lancaster St., Baltimore, MD 21202; (410) 332-7373

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Choose the Right Houseplant for Your Home or Office

January 27, 2015 by

Whether you have a green thumb or you just can’t seem to keep a plant alive, there is truly an indoor houseplant for just about everyone. Here is a list of the best houseplants for the home or office, and some of them require almost no care at all.

  1. Geranium. This green flowering plant features long stems with lush leaves at the end, and it will thrive all year round if placed near a sunny window. Best of all, the sturdy geranium won’t suffer much if you miss a watering, so it’s a good fit for forgetful plant owners.
  2. Golden barrel cactus. Cacti are especially great plants for those who don’t want to water their plants daily, as they only need watered about once per month. This particular type of cactus is especially large and unique looking, though it only grows to about 1 foot tall.
  3. Jade plant. Jade plants are some of the most popular houseplants because they grow to be quite tall and impressive-looking when placed in bright sunlight. Because they are succulents, they also store a great deal of water in their leaves and require watering very infrequently.
  4. Aloe. With its numerous healing properties and its long, spiky appearance, it’s easy to see why people love aloe plants. With bright light, an aloe plant can grow to 3 feet tall.

Houseplants for the Forgetful Gardener [Better Homes and Gardens]
How To Choose the Right Houseplant [Bayer Advanced]
Houseplants for People Who Can't Grow Houseplants [This Old House]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »

Pin It on Pinterest