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The Whole Family Might Enjoy These Kid-Friendly Attractions in Austin, Texas

October 2, 2014 by

Austin, Texas, is a city that dares to dream, and that's certainly a quality that you want to instill in your children. Check out two of the most unique attractions in this cutting edge city, which are sure to inspire both you and your kids!

Barton Springs Pool
Cool off with your little ones in Austin's Barton Springs Pool. Located in Zilker Park, this man-made pool is filled with water from an underground spring and has year-round average temperatures of 70 degrees. The pool is a fun way to relax and take part in a unique geographical wonder. Next to the Barton Springs Pool is Splash, an exhibit that tells the story of Barton Springs and explains the science behind it. While you're there, encourage the kids to keep an eye out for Barton Springs salamanders. This endangered species inhabits the area and it's under protection of park services. Spend a relaxing day lounging in the grassy lawn or take a dip in this very unique watering hole!

Austin Nature & Science Center
Explore the natural world at Austin Nature & Science Center. Here, you'll find fascinating exhibits and hands-on educational activities that will open both your eyes and your kids' minds to the beautifully complex world we live in. Travel back in time with the Dino Pit exhibit, located in the outdoors area, or visit the Naturalist Workshop and Trade Counter for an interactive way to discover the natural world. Children will also love to go on safari though the Wildlife Exhibit, where they can see live invertebrates, fish, mammals, and even raptors.

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These Two Android Apps Can Turn a Frown Upside Down

September 18, 2014 by

You know that your Android phone is great for its practical organization features and web browsing capabilities, but you might not know that it also has a number of silly apps that serve no purpose other than your own entertainment. Here are two of the most fun apps for your Android device.

Voice Changer
Make your friends and family laugh with the Voice Changer, a silly Android app that enables you to change your voice any way you please. Simply record a short word or phrase and the Voice Changer will alter your voice using effects like the robot, cathedral, giant or even high-pitched helium. If you want to brighten the day of a friend far away, you can then send your altered voice recordings using the Whatsapp app.

Heads Up!
Made famous by Ellen DeGeneres, this interactive trivia game is just as much fun in person as it is on TV. First, the app offers a number of categories of knowledge to choose from, from celebrities to accents and much more. Once you decide on a category you simply place your phone against your forehead and tilt your head to “draw” a card. The other players then attempt to get you to answer the question correctly by acting out scenes, attempting accents and describing objects or people on the fly.

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How to Ensure You’re Safely Serving and Preparing Eggs

September 4, 2014 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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3 Ways to Make a Great First Impression

August 21, 2014 by

The old adage is true: You only have one chance to make a good first impression. Because the saying rings true in both social and professional situations, it's helpful to remember a few key pieces of advice when meeting new people. Here are three handy tips:

1) Dress to impress.
Wear clothing that's appropriate for the occasion. Doing so will help bolster your confidence, which will, in turn, be relayed to the other party. If you're headed for a job interview, accessorize minimally, and be sure that your hair and nails appear well-groomed.

2) Be aware of your body language.
Whether you're at a cocktail party or interviewing for a job, crossed arms tell the other people in the room that you're unavailable for conversation. Similarly, excessive fidgeting, slouching, and avoiding eye contact signal that you're anxious and lacking confidence. Sit up tall (just like Mom used to advise!) and smile warmly when warranted by conversation.

3) Don't talk too much.
This might seem counterintuitive when meeting new people, but steamrolling conversation can make you seem self-absorbed. If you find that you tend to ramble when nervous, remind yourself to ask plenty of questions about the other person. This will show that you're truly interested in getting to know them. Offer information about yourself when asked.

5 Ways To Make a Killer First Impression [Forbes]
How to Make a Good First Impression [Real Simple]
Making a Great First Impression [Mind Tools]
It Takes Just 3 Seconds To Make A Brilliant First Impression [Business Insider]

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These Summertime Desserts Make the Season Even Sweeter

July 24, 2014 by

From barbecued burgers to fresh corn on the cob, summer's savory recipes steal the spotlight all season long. But those with a penchant for sweets know that the best part of the meal happens off the grill. We're talking about summertime desserts, of course, and this trio of mouthwatering recipes can keep a sweet tooth satisfied all the way through September:

Strawberry Shortcake [AllRecipes]
The quintessential summertime dessert, strawberry shortcake is a tried-and-true crowd pleaser. You'll need to fire up the oven to bake the two cake layers for this recipe, but that's the extent of the cooking process. After the cakes have cooled, they're used to create a tantalizing tower of sugar-coated strawberries and fresh whipped cream.

Cucumber, Meyer Lemon and Lavender Granita [Cooking Channel]
This frozen dessert couldn't be much easier to make, requiring only a blender, saucepan—and a sweet tooth! However, the complex flavors involved make the granita taste quite involved. If you've never tried lavender in a dessert before, this is a delicious place to start.

Peach Crisp [Real Simple]
Who doesn't love peach crisp? The classic recipe is one of the best ways to use up a surplus of the summertime stone fruit. Slices of fresh peaches are buried beneath a crispy oat crust, then the whole thing is popped in the oven for 45 minutes. Eat it for breakfast, or serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream—just like Mom used to make!

