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Bright and Sunny Warm Weather Drinks

May 16, 2012 By Leave a Comment

When sunny days arrive, hot tea and coffee no longer cut it! If you’re in the mood for a cooling beverage, consider these refreshing pours.

Lemonade
Fresh squeezed lemonade tastes of warm breezes and sunny days. The combo of bitter lemons and sweet sugar will please kids and adult alike.

Iced Coffee
If hot coffee won’t suffice, brew a pot and put it in the fridge. Then, later on you can concoct a rich, delicious glass of iced coffee just as you like it. No need to dish out the dollars at Starbucks!

Seltzer
If you’re watching your caloric intake, seltzer is a great, refreshing option. If it’s a little boring for your taste, add a splash of juice or a squeeze of fresh citrus for flavor without the calories.

Iced Tea
Sun tea is a fabulous warm weather drink. In a pitcher of room temperature water, place 10 tea bags, and put the pitcher in the sun. Allow it to “sun brew” for a few hours until the liquid is a deep tea color. Then, pour yourself a glass and prepare it as you like with lemon and sugar. To make an Arnold Palmer, mix one part iced tea and one part lemonade over ice.

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Best Snacks for a Mid-Day Pick-me-up

April 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s after lunch, you’ve already put in a number of hours at work, and while the end is still far away, your eyes refuse to stay open. Your options at this time are either to find a covert napping place, drink yet another cup of coffee or energy drink, or opt for a healthy snack to provide extra fuel. Instead of caffeine, your body likely needs a blood sugar boost or a dose of healthy protein to keep you running.  Here are some snacks to provide an extra boost without weighing you down:

Raw nuts
Pistachios, almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts are your best option. Check the label for sodium levels before purchasing. You can also opt to make your own trail mix (the pre-made kind are often loaded with salt and sugar) by mixing in dried fruit and seeds.

Fruit
Apples and bananas are particularly good are providing natural energy, and pairing them with peanut butter adds an extra protein boost.   

Vegetables with hummus or guacamole
Another great source of natural energy. Try celery, pepper, and carrots. If you don’t have fresh vegetables on hand, opt for whole wheat crackers or pretzels.

 
 
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Highlights of Driving Across Route 66

April 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Historic Route 66 is full of gorgeous vistas and is a great slice of America. There's a great variety of stops along the way, too, as these fantastic highlights illustrate.

Sand Hills Curiosity Shop
This delightfully strange shop in Erick, Oklahoma, professes itself as a haven of redneck culture. Full of fun and interesting items about Route 66, music will often pop up here as well. It's a unique stop brimming with personality.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum and Library
This museum contains the largest collection of original papers and items from the Lincoln family in the world. With multiple exhibits filled with interesting material, the museum is a must for any history buff.

Jesse James Museum
There's no better way to celebrate this iconic route than a visit to a museum devoted to iconic outlaw. This museum in Stanton, Missouri, operates under the belief that Jesse James lived well into the 20th century, and the evidence presented is a wonderful addition to James' mythic status.

Cadillac Ranch
Just west of Amarillo, Texas, this unique monument was the brain-child of a group of artistic hippies living in the area. They buried a bunch of Cadillacs, nose-down, into the ground, and people have come to admire (and spray paint) them for decades since. Grab a can and stop by!

Tesuque Flea Market
Right by Santa Fe, New Mexico, this market is a bustling collection of many people and cultures. You can find a lot of cool stuff here, from fantastic Native American artifacts to good imported all over the world.

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Tips For Better Work-Life Balance

March 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As the economy gets tighter and tighter, many people are having a hard time balancing the demands of home and work. This can create an ever-increasing vortex of stress that can ruin your life. Here are some tips for keeping your life and work in harmony.

Making time for exercise can be difficult when your schedule is already packed, but experts agree that paying attention to your body can bear serious dividends. Exercise increases the production of endorphins and helps your body work at a higher efficiency.

Plan ahead for relaxation time. It’s tempting to multi-task at all times, but you need to set aside at least an hour each day for pure relaxation. Put down the iPhone and pick up a book, go for a walk, or do something else that doesn’t relate to work. Your brain needs leisure time too.

If you have household tasks or errands that consume too much time, consider outsourcing them. While hiring a housecleaner seems like a luxury to some, think about what you’re paying against the cost. Your hourly rate is probably a lot higher than a cleaner’s, and they’ll do a better job.

Don’t be afraid to say no to social engagements. It can be really difficult, but you need to make time for yourself before you make time for anybody else. Make sure that parties, nights out and the like are actually meaningful for you.

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Clutter Busting Tips for Apartment Living

March 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

If you tell your friends that your apartment is full of “comfortable clutter” but inside you feel like it’s a disorganized nightmare, follow these simple steps to a more organized space:

Purge!
Every weekend, pick a room, go through everything in it, and decide what to keep, store, donate, or throw away. Be decisive and ask yourself if you’ll really use what you have. Then follow through! This is also a good chance to clean under all that stuff.

Provide yourself with storage space
Look at what you have left and decide where it should go. If you need a box, basket, or bag for it, get one. If you really don’t have a place to put it, maybe you don’t need it.

Use multifunctional furniture
Beds with drawers underneath them, coffee and end tables with shelves, and ottomans with storage inside are all ways to fit storage into limited space.

