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Deliciously Lovely Pinterest Boards for Vegans

December 5, 2014 by

If you’re a vegan, Pinterest is a wonderful way to discover thousands of meat and dairy-free recipes that you can save to try later. This online community operates just like a digital bulletin board, enabling users to share their own content or pin content that you love. Check out these vegan Pinterest boards and you just may discover some recipes to make at home.

Vegan Richa’s Dessert Board
This Pinterest board is dedicated entirely to vegan desserts that are made without dairy or meat products. At a glance, the pins looks so decadent that you can’t even tell that they’re not the original recipes, from creamy vegan chocolate milkshakes to dairy-free peanut butter cheesecakes. Best of all, this board is so large that you’ll discover a new dish every time you visit.

Vegan Recipes
If you’re simply searching for versatile vegan recipes for everyday breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, you’ll love this board of recipes. All of the photos are so high quality that you’ll get hungry just looking at them, and they link back to reliable websites that provide step-by-step recipes to prepare the dishes at home. From colorful salads to splurge-worthy vegan baked onion rings, you’ll find a vegan recipe for every craving on this expansive Pinterest board.

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Pinterest Can Help You Lose Weight! Here’s How!

December 4, 2014 by

Pinterest is a social media site that operates just like a digital bulletin board, and its incredibly large community makes a great support group to help you lose weight. Pinterest contains thousands of articles, tips, workouts, and recipes that will help you to create a weight loss plan and sustain a healthy lifestyle even after you drop those extra pounds. Here are two of Pinterest’s best weight loss boards.

Cardio Workouts
This board is packed full of fast-paced, high-energy cardio workouts that will help you to burn calories without spending hours on the treadmill. There are so many workout ideas on this board that you’ll never have to do the same routine twice, and you can pick and choose which sound the most enjoyable to you. Visit the board any time you need a bit of pre-workout motivation, or create your own version filled with only the workouts that you like.

Healthy Eating
If you struggle with eating low-calorie, nutrient-rich meals, all it takes is a bit of healthy eating inspiration to make you excited about cooking nutritious meals at home. This board is filled with mouthwatering recipes that look so delicious, you’ll forget they’re actually good for you, from chewy cookies made with fruit and oatmeal to chicken tenders dipped in a low-fat avocado dipping sauce.

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Kid-Friendly Attractions in Houston

November 28, 2014 by

Houston is home to a wide variety of museums that appeal to people of all ages, but two in particular stand out to children. One of these museums will have your little ones looking back into the past, while the second provides a glimpse far into the future.

Houston Museum of Natural Science
The Houston Museum of Natural Science is one of the most widely visited natural history museums in the country. It offers a wide variety of traditional attractions as well as an innovative approach to teaching the sciences to kids. Travel back in time through the Hall of Ancient Egypt, then venture even farther in the Morian Hall of Paleontology. Your family will learn how energy is made and used in the Wiess Energy Hall, and they'll enjoy stargazing at a recreated authentic night sky in the Burke Baker Planetarium. Kids love learning here, but you'll be surprised at how much adults enjoy it, too!

The Children's Museum of Houston
The Children's Museum of Houston is synonymous with fun, and this highly interactive learning center will make your kids excited about learning. Watch them engage in an ecological study inside the EcoStation. In the Cyberchase exhibit, kids will enter into an interactive world where math is not just learned, but experienced. This colorful center also provides countless programs and fun classes, so make sure to check the calendar for upcoming events.

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How to Give a Great Toast

November 20, 2014 by

Whether you’re the best man at a wedding or the godmother at a baby shower, there are a few pivotal moments in life when you’ll be expected to give a toast. Here are a few tips to help you make a memorable toast that’s equal parts funny and heartwarming.

