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Learn about Different Business Structures with These SBA Guides

February 19, 2016 by

If you'd like to learn more about different kinds of business structures, the U.S. Small Business Administration’s website offers helpful guides describing things like S-Corps, LLCs, and sole proprietorships. Here are some of the basic differences:

Sole Proprietorship
This is the simplest business structure, and it is also the most common among new businesses. Sole proprietorships have no distinction between the business itself and the owner of the business, and the two operate as one entity.

Limited Liability Company
LLCs are business structures somewhere between sole proprietorships and corporations. They're their own entities — often owned by multiple shareholders — but they retain some of the flexibility of sole proprietorships.

Corporations
Corporations, or C-Corps, are more complex business structures, with distinctive tax and legal requirements. This form is more typical for large businesses, but small businesses sometimes use the form, too, if they're anticipating rapid growth or outside investment.

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How to Help Ensure Your Growing Teen Is Getting the Proper Nutrition

February 18, 2016 by

Teenagers may seem like they don’t need your help with anything, but as a parent, you know that this simply isn’t true. When it comes to proper nutrition, your growing teen needs you more than ever. Here are a few smart tips to help ensure that your teenager is eating the right foods and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

  1. Have regular meals together. Eating together doesn’t just bring you closer as a family, it also ensures that your son or daughter eats a well-balanced dinner every evening. Prepare meals with lots of whole grains, lean meats and fish, and fresh vegetables.
  2. Prepare more food. As your child becomes a teenager, his or her appetite will begin to increase dramatically. Keep teens energized by serving larger portions at mealtime and keeping lots of healthy snacks on hand.
  3. Limit saturated fats and sugars. Even if your teen loves to snack on potato chips and chocolate candies, these things can contribute to certain diseases later in life. Try to limit the foods that contain saturated fats, sugars, and sodium in your household.
  4. Increase calcium intake. Because teenagers typically go through growth spurts, they require much more calcium than children and adults. Serve low fat milks, yogurt, or even calcium supplements. Ask your child's doctor for advice.

Nutrition for Children and Teens [HelpGuide.org]
A Teenager’s Nutritional Needs [HealthyChildren.org]
Do Teens Have Different Nutritional Needs Than Adults? [SF Gate]

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Essential Kitchen Items Any Aspiring Home Chef Should Own

February 12, 2016 by

Stocking your kitchen with cooking utensils may seem daunting, and one look at the price tag on a new set of knives will make it seem even more so. When it comes to creating a functional home kitchen, however, all it takes are a few key items to help you make just about any recipe under the sun. Take this list of essential kitchen tools with you to the store and leave with your budget still in tact.

  1. Chef’s knife. This do-everything knife can replace almost an entire set if you’re trying to save space (or money). Choose one with an 8- or 9-inch blade and a sturdy handle.
  2. Tongs. Metal or rubber tongs can be used for flipping meats and veggies, removing hot garlic bread from a pan, and everything in between.
  3. Ladle. This is one of those items that you just can’t replicate. Instead of making a mess with too-small serving spoons, add an affordable ladle to your utensil collection.
  4. Rubber spatula. There’s nothing better for removing batters, sauces, and the last bit of peanut butter from the bottom of the jar.
  5. Measuring cups and spoons. They don’t have to be expensive, but they are necessary.
  6. Vegetable peeler. If you’re cooking from scratch, this will make your life a whole lot easier.
  7. Cutting board. A sturdy wooden or plastic cutting board will keep your counters safe.

The Kitchn's Guide to Essential Prep Tools & Utensils [The Kitchn]
Essential Kitchen Tools Checklist [Real Simple]
Stock Your Kitchen With These 12 Essential Kitchen Tools [Cooking Light]

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Interesting Facts About Chocolate You Might Not Already Know

February 5, 2016 by

You may consider yourself a bit of a chocoholic, but there’s a lot you might not know about rich, decadent chocolate. Before you grab that tasty square of dark chocolate or have a scoop of chocolate ice cream for dessert, read up on these interesting chocolate facts!

