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Five Easy Decorating Tips for Renters

July 24, 2014 by

A new apartment is great because everything is clean and untouched, but it can also seem a bit impersonal. If you want to make your rental your own without making any permanent changes, these easy (and inexpensive!) tips can help.

  1. Dress up your windows. Every renter loves windows because they fill your apartment with natural light, but they can look a bit bare with just the standard issue white blinds. Add some colorful curtains, chic bamboo blinds, or patterned roller panels to give your windows your own character.
  2. Hang a gallery wall. From personalized photographs to brightly colored movie posters, a gallery wall allows you to decorate your walls with all of the things you love. Though many renters think that they can’t hang frames because of the nail holes, there are a number of removable frame hanging tools that won’t puncture the walls.
  3. Add some greenery. Not only do plants brighten any room in your apartment, they also clean the air and make everything feel fresher. Potted succulents and cacti are especially ideal for apartments because they require less care than most other indoor plants.
  4. Experiment with creative storage. If your new apartment is lacking storage space, don’t sweat it. Line a wall with white bookshelves to make them look like built-ins, add closet organizers to maximize that small bedroom closet, or invest in multipurpose furniture pieces with hidden storage.
  5. Don’t forget the rugs. Colorful rugs add personality to every room in your apartment, and they protect the floors to keep your security deposit safe.

24 Ideas to Steal for Your Apartment [BHG]
11 Decor Ideas That Will Change Your Apartment [Huffington Post]
Design Ideas and Tips for Renters [Remodelaholic]
10 Tips on Decorating a Rental [Sunset]

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Enjoy Parsley in These Three Recipes

June 19, 2014 by

Ah, parsley. It’s truly the perfect herb, complementing everything from meats to salads to salad dressings. If you simply can’t get enough parsley, you’ll be happy to find that there are seemingly endless number of recipes made better by this one simple garnish. Here are three new recipes perfected by parsley!

Parsley Leaf Salad
Though parsley is normally an accent to other foods, in this salad recipe the herb takes center stage. The delicate leaves provide an earthy taste, while pine nuts, capers, and red onion add a bit of crunch, flavor, and substance to every bite. Top with freshly ground pepper and extra-virgin olive oil to create a tasty and attractive dinner party salad.

Linguine with Toasted Almonds, Parsley and Lemon
Whole wheat noodles create the base for this hearty, rustic pasta. It’s tossed in a combination of lemon, Romano cheese, and olive oil, while parsley and almonds impart a special crunch.

Traditional Chimichurri
Chimichurri is a staple in Argentinean cuisine, and a bowl of this zesty oil-based sauce can be found on every dinner table. The blend of parsley, olive oil, garlic, and vinegar is very similar to a simple pesto, but the addition of crushed red pepper really sets it apart.

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Fend Off Boredom With These 5 Fun Apps

May 14, 2014 by

Whether you're waiting for your dining companion, standing in line, or just spending a lazy morning in bed, these five fun apps will help you fill the time while providing useful information.

Magzter
Browse more than 2,000 magazines to find the right read for you. The beautiful design, complete with glossy pictures, makes you feel like you're reading an actual magazine. Buy single copies or order subscriptions to your favorite magazines.

Flipboard
Collect all the news you care about in one place. Flipboard lets you add boards on subjects that interest you, like fashion, music, history, and more. You can even add in social media feeds.

Longreads
You may not have time to read a whole book, but you can read an article. Search by subject and article length to find an interesting read for you. Topics range from television to science fiction to history.

Baristame
Learn to become an expert barista. Baristame is a free guide for making all your favorite coffee drinks. Pick which drink you want, like an espresso or cappuccino. The app brings up a clear, easy to understand recipe on how to combine ingredients.

Dinner Spinner
Not sure what to make for dinner? Just open the Dinner Spinner app and give your phone a shake. The app will provide you with a tasty, easy to make recipe. You can also search by ingredient. It's a great way to use up leftovers in the fridge.

