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DIY Halloween Costume Ideas for Parents and Kids

October 22, 2015 by

If your kids are still young enough to partner with you on a Halloween costume, you likely want to come up with a really creative idea. Costumes for kids and parents are some of the cutest combinations, and there are quite a few to choose from! Here are just a few of our favorites:

Garden Duo [parents.com]
Art mimics life in this costume that transforms you into a gardener tending to a precious little flower. Simply wear a gardening outfit or dress as a life-sized package of seeds, then create a flower costume for your son or daughter by gluing paper petals to a headband. Best of all, this costume also works for multiple children (think a whole garden of flowers).

Eaten by Sharks [babble.com]
If you’re a family with a sense of humor, you’ll all get a kick out of this surfer and hungry shark costume. Parents should carry a faux surfboard and wear a wetsuit, while you can make or buy tiny shark costumes for your little sharks.

Westminster Dog Show [huffingtonpost.com]
This incredibly creative costume will ensure that no one else at the party has the same costume as you. Mom or dad can wear a smart blazer with a number pinned to the back to dress as a competitor in a dog show, while your child will look adorable as a prized pup.

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Make Mouthwatering Meatloaf 4 Different Ways

September 17, 2015 by

Ever since you were a child, meatloaf has always been a dinner staple that united the whole family. There are a variety of new and improved ways to prepare this classic dish, but they still maintain the same hearty taste that you’ve always loved. Here are some of the best meatloaf recipes, just in time for dinner tonight.

Easy Meatloaf [Allrecipes]
When you don’t have much time between your daily tasks and your family’s dinner, this easy meatloaf recipe is a great option. With just nine common ingredients, you can create a nutritious meal with a rich tomato flavor.

My Favorite Meatloaf [Pioneer Woman]
The Pioneer Woman’s favorite meatloaf recipe is wrapped in crispy bacon, adding a smoky, salty flavor that meat-lovers will adore.

Home-Sweet-Home Meatloaf [Hunts]
If you want the traditional taste of meatloaf with a bit of added flavor, this delicious recipe is infused with brown sugar and sweet onion that perfectly complements to heartiness of the ground sirloin beef.

Layered Creamed-Spinach Meatloaf [Delish]
This recipe offers a gourmet twist on meatloaf, perfect for a holiday or other special occasion. Chopped spinach, zesty spices, and Romano cheese form a decadent layer in between the meat, giving the simple dish a bit of complexity.

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How to Choose the Lighting That Best Complements Your Space

September 3, 2015 by

Want to show your apartment in the most flattering light possible? Use these smart tips for choosing the right type of lighting for every room in your home.

  • Illuminate your foyer and hallway with bright, cheery lighting. Add a floor lamp directly next to the front door that will light your way when you come home at night, and consider placing a bright lamp on a side table in the hallway so that you can easily see where you’re going.
  • Add soft, soothing light in the bedroom, as this is supposed to be a place of relaxation. Try using a small lamp with a lower-watt light bulb.
  • In the living room, you can add a tall, arched lamp next to the couch for a stylish look and to add additional lighting when you’re lounging around at night. If the light bulbs in the overhead light are too bright, switch them out with something less glaring.
  • Add a hanging pendant light right above the kitchen table. There are many options that don’t require hardwiring, so you can easily hang them and switch them out when you move.

How to Choose the Right Lighting for Each Room [WikiHow]
How To Choose The Lighting Fixtures For Your Home – A Room-By-Room Guide [HomeDit]
How to Choose the Right Size Lighting Fixture [LightsOnline.com]

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How to Ensure You’re Safely Serving and Preparing Eggs

August 20, 2015 by

Eggs are essential ingredients in a number of dishes, but they can also be dangerous to your health if handled incorrectly. To reduce your risk of salmonella and other diseases that come from eggs, follow these important guidelines.

