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Speed Through Household Chores With These Cleaning Shortcuts

September 15, 2016 by

The faster you get your cleaning done, the more time you’ll have to spend time with friends and family. The trick to quick cleaning is to have a system and to stick to it. Set a time limit for each room and you’ll be finished before you know it. Follow these tips for quick and efficient cleaning!

  • Keep up with daily cleaning tasks to help maintain your home's tidiness. By doing simple tasks every day, the cleaning will be much easier and not be so overwhelming.
  • Use a tote or bucket to keep all your cleaning supplies in. You can bring this from room to room and you won’t need to waste time searching for the supplies you need.
  • Use a vacuum to clean all of your floor surfaces. You should also use an extension cord for the vacuum to allow you to reach multiple areas without taking the time to keep plugging it in.
  • On your shower walls and door, use a squeegee after every use. This will prevent soap scum and water spots later on.
  • Focus on what you are cleaning and cut out anything that might distract you, e.g., your phone and the TV!

13 Tips to Help You Speed-Clean Your Home [Better Homes and Gardens]
Clean Your House in Less Than an Hour [Woman’s Day]
Speed Cleaning: Tips For Fast & Efficient Housekeeping [The Inspired Room]

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

August 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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Turn Your Home at Tree Into a Workout Studio With These Simple Tips

August 4, 2016 by

Want to break a sweat without hitting up the gym? These simple workout ideas will show you how to create a space for exercise in your own apartment at tree.

  1. Do yoga. With so many online yoga classes and free tutorials, you can get in a complete yoga class right at home. Clear away clutter and extra furniture, dim the lights, and even light a few candles to create that yoga studio atmosphere (even if you’re just in your living room).
  2. Sweat it out with cardio. Start by clearing the furniture out from the center of your living space, and then pop in an instructional workout DVD. If you’re worried about the sound disturbing your neighbors downstairs, do your workout on a thick area rug or a non-slip exercise mat.
  3. Do some strength training. Invest in small-scale strength training equipment to build muscle even without pumping iron. Things like exercise bands, hand weights, and kettlebells are perfect for toning your biceps even in your apartment.
  4. Create a circuit. Many trainers agree that circuit training is one of the most effective types of exercise. Create your own at-home circuit by working with your apartment’s furniture, including step-ups onto a chair, crunches with your feet under the sofa, and sprints up and down stairs.

How to Build a Home Gym Anywhere [Men's Fitness]
Fitness Pros Weigh In: Essentials of a "No Frills" Home Gym [Apartment Therapy]
10 Small-Space Home Gym Hacks for Your Tiny Apartment [Brit + Co]

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How to Grow Cacti and Succulents—Green Thumb Not Required!

July 21, 2016 by

Equal parts attractive and easy to care for, cacti and succulents are just the thing to to dress up a sunny windowsill. Learn how to keep your cacti and succulents beautiful and healthy with these tips—green thumb not required!

  • Place your plant where it will get a lot of bright light, such as a sunny windowsill. Cacti and succulents grow best with four to six hours of sunlight a day.
  • Cacti do best in porous pots, which tend to allow the potting soil to dry quickly. Glazed pots don’t dry out as fast, which can lead to root rot. Opt for terra cotta pots.
  • A good soil mix is also important. You want equal parts of coarse sand and all-purpose potting mix.
  • The worst thing you could do for a cactus is to water it on a regular basis. You only need to water them when the soil is bone-dry. Sometimes this occurs once a week or sometimes it occurs once every three weeks.
  • You should repot your cactus or succulent every three to five years. This involves the removal of most of the soil from the roots and replacing the plant in the same sized pot, or larger if need be.

Cacti And Succulents Inside Your Home [Gardening Know How]
Cultivating Cacti and Succulent Plants [HGTV]
Growing Guide-Cactus [Cactusland]

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Safety First! Essentials for Your Home First Aid Kit

June 16, 2016 by

Safety is a major concern in just about every household across the country, but you might not know exactly what to keep on hand to prevent against illness and injury. From minor cuts to major bumps and bruises, these first aid kit essentials will keep you (and your family) safe against all kinds of ailments.

  • Assorted bandages. Be sure to choose a box with a variety of shapes and sizes for all kinds of cuts.
  • Gauze bandages. To wrap arms and legs in case of a larger cut or burn.
  • Adhesive cloth tape. To securely fasten gauze bandages and wraps.
  • Instant cold pack. For soothing bruises and reducing swelling.
  • Aspirin. To reduce headaches and ease pain from minor injuries.
  • Oral thermometer. All households should have an adult thermometer, but families should also keep a children’s model on hand.
  • Non-latex gloves. For safely cleaning and dressing wounds.
  • Antihistamine. Brands like Benadryl help to reduce allergic reactions, such as bee stings.
  • Antibacterial creams. For disinfecting cuts, burns, and scrapes.
  • Antiseptic wipe packets. To quickly clean cuts and burns as soon as they happen.
  • Tweezers. To remove splinters and other small debris.
  • Rubbing alcohol. To sterilize your tools.
  • Sharp scissors. For cutting bandages, gauze, and other supplies.

First-Aid Kit Essentials [Parents]
First Aid Essentials [Healthy Essentials]
Anatomy of a First Aid Kit [American Red Cross]
First Aid Essentials [Real Simple]

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How to Keep Leafy Greens Fresher Longer

May 19, 2016 by

Don’t you just hate it when you attempt to buy a healthy batch of vegetables at the grocery store, only to have them go bad before you can even eat them? By using these simple tips, you can learn how to prolong the lifespan of your veggies and keep your greens fresher for longer.

