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Simple Tips and Tricks for a Clean and Organized Kitchen

October 6, 2015 by

For most people, the kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in the home, as you use it as both a gathering space and a place to create healthy meals throughout the day. While your kitchen withstands quite a bit of activity, these simple tips will show you how to keep it organized without much extra effort.

  1. Add wall-hanging storage systems. Hanging shelves and rods with hooks on the walls creates extra storage while freeing up precious floor and counter space.
  2. Add hooks under shelves. If you run out of room on shelves and in drawers, add hooks under the cabinets to hold things like mugs and utensils.
  3. Purchase wire refrigerator shelves. You can even get the inside of your fridge organized by adding store-bought shelves that simply sit right on top of the current shelves.
  4. Create dividers. To organize pans and cutting boards that frequently fall over, add vertical tension rods between shelves in your cabinets.
  5. Organize the spice cabinet. Corral spices by placing them into glass jars of equal height, then labeling them with what’s inside. You can even add a lazy Susan for easy access to each jar.

5 Essential (and Renter-Friendly) Storage Products for Small Kitchens [The Kitchn]
8 Smart Organizing Tips for the Kitchen [Tidy Mom]
26 Kitchen Organizing Tips from Real Cooks – Twitter Style [Simple Bites]

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Dip Into Something Sweet With These 4 Dessert Fondue Recipes

September 9, 2015 by

Fondue restaurants are trendy and tons of fun, but they’re often quite expensive for such simple ingredients. Here are a few recipes for restaurant-quality fondue that you can make right in the comfort of your own kitchen.

Chocolate Fondue [Rachael Ray]
All you need is a fondue pot, bittersweet chocolate, heavy cream, and some fruit and other dipping items to make this traditional fondue recipe.

Chocolate Bar Fondue [Real Simple]
This recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to make fondue using basic ingredients that you already have at home. Use angel food cake or strawberries for dipping, and you’re good to go.

Milk Chocolate Fondue [Betty Crocker]
While some chocolate fondues can be a bit bitter, this one uses milk chocolate for a sweeter, creamier taste.

Chocolate Fondue [Williams Sonoma]
Adding some vanilla extract gives this chocolate fondue recipe a hint of extra flavor that your guests will love.

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Fill Your Tank: What to Eat Before a Workout

August 14, 2015 by

The foods that you eat before your workout can make all the difference when it comes to feeling energized and seeing results. If you’re unsure about what types of foods to eat for an added boost of energy, check out these great snack and meal ideas.

  1. Wheat toast with peanut butter and banana. Slice up a banana and sprinkle it on top of peanut butter toast for a healthy boost of carbohydrates for energy and healthy sugar from the fruit.
  2. Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts. Greek yogurt is packed with protein, while the energy-boosting nuts and sweet fruits will give you a little boost of energy.
  3. Fruit smoothie. If you don’t have time to sit down for a meal before the gym, pack a fruit smoothie in your gym bag. Add some Greek yogurt for protein and granola for carbohydrates.
  4. Apple slices with almond butter. This on-the-go snack is easy to prepare and easy to eat. It also offers just the right amount of healthy sugars and hearty protein.
  5. Oatmeal. Oats are packed with fiber, which slowly release carbohydrates into your bloodstream throughout the course of your workout. Eat one cup at least half an hour before working out.

Best Pre-Workout Foods [Men’s Health]
What to Eat Before and After a Workout [Fitness]
What to Eat Before, During, and After Exercise [WebMD]
The Best Foods to Eat Before and After Your Workout [Shape]

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Healthy Rice and Potato Dishes That Won’t Weigh You Down

August 4, 2015 by

Starches and whole grains are important for feeling energized, but if eaten in excess, they can make you feel heavy or weighed-down. These delicious and nutritious recipes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute incorporate rice and potatoes into your diet in a way that benefits your body and provides proper portion sizes.

Delicious Oven French Fries
Though fast food French fries are anything but healthy, this oven-baked alternative provides the same classic taste without the added fat and salt.