  • It takes many cocoa beans to make chocolate. Between 300 and 600 cocoa beans are needed to make just one kilogram of chocolate!
  • There are three different types of cocoa used in modern chocolate making. Forastero cocoa is harvested in the Amazon and used in 90% of the world’s chocolate; Criollo beans are grown in Central and South America and are the rarest types of beans; Trinitario beans are hybrids of the other two.
  • Cocoa beans must be roasted just like coffee beans to create chocolate.
  • Ever wondered what the percentage on a chocolate bar refers to? It describes how much of the bar’s weight comes from the cocoa bean, and it impacts the darkness of the bar.
  • Dark chocolate is good for you. It's packed with antioxidants and is believed to help reduce blood pressure and improve the cardiovascular system.
  • Eating dark chocolate every day can cut your risk of heart disease by one-third.
  • The ancient Aztecs and Mayans once used chocolate as currency. People used cocoa beans to buy food, tools and livestock.

11 Facts About Chocolate [Do Something]
10 Fascinating Facts About the World of Chocolate [Listverse]
Facts about Chocolate [Purdy’s]

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Home Decorating Tips Everyone Should Know

January 29, 2016 by

You don’t have to be an interior design pro to create a magazine-worthy home; all it takes are some smart tips and some creative thinking. Here are just a few of the most important home decorating tips that every renter should know.

  • Focus on creating balance. No matter how large or how small a space, creating balance through furniture and decor is one of the best ways to make any room feel spacious and comfortable. Rearrange furniture as many times as you need until you can move easily around the room, and attempt to create symmetry whenever possible.
  • Choose a color scheme. You don’t need to go all out with a specific color scheme, but choosing a few key colors and using throughout the room is key for creating a cohesive look. Use things like throw pillows, artwork, and rugs to tie the whole room together.
  • Focus on height. Many people focus on filling the room from side to side without thinking of filling it from top to bottom. Make sure that you add taller furniture, shelves, or large frames to fill that empty top half of the room.
  • Create an ambiance. Even if you have brand new furnishings, your space won’t feel like a home without personal touches. Add lush, green plants, great smelling candles and meaningful artwork to achieve this kind of ambiance.

What are Some Interior Design Tips for Beginners? [wiseGEEK]
Interior Design 101 [Visually]
Top Interior Design Tips for Beginners [Bliss @ Home]

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How to Add Mid-Century Modern Flair to Your Apartment at Reserve at Garden Oaks

January 21, 2016 by

Mid-century modern furniture is having a major resurgence, with everyone from your best friend to your local coffee shop getting in on the trend. If you love the teak woods, clean lines, and hairpin legs that mid-century design is known for, these simple tips will show you a few easy—and affordable—ways to incorporate it into your own apartment.

  1. Think of wood first. While it may be tempting to buy that imitation wood table at your local discount furniture store, to create a true mid-century look, you’ll want to use as much real wood as possible. Teak, walnut, and oak are some of the most popular styles from this era. If you’re on a tight budget, even replacing one or two pieces with a real wood piece will make a big difference.
  2. Go for geometric patterns. In terms of textiles, think bold, geometric patterns combined with subtle tweeds and pops of mustard, rust and teal.
  3. Update the lights. Go for a dramatic arc floor lamp or a shiny bronze desk lamp, or even switch out your kitchen’s light fixture with an oval-shaped hanging pendant.
  4. Switch your sofa. If you can afford it, invest in a low-profile sofa with clean lines and slim legs. This is a surefire way to create a mid-century look with one statement piece.
  5. Add art. Finally, add abstract art with bold colors as the finishing touch.

10 Easy Ways to Add a Mid-Century Modern Style to Your Home [Freshome]
Mid-Century Modern Style Decorating [Wayfair]
Add Midcentury Modern Style to Your Home [HGTV]

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How to Make Your Very Own Succulent Wall Planter

December 17, 2015 by

If you love the look of succulent plants and want to incorporate them into your decor at Reserve at Garden Oaks, there are a number of stylish and creative ways to do so. Instead of planting a succulent in the usual pot, try something a bit more unique by using this fun tutorial for a DIY wall planter.

  1. Start with a shallow wooden box. Think an old drawer, an antique crate, or even a picture frame with wood behind it for reinforcement.
  2. Cover the surface of the box with chicken wire or galvanized mesh. Use a staple gun to attach it to each side, and be sure to snip off the sharp edges.
  3. Add a strip of wire used for hanging photo frames to the back. Be sure to choose something that can handle heavy weight.
  4. Add soil specifically formulated for succulents. Fill it completely to the top of the chicken wire.
  5. Plant your succulents. Position them in between the squares in the wire.
  6. Water once, and then let the whole thing sit flat in the sun for four to six weeks. This will enable the succulents have time to root before hanging.
  7. Hang on a wall that can handle the weight of the plants. Choose a place with a stud behind it, or add a shelf underneath for added support.

