You are here: Home / Archives for Miscellaneous

Score Big With These Fantasy Football Tips

December 4, 2014 by

While watching football is top on the list of favorite fall activities, participating in fantasy football leagues is quickly catching up. If you spend hours re-working your fantasy football draft and managing your team, these tips will help you to maximize your chance of success—and maybe even win a bit of money along the way.

  1. Take advantage of online resources. Although some people may get a bit picky about using online cheat sheets, there’s no set rule against doing your research before the draft. Sites like ESPN.com are filled with incredibly beneficial resources to help stack the deck in your favor.
  2. Become familiar with your league’s rules. This tip is especially important for first-time participants, since making a blunder like drafting someone who has already been picked will hold up the rest of the league (and certainly annoy your opponents).
  3. Research injury reports. You make sure to pay attention to which players are doing best this season, but it’s just as important to know who’s limping a bit in practice.
  4. Get risky. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on a so-called “sleeper” player or two as the draft progresses. You’ll likely already have your first choice players by this point, and choosing a risky player could lead to a big payoff in the long run.

11 Tips and Tricks to Win Your Fantasy Football League [ESPN W]
Fantasy Football Dos and Don'ts [About Sports]
10 Tips for New Fantasy Football Owners [Fantasy]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Awesome Facts About the World’s Tallest Roller Coasters

November 20, 2014 by

Adrenaline junkies love seeking out the highest, fastest roller coasters at any amusement park, but some of these rides are crazier than others. Here are a few unbelievable facts about the tallest roller coasters in the world.

  • The Steel Dragon 2000 coaster in Japan’s Nagashima Spa Land measures in at a whopping 318 feet high and 8,133 feet long, which makes it the longest steel coaster in the world. Even more impressive is its insane price, however: The coaster required extra steel to make it earthquake-proof, totaling $50 million!
  • Since 2005, the Kingda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey has held the title of the tallest roller coaster in the world. It stands 456 feet tall and drops riders at a stomach-churning 128 miles per hour in just 3.5 seconds.
  • If you prefer upside down roller coasters, the roller coaster with the most loops is The Smiler in England’s Alton Towers park. Although its name sounds sweet and innocent, this coaster boasts a whopping 14 loops.
  • If speed is more your thing, the world’s fastest roller coaster is, predictably, located at Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi. This bright red, Ferrari-themed coaster reaches speeds of 150 miles per hour in just five seconds.

World's Scariest Roller Coasters [Travel + Leisure]
Awesome Roller Coaster Facts: The Tallest One, Fastest One, Most Loops & More!
[Fun Times Guide]
8 Record-Breaking Roller Coasters from Around the World [Thrillist]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

4 Uncommon Household Uses for Petroleum Jelly

October 16, 2014 by

If you’re looking to save a bit of money around the house, there are a few products more versatile than petroleum jelly. You likely already have a tub of the thick, gooey jelly in your medicine cabinet, but it has a number of different uses that you might not know about. Here are some creative ways to use petroleum jelly around the house.

  1. Erase watermarks from wood. If your old coffee table is dotted with circular watermarks from cups and glasses, remove them in one easy step with petroleum jelly. Just smear some on and let it sit overnight, then wipe the jelly away with a clean cloth.
  2. Moisturize leather goods. If your everyday shoes or that favorite jacket are looking a bit worse for the wear, give them a makeover with petroleum jelly. Just rub it in and wipe off the excess to keep leather goods looking as good as new.
  3. Reduce corrosion on a car battery. Lengthen the life of your car battery by disconnecting the terminals and cleaning them off with a wire brush. Put everything back together and coat it with petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion, especially during cold winter month.
  4. Fix a squeaking door. Grease the hinges of a squeaky door with petroleum jelly to keep it smooth and silent.

16 Practical Uses for Petroleum Jelly [All You]
26 Extraordinary Uses for Petroleum Jelly [Reader's Digest]
57 Uses for Petroleum {Free} Jelly [One Good Thing]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

How to Transform Your Apple Device Into Your Own Personal Chef

September 18, 2014 by

When you come home after a long day of work, it might seem exhausting to decide on something for dinner, let alone actually go through the process of prepping and cooking. Although they haven’t yet thought of a way for your iPhone to actually cook dinner for you, these helpful cooking apps are the next best thing.

