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How to Strike a Balance Between Life and Work

August 18, 2016 by

With the technology around today, employees are pretty much always "on the clock." Still, it's important to learn techniques to help you strike a healthy balance between work and your personal life. Follow these tips to find the work-life balance that works for you.

  • Try not to be a perfectionist. Strive for excellence rather than perfection.
  • Live in the moment. When you're spending time with friends or family, put away your cell phone. Quality time is something that you should value, and you could miss a lot by always checking on your email.
  • Take care of yourself. Your body and mind need to be refreshed as well. Take some time to exercise or meditate to help lift your mood or to relieve some stress.
  • Respect your "me" time. Give yourself time to get enough rest and sleep so that you can be more productive during work hours.

6 Tips For Better Work-Life Balance [Forbes]
5 Secrets to Achieving and Maintaining Work-Life Balance [Entrepreneur]
4 Tips For Maintaining A Healthy Work-Life Balance [Career Realism]

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5 Unexpected Household Uses for Mayonnaise

May 19, 2016 by

Even if mayonnaise isn’t your favorite sandwich topper, you can’t deny that these unique uses for the condiment are downright brilliant! Try one of these new uses for mayonnaise in your home, your car, or even the shower.

  1. Fix cracks in wood furniture by simply dabbing mayonnaise all over the top, and then using a clean rag to wipe the entire surface. The mayo will stay inside of the crack, and after a few days, its oils will swell the wood and help close the cracked part.
  2. Create a DIY deep hair conditioner by applying mayo all over your head. Concentrate on the drier parts at the ends and work your way up to the roots, and then leave it on for at least five minutes. When you rinse, you’ll be left with smooth, soft locks.
  3. Remove the frustrating residue left behind by stickers and other adhesives. Simply rub the spot with mayo and a smooth, dry towel.
  4. Clean up crayon marks from walls and wood floors by rubbing mayonnaise on the affected area and letting it soak in for a few minutes. Wipe it away with a damp towel and you’ll wipe away the crayon as well.
  5. Get gum out of your (or your kids’) hair by rubbing the gum with mayonnaise. Once it’s worked in, simply slide the gum down the strands.

10 Unexpected Home Uses for Mayonnaise [Wise Bread]
9 Surprising Uses for Mayonnaise [Rachel Ray Everyday]
11 Home and Beauty Uses for Mayonnaise [Reader’s Digest]

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How to Make Your Own Spring Floral Arrangement

April 21, 2016 by

These fast and easy tips will help you to create a florist-quality spring floral arrangement that you’ll be really proud to display in your home.

  1. Begin with the color palette. If you want to mix and match flowers to create your own bouquet, it’s best to have a color palette in mind. Stick with muted tones, a blend of bold primary hues, or variations of one color to create a cohesive look.
  2. Create a space for each flower. Cheat by creating a sort of grid guideline inside of the vase. Place a piece of chicken wire flat inside of the opening, or even create a crosshatch of durable florist tape across the surface of the vase. The goal is to have a series of 1-inch squares where you can place each type of flower.
  3. Start with the largest flower. Create a base by adding the largest flower (or branch or fern) in the center.
  4. Add the thickest flowers. Arrange thick, heavy flowers around the tallest one in the middle.
  5. Finally, add accent flowers. Add tulips, daffodils, roses or other eye-catching accents last.

DIY Spring Flower Arrangement by Ashley Woodson Bailey [Design Sponge]
How to Make a Cool Flower Arrangement: 8 DIY Ideas for Spring [Stylecaster]
Simple Spring Centerpieces [Better Homes and Gardens]

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Calling All Teachers: These Pinterest Boards Are Head of the Class!

February 18, 2016 by

Being teacher is an incredibly fulfilling job, and Pinterest is one of the most beneficial tools on the Internet to help make the most out of your classroom. From funny quotes to creative lesson ideas, the Pinterest teaching community offers something for all types of educators. Here are three of the best teaching boards on Pinterest.

Classroom Management
Teaching a class isn’t all fun and games, and this helpful board offers a number of tips and tricks for organizing your classroom and keeping everything running smoothly. Here, you’ll find creative ways to motivate your students, plus fun decorations that double as educational resources and printable worksheets to bolster your lesson plans.