  1. Set the scene. Begin by introducing yourself and stating your relationship with the guest of honor. Use a humorous comparison, describe why the day is so monumental for your relationship, or just simply tell the crowd how proud you are.
  2. Use an anecdote. Guests love to hear personal stories about the guest of honor, but be sure that you don’t get too personal. Describe a funny time that you had together, but avoid delving too deep into embarrassing situations or nights of youthful rebellion.
  3. Go easy on the jokes. A few jokes about the guest of honor here and there are great, but be careful of becoming hurtful. This is a speech, after all, not a roast.
  4. Seamlessly turn the story into a toast. Add a poignant ending note to your story, such as how the guest of honor has become such a kind, responsible or hardworking person. Finally, invite guests to raise their glasses for a toast.

Make a Great Toast in 5 Steps [Real Simple]
How to Give a Good Toast [Cooking Light]
Toasting [Etiquette Scholar]

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Savory Meets Sweet in These Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipes

November 14, 2014 by

If you think that sweet stuffings are too sweet and savory stuffings are too savory, a blend of the two flavors may be just the thing to perfect this Thanksgiving side. Here are a few sweet and savory stuffing recipes that will appeal to even the pickiest dinner guests.

Awesome Sausage, Apple and Cranberry Stuffing [allrecipes.com]
The combination of savory sausage with sweet, seasonal fruits brings out maximum flavor in this tasty stuffing recipe. Best of all, the recipe yields enough stuffing to fill a 10-pound turkey, and it’s very easy to double if you’re expecting more guests.

Dried Fruit and Nut Cornbread Dressing [marthastewart.com]
Few foods feel more like fall than the mixture of dried fruits and nuts, and although these ingredients are normally found in desserts, they offer an unexpectedly sweet crunch in this dressing. By using a hearty cornbread instead of the usual breadcrumbs, this dish also takes on a uniquely rustic taste.

Ciabatta Stuffing with Chestnuts and Raisins [myrecipes.com]
If you prefer your stuffing to be positively filled with flavor, this recipe certainly won’t disappoint. Fresh herbs like parsley, rosemary and sage make it less bland than most, while autumnal chestnuts and sweet raisins add even more unique flavor.

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Give Your Lampshades a Makeover With These Easy Projects

November 7, 2014 by

If you love doing DIY projects to spruce up your home, you’ll light up over these unexpected ways to dress up your basic lampshades. From polka dotted designs to artistic tie dyed effects, these tutorials have something for every type of home decor—and you can complete them in just a matter of hours!

Fabric Covered Lampshade Makeover [domesticsuperhero.com]
Although this tutorial uses a colorful chevron fabric to dress up an old lampshade, you can choose any type of fabric that fits into your design scheme. After you choose the perfect print, all it takes is a bit of hot glue to completely make over your lamp.

Gold Dot Lampshade [blog.landofnod.com]
There are few patterns more classic than simple polka dots, and this DIY will show you how to add them to a lampshade using only some metallic craft paint. By mapping off different sections with painter’s tape, you can ensure that your dots are evenly spaced.

Modern Marble Patterned Lampshade [minted.com]
This is one of the easiest and most eye-catching ways to dress up a lampshade, as it doesn’t require any painting, gluing, or even much measuring. Simply choose a wallpaper or wrapping paper in a pattern that you love, measure it to fit the shade, and attach it with a bit of regular office tape. This is especially helpful for parties, as you can remove the pattern once you want a less decorated look.

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Find Fresh Fruit and Veggies at These Houston Farmers’ Markets

October 24, 2014 by

Farmers' markets provide a great place to stock up on the week’s produce, spend the afternoon outdoors, and support the local farming community while you do it. In Houston, you’ll find a number of bountiful farmers' markets offering much more than the usual fruits and vegetables. Check out one of these great options this week.

Houston Farmers' Market
The Houston Farmers' Market is the city’s main farmers' market, which becomes apparent when you see how many quality vendors there are on its grounds. The market is held every Tuesday afternoon in the parking lot behind Rice Stadium and offers a very large space for browsing. While you'll encounter local farmers selling fresh, organic produce, there are also many places to buy prepared foods that are supplied by local eateries. From homemade samosas to goat cheese made with local milk, you’ll find a wide assortment of foods at this impressive market.
Rice University Campus West Stadium Lot, 5600 Greenbriar Drive, Houston, TX 77005

Canino Produce
If you’re only looking for fresh produce, Canino Produce is a wonderful alternative to the traditional grocery store. This outdoor market is housed in an airy, barn-like building filled with bountiful stalls overflowing with fresh strawberries, local squash, ripe tomatoes, and many other seasonal fruits and veggies. Best of all, the prices are so low that you can shop local and organic without spending a fortune.
2520 Airline Drive, Houston, TX 77009; (713) 862-4027

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Expecting a New Baby? Read These Babyproofing Tips!

