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Your Kids Can Hone Their Math Skills on These Fun, Free Websites

March 19, 2015 by

It can be difficult to help a child who is struggling with math, whether they’re learning basic elementary addition or complex algebraic equations. If your son or daughter needs a bit of extra practice outside of the classroom, these fun and free math websites can help improve their skills and make them excited about learning.

Knowledge Adventure’s Math Games
Knowledge Adventure is a colorful website that enables users to tailor math games to their child’s specific grade level. Each game features adorable cartoon characters, exciting graphics, and fun levels that are so silly, your little one may not even know that they’re also educational.

Math Playground
This rainbow-hued collection of games spans math-related topics like addition, multiplication, fractions, and pre-algebra. Kids can navigate the site’s easy-to-use features entirely on their own, or you can browse by grade level to find games related to the specific areas where your child is struggling.

Fun Brain
Fun Brain is an educational website that offers fun games in a variety of different schools subjects, and its Math Arcade section includes five games perfect for elementary students. Choose between games like Space Slingshot and Math Baseball to make learning arithmetic fun for your child.

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Traveling Abroad? Stay Healthy With These Tips!

February 19, 2015 by

Your vacation abroad should be one of the most exciting times in your life, but it won’t be much fun if you spend the week sick in your hotel room. Many foreign travelers become sick from the germs in the airport or the strange climate, but it isn’t unavoidable. Here are a few simple ways to stay healthy while traveling abroad.

  1. Pack the right supplies. Things like antibiotics and a basic first aid kit will help in case of minor colds, and you should also be sure to bring along any regular medications that you take on a daily basis. In case you contract a more serious illness, packing your medical documents is also important.
  2. Visit a doctor beforehand. Some foreign countries require immunizations, so be sure to let your doctor know about your travel plans. It’s also important to keep your doctor in the loop in case you need to contact him or her while abroad.
  3. Wash your hands. Just like you do at home, it’s important to wash your hands before eating, after using the restroom, and periodically throughout the day. Avoid touching your face, too.
  4. Be smart. No matter how many precautions you take against illness, your best tool is your own judgment. Don’t eat foods that look like they were prepared in unsanitary conditions, and be sure to never accept medications from anyone but a licensed doctor.

Stay Healthy While Traveling Abroad [FDA]
5 Ways to Stay Healthy While Traveling Abroad [CNN Health]
18 Surefire Ways to Get Sick While Traveling [Independent Traveler]

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What Are Sliding Puzzles? Find Out Here!

February 5, 2015 by

If you love puzzles, you’re likely always looking for new styles to challenge your mind. Sliding puzzles are great options for anyone who wants to improve his or her special reasoning and logic skills, and there are countless different ways to play.

Sliding puzzles involve moving flat pieces along certain routes.
The end game of most sliding puzzles is to reach a certain configuration, which makes it important to consider your next move with each current move you make.

Sliding puzzles can use a variety of different pieces.
Many sliding puzzles use marbles enclosed in a board, while others use blocks, tokens, or even digital game boards to play online.

Players are not permitted to lift pieces off of the board.
This is the main difference between sliding puzzles and other types of rearrangement puzzles. Because you are unable to lift the pieces to move them, it’s important to clear a space for future moves.

Sliding puzzles are fairly common and easy to find.
Some popular sliding puzzles are the original Fifteen Puzzle, Inakube, Klotski, Minus Cube, and Jumbly.

Sliding Puzzles [Wikipedia]

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Simple Tips for Avoiding Freezer Burn

January 22, 2015 by

Freezer burn happens when a food becomes exposed to the cold, dry air of the freezer, causing the thin layer of moisture on the food’s surface to evaporate. This makes the food toughen and dry out, and it leaves behind grey or brown patches that look pretty unappetizing. To prevent freezer burn, follow these helpful tips before freezing foods like meat or vegetables.