Classroom Organization
Any teacher will tell you that staying organized is the key to a happy classroom, and this board is filled with ideas to help you do just that. Creative sign-out sheets will help you to keep track of all of your students, while bins and cubbies make great spaces for organizing all of your classroom supplies. There are even printable labels, worksheets, and calendars that all teachers will love.

Teacher Quotes
At the end of the day, teaching is all about maintaining a sense of humor. These inspiring and often hilarious quotes are filled with inside jokes that only fellow teachers will understand.

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Are You a Saver or a Spender? Find Out With These Fun Quizzes!

October 22, 2015 by

If you’re having a hard time getting a handle on your finances, you might like to get a bit more insight into exactly what type of person you are when it comes to your money. Do you prefer saving your money for a rainy day, or are you the type of person to splurge on an investment item? These fun online quizzes will help you find out!

Spender or Saver?
This straightforward quiz from 7th Mind asks questions about your payday behavior, your credit cards, and your debt in order to determine your spending (and saving) habits. It’s a psychology-based quiz, so expect to gain some insight into how your habits reflect on your personality.

What Kind of Spender Are You?
The Mint’s spending and saving quiz is a bit more in-depth, asking more specific questions and offering a wider variety of answers to really gauge your spending behavior. Because this site is all about financial planning, it also offers some resources that you might find useful once you get your results.

Are You a Spender or a Saver?
Get your finances under control with a bit of help from Money Matters to Me’s spending and saving quiz. If you’re interested in how your own spending habits affect your household and how you might be able to save a bit more here and there, this is the quiz for you!

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Cool and Creative Uses for Chalkboard Paint

April 16, 2015 by

Instead of hanging a large chalkboard in a common area of your home, why not transform an existing item using chalkboard paint? Whether you want to display a grocery list or simply write a greeting for your guests, these tips will show you some unexpected — and useful — ways to use chalkboard paint around the home.

Chalkboard Wine Glasses [justshortofcrazy.com]
The next time you have your friends over for wine and cheese, customize their wine glasses with this creative tutorial. Simply paint the bases of an affordable set of wine glasses with basic craft store chalkboard paint, then allow each guest to write his or her name using a piece of chalk. That way, you can easily keep track of which glass belongs to each guest!

All Occasion Chalkboard Banner [deliacreates.com]
Decorate for any occasion without purchasing new decorations with this reusable chalkboard banner. Cut large triangular shapes out of chalk cloth vinyl, string it on a decorative ribbon, and then write a seasonal message or greeting to put on display.

Framed Magnetic Chalkboard Spice Rack [addicted2decorating.com]
If you love to cook, this chalkboard spice rack is a great kitchen project. By painting the inside of a frame with chalkboard paint and attaching small spice jars using magnets and sheet metal, you can label your spices, keep them organized, and switch them up whenever one runs out.

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Easy Tips for Tackling Even the Toughest Stains

January 22, 2015 by

When you spill red wine on your favorite shirt or get a grease stain on your jeans, it may seem impossible to get your clothes to look normal again. There is a way to remove just about every stain, provided that you know these simple techniques.

  1. Tackle it quickly. Never let a stain set into your clothes, even if you’re away from home when it happens. Pre-treat the affected area with a stain remover, and be sure to toss a portable version in your purse or glove compartment.
  2. Know the types. Dye stains such as coffee, tea, or ink are the easiest to remove, and simply require running the stain under cold water and then washing in hot water. Protein stains like sweat or blood need to be treated with an alkaline stain-removal solution, while stains caused by lipstick, ketchup, and crayons require a combination of the other two treatments.
  3. Take care of delicates. If you stain delicate articles of clothing, don’t fret. Simply rub the stain with a solution of equal parts salt and lemon juice using a soft cloth or your finger to loosen the stain without damaging the fabric. Let it dry in the sun and it should look as good as new.

