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Calling All Artists: Check Out These Drawing Tips and Tutorials on Pinterest!

July 23, 2015 by

You love to draw, but taking an art class might be too time-consuming. Just like with most things, you can find everything you need to improve your art skills right on the Internet! Pinterest boasts a number of drawing tutorials, painting tips, and other ways to connect with experienced artists without leaving the comforts of your own laptop.

Drawing Tutorials
If you’re a visual learner looking for a bit of assistance improving your sketches, the Drawing Tutorials board on Pinterest can help. This board is filled with links to videos that will show you the mechanics of drawing landscapes, sketching the details of a person’s lips, and even creating beautiful drawings on a chalkboard.

Draw
You don’t particularly need to watch instructional videos, but you could use a bit of guidance when it comes to drawing. This board contains endless sources of drawing inspiration, as well as diagrams and daily assignments to help you improve your drawing skills. You can also use the additional tabs at the top to browse the Draw board by doodles, anime, sketches, or whichever type of drawing that you’re most interested in.

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Where to Shop Teens’ and Tweens’ Room Decor Online

June 18, 2015 by

Tweens and teens love to express themselves through their bedroom decor, but you still want their rooms to look organized and put together. Lucky for the both of you, there are a number of stylish furniture and home goods websites that you and your teen will love. Here are two of the best.

Wake Up Frankie
If your daughter loves things with bold, feminine flair, she’ll simply adore Wake Up Frankie. This website carries a wide variety of duvet covers, pillow shams and sheet sets in crazy prints like chevron and polka dots, and each one comes in bright shades of black, pink, and neon yellow. Matching windows and canopies help to complete the look, while headboards, accent chairs, and chandeliers offer an elegant, vintage feel to any room.

Ikea
Ikea is a great place to find stylish, modern bedroom decor and furniture at budget-friendly prices. The website contains beds that fit in any space, coordinating bedding in fun, minimal patterns, and plush throw pillows and rugs to create a comfortable feel. Ikea also carries unique light fixtures and modern decor accessories to add a pop of color to your teen’s room.

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How to Train for a 5K: A Beginner’s Guide

May 21, 2015 by

Anyone can run a 5K, no matter how inexperienced you are with running. If you want to train on your own for an upcoming race in your area, these smart (and safe) tips will help you to get in shape.

  1. Join a group. Many cities have running groups that help one another to train for a 5K. Visit a running store in your area to see if there’s a group that you can join.
  2. Make a plan. Begin training eight weeks before race day. Begin by running 1 mile four days per week, with alternating rest days in between training days. Build up your running distances in quarter-mile increments each week until you finally make it to 5K.
  3. Add in cross-training. If you prefer, you can replace one day of training with a day of cross training, such as biking, swimming, or working out on an elliptical machine for 30 to 40 minutes.
  4. Don’t skip rest days. Even if you feel strong enough to add in additional running days, remember that your body needs rest in order to build muscle and prevent injury.
  5. Switch days. If you have a busy schedule, feel free to switch training days and rest days from week to week. It’s better to switch your schedule around than to miss a training day entirely.

How to Train for Your First 5K [Active]
The Couch-to-5K ® Running Plan [Cool Running]
How to Train to Run Your First 5K [About Health]
Beginner 5K Training Schedule: Go from the Couch to the Finish Line! [Shape]

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Sweater 911! How to Mend a Hole in That Favorite Sweater

April 16, 2015 by

Now that the weather is getting chilly, warm, cozy sweaters are an essential wardrobe staple. Unfortunately, months in storage or an accidental snag can inflict some major damage on the delicate weave of your favorite pullover. Instead of tossing it into the donation pile, mend that hole in your sweater with one of these simple tutorials.

Martha Stewart’s Easy Ways to Fix a Sweater
It’s safe to assume that Martha knows how to fix just about anything, and her sweater-mending tips are second to none. She’ll show you how to stock a knitwear first-aid kit and then use it to fix just about any type of sweater damage.

