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Lifestyle

Beautiful woman applying makeup at home
Beauty & Style

Time-Saving Beauty Tips for Busy Moms

by LifeAsMama
written by LifeAsMama

As we all probably know, busy moms can hardly ever dedicate time to themselves, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be sneaking in time for yourself as much as you can. Since time is so sensitive when you are a hardworking mom, it is very important that you find the right beauty regiment and that you know some time-saving tips that will make your life easier and less hectic.

Time-Saving Beauty Tips for Hair Styles

beauty tips for busy moms hair style dry shampoo

Use Dry Shampoo

Because moms lives are so hectic sometimes there just won’t be enough time to wash your hair. It will not only make your hair less greasy, but it will also give your hair more volume and life. But don’t go too crazy with it, you should use it a couple of times per week when your hair is greasy. Because eventually, you will have to wash your hair.

Embrace Your Natural Hair

The most basic hack you can use is to rock your natural hair. There isn’t enough time in the morning to blowout your hair all nice and silky. If you don’t like how it looks just throw it up in a ponytail or do a simple braid and you’re good to go. And on the days when you have extra time, you can have some fun with curling it or straightening it.

Overnight Braids

If you just can’t accept the way your natural hair looks, braid it every night before bed. You will wake up with beautiful waves, and you don’t need any further styling. If your hair is a bit greasy you can spray some dry shampoo to add more volume.

Time-Saving Beauty Tip for Nails

beauty tips for busy moms Young woman is painting her nails with red nail polish

No Nail Polish

By not applying nail polish in the first place, you will save time and you won’t have to worry about it chipping and looking ugly. If you have acrylics on, in most cases they will fall off, chip or grow out before you get to fill them so they look line again. Therefore, it is better to have bare nails.

Drying Your Nail Polish Is Taking Too Long

If you can’t give up the nail polish, here is a hack on how to dry them faster. Fill a small bowl with cold water and add some ice into it. After you have painted your nails, air dry them for one to two minutes and then soak them for one minute and they will be dry.

Time-Saving Beauty Tip for Skin

BB And CC Creams

CC creams and bb creams are multipurpose beauty products and that’s why they are great for moms. BB creams focus on moisturizing and giving light coverage while the CC creams provide you with moisture, coverage and color correction. And let’s not forget they all have SPF in them.

All-in-one Moisturizer

Moisturising your face is as important as protecting it from the sun. Doing that you will combat aging every day. There is no need to do it all separately. There are many moisturisers that contain all you need to protect and hydrate your skin.

Time-Saving Beauty Tip for Eyes

Young woman using eyelash curler sitting with mirror on the blue wall background indoors

Getting eyelash extensions will cut down your daily routine drastically. All you need to do for them is to go in for a short appointment every couple of weeks to get them refilled and you will look and feel amazing.

You won’t need all the liners, primers and mascaras, with your eyelash extensions you will look amazing even right when you get out of bed. The only important thing you need to do is get them done ONLY by professionals like the Blossom Brows because if they aren’t professionally done they can ruin your natural eyelashes. With them, your beauty routine will be shorter and stress-free.

Every mom deserves to feel and look her best. Therefore, you need to take a few minutes every now and then during the day to make yourself feel beautiful and confident.

About the Author

maggie holmesMaggie Holmes is a passionate blogger keen on writing about beauty and fashion. Her hobby is to surf the net to find amazing articles that can inspire her with fresh ideas for article writing. She loathes being a common person who wastes her time. 

You can follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MaggieH04666334

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FoodLifestyleRecipesSeasonal

7 Of The Best Sweet Potato Recipes

by Amber King
written by Amber King

The holiday season is never complete without sweet potatoes. These starchy tubers are extremely versatile, and they belong on the table whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or a huge Thanksgiving feast. They’re full of fiber and antioxidants, and a bit of added sweetness can even convince picky kids to take a bite. We’re in the heart of sweet potato season, so we’ve gathered all our favorite sweet potato recipes to inspire your next meal.

Check them out!

1. Sweet Potato Skins

To start us off, we love a good sweet potato appetizer. These sweet potato skins are casual and healthier than normal potato skins. You can add cheese and bacon if you want, and try experimenting with some of your other favorite flavors and seasonings.

Woman’s Day has a tasty-looking recipe.

2. Sweet Potato Fritters

These easy-to-make sweet potato fritters are another fun appetizer idea. They’re fried and full of delicious flavor. You can serve them before your Thanksgiving feast or include them as a side for an everyday meal. Kids will love them because they’re fried, and you’ll love them because they’re made from fiber-filled sweet potatoes.

We got the recipe from Epicurious.

3. Honey Glazed Sweet Potatoes

For a more traditional fall-themed side dish, try these honey glazed sweet potatoes. They’re made on the stove, and you only need four ingredients. They have the perfect amount of sweetness so everyone at the table will want to dig in. 