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Kickstart Your Spring Exercise Program With These Tips

April 17, 2014 by

After hibernating all winter, it can be difficult to find the motivation to get back to the gym. Bathing suit season is fast approaching, however, and it’s time to set your spring exercise plan in motion. These simple tips can help you get off the couch and onto the treadmill.

  1. Pace yourself. If you’ve relaxed your exercise routine all winter, it’s important to start slowly once you get back at it. Take a few slow jogs or do some gentle yoga classes to get your body ready for exercise.
  2. Schedule your yearly check-up. If you usually visit the doctor once per year, try to schedule your appointment in the springtime. This will ensure that you’re healthy enough for exercise.
  3. Invest in comfortable workout gear. Pack away the insulated jackets and warm running pants and purchase workout clothing made of lightweight, breathable fabrics instead. A waterproof rain coat is also a good idea if you run outside because you can expect a few spring showers.
  4. Get outdoors. If you normally work out at a gym, opt to get your cardio in outside when the weather is nicer. Spending time outdoors is a great incentive to work out, and mixing things up always makes you feel more motivated to exercise.
  5. Have fun! Whether you work out with a friend or join a community soccer league, warm weather offers lots of options for making your workouts more fun.

10 Spring Fitness Tips [She Knows]
Spring Back into Your Exercise Program [WebMD]

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4 Creative Waffle Recipes to Make at Home

March 20, 2014 by

Whether you prefer sweet or savory tastes, waffles are a versatile dish that can be prepared a number of different ways. Check out these creative waffle recipes before you break out the waffle iron at your next brunch or breakfast at home.

Cornmeal Bacon Waffles with Cheese Sauce
If you’re the type of person who steers clear of sweet breakfast dishes, these cornmeal waffles will delight your taste buds. Topped with crispy bacon and drizzled with homemade cheese sauce, this savory dish is great for a midday brunch.

Pumpkin Waffles with Apple Cider Syrup
Just about everyone loves pumpkin flavor around fall and winter seasons, and these pancakes have the warm and spicy taste that you love on cold mornings.

Chicken and Waffles
Bring the flavor of the South to your breakfast table no matter where you live on the Mason-Dixon line with this traditional Southern dish. The savory taste of fried chicken contrasts the sweet waffles for a unique flavor that’s deliciously decadent.

Whole Grain Waffles
Made with hearty whole-grain instead of regular white flour, these waffles are a nutritious breakfast treat. Top them with a drizzle of honey, fresh fruit, or simple agave syrup for a healthy alternative to sugary maple syrup.

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Find Vacation Ideas With These Travel Sites

February 20, 2014 by

If you love to travel but haven’t been able to make time to take a trip lately, these informative and inspirational websites might help you make it a priority. Full of vacation ideas, each of these sites has everything you need to plan the perfect getaway:

Trip Advisor
Trip Advisor offers visitors a number of different ways to browse their trip ideas, starting by asking what you like to do and what continent you prefer. By clicking on beaches and sun in Europe, for example, your browser is instantly flooded with beautiful images of Southern France, ocean views in Greece, and exciting beaches in Spain. Trip Advisor also provides tools to book hotels, schedule a flight, and even reserve a dinner reservation once you’ve settled on the perfect location.

Travel & Leisure
The easy-to-navigate website for Travel & Leisure magazine is another useful resource for anyone looking for travel inspiration. The site’s Vacation Ideas section is full of every type of trip imaginable, with something for everyone from the relaxing beach goer to the adventurous mountain climber. Browse spa getaways, eco-travel trips, cruises, and family friendly vacations at some of the very best destinations around the world all on Travel & Leisure’s website.

Public Domain/Public Domain
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5 Delicious Recipes for Chicken Pot Pie

January 22, 2014 by

While chicken pot pie is typically considered a winter dish, the simplicity of this comfort food makes it a go-to meal for all seasons. If you're deciding what to put on the dinner table tonight, here are five chicken pot pie recipes to consider, one of which can be ready to bake in as little as 30 minutes!