How to Cook Everything
Based on the bestselling book by the same name, the How to Cook Everything app offers more than 2,000 recipes that will help you learn to cook, well, just about everything! The app’s interface is very convenient because it was designed specifically for mobile devices, and more than 400 high quality how-to photographs will give you a more visual idea of each of the book’s techniques. There are no fancy gourmet methods in here, just straightforward, delicious meals that anyone can cook.

Cooking
Portable Knowledge’s Cooking app might seem strange because it doesn’t contain any recipes, but once you learn the app’s helpful tips and tricks you’ll be able to apply them to almost any meal. The app also contains helpful cooking substitutions for less common ingredients, such as using vinegar and milk as a substitute for buttermilk. The next time you’re in a pinch in the kitchen, this is the app to use.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Hosting a Party? Check Out This Handy Food and Drink Calculator!

September 4, 2014 by

It seems that every time you host a party, you never prepare the right amount of food and beverages. From the time that you overshot the buffet and had leftovers for months to the last minute drink run at your last shindig, something just doesn’t add up.

Luckily, this handy food and beverage calculator from Real Simple will help you to calculate exactly how many refreshments to make for your party size. Simply enter the number of guests that you’re expecting and whether or not their children are also invited and the online tool will do all of the food and beverage planning for you.

The calculator’s results detail how many bottles of wine, cases of beer, and even ice to purchase. It also details cheese by the pound, hors d’oeuvres by the piece and a number of other food options. Take the results with you to the grocery store and you can be sure that you’re getting exactly the right amount of everything for your party.

Party Food and Beverage Calculator [Real Simple]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , ,

How to Tackle Stubborn Coffee, Wine and Ink Stains

August 21, 2014 by

Your morning cup of coffee is a beautiful sight for weary eyes—but not when it's spilled down the front of your go-to work shirt. Keep these stain-fighting tips handy so you can meet common household stains with a plan of attack.

To remove coffee and tea stains:
Coffee and tea are categorized as "tannin" stains. These types of stains should be treated with detergent as opposed to soap. If the fabric is washable, you'll want to pre-treat the stain with a stain remover, then toss the garment into the wash with an enzyme detergent on the hottest water temperature permissible for the fabric. If you prefer, you can pre-treat the stain with a solution of one part white vinegar and two parts water, then wash.

To remove wine stains:
Also a tannin stain, wine stains are easier to remove when fresh. First, blot the stain using a lint-free towel to remove as much of the wine as possible. Before the stain can dry and "set" into the fabric, soak the garment in a solution of water and oxygen-based laundry booster. Afterwards, wash the garment in a regular laundry cycle of hot water.

To remove ink stains:
Place a towel underneath the stain, then blot the ink with another lint-free towel that's dampened with rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol will transfer the ink to the towel that's underneath the shirt, so don't use your favorite bath towel for this method!

17 Easy Stain Removal Tips [Lifescript]
Stain Removal Tricks and Shortcuts [Real Simple]
Quick 'n Easy Stain Removal [Ohio State University]
6 Easy Recipes for Removing Nasty Stains [Wonder HowTo]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Avoid the Itch: How to Identify Poison Ivy

July 24, 2014 by

"Leaves of three, let them be." It's sage advice when it comes to poison ivy prevention, but it doesn't really help to take the guesswork out of differentiating the plant from other, harmless varieties. If you're unsure exactly which three-leafed plants are off-limits, memorize these identifying traits:

1) Poison ivy has compound leaves.
Each compound leaf consists of three leaflets that share a stem, with the center leaflet always having the longest stem. The leaflets are usually jagged around the edges, but you might come across smooth-edged poison ivy leaflets from time to time. All poison ivy leaflets taper to a narrow point.

2) Poison ivy is usually glossy.
The leaves typically sport a waxy appearance. In the spring and summer, the leaves are bright green, while in the fall, they turn red—but they are always poisonous. The plant forms flowers in the spring and berries in the fall. The itchy blisters caused by poison ivy are an example of contact dermatitis; the reaction is due to urushiol oil present within all parts of the plant.

3) Poison ivy takes many shapes.
Shrub, bush, or vine, poison ivy takes on many forms, and it's not picky about where it grows. You might find it crawling up or tree or a fence or snaking across the dirt as a ground cover. Also note that poison ivy is found commonly all over the U.S.!

Do you have tips for identifying poison ivy or for treating the rash? Share them below!