Wonderful Stuffed Potatoes
By stuffing a baked potato with low fat milk and cottage cheese instead of the usual sour cream, you can save calories and still get the same savory taste.

Candied Yams
The holiday favorite gets a healthy makeover in this fast and easy recipe, with sweet brown sugar and tangy orange juice for a boost of added flavor.

Scallion Rice
The addition of green onions and bullion gives this simple, low-calorie rice dish a little something extra, and makes it perfect for eating with a variety of meats, vegetables or stir-fries.

Sunshine Rice
Perfect for pairing with grilled chicken or for eating on its own, this rice recipe contains unique ingredients like hot sauce, almonds, and lemon juice for a distinctly flavorful taste.

For more healthy rice and potato dishes, visit the NIH website by clicking here.

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Organize Jewelry and Accessories With These Smart and Easy DIYs

July 17, 2015 by

If it seems almost impossible to keep your necklaces, rings, and other accessories neat and organized, read on! These smart tips will show you new, smart ways to keep your jewelry and accessories tidy and tangle-free. Best of all, you can make them yourself — inexpensively!

Antique Saucer Jewelry Storage [Buzzfeed]
Store your everyday jewelry right out in the open by using a few china tea saucers. You can usually find them at your local thrift store, and they make a good place to corral loose rings, bracelets, and earrings.

Hanging Thread Organizer [onegoodthingbyjillee.com]
Make a quick visit to your local craft store and purchase a wooden thread organizer. This handy storage solution is meant to hold spools of thread, but its numerous wooden pegs are also perfect for hanging necklaces and bracelets on the back of a door, on the wall, or inside of a cabinet.

Corkboard Jewelry Holder [beehiveandbirdsnest.com]
Many people have an unused corkboard tucked away in a closet, and if you don’t, you can easily pick one up for cheap at an office supply store. Place attractive push-pins all over the corkboard and arrange them in a way that best suits your jewelry collection.

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What You Need to Know About the Couch to 5k Program

July 10, 2015 by

If you’ve always wanted to run a 5k but you just don’t know where to begin, you might be interested in the Couch-to-5k Program. This beginner-friendly running plan aims to take first time runners from their very first run all the way to a full 5k, and it’s customizable based on your specific time frame. Here are a few things that you should know about the program.

  • A 5k measures 3.1 miles.
  • The Couch-to-5k Program starts slowly and gradually builds up to a full 5k over the course of two months.
  • Each training session amounts to just 20 to 30 minutes three times per week.
  • The training days should be spaced out throughout the week, leaving at least one day for recovery in between.
  • With the Couch-to-5k, you don’t want to focus on how fast you’re going, but rather on building up your distance with each new session.
  • You can follow the Couch-to-5k Program either by time or by distance of each run. Experts recommend choosing whichever option seems easiest for you to keep track of.
  • It’s important to warm up and cool down before each session. With this program, a five-minute jog is a good warm-up, and it’s equally important to stretch before and after your run.

The Couch-to-5K ® Running Plan | C25K Mobile App [Cool Running]
Couch to 5K: Is it Right for You? [Answers]
How to Lose Weight With Couch Potato Running [Livestrong]

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How to Decorate Your Rental Home With Mirrors

July 7, 2015 by

Mirrors work wonders in a rental space. They create a space to check your appearance before your dash out the door in the morning, they add light and size to any sized space, and they even act as a decor element. Here are just a few great places to add mirrors in your rental.

  • Above the nightstand. Add matching mirrors above your nightstands to create the illusion of extra depth in the bedroom.
  • Behind the dresser. If your dresser doesn’t come with an attached mirror, create a sort of vanity space of your own by hanging a decorative mirror behind it.
  • In a stairwell. If you have a set of stairs in your apartment, create a gallery wall of mismatched mirrors up the length of the staircase.
  • Across from a window. Maximize the light in a room by placing a large mirror directly across from a window.
  • On the kitchen cabinets. Cut mirror panes to fit right within the borders of your kitchen cabinets, then attach them with removable adhesive.
  • In a closet. Hang a full-length mirror on the back of a regular closet door to make it feel like a luxurious dressing room.

