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How to Put an End to Procrastination

February 3, 2015 by

Whether you put off your homework, daily tasks at your job, or even the cleaning around your rental home, procrastination is a struggle that affects just about everyone. Here are a few smart and savvy tricks that can help you banish the urge to procrastinate once and for all.

  1. Change your attitude. Instead of treating your task like a job, treat it like something that will advance your career or provide you with fulfillment. If you feel like you want to do a task rather than feeling like you have to do it, it will make you less likely to procrastinate.
  2. Give yourself a deadline. Even if your specific task doesn’t have to be done at a certain time, you’ll become more productive if you feel like it does. Set a deadline for yourself and you’ll start to work to meet it.
  3. Rein in your emotions. If you’re nervous to begin a task or afraid of failing, it’s likely that you won’t start at all. Do whatever you need to pump yourself up and stop setting yourself up for failure.
  4. Make yourself accountable. If all else fails, tell friends and family in order to keep yourself accountable for your goals. Tell everyone that you’re training for a marathon and you’ll be more likely to go out on that morning run.

How to Stop Procrastinating [Scientific American]
Understanding and Overcoming Procrastination [The McGraw Center]
Why You Procrastinate, and How to Stop It. Now. [Forbes]

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How to Care for Fresh-Cut Flowers

January 23, 2015 by

You just received a colorful bouquet from a sweet admirer, and you want to make the beautiful flowers last for as long as you can. There are a few tips for caring for fresh-cut flowers that will help you to keep that bouquet looking fresh for as long as possible, and they’re actually surprisingly simple.

  1. Place them in water quickly. This one may seem like a no brainer, but every second counts when it comes to preserving the life of your fresh-cut flowers. Be sure to place the flowers in a vase as soon as possible.
  2. Cut flowers under water. It is fairly common knowledge that cutting the lower portion of the flower’s stem will help it to absorb water, but many experts agree that cutting the stem while it is submerged will help it even more by ensuring that no air enters.
  3. Always use a preservative. If your fresh flowers come with a small sachet of powder preservatives, be sure to add the powder to the water before placing the flowers in the vase. Alkaline-heavy water can reduce the lifespan of flowers, but preservatives help neutralize the water.
  4. Store flowers in a cool spot. Although you likely want to keep your flowers on display when you are at home, place them in the refrigerator when you leave the house in order to lengthen their lifespan.

Cut-Flower Care—How to Make Your Fresh-Cut Flowers Last [Brooklyn Botanic Garden]
Keeping cut flowers and flowering plants [University of Minnesota]

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Make Your Own Jewelry With These Easy Tutorials

November 7, 2014 by

Making jewelry is a stylish, creative craft beloved by people of all ages. Crafters love that they can customize each piece to their exact preferences, and it also saves you money if you’re a bit of a jewelry addict. Here are three helpful tutorials that will show you how to start making your own jewelry right in your own home.

Suede and Chain Woven Bracelet [yesmissy.com]
This DIY jewelry project is worlds away from the braided friendship bracelets from your youth. With a bit of glitz from the metal chain and a touch of neutral color from the suede rope, these bracelets rival the ones that you would buy at a pricey jewelry boutique.

Bobby Pin Earrings [themetricchild.blogspot.com]
You may not have ever considered using bobby pins as jewelry, but once you see this adorably edgy jewelry DIY you’ll wish that you had thought of it sooner. Painting the pins with nail polish also enables you to add a bit of color to coordinate with the rest of your wardrobe.

Polymer Clay Bead Necklace [delightedmomma.com]
Polymer clay necklaces have been floating around the blogs for quite some time now, but this completely customizable version is one of the best. You can mold the clay beads into exactly the sizes that you want, and you can also choose paint colors to create your favorite palette.

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Baking Tip: How To Successfully Double A Recipe

February 15, 2013 by

Have you doubled a recipe, only to have the end result look nothing like it did when you made just a single batch? Well, you're not alone. Baking is a science, and calls for very exact measurements. The next time you're baking up a storm, check out these tips from The Kitchn about how to double a recipe:

Cakes, Muffins, and Cookies
Even if you're doubling all the other ingredients, be careful not to double baking soda, baking powder, yogurt, and buttermilk. The amounts of these ingredients need to be changed when you're doubling everything else — otherwise the recipe may not quite work.

Breads
Most breads contain yeast rather than baking powder or baking soda. Beneficially so, since yeast can be doubled without much of an issue. However, a kitchen scale makes it much simpler to do, since you'll be measuring by volume rather than sight.

Click here to learn more specifics about how to double recipes when baking.

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