  1. Shop smart. The first step toward healthy egg care is inspecting your eggs in the grocery store for cracks or dirty appearance. Also be sure to only purchase eggs that are stored in a refrigerated case.
  2. Store them properly. Eggs should be stored in a clean spot in the refrigerator at 40°F or lower.
  3. Cook them thoroughly. If you’re preparing scrambled eggs or another egg dish, be sure that both the yolk and white are firm and that the egg reaches a temperature of 160°F. Never eat batter or dough containing raw eggs before it's cooked or baked.
  4. Store egg dishes properly. Dishes made of only eggs cannot be stored, so be sure to eat them immediately after cooking. If you prepare something else that contains eggs, always keep it refrigerated.
  5. Keep it clean. Even if you use the utmost care when handling eggs, it’s essential to wash your hands, cooking and prep surfaces, and any utensils thoroughly to remove any traces of eggs. Wash hands and utensils with hot, soapy water, and scrub kitchen countertops with bleach or another germ-killing product.

Playing It Safe With Eggs [FDA]
Eggs & Food Safety [Incredible Egg]
Tips to Reduce Your Risk of Salmonella from Eggs [CDC]

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Update Basic Magnets and Pushpins WIth These Fun Tutorials

August 14, 2015 by

Who says office supplies have to be boring? Here are a few crafty ways to transform your basic pushpins and magnets into something eye-catching, playful, and perhaps a bit chic.

Bottle Cap Magnets and Thumbtacks [marthastewart.com]
Start saving up those used bottle caps, because you’re certainly going to want to try this adorable DIY project from Martha Stewart. Simply glue a small photo inside of each bottlecap, then use contact cement to attach them to the magnets and pushpins and create a tiny photo gallery.

DIY Gold Magnetic Letters [inspiredbycharm.com]
If you loved making silly words and phrases from those colorful magnetic letters as a kid, you’ll enjoy this chic, updated version just as much. Just cover those childish magnets with luxe gold spray paint for a modern, updated look.

Washi Tape Clothespins [designertrapped.com]
By covering affordable wooden clothespins with different types of colorful washi tape, you can create this fun project in less than an hour. Add adhesive magnets to the backs of each clothespin to use them on the refrigerator, or line them up on a wire to hang photos from a wall.

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What to Keep in Mind When Counting Calories

August 6, 2015 by

You know that counting calories is essential when it comes to losing weight, but do you really understand exactly what calories are? Here are a few things that you should understand about your caloric intake.

  1. Know the definition. A calorie is a term used to describe how much energy there is in a food. Your body needs a certain amount of calories to function, but excess calories turn into fat.
  2. Know your limit. Everyone has a different daily calorie limit, and it all depends on your sex, age, height, and weight. You’ll need to visit a doctor or find a chart online to determine your personal recommended daily intake.
  3. Create a calorie log. Keep track of how many calories you consume by recording your meals in a daily diary.
  4. Evenly distribute calories. Plan ahead of time so that you can split up your calories between each meal of the day. Be careful not to consume the majority of your calories in the morning, because you won’t have many remaining to "spend" on dinner.
  5. Beware of beverages. Many people don’t realize it, but the calories in drinks can really take a toll on your daily calorie limit. Be careful to record all of the beverages that you consume in addition to your meals.

Eat the Right Amount of Calories For You [Choose My Plate]
Estimated Calorie Requirements [WebMD]
American Cancer Society Calorie Counter [American Cancer Society]

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Eat These Two Foods for More Vitamin A

July 23, 2015 by

Vitamin A is a vital nutrient that keeps our eyesight sharp and promotes healthy cell growth. Getting enough of this antioxidant is easy if you know where to look for it. Here are two surprising sources of vitamin A for you to add to your diet if it's lacking.

  1. Dark, leafy greens. The bigger the bunch, the better! Enjoy a variety of greens in a salad or choose your favorite to add to a sandwich. Pick up kale, spinach, or Swiss chard to get more than 200 percent of your daily vitamin A needs in just one cup.
  2. Dried apricots. This sweet, bright orange fruit is a delicious way to get your vitamin A. Snack on these instead of candy in between meals. Half a cup delivers 151 percent of your daily value.