Adorn Home With Beautiful Mirrors [Decozilla]
How to Decorate With Mirrors [Real Simple]
10 Unique Ways to Decorate with Mirrors [House Beautiful]

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Money Saving Tips from MyMoney.Gov

June 2, 2015 by

Most people know the importance of putting money aside in case of a rainy day, but investing your money well is also a wise move. With these expert tips from MyMoney.gov, you’ll learn how to earn, save, invest, protect, and grow your nest egg.

Here are some of MyMoney.gov's tips:

  • Start and maintain a savings account in addition to a checking account.
  • Pay yourself first! Set aside some money from each paycheck to save.
  • Keep a budget to track your income, expenses, and savings.
  • Maintain a mix of short term savings goals (like buying a new car) and long term goals like funding your retirement.

For more information about saving for life events like marriage or retirement or investing topics like mutual funds, IRA plans, and 401(k) plans, visit the MyMoney.gov website.

Save and Invest [MyMoney.gov]

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How to Identify the Freshest Fruit at the Supermarket

April 17, 2015 by

Fresh, ripe fruit plays an important part in any healthy diet, but it can be frustrating when your juicy apples get brown and bruised just days after purchasing them. If you'd like to select the ripest, freshest produce at the grocery store, check out these four tips!

  1. Feel the weight. Fruits like melons, oranges, and lemons feel heavier when they’re ripe with juice, so pick them up before choosing which ones to buy. The fruit should feel heavy for its size if it’s truly ripe.
  2. Test the texture. The above fruit should also feel firm to the touch, but not so firm that they feel dry and hard inside. Give them a gentle squeeze to check for bruising, as well.
  3. Use your sense of smell. Fruits like berries, grapes, and nectarines begin to smell sour or rotten when they’re past their prime, so be sure to give them a good whiff before purchasing. Most fruits will give off a light, sweet scent when they’re ready to consume.
  4. Inspect the whole surface. If all else fails, use your best judgment by simply inspecting the fruit. Turn over a melon or apple to check for bruising or discoloration, take a quick peek through a bag of grapes or oranges to see if any are mushy or rotten, and consider the color of the fruit’s skin, as this can often tell if it is too ripe.

How to Select Fresh, Ripe Produce [Lifehacker]
How to Pick Fruits & Veggies [Good Housekeeping]
Raw Produce: Selecting and Serving it Safely [FDA]
Choosing Fresh Fruits and Vegetables [Family Circle]

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How to Give Your Bathroom a Spa Makeover

April 10, 2015 by

You might think that it’s impossible to replicate the relaxing oasis of a spa bathroom in your home, but with a few simple tips from pros, you’ll be on your way to a day of pampering in no time. Here are just a few ways to transform your bathroom into a relaxing retreat.

  1. Invest in candles. There are few better (or easier) ways to create a spa feeling than by adding mood-enhancing candles. Place them on the back of the toilet, on the sink, or even on the edges of the tub.
  2. Switch out the lighting. Try a bulb with lower wattage to create a peaceful, relaxing ambiance in your bathroom.
  3. Add some spa essentials. Fill an attractive basket with fancy lotions, soaps, and bath salts and place it within arm’s length of your bathtub.
  4. Purchase spa-quality towels. Make the upgrade to plush, luxurious towels. Choose towels in soft, muted colors or even stark white to impart that spa-like look. Instead of folding your towels, roll them into cylinders and store them in a basket by the foot of your shower.
  5. Keep the counters clean. Clutter works against the minimalist look that you’re going for, so store your essential products in a cabinet or corral them with a stylish tray.

Budget Makeover: At-Home Spa [the nest]
Give Your Bathroom a Makeover [She Knows]
What Decorating Ideas Make a Bathroom Feel Like a Retreat? [Modern Mom]

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