Chicken Pot Pie IX [Allrecipes]
The votes from over 6,000 reviewers have earned this pot pie recipe a five-star rating. 

Chicken Pot Pie [Food Network]
From Barefoot Contessa's Ina Garten, this recipe yields four individual pot pies.

Pot Pie [The Pioneer Woman]
Step-by-step photos make this recipe look especially appetizing.

Classic Chicken Potpie [Martha Stewart]
A decorative edge on the pie crust makes Ms. Stewart's recipe shine.

Easy Chicken Pot Pie [Campbell's Kitchen]
This easy recipe relies on a can of cream of chicken soup for its base.

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Best Birding Websites

December 18, 2013 by

Bird watching is a calming hobby enjoyed by people of all ages, but there are many things to learn from it as well. These informative websites will surely become helpful resources for your next birding adventure.

All About Birds
Beginning bird watchers will benefit greatly from this helpful website, which is manned by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University. Featuring birding basics, a comprehensive bird species guide, fascinating videos, scientific facts about birds, and much more, All About Birds is all you need to begin birding as a hobby.

Audubon
One of the most popular sources of information for all of your birding needs, Audubon’s website is packed full of information about bird conservation, bird watching, and furthering your education about birds. This site is updated regularly to include which birds can be found as the seasons change, and it also highlights initiatives to save endangered birds all over the world.

ABA Blog
The American Birding Association’s blog keeps readers up-to-date with the organization’s latest events and initiatives. Posts from a number of contributors discuss the latest issues in birding, and features like the photo quiz and the birder’s exchange make sharing your love of birding fun.

Public Domain/Public Domain
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Three Cycling Apps for Smartphones

November 20, 2013 by

There’s an app for just about everything, and now there are even apps to help better your bike rides. These cycling apps will help you to plan routes, track your miles, burn more calories and stay on course, all from your mobile device.

Map My Ride
Created for the iPhone, Map My Ride is an all-inclusive cycling app for both recreational cyclists and those riding for exercise.  This simple app uses GPS and an interactive map to plan your route and then track your speed and distance throughout your ride. After you’ve arrived at your destination, Map My Ride will also provide charts detailing your ride summary and a calculation of your calories burned.

Strava Cycling
Strava Cycling is a simple, no-nonsense app for cyclists who want the basic features without any of the bells and whistles. This app has an accurate map for planning your route and following along as you ride, and it even calculates miles ridden and feet climbed as you go. Strava also offers ways to connect with friends and even join virtual clubs for sharing tips and support on every ride.

B-icycle
With apps for Android, iPhone and Windows operating systems, B-icycle is a widely-used cycling app with a variety of helpful features. It boasts a stylish interface, accurate GPS, statistics like speed and calories burned, and it even allows you to operate your iPod and phone features without closing the app.

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Caught on Film: Ross McElwee’s Documentaries

October 23, 2013 by

You'll probably love or hate Ross McElwee's documentaries. Personal, plotless, and invariably first-person, these films meditate on relationships, history, and time in utterly unique ways. McElwee's films also achieve the tricky feat of calling attention to the camera's artifice and making the camera disappear. You can watch many of McElwee's films on Netflix; here are four to see:

  • Time Indefinite. Marking a marriage, a funeral, and a birth, Time Indefinite attempts to use filmmaking as a means to comprehend the many important events that punctuate human lives and make them meaningful.
  • Sherman's March. Beginining the film as a journery to trace the path of General Sherman's march through the south, Sherman's March gets derailed early and often by events in McElwee's personal life. In the process, the movie explores how human beings' plans are almost always interrupted.
  • Six O'Clock News. Six O'Clock News meditates on how the camera can present us with strange and unique visions of the world. The film often feels like an experiment in reality TV before reality TV existed.
  • Bright Leaves. Another meditation on the artificiality of film, Bright Leaves explores McElwee's family history of tobacco farming, a neglected Hollywood drama, and the state of North Carolina.

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