  • Don’t leave leafy greens on the counter. While many types of produce (such as apples and potatoes) are okay when left out in the kitchen, leafy greens are much delicate and require cooler temperatures for safekeeping.
  • Wash them. As soon as you get your greens home, wash them with an all-natural vegetable cleanser and dry with a salad spinner to remove any chemicals, dirt, or pests.
  • Remove bad leaves. If you notice any brown spots on your greens, carefully remove them to prevent them from spoiling the whole bunch.
  • Don’t store them on a shelf in the refrigerator. Because everything in your refrigerator is not created equally, greens cannot by stored in the same way as, say, Chinese food leftovers. Instead, place them in the designated crisper drawer.
  • Plan how you’ll eat them. To prolong their lifespan further, plan to eat fresh salads using greens first and sauté or stir fry them once they near their wilted phases.

Leafy Greens [FreshDirect.com]
How to Store Leafy Greens in the Fridge [The Sprouting Seed]
How to Store Your Leafy Greens to Make Them Last Longer [Eat Local 365]

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Let the Sunshine In: DIY Spring Home Decor Projects

April 21, 2016 by

After your spring cleaning is complete, you may start to feel like your home could use a bit of a decorating revamp, as well. No matter your budget, you can easily give your home a springtime makeover with DIY home decor projects. Here are just a few of the best spring-themed decorating projects for every room in your home.

Colorful Egg Window Dressing [familycircle.com]
Set to work crafting colorful paper eggs that will dress up those newly cleaned windows. This simple tutorial only requires multicolored construction paper and some scissors to complete, and it’s easy enough that even the kids can help out.

Heart-Shaped Sachets [countryliving.com]
Freshen up your drawers and closets with these adorable DIY sachets. Simply take some scrap fabric in a pattern that you like, cut out two heart shapes, and sew them together around the edges. Fill them with potpourri just before you sew them closed, then seal them shut and enjoy the scent.

Daffodil Flower Care [marthastewart.com]
One of the best ways to spruce up your home for the springtime is by adding fresh flowers wherever you can. Freshly cut daffodils are the picture of spring, but they can often be difficult to care for. This tutorial will show you how to properly cut daffodils and arrange them in a vase in a way that even a florist would admire.

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Foods to Avoid Before a Workout

March 17, 2016 by

It can be a good idea to fuel up with a healthy snack before a workout, but some foods should be avoided altogether before hitting the gym. To see the best results possible, avoid eating these three foods for at least a few hours before you work out.

  1. Flax Seeds. This may come as a surprise since flaxseeds are certainly having a moment in the health food world, but one time that you should not consume the tiny seeds is right before exercising. Because flax seeds are full of fiber, they could cause gas or bloating, which will make you feel pretty uncomfortable when doing crunches or running on the treadmill.
  2. Milk and dairy. If you frequently snack on yogurt or drink a glass of milk for calcium, you may want to cut it out right before heading to the gym. Many trainers say that dairy slows down performance due to its tendency to cause excessive burping and an acidic feeling in the stomach—both of which sound pretty uncomfortable, especially when working out.
  3. Protein bars. This one may be the most surprising of them all, but many common protein bars contain as much sugar and calories as a candy bar. Bars with less than 10 grams of protein could cause a drop in blood sugar and only leave you feeling tired and weighed down.

Top 5 foods and drinks to avoid before workouts [SheKnows]
Foods to Avoid Before a Workout [PopSugar]
20 Foods that Can Ruin Your Workout [Shape]
Worst Workout Foods: What Not to Eat Before a Workout [U.S. News]

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Counting Calories? Here’s How to Stick to a Diet When Dining Out

February 18, 2016 by

It can be difficult to eat healthy while dining out, but that doesn’t mean you have to sabotage your diet. Here are a few smart tips for finding healthy, low-calorie meals at any restaurant.

  • Look up the menu online. Most restaurants today upload their menus to an online site, which means that you can research the healthiest options and even check the nutritional content before you leave the house.
  • Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask your server what type of oil a meal is cooked in, which sides it comes with, and if it’s topped with any decadent sauces. Then, feel free to make modifications as you see fit.
  • Steer clear of the appetizers. If you’re out with a group of friends, don’t fall victim to snacking on nachos before the meal. This can add hundreds of extra calories to your meal.
  • Know some key words. Stay away from dishes with descriptions like “pan-fried,” “cream-based,” “au gratin,” or even “sautéed.” Instead, opt for dishes that are grilled or baked.
  • Moderate your alcohol intake. Enjoy 5 ounces of red wine or 12 ounces of light beer instead of cocktail to add only 150 calories to your meal.

13 Rules for Dining Out On a Diet [Today Health]
How to eat out while sticking to your diet! [Vedonis]
How to eat at a restaurant on a diet – How to survive without blowing your diet! [What’s Cooking America]

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Smart Investing Principles from the Securities and Exchange Commission

January 21, 2016 by

Whether you’re an experienced investor or you’re considering investing for the first time, we can all learn a few things about making smart investments. These helpful Guiding Principles from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission won’t tell you exactly which investments to make, but they will offer you some useful guidelines:

Make a plan.
This principle advises people to consider the things they want to save for in the future – from a car to your children’s college education – and plan to save and invest to meet those costs.

Save and invest for the long term.
The next principle recommends saving and investing for the long term. Because the stock market goes up and down, it is important to put in the time to see the effects of your investment. Don't fret about day-to-day fluctuations of the market.

Investigate before you invest.
It is always a good idea to research any investment before putting money into it, and this principle details a few key ways to make sure that your investment is worthwhile. From calling your state securities regulator to identifying “get rich quick” schemes, this tip can prevent headaches down the line.

Guiding Principles [U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]

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