  1. Make sure the food is completely covered. The most important thing that you can do to prevent freezer burn is to cover your food completely. Use plastic wrap, wax paper, or aluminum foil to cover the food, and tape it shut if it seems like some air might sneak through an open side. You can even double wrap the food to be extra cautious.
  2. Don’t leave foods in their store-bought packaging. Although store packaging on things like meat or fish seal the food against the air, they aren’t meant to protect it from the freezer. Be sure to remove foods from their packaging and wrap them yourself before freezing.
  3. Rotate items. Just about anything can become freezer burnt if left in the freezer for too long, so be sure to rotate the items in your freezer to ensure that you eat the older foods first.

Food Science: What is Freezer Burn and How to Prevent It [The Kitchn]
Freezer Burn: Gross, Yet Safe and 10 Tips for Prevention [Don’t Waste the Crumbs]
How to Prevent Freezer Burn [Real Simple]

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6 Historical Facts About the Eiffel Tower

December 18, 2014 by

The Eiffel Tower is the most recognizable landmark in all of Paris, but most people in other parts of the world don’t know much about this historical structure. Here are six facts you may not have known about Le Tour Eiffel.

1. The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889.
Gustav Eiffel and his company built it for that year’s World’s Fair.

2. It attracts more visitors than any other paid attraction in the world.
Over six million people visited the tower in 2012.

3. Until 1930, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world.
It was eventually surpassed by the Chrysler Building in New York City.

4. 121 men worked on the construction of the Eiffel Tower.
50 engineers produced the blueprints beforehand, and 100 iron workers also produced the 18,038 iron parts of the tower.

5. The tower is repainted every seven years.
Each time it is painted, it requires 60 metric tons of paint.

6. Over 250 million people have visited the Eiffel Tower since it was built.
There are 1,665 steps to the top of the tower. Though visitors may climb to its second floor, they may only access the third floor by elevator.

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Online Knitting Resources for Any Level

December 4, 2014 by

Whether you want to learn to knit or you’re already churning out scarves and blankets galore, there are always new things to learn about this wonderful hobby. There are numerous online communities devoted to knitting, and they can provide helpful tips, tricks, and patterns to improve your knitting. Here are two wonderful online knitting resources.

Craft Yarn Council
This informative site is packed full of everything you need to know about knitting, from the very basic techniques to more advanced patterns. Craft Yarn Council provides information about the best places to purchase yarn and needles, detailed descriptions of DIY projects, and even lists of yarn guilds and groups to connect you to other knitters in your area.

Knitting Help
If you’re a beginning knitter who wants to pick up new techniques, this site is full of fun instructional videos for all skill levels. A friendly forum allows users to exchange tips and questions with fellow knitting enthusiasts, and, of course, there’s also an assortment of free patterns to help you find your next project.

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Brush Up on Your Grammar and Spelling With These Apps for Android

November 20, 2014 by

Do you find yourself struggling with spelling tricky words? Do you forget what it was like before spell check and autocorrect? If your spelling could use a bit of improving or your grammar is less than perfect, you may be surprised to find that you can improve both through a few fun, simply Android apps. Here are three great apps that will help you to brush up on your spelling and grammar knowledge.

English Grammar Book
If grammar is your trickiest subject, this app will help you to improve it either at home or on the go. The English Grammar Book app offers educational articles and tips on passive voice, adverbs, idioms, conjunctions and a variety of other confusing topics.

English Grammar Ultimate
This colorful app also helps the user to get a better grasp on grammar, and it uses both straightforward descriptions and visual charts to describe the most common causes of grammatical errors.

Spelling Bee
For those who have issues spelling those particularly tricky words, the Spelling Bee app is a great way to review. This bee-themed app will teach users how to spell over 2,300 different English words through the use of a built-in voice that reads the words aloud just like a real spelling bee.

