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Must-Read Tips for a Perfectly Carved Pumpkin

September 15, 2016 by

Carving a pumpkin may seem like a fun, relaxing autumn activity that you can do together as a family, but if you’ve ever actually attempted to carve a pumpkin, you know that this isn’t always the case. Carving the perfect pumpkin is possible, however, and these simple tips can help you get there safely and without too much stress.

  1. Start by choosing a pumpkin with a flat bottom so that it won’t roll around while you try to carve it.
  2. Cut the top of the pumpkin on an angle, so that once you scoop it out and replace the stem it won’t drop down inside.
  3. Soak the pumpkin in a bleach solution for one or two hours before carving to lengthen its lifespan. After you carve it, dry thoroughly and rub the edges with some petroleum jelly to prevent it from shriveling.
  4. While it may seem like a waste of money, it’s very helpful to purchase a kit of knives designed especially for pumpkin carving. Using a common kitchen knife that is too big or not sharp enough can be dangerous for everyone involved.
  5. If this is your first time carving a pumpkin, choose a pattern with bold features and large details to make it a bit easier.
  6. Cut out your stencil and either trace it directly onto the pumpkin or tape it on with clear tape before carving.

8 Pro Tips for Carving the Perfect Pumpkin [Good Housekeeping]
Pumpkin Carving Tips – How to Carve a Jack-o'-lantern [About Food]
How to Carve a Pumpkin [Martha Stewart]

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Seriously Tempting No-Bake Desserts to Try This Summer

August 18, 2016 by

If you can’t even imagine turning on the oven during the summer heat, no-bake desserts are the perfect alternatives to your usual fresh baked cookies. These oven-free desserts are just as delicious as more traditional options, and they’re often much easier to prepare, which leaves you with more time for lounging by the pool! Here are three no-bake dessert recipes to try at your next potluck dinner.

7-Layer Ice Cream Cake [marthastewart.com]
Cool off after a summer dinner with this colorful ice cream cake. Pound cake creates a sweet, dense base stacked between layers of tasty vanilla ice cream, while thick meringue is a wonderfully fluffy replacement for the usual heavy icing.

Creamy Layered Lemon Squares [snackworks.com]
Swap out your usual lemon square recipe for something much quicker — and cooler. Basic graham crackers create a crunchy crust, and the addition of ripe strawberries makes this dessert perfect for the summertime.

Hawaiian Cookie Balls [kraftrecipes.com]
The kids will adore these fun and tasty cookie balls made with sweet, crushed pineapple and flaky coconut. You can also decorate them with colorful gel icings and sprinkles to turn them into fun ducks or chickens for a child’s birthday party.

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Fun and Low-Cost Summertime Activities

July 21, 2016 by

With all of its vacations, barbecues, and outdoor concerts, many people would say that the summertime is the most expensive season of the year. If you’re looking to stay active this summer without spending a lot of money, however, consider these fun and inexpensive activities — some of which are totally free!

  1. Go on a hike. You might not know it, but your town likely has hiking trails traversing its wooded areas and public parks. Do a quick online search to find the ones nearest to you.
  2. Have a picnic in the park. Invite a few of your friends to each bring a dish to a low-key picnic in the park. With just a few sandwiches, a light blanket, and some good conversation, you can have a wonderful afternoon outdoors.
  3. Go to a flea market. Instead of spending your hard-earned money at the mall, hit up a flea market to hunt for antique treasures.
  4. Go geocaching. If you enjoy uncovering hidden items, try your hand at this high-tech type of treasure hunting. Use your smartphone to create a geocaching account, then follow the instructions to find the geocache sites located throughout your town.

50 Cheap, Creative Ways to Have Fun (Tiny Buddha)
102 Things to Do on a Money-Free Weekend [The Simple Dollar]
12 Free or Low-Cost Summer Activities for Your Kids [U.S. News]

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Add a Touch of Summer to Your Rental Home — Here’s How!

June 16, 2016 by

Summer is just around the corner, and even in a rental, you can't help but want to make some warm weather improvements to your home. Outdoor space or not, there are a number of ways to add a summer flair to your decor — and these stylish tips will show you how.

  • Let the light in. Take advantage of the brighter sunlight and longer days by making the most out of your home's windows. Replace your heavy winter drapes with light-colored, sheer curtains, and give your windows a good scrubbing inside and out.
  • Mix up your throw pillows. While cozy, rich hued throw pillows are great in the cold of winter, they feel stuffy and too dark once the summer rolls around. Store your usual throw pillows in plastic bags during the summer months and replace them with pillows that are bright, colorful and even a bit eclectic.
  • Keep the cold beverages on hand. Whether you frequently host guests on a porch or patio or you simply want to create a cool, relaxing place to hang out inside of your home, creating a well-curated bar cart is a must for summer entertaining. Stock yours with ice buckets, various types of glasses, cocktail napkins and your favorite libations (alcoholic or otherwise).
  • Fill your place with plants. Another great way to take advantage of the summer sunshine is by creating an indoor garden. Hang plants from the ceiling using macrame plant hangers, place them in pots on bright windowsills and even add larger plants to fill empty corners of a room.