The Country Cook came up with this great recipe.

4. Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes

What’s better than a twice-baked potato? A twice-baked sweet potato! This recipe yields deliciously tender and flavorful potatoes that go well with just about any entree. You can even make this side dish ahead of time and heat them up for later.

Go to Lil Luna for the recipe.

5. Sweet Potato Casserole

Everyone loves a good casserole, and this super simple sweet potato casserole is no exception. It’ll look perfect set against your traditional Thanksgiving tablescape, and it won’t take up a lot of your time in the kitchen. The marshmallow topping might be our favorite part, but this casserole is one that will have guests reaching for seconds.

Spend With Pennies has the recipe.

6. Maple Cranberry Sweet Potatoes

This sweet potato recipe looks just as delicious as it tastes. It uses all the best fall produce to create a side dish that is rich in antioxidants and oh so colorful. If you’re rushed for time, you can also prepare this dish the day before and heat it up when you’re ready to serve your meal.

Get the recipe with Good Housekeeping.

7. Sweet Potato With Crispy Rice Topping

If you’re looking for a sweet potato recipe that is fun and different than your normal go-to side dish, this is it. This recipe has everything you need to wow your guests. It comes with decadent caramel sauce, a fun crispy topping, and smooth sweet potatoes.

We love this recipe from The Cake Chica.

What’s your favorite sweet potato recipe?

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Green smoothie and ingredients, white wood background
HealthRecipes

Five Simple Green Smoothie Recipes for Beginners

by LifeAsMama
written by LifeAsMama

 One of the easiest ways to incorporate healthy fruits and vegetables into your diet is through green smoothies. If you’re a smoothie beginner, you may find the pure green drinks hard to get down due to the bland taste.

However, there are friendly fruity drinks out there that are palatable and that are packed with nutritious ingredients. If you’re looking for a few beginner recipes, we can help recommend a few recipes, along with keeping you on your fitness goal at gym-expert.com.

Why Drink Green Smoothies?

Green smoothies often include leafy greens, vegetables, and supplements that are healthy for your body. These make them healthy smoothie recipes to take with you on the go. They are densely packed with nutrition and give you the necessary vitamins for you to start your day. However, not everyone is a fan of them due to the drinks being naturally bitter.

Ingredients like spinach and kale are dense in minerals, including potassium, magnesium, and vitamins. These nutrient-rich leafy greens are often lacking in the standard American diet. Consuming these vitamins and minerals can help prevent illnesses and keep your body functionally optimally.

green smoothie spinach

The Base of Any Green Smoothie

There’s no specific way to make a green smoothie recipes, as long as you have your base of leafy greens, fruits, and some sort of protein. It provides you with many of the nutrients and minerals to help you start your day. Plus, it’s also good to add in a bit of fat to help digest the minerals better. Here’s a quick look at easy smoothie recipes.

1. Basic Green Spinach Smoothie

  • 1 C fresh spinach
  • 1 C water
  • ½ C frozen or fresh pineapple
  • ½ cup fresh or fresh mango
  • One ripened banana that’s already been peeled 

Out of on our list is the Basic Green Spinach Smoothie, which is part of the breakfast smoothies. The drink itself doesn’t taste too much like leafy greens or earthy due to the addition of fruit. It makes it ideal for those who are just switching to smoothies. If there isn’t a type of fruit you like, you can always sub-one similar in nutrition density.

2. Kale & Apple Green Smoothie

  • 1 C roughly chopped kale
  • 1 Stalk chopped celery
  • ½ Banana
  • ½ Sweet Fuji apple
  • ½ C ice
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Kale and celery give this drink a nutritional boost, which makes a good for the skin. The addition of sweet ripe banana and Fuji apples help reduce the bitter taste from the celery. Adding in the ice and a pinch of fresh lemon helps brighten up the flavor and make it ideal for a hot day. Additionally, you can switch it up and add in your favorite protein powder or supplements to help make this drink more radiant. It is one of our favorite smoothie recipes!

two cups with green smoothie

3. Spinach Berry Protein Green Smoothie 

  • 1 C spinach
  • 1 Banana
  • ½ C frozen blueberries
  • ½ C frozen raspberries
  • ½ C milk
  • 2 Tbsp old fashioned oats
  • 1 Scoop protein powder 

A little intimidated by the healthy green color of such a drink? Choose to switch it up and make yourself a spinach berry green smoothie. These are great for kids because the berries tend to hide the fact that there’s a healthy handful of greens in the smoothie. 

The banana, blueberries, and raspberries are a delicious combo that’s sure to please most taste buds. However, it can be a bit bitter, so we suggest adding a bit of sugar to make it palatable. Either way, protein smoothie recipes are an excellent way to start your day.

