Discover Basketball History with These Great Sports Books

Avid basketball fans are lucky to have numerous places to read about their favorite sport online, with sites like ESPN.com and NBA.com offering the latest standings, stats, and news, and a variety of blogs providing thoughtful analyses of great games and hot teams.

Over the years, basketball has occasioned quite a few extraordinary books which capture the history and nuance of the game in ways that even casual fans can can appreciate. Here are three of the best:

The Jordan Rules
Taking its name from a tactic once used to defend Michael Jordan, The Jordan Rules recounts a season Jordan's early career. In the book, author Sam Smith shows how Jordan and his team came together to win their very first championship.

Seven Seconds or Less
Jack McCallum's book chronicles a season spent with a team that changed the course of pro basketball: the 2005-2006 Phoenix Suns. Led by MVP point guard Steve Nash, the Suns played fast and inspired other teams to imitate their high-scoring style.

The Art of A Beautiful Game
Rather than focusing on a single team for a single season, The Art of a Beautiful Game offers a tour through the sport by focusing on specific events common to basketball games — like a dunk, a rebound, or a blocked shot — and on players whose talents help make the sport a joy to watch.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Simplify Job Searching with These Three Websites

Are you a recent college graduate looking for that elusive first job? Are you an adult looking to switch careers? No matter your station in life or your level of experience, these easy-to-navigate websites can help simplify your job search.

Indeed
One of the most popular job search sites for both employers and potential employees, Indeed is a great resource for your job search because of its large number of users. By asking only the most basic “What?” and “Where?” questions, Indeed presents you with an impressive number of job prospects that you may not have considered. You can even post your resume to Indeed’s resume database in case a company has an opening that needs filled quickly – who knows, maybe that perfect job is looking for you, too!

LinkedIn
The focal social media website for the business world, LinkedIn operates like an online networking event. Create your personal profile, add your most professional headshot, upload your resume and you’ll have online profile tailored for business. LinkedIn also features job postings and company profiles to help you browse potential jobs as you extend your circle of connections.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook
Don’t let the long name fool you – the Occupational Outlook Handbook is a simple, straightforward tool designed to give people insights into their careers of choice. On it you’ll find hundreds of occupations listed with information on salaries, responsibilities, and required skills and education.

Three Space Saving Ideas for Apartment Renters

With all the stuff we have in our lives, our apartments can get pretty crowded. Each item might seem like a necessity, making it hard to part with anything. One solution? Maximize your space by finding space-saving storage solutions. Here are three ideas:

Hang pots, pans, and utensils
In many homes, the kitchen becomes a magnet attracting stuff, causing cabinets and drawers to fill up fast. One solution is to use hooks to hang stuff like mugs, utensils, and pots and pans. That way it'll be out of the way when you need to use the counter space, but ready at hand when you're set to cook.

Use your dresser drawers effectively
Dresser drawers offer storage to complement your closets. And one simple trick can help you use them more effectively: store your clothes filed front-to-back (like you'd do while shelving books) instead of simply stacking them.

Find multi-use furniture
An ottoman can double as storage for blankets and pillows. The space beneath your bed can hide plastic storage containers, and some bed frames even include drawers. Multi-use furniture can keep your stuff stored… and out of sight.

17 Space-Saving Solutions for Small Kitchens [Houzz]
Top 10 Space-Saving Household Projects [Lifehacker]
10 Ways to Maximize Space in a Small Bedroom [Freshome]

Trip Idea: Sacramento, California

Sacramento and California's Central Valley are great places to visit. Here are some places to see if you're planning a trip:

WestWind Sacramento 6 Drive-In
Not many places still have drive-in movie theaters but Sacramento does. For just $7.25 per person you can see a double feature of first run, blockbuster movies. All your favorite snacks are available and reasonably priced. Of course you can bring in your own food as well. 

Go to the Zoo
Sacramento has not one but two zoos for you to visit. Stop by the Sacramento Zoo to see animals like giraffes, red pandas, monkeys, and penguins. Take a train ride around the zoo and then feed the giraffes! Take a trip to the The Folsom City Zoo Sanctuary to see a different kind of zoo. This is more of a wildlife sanctuary with animals who are native to North America. 

Chando's Tacos
This taco stand serves delicious, flavorful, authentic tacos. The prices are great too! Try the carne asada and the pork carnitas. 

Lose Weight While Playing Sports

Want to get fit? Grab a friend and start playing these great sports for burning calories. 

Skiing
An average person can burn around 700 calories for just an hour of cross country skiing. 

Basketball
Women can burn up to 500 calories and men can burn up to 700. 

Soccer
Depending on how much you weigh you can burn 400 to 800 calories. 

Swimming
You'll barely break a sweat burning 400 to 1,000 calories an hour with moderate effort doing laps through the pool. 

Tennis
In addition to a great cardio workout, tennis will also improve your strength and agility. Half an hour burns as much as 300 calories.

Take A Trip To Historic New Mexico!

Did you know that Northern New Mexico is a beautiful place, steeped in history? It's a great place to step back in time, and learn about our country's history. If this sounds like fun, below are a few must-see destinations on your visit.