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Spring Forward: How Start Your Warm Weather Workouts on the Right Foot

April 21, 2016 by

Whether you want to tone up before bathing suit season or you're striving to lead a healthier lifestyle, the spring season is a good time to begin an exercise routine. If you’re struggling to find the motivation to begin your spring workouts, these tips can help.

  • Put it on paper. If you write down your fitness goals and a loose schedule, it will help you to remain accountable and stay on track.
  • Start slow. Remember to keep your schedule light at first and work up to more difficult workouts. Begin with 30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise three or four times per week, and be sure to switch up your workouts to keep things interesting.
  • Enlist a partner. If you’re still feeling sluggish, ask a close friend to work out with you and help to keep each other motivated.
  • Invest in new workout gear. If your sneakers from last season have seen better days, invest in a brand-new pair that will get you excited to exercise.
  • Get outdoors. Now that the cold weather is over and the days are longer, you likely want to get outside as much as you can. Schedule early morning runs before work, go for weekend bike rides, or even sign up for yoga in the park.

Spring-Clean Your Exercise Routine [Health]
20 Ways to Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine [Shape]
Spring Clean Your Workout Routine: 21 Bad Habits To Toss Today [LiveStrong]

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Budget-Friendly Ways to Decorate for Fall

October 8, 2015 by

You might be tempted to hit the home decor store as soon as that first leaf falls from the tree, but why not try your hand at some DIY projects? If you want to get in the fall spirit without draining your bank account, use these budget-friendly tips to make your home an autumn wonderland.

Fall Pumpkin Tableau [southernliving.com]
Welcome your guests into your home with a fantastic fall vignette right in the foyer. This once uses a few seasonal gourds and miniature pie pumpkins, which only cost a few dollars at the grocery store. The rest you can get for free by simply using your own clear vases or bowls and some leafy branches from the trees outside.

Gourd and Pumpkin Lights [bhg.com]
Light up the night either inside or out by creating a stylish, chic version of the classic jack-o'-lantern. Instead of carving a face into a pumpkin, simply hollow out a few in varying sizes and place tea lights inside their openings.

Pinecone Lamp Finial [marthastewart.com]
Incorporate fall decor into even the tiniest touches in your home, such as the small piece that screws into the top of a lamp. Simply glue pinecones to the tops of all of your finials for a festive look, or even spray paint them gold or silver for a bit more glamour!

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Sample These Acorn Squash Recipes This Fall

September 17, 2015 by

Acorn squash is a type of winter squash with a unique dark green rind, longitudinal ridges and a yellowish-orange inside that tastes sweet and mild. This squash is so versatile that even the most novice home chef can easily prepare it in a variety of different ways. Here are just three ways to try your hand at serving acorn squash this fall.

Baked Acorn Squash [allrecipes.com]
To really get a good idea of how acorn squash tastes, you should first prepare it all by itself. This simple recipe involves baking a halved acorn squash with just a bit of butter and brown sugar to create a healthy side dish or even a unique dessert.

Acorn Squash Soup with Kale [marthastewart.com]
With a hearty texture and autumnal flavors, this soup is perfect for those chilly fall evenings. Pureeing the acorn squash is one of the best ways to prepare it for use in a soup, while adding crispy bacon and finely chopped kale adds a darker, smokier flavor that contrasts the sweetness of the squash.

Spinach and Acorn Squash Ravioli [myrecipes.com]
Acorn squash makes a wonderful filling for pasta, and in this creative recipe it’s blended with creamy ricotta cheese and chopped spinach for added flavor. Plus, using wonton wrappers instead of the usual pasta dough saves on calories, and it’s much easier than rolling out that dough by hand.

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How to Make This Year’s Halloween Party Your Best Ever

October 16, 2014 by

So you’ve decided to throw a Halloween party at your home, but where do you start? Luckily, a spooky Halloween theme offers an almost endless list of decoration and refreshment ideas to make your party a ghoulish good time. Here’s just a bit of inspiration.

Severed Finger Invitation [marthastewart.com]
Give your guests a fright before the party even starts by sending them a severed "finger" in a box as a party invitation!

Spiked Witch’s Brew [celebrations.com]
For refreshments, serve a black cauldron filled with a spiked punch that looks like witch’s brew. You can even make it “smoke” by adding dry ice to the cauldron.

Monster Face Paint [marthastewart.com]
Entertain the little ones at a Halloween party by setting up a face painting station. Even if the party isn’t a costume party, they’ll love to wear their new monster face around all night.

Mad Scientist Party [rachaelraymag.com]
If you prefer to go all-out with a unique theme, a mad scientist party is one that your guests probably haven’t seen before. Decorate with beakers and test tubes, don a white lab coat and a wild wig, and turn your kitchen into a laboratory filled with experimental refreshments.

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