Miscellaneous

Bedding 101: How Often to Wash Your Bed Linens

September 18, 2014 by greystar

You probably know the exact amount of time your favorite tee or trusty pair of jeans can go between washes, but can you say the same for your bedding? If you're confused about how often you should be changing your sheets, check out our handy guide below.

Sheets
Because we come in contact with our bedding on a daily basis, it's important to maintain a regular laundering schedule. Sheets should be changed every one to two weeks, or more often as needed. Wash sheets in the warmest temperature allowed by the fabric. Adding a quarter cup of lemon juice to the wash water is a natural way to bleach white sheets.

Pillows
Pillowcases should follow the guidelines of sheets. Pillow covers, like those that prevent allergies, should be washed twice per month, while the pillow itself should be tossed in the wash at least twice per year. Washing two pillows together can help keep the washer balanced. Run the pillows through the rinse cycle twice, then dry them in the dryer until no moisture remains; dampness can lead to mold.

Comforters
As with any bedding that comes in direct contact with the body, duvet covers and decorative quilts should be washed weekly. However, if your comforter is encased by a duvet cover, then the comforter itself only needs to be washed as you see fit. Be sure to use an industrial-sized washer equipped to handle the weight of a heavy comforter.

Is this the schedule you follow? Any tips for breezing through laundry day? Let us know!

Bedding Care 101 [Martha Stewart]
The Importance Of Washing Bed Sheets Regularly [Symptom Find]
The When-to-Wash-It Handbook [Real Simple]
How Often Should I…? [Quick and Dirty Tips]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Sam

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Bedding, DIY, Home Decoration, Laundry

Think Beyond the Bouquet With These Lavender-Centric Recipes

August 21, 2014 by greystar

Though lavender is a flower, it’s also a deliciously fragrant herb that can be used to add flavor to many sweet and savory dishes. By simply cooking or garnishing with this beautiful flower, you can transform the taste of an entire dish. If you haven’t yet explored the culinary wonders of lavender, these two simple recipes will give you a bit of inspiration.

Lavender Shortbread [Food Network]
Shortbread is known for its rich, crumbly texture and buttery flavor, which makes it a perfect companion for the floral notes of lavender. This recipe uses only six simple ingredients and takes just 50 minutes to make, but after it’s complete your whole home will be filled with the sweet, delicious scent. Simply knead the ingredients together, adding dried or fresh lavender flowers, and bake in the oven until each bar reaches the perfect golden brown.

Pepita and Lavender Brittle [Martha Stewart]
Most brittle candies have a rich, caramel texture, but this particular brittle is uniquely earthy and fragrant. The recipe uses Martha Stewart’s basic brittle recipe to create a crunchy base, while the pepitas, or green hulled pumpkin seeds, offer even more texture. To top it off, dried lavender cooked throughout adds a floral flavor that only the small purple flower can provide.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Dave Catchpole

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Cooking, Food, Herbs, Recipes

USDA Guide to Calorie Counting

July 24, 2014 by greystar

Counting calories is a daily chore that all dieters must face, and it may sometimes seem like it is taking over your life (or at least your meals). These helpful tips from the USDA can help you to manage your meals, keep your calories under control, and do it all while still enjoying the food you eat. Here are some of the tips:

Even if you carefully count calories, it's easy to exceed your empty calorie allowance. Empty calories are calories that come from added sugars and solid fats, and they have no health benefits.
When choosing proteins, choose only lean versions of beef or pork. A three-ounce portion of regular ground beef contains 64 empty calories, while a three-ounce portion of extra lean ground beef contains zero empty calories.
Breads and pastries with added sugar or butter contain significantly more empty calories than those without. A regular piece of white bread contains zero empty calories and approximately 69 calories, but a glazed donut contains 170 empty calories out of its total 255 calories.
Check the calories on the label before you consume any food, and make sure to eat only the recommended serving size listed on the label.

Find more calorie counting tips on the USDA website.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/sajia.hall

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Diet, Food, Health, Nutrition

Interesting Facts About NASCAR Driver Danica Patrick

June 19, 2014 by greystar

Danica Patrick broke records as a female in the male-dominated NASCAR world. Here are a few of the most interesting facts about this influential driver.

Danica Patrick dropped out of her high school in Beloit, Wisconsin, to pursue racing.
After dropping out, Patrick moved to England to begin her career. While there, she placed second at the Formula Ford Festival and became the first woman—and the first American—to place that high in the event.
Patrick was only the fourth woman ever to race the Indianapolis 500, and her fourth place finish was the highest place ever earned by a female driver. She also lead the race for a full 19 laps, making her the first woman ever to do so.
Patrick became the first woman to ever win an IndyCar race in 2008, and she came in third place in the Indianapolis 500 the next year.
Patrick was so influential in the media that she was on the cover of Sports Illustrated and became a host on Spike TV. She also penned an autobiography, Danica: Crossing the Line.