October 17, 2014 by

You couldn’t possibly be more excited to welcome your little one into the world, but incorporating a baby into your home is a whole different story. There are so many sharp edges, open doors, and hot objects that could be hazardous to baby’s soft skin, and it all might seem a bit overwhelming. Here are a few smart, simple ways to babyproof your home with ease.

  1. Install a toilet lock in the bathroom. Once your baby begins crawling and walking, he or she will want to explore every room in the house. A toilet lock will keep baby’s tiny fingers from getting underneath the toilet lid.
  2. Store medicines behind locked doors. If your current medicine cabinet doesn’t have a lock, install one. There are few things more dangerous to babies than pills and medicines, and even if your medicine cabinet is out of reach it's better to be safe than sorry.
  3. Invest in a safe crib. Cribs with drop-sides were recently discontinued, so don’t attempt to re-use that hand-me-down crib. Also make sure that your crib’s slats are 2 3/8-inches apart.

20+ Tips for Babyproofing Your Home [Parenting]
Baby Safety [iVillage]
Childproofing Checklist [TotSafe.com]
Tips to Babyproof Your Home [Lowe’s]

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Green Meets Clean in These Recipes for All-Purpose Cleaners

October 16, 2014 by

With all of the chemicals and hard-to-pronounce ingredients in commercial cleaners today, it’s no surprise that many people are opting to make their own cleaners instead. Here are two effective—and surprisingly simple—recipes for homemade cleansers made with only natural ingredients.

All-Purpose Vinegar Spray [greencleaning.about.com]
This simple, aromatic spray is incredibly easy to make, and it can be used on just about any surface in your home. Vinegar offers powerful disinfecting properties that are on par with any store-bought cleaner on the market today, and it smells a whole lot more natural, too. Simply combine it with water and your favorite essential oils, pour it all in a spray bottle, and you’ll instantly have a versatile cleaner that you can really feel good about.

Glass Cleaner [Good Housekeeping]
You don’t like the laundry list of chemicals on the back of your name brand glass cleaner, but it seems like making your own just won’t produce the same results. This simple recipe is here to prove you wrong. By using only water, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and some essential oils to mask the strong scent, you’ll get the same streak-free shine on every window or mirror in your home. Best of all, all of the ingredients used are environmentally friendly and safe for pets and humans.

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How to Improve Your Penmanship at Any Age

October 10, 2014 by

Having good penmanship is an invaluable life skill, and even if it’s been decades since you first learned to write in cursive, it’s something that you can always try to improve. Here are a few helpful tips to help you improve you handwriting or teach your children the proper way to write.

  1. Point out the flaws. Write a few sentences and evaluate them to see where you’re going wrong. Is the slant uneven, or are the letters spaced too far apart? Do you write with straight, bold lines or are they shaky and fine? Deciphering where your handwriting needs improvement will help you to make it better.
  2. Use the right muscles. Most people with less-than-perfect handwriting draw the letters on the page with only their fingers instead of using their full arms to write properly. Try writing with your entire arm and shoulder in order to put the right amount of force behind each letter.
  3. Go back to the basics. Many bad habits begin when people start writing letters in a way that is different than the proper formation. Using a kindergarten-style alphabet worksheet, re-train yourself to write each letter the way it should look. This will help you to make your writing more consistent and, in turn, more legible for those who have to read it.

How to Improve Your Handwriting [wikiHow]
8 Easy Tips to Improve Your Handwriting [Matador]
Improve Your Handwriting by Writing With Your Shoulders, Not Your Fingers [Lifehacker]

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