Stain Removal Smarts [She Knows]
How to Remove Stains [Esquire]
Stain Removal Tricks and Shortcuts [Real Simple]
Stain Removal Chart [For Better Living]

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5 Household Uses for Borax

October 16, 2014 by

Are spray bottles filled with various cleaning solutions stealing your valuable cabinet space? Consider streamlining your cleaning routine by using borax, a naturally occurring white mineral more aptly known as sodium tetraborate. This eco-friendly powder can be used in many applications throughout the home, from cleaning and deodorizing to DIY bouncy balls for the kids. Here are a few uses for borax:

1. Laundry Booster
Add one-half cup of borax to your washing machine to help boost the effectiveness of your regular detergent.

2. All-Purpose Cleaner
Fill a spray bottle with two tablespoons borax and two of cups hot water. Use the solution to clean countertops, kitchen appliances, sinks, and cookware.

3. Bathroom Cleaner
Remove soap scum and hard water deposits by combining one cup borax and 1/4 cup lemon juice to create a paste. Apply the paste to your sink and tub using a damp sponge, then rinse thoroughly with warm water. To apply borax in dry form, you can store it in an empty parmesan cheese shaker for easy sprinkling.

4. DIY Dish Detergent
Save money by making your own powder dishwasher detergent. Simply combine one tablespoon borax and one tablespoon baking soda.

5. Make Your Own Bouncy Balls
Here's a fun, educational activity for the kids: Combine borax, glue, cornstarch, food coloring, and water to make your own bouncy balls. (Find the complete instructions here.) While borax is an all-natural product, you still need to remind your kids that it's not for eating. Be sure to keep your box of borax out of the reach of children.

Borax and 25 Ways to Use It [Apartment Therapy]
25 Household Uses For Borax [Homesessive]
Uses of 20 Mule Team® Borax [Mule Team Borax]
30 Little Known Uses for Borax [One Good Thing]
How to Make a Borax Bouncy Ball [Creative Bug]
Borax Changed My Life! [Stacy Makes Cents]

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Learn To DIY With These Informative Websites

July 24, 2014 by

Whether you want to save a bit of money or you simply love making things with your own hands, DIY (Do It Yourself) projects are becoming an increasingly popular alternative for many homeowners. These inspirational DIY websites will teach you how to make just about anything you can imagine.

Better Homes and Gardens
If you want to DIY your way to a more beautiful home, Better Homes and Gardens is the place to go. The magazine’s popular website is full of a seemingly endless assortment of projects separated into neat categories, from 1-Hour Projects to projects by room. Small-space decorating ideas will help you make the most of a smaller space, and you’ll even find complete DIY makeovers to help you revamp and entire space in your home.

Instructables
Instructables is an online database full of ideas for making anything you can think of, and it offers a number of different DIY ideas that are both pretty and functional. Browse seasonal projects for upcoming holidays, or create macramé pot hangers for an indoor garden. If you have a DIY project in mind already, Instructables also offers a helpful search bar where you can search for items by keyword, as well as video tutorials to make your project easier and more hands-on.

Public Domain/Public Domain
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How to Host Your Own At-Home Wine Tasting

March 6, 2014 by

Celebrate your love of wine with a fun wine tasting party with some of your closest friends. Putting together a wine tasting event doesn’t have to be a big deal. Ask your pals to bring a bottle while you take care of the set up. Here are a few tips to hosting a successful wine tasting.

1. Be prepared.
Make sure to have the proper tools and supplies. Prepare a table with a white cloth, decanters, spittoons, glasses, and coffee grounds in small bowls to neutralize the odors of the many aromas of the wines.

2. Choose up to five wines.
Stick to a selection of five wines so as not to overwhelm the tasting options. Choose wines with some sort of unifying factor, for example, wines from the same region, color, or type.

3. Serve light bites.
Offer your guests small snacks or cheese plate. Doing so will add a new element to the wine, which may taste different paired with food.

4. Discuss.
Once the wine has been tasted, go around and compare notes on which wines made biggest impact. Reveal the labels after the wines have been tasted.

How to Have the Perfect Wine Tasting at Home [Huffington Post]
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party [Real Simple]
How to Host a Wine Tasting [Food & Wine]

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