Darning or Felting a Hole in A Sweater
Whether you prefer stitching with a classic needle and thread or using wool roving and the more complex felting process, both of these options will make your sweater look good as new.

Fix a Hole in a Sweater With Thread
This tutorial from Black Spruce Hound will teach even those with little to no sewing skills how to mend a sweater using a needle and thread. With a few genius twists and turns of the needle, you can even avoid leaving behind those annoying bumps and bulges.

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What Are Logic Mazes? Find Out Here!

March 19, 2015 by

If you love mazes and other types of tricky logic problems, logic mazes will take your hobby to the next level. These advanced mazes, sometimes called "mazes with rules," have special rules that extend far beyond simply navigating around a two-dimensional maze. In a logic maze, the participant must abide by the rules in order to reach the finish line, and they sometimes even include multiple states of the maze or the navigator.

Here are a few of the most common logic mazes.

  1. Area mazes. These are mazes in which the area of tile traveled must alternately increase and decrease with each step.
  2. Rolling dice mazes. A die is rolled with each turn based on a number of different rules.
  3. Number mazes. A grid of numbers is traveled by moving the number of spaces shown in the current square.
  4. Multi-state mazes. The rules in this type of maze change depending on the person's navigation.

To find out more about logic mazes, click here.

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Imponderable of the Day: Why Does Looking at the Sun Make You Sneeze?

February 19, 2015 by

It’s a very curious sensation: You’re inside a dark room for a bit too long and when you step back outside into the bright sunlight, you suddenly feel a sneezing fit coming on. What’s the deal?

Staring at the sun makes about 20 to 35 percent of humans sneeze, and although scientists have a general idea of what causes this sensation, it’s still a very confusing conundrum. The phenomenon, which is known as “photic sneeze reflex,” is actually a genetic trait, which is why it only affects a small percentage of people. These people have visual systems that are more sensitive than those of other people, causing them to become agitated by the sunlight and send panicked responses to all of the nerves in the face, including the somatosensory system, which controls sneezing!

Now, go ahead and impress your friends with this new tidbit of information!

Looking at the Sun Can Trigger a Sneeze [Scientific American]
Why does bright light cause some people to sneeze? [Scientific American]
Does the sun make you sneeze? It's not just you [NBC News]
How Staring at the Sun Can Make You Sneeze [Gizmodo]

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How to Help Your Child Learn to Ride a Bicycle

February 5, 2015 by

If your child is bored with training wheels and wants to learn to ride an adult bike, you likely have a number of concerns. However, as long as you keep safety and comfort in mind, teaching your kid to ride a bicycle can be a quick, painless process. Follow these helpful tips to best instruct your child how to push off, pedal, and cruise on his or her new "big kid" bike.

  1. Safety first. Before you do anything else, get your child properly fitted for the right bicycle helmet. Even if he or she already has a helmet, it’s very important to have one that fits properly and provides the adequate amount of protection for learning to ride a bike. You can do this at just about any bicycle supply shop or sporting goods store.
  2. Scout locations. When it comes to riding a bike for the first time, location is key. You want to find a flat, paved street or parking lot with no traffic or a low, gently sloping, grassy hill, depending on your child’s preference. Show him or her both areas and see which feels more comfortable.
  3. Prepare the bike. You can’t just remove your child’s training wheels and expect him or her to speed away. Take off the training wheels and then begin by removing the pedals and lower the seat. Begin by showing your child how to balance, brake, and turn on the bike with no pedals, and then put the pedals back on. This is the final stage, so get the camera ready!

