Lifestyle

Bedding 101: How Often to Wash Your Bed Linens

September 4, 2014 by francis

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: Lifestyle Tagged With: Bedding, DIY, Home Decoration, Laundry

These Recipes for Fresh Strawberries Are Berry Delicious

August 5, 2014 by francis

Strawberries taste delicious all on their own, so imagine how tasty they’ll be when expertly combined with other creative ingredients. If you want to make sweet and savory dishes that utilize your favorite fruit, these strawberry recipes are a great resource.

Berry “Pizza”
This dessert combines the rich, tangy taste of ricotta cheese with sweet and fragrant strawberries into individual pies. Flour tortillas create the crust, while the ricotta imitates the cheese of a more traditional pizza pie. If that’s not already enough, the small, individual sizes of these desserts are just simply adorable.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread
Make a sweet breakfast treat that the whole family will love with this recipe for Strawberry Cream Cheese Bread. The cream cheese adds a creamy texture, while the chunks of fresh strawberries create a lovely pop of pink color. The end result is dense and sweet, and it tastes perfect when paired with a steaming cup of hot coffee.

Grilled Mahi Mahi Tacos with Strawberry Salsa
Fish tacos are a lunch or dinnertime favorite, but they’re only enhanced by the sweet and spicy taste of a homemade strawberry salsa. Add an avocado sour cream dipping sauce, and this dish will secure a place on your list of favorite recipes!

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/elizaraxi

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Berries, Food, Recipes, Salad

The Sandwich Goes Sweet in These 5 Dessert Panini Recipes

July 8, 2014 by francis

Sure, it might sound strange, but the dessert panini is having a moment in the culinary world. Whether you choose to try one for lunch or for dessert, these creative grilled sandwiches will certainly be the sweet spot of your whole day.

Sweet Dessert Paninis [Food Network]
Filled with the sugary, buttery goodness that's signature to celebrity chef Paula Deen, this hazelnut panini is truly decadent.

Nutella S’Mores Panini [Panini Happy]
This sandwich combines chocolate and marshmallow, just like a grown-up s’more.

Strawberry-Nutella Panini [Recipe Boy]
The Nutella is sweet, but strawberries make this recipe a healthier alternative that you can even eat for lunch.

Blueberry, White Chocolate and Marshmallow Panini [Always Order Dessert]
A pinch of salt brings out the sweet, gooey flavors in this unique panini recipe.

Plum and Brie Dessert Panini Recipe [McCormick]
When you’re feeling a bit fancy, this sweet panini offers just the right amount of gourmet taste.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/advencap

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Cooking, Dessert Panini, Food, Recipes

Improve Your Usual Lunch Sandwich with These 4 Recipes

June 3, 2014 by francis

Your usual turkey and cheddar has been your go-to lunch sandwich for years, and your kids love their daily PB and J. Everyone loves a great sandwich, but it can be easy to get stuck in a bit of a sandwich rut. These fun recipes feature fresh, unique ingredients to help you make some creative alternatives to the standard lunchmeat sandwich.

California Grilled Veggie Sandwich
Whether you’re a vegetarian or you simply want a tasty way to get your daily veggies, this fresh, grilled sandwich is a delicious option. Simply cook the peppers, zucchini, onion, and squash on the grill and top with a bit of mayo and zesty lemon juice.

Cuban Midnight Sandwich
This hot sandwich features ham, turkey and a number of flavorful spreads and sauces. Pair it with black bean soup or plantain chips to create a traditional lunch.

Roast Pork and Pickled Cucumber Sandwich
The sweet, warm flavor of the pork perfectly contrasts the pickled taste of the cucumbers for a sandwich that’s zesty and flavorful.

