Helpful Study Tips for Students of All Ages

Students from sixth grade all the way up to graduate school struggle can find studying to be a daunting task, despite how different their curriculum may be. Use these helpful study tips to improve your own studying or to help your struggling child.

  1. Review before bed. While it’s not the best idea to study when you’re overly tired, there’s some benefit to studying right before bed. Your brain strengthens new memories while sleeping, so you’re more likely to remember what you learned if you look at the information right before falling asleep.
  2. Create mnemonic devices. Whether you’re trying to remember complex chemistry concepts or the states and their capitals, it often helps to create a little story or other mnemonic device using people or objects that you’re already familiar with. For example, make a poem out of the first letters of each of the planets for a child who is struggling with an elementary science class.
  3. Create practice tests. One of the only ways to really test your knowledge is by putting yourself to the test. Download pre-made practice tests online or enlist a study partner to quiz you on the topic.
  4. Write instead of typing. Many studies show that the human brain is more likely to remember something that you write by hand than something that you type, so leave your laptop at home the next time you take notes.

22 Science-Backed Study Tips to Ace a Test [Greatist]
10 Tips to Study Smart and Save Time [Lifehack]
Adults in College: 10 Secrets to Success if You Haven’t Seen a Classroom in Years [Back to College Blog]
Top 10 Study Tips for Busy Adult Learners [Back to College]

How to Display Your Houseplants for Maximum Impact

Adding houseplants to your home is one of the best ways to brighten a room and clean the air, so why not take the time to incorporate a few plants into your home's decor? Check out these tips for getting the most visual impact out of your houseplants.

  1. Place them in display boxes. Hanging antique crates or boxes from the wall is an affordable way add some vintage style to a room, and this is also a good way to show off your green thumb. Secure attractive crates to the wall facing outward, then pop a plant inside to create a sort of framed effect.
  2. Add tiered plant stands. While using plant stand is a great way to show off a smaller plant, adding three plant stands makes an even bigger impact in a room. You can even DIY your own by adhering attractive copper pipes in three different lengths to wooden or concrete tops.
  3. Hang them from the ceiling. Macramé is back in style in a big way, and there’s no better reason to break out your yarn and beads than to show off a beautiful plant. Creating a macramé plant hanger is simple and affordable, so you can create a whole slew of plant hangers with little money and little time.

Plants In The Bedroom [Smile and Wave]
20 Unforgettable Indoor Plant Displays [Decoist]
Buy or DIY: 5 Ideas for Displaying Tillandsia [Apartment Therapy]

Greet a Lazy Sunday With Brunch at These Two Austin Restaurants

There’s no better way to end a fun-filled weekend than with a relaxing brunch and something sweet to sip. Austin is filled with stylish eateries that offer unique combinations of brunch foods and strong libations, and these are just two of the city’s favorites:

South Congress Café
Arguably one of the most buzzed about brunch spots in town, South Congress Café is a distinctly Austin eatery with a hip, relaxed atmosphere and a creative menu to boot. Shrimp and grits, carrot cake French toast, and crawfish omelets are just a few of the most popular items, best paired with a frozen peach Bellini or a signature bloody Mary. Although the line for a table can be quite long, you can wander eclectic South Congress Street while you wait.
1600 S. Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78704; (512) 447-3905

Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill is a popular brunch eatery with a menu of incredibly filling, interesting Southern fare. The expansive buffet is filled with buttermilk biscuits, various meat-filled casseroles, cornflake-encrusted fried chicken, and other delicious (though not exactly health-conscious) dishes. There’s also an expansive list of whiskey and bourbons, which offers a taste of Austin’s most popular drink of choice. Come hungry and be prepared for a long nap afterward, because Moonshine Patio is certainly delicious indulgence.
303 Red River St., Austin, TX 78701; (512) 236-9599

These Luxury Websites Celebrate the Finer Things in Life

You prefer to live life beautifully and have a well-developed sense of style to show for it. We’ve found a few websites to help you acquire the finer things in life, whether it’s in your home, kitchen, closet, or office. Find out about style icons you admire, view galleries of beautiful places to travel, and discover ways to make your lifestyle a little more chic.

Pursuitist
Pursuitist is dedicated to bringing you only the best of the best when it comes to life and style. Browse articles and galleries pertaining to luxury fashion, auto, culinary, and travel.

Robb Report
Stay informed on the latest news of your favorite luxury brands at Robb Report. Bringing you the most current information about fashion, properties, and travel, you’ll never miss an opportunity to get the goods as soon as they're available.

Just Luxe
Just Luxe is a fabulous guide to living life with impeccable style. Find out where the best spots for luxury are in each city you visit with the City Guides feature, then read reviews of the hottest trends in autos, fashion, and home.

Luxury Design
Enjoy first class access to the luxury lifestyle at Luxury Design. Read suggestions on which private jet to fly, which high-end perfume to purchase, and what designer watches will make the passing of time a beautiful event.

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

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.

Internet Safety: How to Protect Yourself Online

Whether through shopping, checking in on social media, or just reading up on favorite topics, many Americans spend hours upon hours online every year. It should come as no surprise, then, that online identity theft is now a common problem among internet users. In fact, nine million Americans fall prey to internet identity theft every year. Protect yourself by following these helpful tips.

1. Check (and double check) your bank and credit card statements.
Keep an eye out for strange purchases, like ones made out of state or via online retailers you don't frequent. Report suspicious activity right away. Also, be sure to order your credit report annually to double check that no fishy accounts or credit cards have been opened in your name. You're entitled to a free copy of your credit report once per year from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

2. Create strong passwords.
Use a combination of hard-to-guess letters, numbers, and characters in your online passwords. Be sure to change passwords frequently, and be especially careful when entering them into a public computer. Don't share your passwords, social security number, or credit card information over email or instant messenger — even with your family members. You never know when your email could be breached.