How To: Ride a Bike [Real Simple]
Teaching a Child How to Ride a Bike [REI]
How to Lean to Ride a Bike in 15 Minutes [Better Homes & Gardens]
Teaching a Kid (and Adult) to Ride a Bicycle [iBike]
Teaching Your Child to Ride a Bike [Disney Family]

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How to Use Rubbing Alcohol Around the Home

January 22, 2015 by

You likely rely on rubbing alcohol to treat cuts and scrapes, but did you know that this medicine cabinet staple has uses beyond the bathroom? Here are three lesser-known uses for rubbing alcohol:

1) Tackle tough ink stains
Pre-treat ink stains by dabbing the area with rubbing alcohol. It's also said that rubbing alcohol can prevent ring around the collar: Simply swipe your neck with a cotton ball dampened with rubbing alcohol before dressing. Note, though, that this can be drying to the skin, so apply sparingly.

2) Clean your gadgets
You probably already use alcohol to disinfect your toothbrushes and thermometers, but you can also use rubbing alcohol to clean your electronics. Dampen a lint-free cloth with a small amount of rubbing alcohol, and use it to wipe down your cell phones, keyboard, computer mouse, and tablets.

3) De-grease the kitchen
Rubbing alcohol makes easy work of removing grease from around the kitchen. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a paper towel, and wipe down countertops and stovetops. The rubbing alcohol helps dissolve the grease and grime left behind by cooking.

12 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol [Reader's Digest]
25 Alternative Uses for Rubbing Alcohol [Daily Finance]
35 Uses for Rubbing Alcohol [Fluster Buster]
Rubbing Alcohol Uses: Ideas For Using The All-Purpose Household Cleaner [HuffPost Green]

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Sip a Latte at These Independent Coffeeshops in Los Angeles

January 15, 2015 by

If you’re looking for the perfect spot for a morning meeting or to catch up with friends, Los Angeles’s many independent coffee shops are charming alternatives to the large chain options. Here are just two great indie coffee houses in the L.A. area.

Balconi Coffee Company
Located in L.A.’s Sawtelle neighborhood, Balconi Coffee Company is an art-filled coffee shop with bright red walls and comfortable seating. Balconi uses a unique siphon process to brew each roast, and though it takes a bit longer than typical brewing, it’s well worth it once you take that first sip. Regulars love the Almond Essence latte, but the menu also includes a variety of more traditional espresso drinks as well. Whether you prefer black coffee with subtle undertones or a milky latte to wake you up in the morning, Balconi Coffee Company's baristas can craft it with true expertise.

Spring for Coffee
Spring for Coffee sources all of its beans from high quality roasters to ensure the best tasting cup, and it offers a wide variety of brewing methods and equipment to meet each customer’s individual preferences. The shop itself is located in bustling downtown Los Angeles, and its interior is very quaint and cozy. The long wooden bar features a few pastries in addition to its coffees, and the stylish, comfortable outdoor seating is perfect for a sunny California afternoon.

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The Skinny on Fats: 5 Facts You Need to Know

December 18, 2014 by

When it comes to losing weight and maintaining a healthy diet, calories aren’t the only things that you should be concerned with. Fats are an essential part of a healthy eating plan, but if consumed in excess they can also be very dangerous. Here are five key facts about fats.

  1. There are four main types of fats: saturated fats, trans fats, monounsaturated fats, and polyunsaturated fats. As a general rule, saturated fats and trans fats are the “bad” fats, and they should be avoided.
  2. All fats contain nine calories per gram, no matter which type of fat it is. Just because monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats are better for you, they can still cause you to gain weight just as quickly as the “bad” fats if not limited.
  3. Fats are necessary because they promote cell growth, protect your organs, and give your body energy.
  4. Even if a pre-packaged food is labeled “trans fat-free,” it might still contain saturated fats, and vice versa. Real, whole foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean meats are always a healthier choice.
  5. Fats are a major part of a healthy diet, it just depends on which foods you choose. Things like vegetable oils, nuts, fish, legumes, avocados, and low-fat dairy products are good sources of healthy fats.

Know Your Fats [American Heart Association]
Different Types of Fat [Health Check]
Choosing Healthy Fats [HealthGuide.org]
Fats 101 [American Heart Association]

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