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These Flavorful Fruit Salads Are Anything But Boring

June 19, 2014 by

It’s always a disappointment when you order fruit salad at a restaurant and you’re met with a few soggy grapes, frozen strawberries and a couple of pieces of cantaloupe. If you’re tired of boring fruit salads and want to create some creative versions of your own, you’ve come to the right place. These three flavorful fruit salads are both healthy and festive!

Lavender-Scented Summer Fruit Salad
The only thing that says summer more than plump, juicy fruits is the smell of fresh lavender. This salad incorporates both of those deliciously fragrant aspects, combining juicy peaches, nectarines, plums, and berries with a variety of sweet and savory herbs and spices.

Avocado Fruit Salad
Avocado is a very versatile food, and it easily adapts to whichever dish you put it in. In this unique fruit salad, avocado adds a creamy texture to a medley of orange and grapefruit slices, tropical fruits, and even a garnish of crunchy pistachio and cool, flavorful mint leaves.

Watermelon Basket
If you have a summer gathering coming up and you want to provide a truly creative dish, this Watermelon Basket is the perfect choice. It involves carving a whole watermelon into the shape of basket (handle and all) and filling it with fresh, juicy fruits for your guests to serve to themselves.

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Improve Your Reasoning by Solving These Logic Puzzles

May 14, 2014 by

Frequent logical thinking helps to sharpen your mind and enables you to think faster during stressful situations. Thinking logically benefits your brain in a variety of different ways, and it even helps you to retain your awareness as you age. If you want to exercise your mind in a fun way, these online logic puzzles are a great place to start.

Puzzle Baron’s Logic Puzzles
Full of grid-based logic puzzles in a variety of skill levels, the Logic Puzzles page from Puzzle Baron is ideal for anyone who wants to sharpen his or her analytical thinking using numerical data. Each puzzle offers a number of categories, with an equal number of options within that category. Using a series of clues, you must figure out which options are linked together. If you want to solve puzzles while on the go, Puzzle Baron even offers mobile apps for iPad, Kindle, Google Play, and Nook.

Brain Bashers
The logic puzzles on the Brain Bashers site are more situational, mainly featuring descriptions of an event and a series of clues related to that event. Based on the information given, you must solve the question posed in the situation. While these logic puzzles don’t involve math equations or long strings of information, their simple nature often makes them more challenging.

Public Domain/Public Domain
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Expand Your Vocabulary with Word of the Day Sites

April 17, 2014 by

There are few traits that make you sound more intelligent than having an expansive vocabulary, but most people stop learning new words once they finish school. If you’re an aspiring logophile with an eagerness to learn new words, these Word of the Day sites will build your vocabulary with each passing day.

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day
Merriam-Webster is one of the most reliable sources of vocabulary knowledge, and the popular dictionary’s website offers a fascinating Word of the Day feature as well. Bookmark the page as your web browser’s home page and you’ll be faced with one unique, challenging word and definition when you log on every morning. The site also offers audio pronunciation, the word’s part of speech, a few different definitions and examples of that word used in a sentence.

Dictionary.com’s Word of the Day
Another popular dictionary resource, Dictionary.com also offers a Word of the Day page. The word changes with each day, but it’s always something particularly sophisticated or unusual. Dictionary.com offers the definition, pronunciation and examples as well, but it also includes the origin of the featured word to give you a bit more background information.

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Find Sudoku Puzzles Online With These Sites

March 20, 2014 by

Sudoku is a stimulating and addictive pastime that’s great for down time at work, relaxing at home, or even waiting in line at the doctor’s office. If you want to start learning Sudoku or you simply want to find more puzzles, these online Sudoku sites are some of the best.

Gamehouse Sudoku
For everyone from the beginner to the serious Sudoku player, this beautifully designed site offers an endless number of games at your choice of beginner, easy, medium, hard, or expert levels. It features a time clock to help you track how long you’ve been playing, as well as Sudoku tips to help you improve your game. If you start to feel frustrated, you can also check the solution and begin a new game.

Web Sudoku
If you just want the Sudoku game board with none of the extra features, this is the site for you. Web Sudoku offers a clean, black and white board with easy-to-read numbers, as well as games in your choice of easy, medium, hard, or evil (yikes!). This site also offers an offline version for times when you’re away from Wi-Fi.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Cirofono

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Learn About Chess Variants Online

February 20, 2014 by

Chess variants are other games derived from or inspired by the game of chess. Most of these games use different pieces, have different game boards, or use different rules from traditional chess. Whether you already play and love chess or you simply can’t get into the game, just about anyone will love to play these exciting and logical alternatives to the historical game of chess.

Chess960
Chess960 is a chess variant that uses the same pieces and the same game board, but the pieces in the first rank are randomized, with opposing pieces mirroring them. This is a great game for expert chess players, because it makes it impossible to memorize opening lines.

Glinski’s Hexagonal Chess
This derivation of chess uses a unique hexagonal board instead of the standard square chess board. The board contains 91 cells in three different colors, and it uses the usual chess pieces, with the addition of one extra bishop and one extra pawn. Glinski’s chess is an incredibly popular variant, especially in Eastern Europe.

Apocalypse
Apocalypse is played on a much smaller scale than regular chess, using only a 5×5 board and two horses and five footmen on each team. The two players make their moves simultaneously, and the game is over when one player captures all of the other player’s footmen.

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