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Culinary Terms for Gourmet Recipes

October 16, 2014 by

It’s fun to try new recipes in the kitchen, but that fancy new dish may involve a few cooking techniques that make you scratch your head. Here are a few helpful definitions of some kitchen terms that you might encounter in a gourmet-style recipe.

  1. Crème Fraiche. Crème fraiche is a creamy sauce with a tangy, sharp flavor. You can purchase it in most high end grocery stores, or you can make your own using 1/2 cup of whipping cream and 1/2 cup of sour cream. Cover the mixture and let it sit for at least two hours to thicken.
  2. Filet. If the word is used as a verb, filet means to remove the bones from meats like steak or fish. As a noun, this is the piece of meat after the bones have already been removed.
  3. Glaze. A glaze is a thin coat of sugar syrup that’s applied before cooking. After cooking, the glaze turns to a hard finish that’s almost to the point of cracking.
  4. Gratin. Gratin is literally the French word for “crust.” This is usually used for oven-baked savory dishes, which are prepared in a shallow, oval-shaped gratin dish and covered with a browned crust of breadcrumbs or cheese.

Glossary of Basic Cooking Terms [Les Petites Gourmettes]
Cooking Terms [Recipe Goldmine]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [UMN]
Glossary of Cooking Terms [Better Homes & Gardens]
Culinary Terms [About.com]

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Crazy About Cosmetics? Check Out These Makeup Boards on Pinterest!

September 18, 2014 by

If you’re a fan of makeup, even the most average day can feel like playing dress up. From the latest cat eye looks to bold-hued lipsticks that add a dramatic flair to your look, there are always new makeup trends to try. Here are three great Pinterest boards that cosmetic enthusiasts will love.

Nail Art Designs
Your face isn’t the only thing that you can doll up with cosmetics. This Nail Art Designs Pinterest board is filled with fun and exciting ideas for your fingernails and toenails, and it even includes seasonal designs that will help you to coordinate your nails with the current holiday. Try out a classic chevron print or add lace decals to make your nails look professionally done right from your own home.

Makeup Looks
Whether you’re looking for something edgy and high fashion or a look that’s more natural and feminine, this Pinterest board has a makeup look for every mood. There are even costume makeup ideas with instructions that go along with them, so you can create the perfect cat whiskers or scary Halloween makeup for your next costume party.

Lip Colors
This board is dedicated entirely to the latest lip colors from your favorite makeup brands, including MAC’s dramatic mattes, classic Chanel shades, and even affordable options from Maybelline and Cover Girl.

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Butting Heads in the Office? Here’s How to Deal With Difficult Coworkers!

August 21, 2014 by

Whether your job requires collaboration or you simply want to establish friendly relationships with the people you work with, difficult co-workers can complicate things. Here are a few ways to handle bad attitudes in the workplace.

  1. Keep your cool. First and foremost, never lose your temper on a fellow employee, no matter how bad the situation gets. This will only make you lose face in front of your bosses and the rest of the office. Simply remind yourself to maintain a calm, even voice, or just walk away from the situation.
  2. Practice good conflict resolution skills. If the co-worker in question frequently disagrees or argues with you about work issues, learn how to resolve these conflicts before they start. Identify common ground by pointing out a mutual goal, and be sure to hear him or her out completely before giving your point of view.
  3. Address the issue in private. No one wants to be viewed as unprofessional, so privately point out when a co-worker is being particularly dramatic. Say something neutral, like “It seems like you’re getting very angry about this.” This might make your co-worker notice the error of his or her ways.
  4. Don’t be a pushover. It pays to be kind, but don’t let this difficult co-worker feel that he or she can walk all over you. Adopt a fair yet stern attitude that shows that you can’t be manipulated or disrespected.

Three Tips to Deal with a Passive-Aggressive Colleague [Harvard Business Review]
20 Ways to Deal with Difficult Co-Workers [iVillage]
Ten Tips for Dealing with Difficult Co-Workers [allBusiness]
How to Deal with Difficult Co-Workers [Forbes]

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