Make a Living Succulent Picture [Better Homes & Gardens]
Make your own living succulent art [Sunset]
Let’s Craft: How to Make a Succulent Wall [Modern Mom]

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Think Beyond the Mug With These Delicious Recipes Using Eggnog

December 3, 2015 by

Translate your love of eggnog into everything from cookies to puddings this holiday seasons with a bit of creativity in the kitchen. Although the tried-and-true winter beverage is decadent and delicious, it may start to get a bit stale after so many years. If you want to experience the old seasonal favorite in a brand new way, these sweet recipes will provide the perfect inspiration.

Eggnog Coffee Cake Muffins [twopeasandtheirpod.com]
Enjoy your eggnog first thing in the morning—in the form of delicious coffee cake muffins, that is! This recipe features an eggnog-flavored base, a perfectly crumbly topping, and an eggnog icing drizzle for a bit of extra sweetness.

Frosted Eggnog Cookies [tasteofhome.com]
Instead of handing out your usual holiday sugar cookies, try something different this year with these frosted cookies filled with eggnog flavor. Because there is eggnog in both the frosting and the cookie itself, this recipe offers double the delicious winter taste.

Eggnog Pudding [foodnetwork.com]
Rich, creamy and just a bit spicy, this unique eggnog pudding is the perfect dessert to finish off any holiday meal. Sprinkle freshly grated nutmeg on top to add even more spice.

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Important Safety Tips for a Happy, Healthy Thanksgiving

November 19, 2015 by

The only thing that can ruin your Thanksgiving more than burning the turkey is an illness or injury. Although Thanksgiving is meant to be enjoyable, having too many cooks in the kitchen can put everyone at risk. Here are a few simple ways to keep your friends and family safe this Turkey Day.

  • Never leave children unattended in the kitchen. With so many things on the stove and in the oven, it is far too dangerous for little ones to wander around.
  • Thaw meat completely to prevent foodborne illnesses. Because the turkey is so large it requires more than one full day to thaw completely, so be sure to provide ample time for thawing before you cook it.
  • Wash hands after handling raw meat or stuffing the turkey.
  • Check the internal temperature of the turkey after cooking to ensure that it is cooked completely through. The bird should be around 180 degrees F inside, and the stuffing should be around 165 degrees F.
  • Always point knives away from you when cutting, and be sure to use a very sharp knife that doesn’t require much force to cut food.
  • Clean grease from countertops and stovetops in order to prevent grease fires. This also goes for towels with grease on them.
  • Keep a first aid kit in the kitchen. You never know what can happen, and it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Thanksgiving Safety [National Fire Protection Association]
It's Turkey Time: Safely Prepare Your Holiday Meal [CDC]
Cooking Safety Tips for Thanksgiving Chefs [American Red Cross]

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Delicious Recipes to Help You Make the Most Out of Apple Season

October 23, 2015 by

You may find yourself with a surplus of apples after your weekend visit to the orchard, but it’s certainly not a bad problem to have. Apple recipes are on everyone’s minds come fall, and these three recipes offer some creative suggestions for how to make the most of those extra Granny Smiths and Pink Ladies.

Classic Applesauce [marthastewart.com]
Although the name suggests otherwise, this versatile applesauce is anything but classic. Instead of just the usual McIntosh apples, the recipe calls for an eclectic mix of McIntosh, Gala, Braeburn, and just about any other type of apples that you have on hand. Cinnamon offers a hefty dose of spice, and the thick consistency will fill your stomach on a chilly fall day.

Honey Apple Cake [southernliving.com]
There are few flavors meant for each other more than honey and apples, and this dense cake takes that combination to the next level. Bake this incredibly moist Bundt on a cold fall evening and enjoy it with your coffee the next morning.

Apple Crisp [allrecipes.com]
If you’re in charge of providing dessert for a holiday gathering or party, this apple crisp recipe will surely be a hit. It’s easy to make, completely versatile and will make your house smell divine while baking.

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