Danica Patrick [Biography]
Lucky #7 [Danica Patrick]
Danica Patrick [TV Guide]

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Culture, Danica Patrick, Racecar Driving, Sports

Feng Shui 101: 5 Facts About Feng Shui

May 14, 2014 by greystar

People have practiced the ancient Asian art of feng shui for thousands of years in the hopes that it would align their homes with success and happiness in their lives. Feng shui improves the energy flow through your home's decor and creates a more positive, inspiring environment in which to work, cook, socialize, and sleep. These informative facts will help you to better understand feng shui.

Feng shui focuses on lack of clutter. One of the most important things feng shui teaches is that your home should be airy and clutter-free. Clutter is a physical manifestation of bad energy, which, in turn, blocks the good energy from flowing through your home.
Feng shui encourages natural light. Homes with lots of windows are good for feng shui, because windows improve the mood of your home.
Furniture placement is very important. Feng shui includes a number of guidelines for how the furniture in a room should be situated. Certain objects should face the door, and even mirrors should only be placed in specific positions. This helps to promote the flow of energy through a room.
Feng shui encourages functionality of the home. While many people think that feng shui only focuses on furniture, it also extends to the functionality of appliances and even the drainage systems in your home.
The bagua map helps you to understand the flow of a room. In feng shui, a map called the bagua helps to lay out a room to its best potential. The map features squares of color that represent different aspects in your life, from compassion to careers. By adjusting the items in one square, you can improve that aspect of your life.

Feng Shui Decorating Tips [Real Simple]
Feng Shui 101 [Inhabitat]
Feng Shui 101 for Your Living Space [Wonder How To]
Balance & Prosperity: Feng Shui 101 [AskMen]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Sam

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Decorating Tips, DIY, Feng Shui, Home Decor

Improve Your Entrepreneurial Knowledge With These Business Websites

April 17, 2014 by greystar

Whether you own your own business or you’re just interested in the ebb and flow of the economy, reading up on business news is helpful for just about every type of person. Though many business publications are dry and difficult to read, these websites present business news in an interesting, accessible manner.

Inc.
With a simple layout and a variety of business-oriented categories, Inc. is a great website for browsing or reading long-form articles. The startup section provides useful tips and tricks for budding entrepreneurs, providing insight from successful business owners and lists of the most successful industries. Whether you’re interested in salaries, leadership skills, or innovative products, Inc. has a little something for everyone.

Fast Company
Fast Company is an online business magazine focused on innovation in technology, economics, leadership, and design. It is written by a group of successful business leaders who provide helpful insight into establishing and running companies both large and small, and it also features the most creative marketing ideas from innovative brands around the world.

Public Domain/Openclipart.org

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Business, Employment, Entrepreneurship, Professional Advice

Two Great Places for Risotto Recipes

March 20, 2014 by greystar

Say your usual mushroom risotto is always a dinnertime hit, but you want to switch things up and try a new recipe. These informative, step-by-step websites offer simple recipes for truly unique risotto dishes. Whether you’re looking for something spicy and savory or seasonal and sweet, you’ll find it on these recipe websites.

Health.com
Risotto is typically a healthy dish, but it becomes dangerous when you start adding butter, oils, and salty seasonings. If you want to jazz up your risotto without adding extra calories, Health.com’s 7 Healthy Risotto Recipes is the place to look. The Brown Rice Risotto with Pumpkin adds a bit of sweetness to a healthier brown risotto, while the Beet Risotto with greens, goat Cheese, and walnuts is a vibrantly colorful dish that’s simply packed with healthy vitamins and nutrients.

Cooking Light
For even more creative risotto dishes, Cooking Light is another wonderful online resource. Each of their recipes offers nutritional information to help you stick to your diet, and the easy instructions are simple enough for even amateur chefs. Try the Mushroom and Barley Risotto for a healthier take on the traditional dish, or experiment with something more unique like the Risotto with Champagne and Radicchio.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Cooking, Food, Recipes, Risotto

Prevent or Treat High Cholesterol with These Tips

February 20, 2014 by greystar

Did you know that high cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for heart disease and stroke, some of the leading causes of death in the country? Though cholesterol is a necessary substance that helps your body in many ways, too much of it can build up on the walls of your arteries and form blockages.

This informative guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can help you learn how to prevent and treat high cholesterol. Here are some of its suggestions:

Know the Two Types of Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or HDL, is a helpful cholesterol that is necessary for bodily functions. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or LDL, is bad cholesterol that causes blockages.

Get Screened Regularly
High cholesterol does not have symptoms, so it is imperative to get screened regularly. You doctor can administer the screening via a simple blood test, and you should have a screening every 5 years.

Make Lifestyle Changes
By exercising more regularly, avoiding saturated and trans fats, maintaining a healthy weight and not smoking, you can protect yourself from high cholesterol and reduce it if you already have it.

For more information about high cholesterol, including a list of clinical and community programs that provide screenings and support, visit the CDC's website.

Cholesterol Awareness [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/timtak

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Apartments in Austin, Fitness, Nutrition, The Boulevard at Town Lake

Happy Presidents’ Day

February 17, 2014 by greystar

Remembering the courage and vision of past and present leaders, we honor and share the spirit of Presidents' Day together as a nation.