Keep it up
When you are done using something, put it back in its spot. Survey your space every day to make sure things aren’t getting out of control. When considering new purchases, ask yourself where they will go in your space, whether you really need them, and whether something else has to go to make room.

Spread the word
You’ll never stay on top of your place if you’re always picking up after your family. Give everyone their own organizational tools, and encourage them to put things away and pick up after themselves.

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Look Your Best: Great Green Beauty Products

February 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

It’s important to help the environment however you can, and thankfully many companies are offering ways to do it. If you find the waste from traditional cosmetics to be a little excessive, check out these five great beauty products that are made with environmental safety in mind.

John Masters Organics is one of the most dependable producers of green beauty supplies, and many people rave about their sea salt sprays. These sprays give your hair a classic beachy look, and their combination of sea salt and lavender protects and hydrates your locks.

Burt’s Bees has made a great reputation for themselves as producers of high-quality lotions and other products. If you want an alternative to traditional alcohol-based hand sanitizers, try their excellent aloe and witch hazel-based product. It kills germs and leaves your hands feeling soft.

The German-made Dr. Hauschka products are very popular among skin care experts, and for good reason. Their rose day cream is made with natural rose petal extracts, and rose wax plus marsh mallow root strengthen and hydrate delicate skin.

To tone and clear up unsightly bags under your eyes, try 100% Pure Coffee Bean Caffeine Eye Cream. Caffeine is a natural tightener, and it constricts blood vessels and makes skin clearer and smoother.

Makeup tools are also made with care for the future of the Earth. The brushes and sponges made by the EcoTools company are crafted from cruelty-free hair on bamboo bodies and natural, recyclable materials and come in a reusable storage pouch.

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

February 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Best wishes for happiness on Valentine's Day and every day.

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Valentine’s Day Gifts From Hands And Hearts

February 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Nothing says “I love you more” than the gift of your own time and creativity. But it’s important to make sure that homemade gifts are something that the recipient will be able to use. Here are some ideas for thoughtful homemade gifts for Valentine’s Day.

  1. Make homemade candy, cupcakes, or cookies, and give them to your beloved in a hand-decorated box or bag.
  2. If your partner keeps a journal, a scrapbook, or a photo album, make one for them. You can decorate a pre-made book or make one from scratch. Personalize one page with a photo, collage, or note to the recipient.
  3. Personalize a photo of yourself and your loved one. The possibilities are endless – you can surround the photo with keepsakes and reminders of your relationship in a shadowbox frame, make a collage, or decorate a frame for the photo.
  4. Give the gift of scent – sew small squares of fabric and stuff with lavender or rose petals to make sachets. Create a custom blend of essential oils, or buy a soap making kit and present your partner with homemade soaps in their favorite colors and fragrances.
  5. Remind your love that spring is right around the corner with some pretty pots and seeds. Make your own seed packets with personalized messages and rubber stamps.

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Super Bowl Party Food Ideas

February 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You’ve made your selection from The 25 Best Beers in the World, you found a great Super Bowl Punch recipe, you sent out your Super Bowl party Facebook invite. But what finger foods can you serve that are sure to be a hit?

Here are a few suggestions:

And for desert…

 

Once the game is over and the house is cleaned up, check out these amazing fat burning workouts for men and women.

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Fun Spring Break Destinations for Families

January 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
If you have kids in school, spring break offers a major opportunity for quality family time. Instead of letting the break pass with your young ones lounging around the house, consider packing up the suitcases and heading off on an adventure. Here are five unique destinations sure to make spring break memorable:
 
Galveston, Texas
Galveston is famously known for Moody Gardens, a spectacular tourist complex and resort to which families flock all year long. The Gardens feature three main attractions certain to enthrall every member of the family: an Aquarium Pyramid, one of the largest and most diverse aquariums in the world, a Rain Forest Pyramid, which contains stunning tropical animals and plants, and a Discovery Pyramid that offers science-oriented hands-on learning activities. 
 
Riviera Maya, Mexico
This stunning Caribbean haven is located south of Cancun (and, thankfully, far enough way for you to avoid the wild college-aged spring break crowds). You’ll relish the lovely beaches and your kids will love the area’s “Eco Maya” theme park, which offers snorkeling, cultural activities, and butterflies galore. 
 
Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Since March is often Colorado’s snowiest month, this location is for the snow-loving family who wants to relish winter fun during the spring. There are multiple kids-only ski lifts and a kid terrain park, as well as snow tubing activities, sleigh rides, a giant Gondola Adventure Zone trampoline, and much more. 
 
San Diego, California
The dreamy weather isn’t the only reason to visit San Diego during the spring – you and your family will also love visiting Balboa Park with its variety of fascinating museums, the city’s famous zoo, and the San Diego Surf Academy (which offers year-round lessons for all ages). You’ll also enjoy the city’s many hiking trails, bike paths, and beach activities.
 
Washington, DC
This is a family spring break destination that will enable you to combine fun with education. You and your kids will love visiting the Smithsonian Museum, the National Museum of Natural History, and the National Air and Space Museum. And make sure to schedule your trip during DC’s annual National Cherry Blossom Festival – a dazzling event for people of all ages. 
 
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