3. Install anti-virus software.
Keep your computer up-to-date with software packages that detect viruses and spyware. Also, when you log into your bank or credit card accounts, make an online purchase, or engage in any activity that requires security, double check that the web address bar begins with https. This signifies a secure website connection.

8 Tips on How to Protect Yourself Online [McAfee]
How to Protect Yourself Online [FCC]
10 Ways to Protect Yourself Online [Reader's Digest]
How to Protect Yourself Online [U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]
Identity Theft & Credit Card Fraud – How to Protect Yourself [Wall Street Journal]

Pro Tips for a Perfect Pie Crust

With the holiday season in full swing, you might want to impress your family and friends with a delicious, homemade pie at your festive gathering. Although making a pie from scratch seems intimidating, these tips from the pros will ensure that your crust turns out completely flawless.

  1. Chill everything. It’s fairly common knowledge that a good pie crust relies on very cold butter, but you can even go one step further by chilling everything (like flour, butter and shortening) before beginning.
  2. Keep things lumpy. While most recipes require you to blend or mix the dough until it’s perfectly smooth, a good pie crust relies on those small chunks of butter or other fats. This is what creates small air pockets for that lovely flaky texture once it’s done baking.
  3. Don’t over-handle the dough. The warmth from your hands can cause the gluten in the dough to seize up, so be sure to only touch the dough when transferring it into the pan.
  4. Use parchment paper. Not only does sandwiching your pie dough between parchment paper keep your kitchen cleaner, it also prevents the crust from tearing when it gets too thin.
  5. Create an aluminum shield. Because the pie’s filling and its crust tend to cook at different speeds, wrap a shield of aluminum foil around the crust’s edges during the last five minutes of baking.

10 Tips for Making Perfect Pie Crust [About Food]
The 10 Commandments of a Perfect Pie Crust [Real Simple]
6 Tips For Perfect Pies And Tarts [Food Network]

Learn Computer Science With These Free Online Courses

Computer science knowledge is useful for just about any career nowadays, and these simple, affordable courses from Udacity can help you learn the basics of this interesting subject. With at-home lessons that you can complete at your own pace, you can master the basics of computer science in your free time with Udacity. Best of all, the courses are free to audit!

Introduction to Computer Science
Introduction to Computer Science teaches key concepts in computer science, as well as the basic steps for writing a computer program in the context of building a simple search engine. This course is split up into 11 lessons that you can complete whenever you’d like, and no prior programming knowledge is needed to enroll.

Web Development
If you’re a moderately experienced programmer who wants to learn the basics of how the web works, this course is for you. Throughout its seven lessons, Web Development will teach you how to build your own blogging application, process user input, use APIs, and much more.

Programming Languages
Programming Languages is a course designed to give students an introduction into the fundamentals of, you guessed it, programming languages. Over the course of seven lessons that you may complete at your own pace, you will learn how to specify and process valid strings, sentences, and program structures in order to build a simple web browser.

Are You Brushing Your Teeth Correctly? Find Out Here!

You’ve brushed your teeth for as long as you can remember, but how can you be sure that you’re doing it correctly? Check out these simple steps for proper tooth brushing to find out.

  1. Twice a day is only the beginning. Although many people are taught to brush their teeth in the morning and the evening, that’s actually only the minimum amount. Brushing your teeth after a large meal or any time you drink a potentially staining beverage is always a good idea.
  2. Brush in a circular motion. Dentists recommend brushing in a circular motion up toward the gums rather than the usual back and forth motion across the teeth. This technique removes bacteria without causing gum pain.
  3. Stop the final rinse. While many people rinse their mouths out with a bit of water after brushing, this is harmful because it removes the beneficial film delivered from the toothpaste. If you feel the need to rinse, only put a small amount of water in your mouth and swish it across your tongue rather than around your teeth and gums.
  4. Don’t skimp on flossing. Flossing is just as important as brushing, and it should be done almost as often. Bonus points if you floss before brushing, as that enables the toothpaste to coat those hard-to-reach places between the teeth.

How to Brush [Colgate]
Proper Brushing [ADHA]
Am I Brushing My Teeth Correctly? [Lifehacker]
How to Brush Your Teeth [Crest]

Food Canning 101: 5 Basics

Your grandmother may have been on to something with all of those canned fruits and vegetables. Canning is a great way to preserve the lifespan of fresh produce, and it creates a number of unique new ways to eat your favorite veggies. If you want to start canning in your own home, here are 5 things that you need to know.

  1. Do not use overripe produce. Although canning helps you to extend the lifespan of produce, it won’t reverse the ripening process if it has already happened. Be sure to use only crisp, fresh fruits and vegetables.
  2. Sterilize cans before starting. Because your produce will be sealed tightly inside of the glass jars, you want to make sure that there is no bacteria inside of there as well. Wash each jar with hot, soapy water and soak them in a boiling water bath for at least 10 minutes before you begin.
  3. Research acid additions. Many types of fruits and vegetables require ascorbic acid or citric acid to prevent browning or maintain pH levels, so do your research before canning.
  4. Do not fill the jars completely. Your produce will expand during the boiling process, so be sure leave an inch or so of space at the top of each jar.

More Canning Tips and Do's/Don'ts [Pick Your Own]
Canning 101: The Basics [Simple Bites]
USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, 2009 revision [NCHFP]

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