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin A [Healthaliciousness]
Vitamin A [National Institute of Health]
26 Vitamin A Foods [Bembu]

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Need More Reasons to Work Out Regularly? Read About the Health Benefits of Exercise!

July 17, 2015 by

You know that working out is good for your health, but if you’re like most people, it can be difficult to fit regular workouts into your busy schedule. Instead of making excuses, check out these health benefits that just might motivate you to squeeze a few more workouts into your routine.

  • It regulates your weight. This one might seem like a no-brainer, but managing your weight is important for reasons far beyond your looks. Maintaining a healthy weight also helps to prevent chronic illness and help keep you feeling energized.
  • It improves your mood. If your stationary lifestyle makes you feel sluggish and depressed, take a walk outside in the sunshine or hop on your bike for a ride around town. Even gentle physical activity stimulates the feel-good chemicals in your brain and helps boost your self-esteem.
  • It combats existing health conditions. If you have heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes (or you’re just worried about getting them), regular exercise boosts your production of “good” cholesterol and decreases your production of harmful triglycerides.
  • It prevents against cancer. That’s right: regular workouts have been proven to prevent against certain types of cancer, including breast cancer, colon cancer, and certain types of lung cancer.

Exercise: 7 benefits of regular physical activity [Mayo Clinic]
The Benefits of Physical Activity [Harvard]
Chapter 2: Physical Activity Has Many Health Benefits [Health.gov]

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Where to Enjoy Fresh Coffee (and Free Wi-Fi!) in Houston

July 10, 2015 by

Whether you’re a freelancer, student, or a social media buff, you'd probably enjoy a bit of free Wi-Fi to go with your coffee. Lucky for you, many of Houston’s best coffee shops are equipped with high speed Internet for all of your browsing needs. Here are just two of the most tech-savvy cafes in the Houston area.

Agora
With an interior this stunning, it’s easy to find inspiration at Agora. This stylish cafe features dramatic high ceilings, exposed beams, and an open second story with ample tables for working or studying. The free Wi-Fi is fast and reliable, and the selection of high quality coffees and espresso drinks will provide you with a boost of caffeine. Grab a freshly baked croissant or pastry to go with the Texan pecan brewed coffee, or if you’re feeling a bit stressed, you can even sample a beer from the great selection of craft brews while working. Hey, no judgment here.
1712 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77098; (713) 526-7212

Antidote
Antidote is one of the most popular coffee shops in town, and it’s open late to tailor to Houston’s community of night owls. The coffee is strong, bold and, best of all, bottomless, which provides hours of fuel to meet that tight deadline. Inside, Antidote features comfortable chairs and cozy cafe tables where guests can take full advantage of the free Wi-Fi throughout.
729 Studewood St., Houston, TX 77007; (713) 861-7400

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Interested in Modern Architecture? Explore Your Interest on Pinterest!

July 9, 2015 by

With its sleek, clean lines and open design scheme, modern architecture is fascinating even to those with no architectural experience. Here are two Pinterest boards with so many photos of modern homes and buildings that the possibilities for browsing are practically endless.

Modern Architecture
This particular Pinterest is dedicated to the more traditional styles of modern architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright homes feature wall-to-wall windows and natural elements that bring the outside in, while minimalist buildings designed by more current architects offer a tour of some of the very best modern structures from around the world.

Futuristic Architecture
If you take your love of modern architecture a step further, this board features homes so unique that they’re almost futuristic. Some of these buildings actually exist in cities around the world, while others are simply dreamed up and drawn in a cartoon-like way. Buildings like the twisted Cayan Tower in Dubai and the proposal for the open Hong Kong Alternative Car Park Tower, with its sides cut open in a way that almost looks like the building is sliced in half, are just a few of the fascinating buildings on this board.

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