Valles Caldera: This 89,000 acre park can only be visited with an advance reservation, but this innovative method is actually advantageous. It keeps the park from every getting too crowded, and when you're there, you will feel like you have the whole park to yourself. 

Tinkertown Museum: For most of his life, artist Ross Ward made art out of found objects to decorate his Sandia Park home. His home is now open to the public, and his unique garden of treasures is now a nationally recognized collection of folk and outsider art.

Santa Fe: Santa Fe is a fabulous destination for a long weekend away. While you're there, you can enjoy the theater, do some shopping, tour a museum, or time your trip around one of the city's many annual celebrations and festivals.

Acoma Sky Pueblo: Perched on a stunning mesa, Acoma Sky Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the nation. Community residents provide tour year round of the 1,000 year old pueblo, and 500 year old Spanish church that still stand in the community to this day. 

Carlsbad Caverns: These wondrous caves are internationally known for a reason. Carlsbad Caverns is a complex of 17 caves filled with amazing natural rock formations. Before you begin, grab the inexpensive audio tour and wander around the Big Cave, or, if you're up for an adventure, hike to the natural cave entrance.

Unique Food Trucks Around the Country

Food trucks have gone from pure convenience to a gourmet experience over the last few years. From New York to Washington these popular meals on wheels have been popping up to provide diners a truly unique experience. If you're ever in the area make sure you stop by these top spots.

Streetza Pizza, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Serving up gourmet pizza by the slice. From regular cheese pizza and pepperoni to specialty slices like pizza topped with spam and chili there is always something new to try.

East Side King, Austin, Texas
Truly gourmet food delivered right to you like beef tongue, pork belly, chicken skin, Pho buns. Foodies will delight in this unique menu.

Where Ya At Matt, Seattle, Washington
Bringing a taste of New Orleans to Seattle. True home cooking of grits, corn bread, gumbo, and Po boys. When you need a taste of the South this is the place to go.

Kogi, Los Angeles, California
Korean BBQ to go. The menu is full of short rib stuffed burritos, calamari tacos, and Kogi Kimchi Quesadilla all for a great price.

Sugar Philly, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When you want to indulge in a sweet treat this truck is here to help. Stop in for fresh baked macarons, cheesecake, and creme brulee.

DIY: Cleaning & Organizing Projects For Your Home

Are you itching to clean and organize your home, but aren't sure where to start? Well, the best way to avoid burnout is to tackle projects systematically. If your home is in need of an overhaul, check out these tips that will get your space spick-and-span, and well organized, without the headache!

How To Clean Your House in 20 Minutes a Day for 30 Days: This month-long cleaning schedule will whip your home into shape with little time, energy, or commitment.

How To Take On Closet Organization: These tips will help you let go of your perfectionist tendencies, and will give you ways to maintain an organized space without the stress!

Homemade Gifts: Treats From The Kitchen

When the holiday season rolls around, there are countless individuals to consider adding to your ever-growing gift-giving list. Before you shell out the big bucks buying items for everyone from family, to friends, to coworkers, to teachers, and party-hosts, consult the list below for DIY ideas that can be whipped up right in your kitchen!

Flavored Salts

DIY Cider Mulling Spices

Chai Tea Mix

Chocolate-Dipped Beer Marshmallows with Crushed Pretzel Garnish

For many more great DIY gifts, check out this list on The Kitchn.

Sports Buzz: Best Quarterbacks of All Time

If there’s one man that serves as the face of the football team, it’s the quarterback. The locus of every offensive play, it’s his job to get the ball down the field however he can. A legendary quarterback needs to be gifted with not just a powerful arm and agile legs but also a keen strategic mind, able to assess the situation on the field and adapt to it in a fraction of a second. Here are five men who can be considered the best of all time.

Joe Montana
Known as the Golden Great, Montana spent fourteen years with the San Francisco 49ers, leading them to many victories with his cool, collected playstyle. After being traded to Kansas City, he ended his career two years later. Montana started in and won four Super Bowls and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 2000.

Bart Starr
One of the most famous players to ever wear the uniform of the Green Bay Packers, Bart Starr led that team to NFL dominance throughout the 50s and 60s before retiring in 1971. Two-time Super Bowl champion, two-time Super Bowl MVP, five-time NFL champion – these are just a few of his accolades.

Johnny Unitas
The man known as the Golden Arm, Unitas led the Baltimore Colts to numerous victories during his tenure as quarterback. He set many records during his professional career, but one that remains unbroken was his run of throwing a touchdown pass in 47 consecutive games. He also won the NFL’s Man of the Year award in 1970.

Troy Aikman
Starting in 1989, Troy Aikman built the Dallas Cowboys into one of the most powerful forces in the NFL. Aikman’s playstyle was aggressive and high-scoring, winning him six Pro Bowl nominations and taking the team to a trio of Super Bowl victories. Since retirement, he’s gone on to commentate games for Fox.

John Elway
Still considered one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, John Elway recorded the most victories of any starting quarterback in history upon his retirement. He played for the Denver Broncos for the entirety of his pro career, taking the team to six AFC championships and five Super Bowls.