How to Identify Poison Ivy [About]
The Mighty Poison Ivy Plant [Mayo Clinic]
How to Identify Poison Ivy [WikiHow]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Heading Outside During a Heat Wave? Here’s How to Stay Safe!

June 19, 2014 by

You’ve had plans to go to a baseball game for weeks, but now the news report says that temperatures are expected to rise to 90 degrees or above. What should you do? If you’re faced with a day outdoors during a heat wave, it’s important to keep yourself and those around you safe before heading out of the air conditioning. These simple tips will prevent heat stroke and other harmful heat related illnesses.

  1. Be aware of weather forecasts. Don’t get stuck in a heat wave unprepared. Be sure to watch the local news, read the newspaper, or even check online to stay informed about potential heat waves in your area.
  2. Don’t leave children or pets in vehicles. Even if your kids are a bit older and you often leave them in the car at the drugstore or supermarket, take special precautions during a heat wave. Never leave a child or pet alone in the car, even if the windows are cracked!
  3. Drink water. If you decide to brave the elements and head outdoors, make sure that you always carry fresh water wherever you go. When temperatures rise above 90 degrees, it’s important to drink at least one gallon of water throughout the day.

Heat: A Major Killer [National Weather Service]
Summer Heat Safety Tips [Love to Know]
NYC Hazards: Extreme Heat and Your Health [NYC.gov]
Red Cross Offers Ways to Stay Safe During a Heat Wave [Red Cross]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Frosting 101: 5 Pointers for Pastry Bag Novices

May 14, 2014 by

Pastry bags might bring to mind sophisticated chefs in tall white hats, but they’re actually very simple to use, and they make your baking look much more professional. Whether you want to create an elaborate decoration on a birthday cake or frost a batch of cupcakes, here are a a few simple tips to help you learn how to use a pastry bag.

  1. Choose the right tips. Pastry bags come with a wide variety of different tips, from large, wide-mouth options to tiny tips for intricate detailing. Choose a smaller tip if you want to write a message, or go wild with a larger tip for creating edging and decoration.
  2. Fill the bag. Using a spatula to direct the frosting, fill your bag. Be sure to fold half of the bag over your non-dominant hand to make it easier to close at the end. Once the bag is half filled, unfold the bag and give it a good twist at the top.
  3. Practice makes perfect. Lay out a sheet of wax paper and practice the designs on there first.
  4. Try a few designs. When you use a pastry bag, the design possibilities are endless. Create stars by holding the bag straight up and down while using a wide, star-shaped tip, or create polka dots the same way with a round tip. Hold the bag at an angle and rotate around the cake to make borders, pulling away quickly every few seconds to create a ribbon-like effect.
  5. Use the right touch. When you finally start to apply the frosting to the cake, don’t let the tip of the pastry bag touch the surface. It should hover just above, and you should apply constant, firm pressure. Be sure to twist the top of the bag as you go to ensure that the pressure inside stays consistent.

Do you have any pointers for pastry bag newbies? Share your tips below!

How to Use a Pastry Bag Without Making a Mess [Real Simple]
How to Use a Pastry Bag [Food52]
Frosting Cupcakes: How to Use a Pastry Bag [Craft Buds]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: , , ,

Bake Your Own Bread With These Recipe Sites

April 17, 2014 by

Who doesn’t love the taste of warm, crusty bread right out of the oven? Though homemade bread may seem intimidating to many at-home chefs, these simple websites offer bread recipes for cooks of all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a sweet cinnamon raisin loaf for tomorrow’s breakfast or an elaborate multigrain baguette for a dinner party, these websites have recipes for every type of bread imaginable.

All Recipes
All Recipes is a go-to website for just about any recipe you can think of, and their bread section leaves nothing to be desired. It features recipes of the day with mouth-watering photos of breads, muffins, and biscuits, as well as a variety of staff picks that are tested by the site’s knowledgeable employees. If you have a specific bread in mind, All Recipes also offers a handy search bar that allows you to search by the name, ingredient, or purpose of the bread.

Food Network
If you’ve ever watched a show on the Food Network and wondered how to make the fresh, delicious breads from your favorite shows, the bread section of the network’s website is the place to go. This page offers simple, instructional recipes for the simplest no-knead breads to the most complex bread puddings, and they’re all ranked by level of difficulty.

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