Smoked Salmon Salad Sandwich
Instead of your usual tuna salad, try a smoked salmon salad instead. This sandwich uses a mixture of smoked and roasted salmon to ensure that the flavor is noticeable, but not overpowering.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/avlxyz

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Cooking, Food, Recipes, Sandwiches

These 5 Time-Saving Apps Will Help Streamline Your Life

May 6, 2014 by francis

Our lives are busy. Between work, kids, chores, cooking, and trying to have a social life, it seems there is no extra time for just relaxing. Thankfully, our smartphones can do more than just make calls and text these days; they can also help us save some precious time. Here are five great time-saving apps:

4 Ingredients
It's time to make dinner, but you have no idea what to cook. You open the fridge only to find five or six items. That's more than enough to whip up a delicious meal with the 4 Ingredients app. Simply input an ingredient and the app will provide you with recipes using only four ingredients or less. The recipes are quick to make and of course, delicious.

Remember the Milk
Stop making list after list on post-it notes. Keep all your various to-do lists and shopping lists organized with Remember the Milk. Make multiple lists and assign due dates. You can even set up recurring tasks so you never forget an item on your to-do list. Available for Android and iPhone.

Manilla
Never forget to pay a bill again with Manilla. This app, available for iPhone and Android, stores all the information you need to manage your accounts in one place. Add all your bills like cable, cell phone, rent, and more. You can easily track your spending with the easy-to-use interface.

FastCustomer
Love listening to hold music? We didn't think so. Never wait for a customer service rep again thanks to FastCustomer, available for Android and iPhone. Just tell the app who you need to talk to from over 3,000 different companies, and an agent will call you soon. No more waiting on hold.

RedLaser
Become a bargain hunter with this helpful app available for iPhone and Android. You don't need to spend hours looking for the price best thanks to RedLaser. Scan a barcode and the app will bring up comparative prices from stores in the area. You can even buy the item directly from your phone.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/melenita2012

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Apps, Gadgets, Tech, Technology

Give the Oven a Break With These No-Bake Cookie Recipes

April 1, 2014 by francis

When you want to create a sweet and decadent dessert in a pinch, there are few recipes easier than no-bake cookies. These cookies are just as delicious as the traditional types, but they use only a few simple ingredients and don’t require any baking. Here are a few of the best no-bake cookie recipes for your next get together.

No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
This recipe requires only six common ingredients to create an attractive dish of cookie bars. Quick cooking oats make a hearty base, and the combination of peanut butter and chocolate is a recognizable taste that just about everyone loves. Simply melt the butter and chocolate to hold the ingredients together, then refrigerate until you’re ready to serve.

Homemade Thin Mint Cookies
Combining the beloved tastes of mint and chocolate, these no-bake cookies are just as flavorful as other types with significantly less work involved. Though it may seem hard to believe, there are only three simple ingredients in this delicious dessert.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars
If you’re looking for a cookie recipe that doesn’t completely ruin your diet, this one is certainly a great choice. Homemade granola forms the foundation, while marshmallows and peanut butter add just the right amount of sweetness.

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/zingyyellow

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Baking, Cookies, Food, Recipes

March Madness!!!

March 5, 2014 by francis

March madness is here, start your own bracket now! Click here to read more!

Filed Under: Lifestyle Tagged With: Basketball, March Madness, Sports, Vista Ridge

Bake Bread at Home With these Recipe Sites

March 4, 2014 by francis

There’s something so satisfying about bread, whether it’s a crispy piece of toast with jam, a light, fluffy roll dipped in your favorite soup, or a crunchy crostini with goat cheese spread. If you want to make gourmet-quality breads from the comfort of your own kitchen, these step-by-step recipe websites will help you do just that.

Cooking Light
The Cooking Light website aims to make eating bread a bit more healthier, but just as delicious. Its Healthy Baking Guide features a list of the 30 Best Quick Bread Recipes, perfect for the busy home cook or the amateur chef. These breads are leavened with baking powder or baking soda instead of yeast, which makes their cooking times shorter and more manageable. From flaky buttermilk biscuits to zucchini-pineapple quick bread, you’ll find an abundance of fast and easy bread recipes on this unique list.

Better Homes and Gardens
Better Homes and Gardens magazine has published a lot of bread recipes over the years, but this is a list of their very favorite loaves. From Semolina and Rosemary Boule to Two-Tone Banana Bread to Whole Grain Sunflower Bread, these not-so-average breads are all delicious in their own unique ways.