Spring Forward: How Start Your Warm Weather Workouts on the Right Foot

June 2, 2015 by francis

Whether you want to tone up before bathing suit season or you're striving to lead a healthier lifestyle, the spring season is a good time to begin an exercise routine. If you’re struggling to find the motivation to begin your spring workouts, these tips can help.

Put it on paper. If you write down your fitness goals and a loose schedule, it will help you to remain accountable and stay on track.
Start slow. Remember to keep your schedule light at first and work up to more difficult workouts. Begin with 30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise three or four times per week, and be sure to switch up your workouts to keep things interesting.
Enlist a partner. If you’re still feeling sluggish, ask a close friend to work out with you and help to keep each other motivated.
Invest in new workout gear. If your sneakers from last season have seen better days, invest in a brand-new pair that will get you excited to exercise.
Get outdoors. Now that the cold weather is over and the days are longer, you likely want to get outside as much as you can. Schedule early morning runs before work, go for weekend bike rides, or even sign up for yoga in the park.

Spring-Clean Your Exercise Routine [Health]
20 Ways to Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine [Shape]
Spring Clean Your Workout Routine: 21 Bad Habits To Toss Today [LiveStrong]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/mrhayata

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Exercise, Fitness, Seasonal, Spring

These Watermelon Desserts Make Summer Even Sweeter

July 8, 2014 by francis

Equal parts sweet and juicy, watermelon is the quintessential summertime treat, most aptly enjoyed as a palate cleanser between bites of hot dogs and potato salad. But there are many ways to enjoy this popular melon beyond the barbecue! If you want to delve a little deeper into the culinary world of watermelon, give these three dessert recipes a try:

Watermelon Sorbet [New York Times]
Watermelon's high water content proves the melon to be a refreshing snack on a scorching hot summer day. This recipe for watermelon sorbet takes that thought one step further by freezing the melon to create a flavorful frozen treat. Requiring only a food processor and a freezer, this recipe couldn't get much easier!

Cool Watermelon Pops [Taste of Home]
The kids will love this one: Half watermelon-flavored gelatin, half frozen limeade, these adorable ice pops are designed to look just like watermelon—complete with chocolate chips for the seeds! This recipe requires a few steps to reach the final product, but pint-sized chefs will gladly help see the process through to the end.

Fresh Mint and Watermelon Soda Floats [How Sweet It Is]
Fresh mint, watermelon, and carbonated soda are blended together in this recipe, a take on the classic root beer float. Post-blend, the mixture is strained through a sieve, then poured over top of a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream. Whether you sip it through a straw or tackle it with a spoon, this recipe will surely bring out the kid in you.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Joy

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Desserts, Recipes, Seasonal, Watermelon

5 Picnic Recipes to Make This Summer

May 6, 2014 by francis

Having a picnic is on just about everyone’s bucket list each summer. There’s something so enjoyable about eating on a blanket outdoors, but you may start to get a bit tired of the same sandwiches and potato salad year after year. Here are five unique recipes to pack in your picnic basket this summer.

Summer Crab Rolls [Cooking Light]
Seafood lovers will adore these light, slider-style mini sandwiches topped with flavorful crab cakes.

Couscous Salad Cups [Cooking Light]
Forgo the usual mayo-heavy salads in favor of something healthier and just as tasty. This couscous salad is served inside of lettuce “cups” for easy serving even while outdoors, and the feta adds something extra to the simple recipe.

Belle’s Hamburger Buns [AllRecipes]
Instead of using flavorless, store-bought hamburger buns, make your own light and fluffy version right at home. Prep them ahead of time and then bake for just 20 minutes to impress your guests with homemade bread for burgers on the grill.

Curried Chicken Salad with Apples and Raisins [Cooking Light]
If your picnic companions have more adventurous palates, they’ll love this chicken salad recipe with a kick of curry. It’s not quite as creamy as the usual chicken salad recipes, so it tastes fresh and filling on either bread or crackers.

Watermelon and Strawberry Lemonade [AllRecipes]
You need a refreshing drink to wash down all those picnic treats, and this fresh, fruity lemonade is just the thing. Blend ice with strawberries and watermelon for a uniquely sweet drink that also quenches your thirst.