4. Pineapple & Banana Green Smoothie 

  • 2 C chopped kale
  • 1 C pineapple chunks
  • 1 Banana
  • ½ C coconut milk

If you’re looking for a simplistic drink, you can’t get any simpler than this. It includes kale, pineapple, and banana. The coconut milk gives it a slight richness that you won’t find in many other drinks. The pineapple adds much-needed sweetness, the same with the banana. Alternatively, to kale, you can also use spinach or other leafy greens.

5. Mango & Lime Green Smoothie

  • 2 C roughly chopped collard greens
  • 1 ½ C frozen mango
  • 1 C green grapes
  • 2 Tbsp lime juice

The last smoothie is a tropical mango and lime one. It includes roughly chopped collard greens, which has a high amount of magnesium, iron, and calcium. The dense drink may be a bit much for beginners, but the mango and grapes give a subtle sweetness to the smoothie. If your blender is having a hard time blending it up, we suggest adding a splash of water, milk, or juice.

green smoothie limes oranges spinach

Smoothie Recipes: Conclusion

Green smoothies are an excellent method of sneaking in a serving of your vegetables. A small handful of spinach or kale can give you multiple nutritional benefits, making smoothies both a healthy and tasty snack or meal. The benefits of consuming leafy greens include clearer skin, more energy, and increased nutrition.

Unlike green juice, green smoothies contain fiber, are sweeter, and are much easier to consume once your taste buds get used to such drink. Then you can choose to add in cucumbers, celery, broccoli, or other vegetables.

What’s your opinion on these smoothie recipes? Let us know in the comments. We are eager to know! 

Author’s the Author: Scott Pine

The youngest sibling in a family of six, Scott grew up in Wisconsin in the 1980s. He studied computer science in New Jersey before deciding to follow his passion: fitness. He runs marathons and writes about how to boost muscle.

 

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Portrait of fitness girl exercising with medicine ball at gym
Fitness

5 Medicine Ball Workouts For Women

by LifeAsMama
written by LifeAsMama

Medicine balls are one of those easy-to-use fitness pieces of equipment that offer plenty of challenging workouts to strengthen the core and improve body balance. While delivering outstanding benefits as a means of sports rehabilitation for more than a millennium, medicine balls have been working wonders in providing fitness to all with added benefits of increasing strength, core muscle power, body balance, and endurance.  

With the top best medicine balls delivering a multitude of features in terms of product quality and overall usability, all you need to do is choose the right gears and you are good to go on your way to fitness. Here are 5 medicine ball workouts for women that are easy to begin with and equally useful in adding new aspects of fitness and sports training to your daily workouts.

Medicine Ball Squats

Young woman doing squats with medicine ball in gym

Squats are best for your lower body muscles, especially quadriceps and glutes. A medicine ball, when incorporated in the movement, catalyzes the whole process to a new level by adding more exercises and benefits such as improving body balance and core strength.

Performing the Exercise:

Get in a squat position with the ball held near your chest. Extend the ball straight outwards at chest level while you squat down. Bring the ball back to its original position on your way up. Focus on smooth movements to get maximum benefits.

This way, you accomplish an almost full-body workout by engaging shoulder, back, and lower body muscles in the exercise. You can add more variation to this exercise by varying the techniques with overhead med ball squats, or by incorporating straight arm extension motion using the medicine ball while performing normal squats.

Drawing Circles with Medicine Ball

This exercise, when done right with proper control and timing, can be highly effective in delivering proficient shoulder muscle workout.

Performing the Exercise:

Stand up straight in a convenient posture with feet shoulder-width apart, and the ball positioned overhead. Begin drawing a circle with the medicine ball in clockwise (or counter-clockwise) direction while using your core to ease up the motion. Remember to keep feet stationary. Repeat the motion 10 to 15 times or as per your convenience, and then repeat the same for the counter direction.

Med Ball Single-Leg Romanian Deadlift

Single-leg Romanian deadlift works efficiently in improving core body balance. Besides working on your lower back and core muscles, it is excellent for building stronger hamstring muscles, which are often neglected while performing squats and lunges.

Performing the Exercise:

Choose the right weight med ball for your exercise (prefer a lightweight in case if you consider yourself a beginner) and position yourself standing with feet close to each other and ball positioned close to the chest. Hinge forward lifting one leg straight while maintaining body balance on the other. Slightly bend the grounded feet from the knee to ease up the motion if required. Rise to normal position, do not rest the leg and repeat the same as many times as possible. Do remember to work on both legs equally.

Bailing Hay Using Medicine Balls

Hay bailing is one of those exceptional standing exercise that focuses on toning ab muscles and utilize core movements to do so. The only mimic is replacing the hay heap with a medicine ball!

Performing the Exercise:

Start by getting in a slight knee bent standing position with left leg positioned a bit forward with legs more than shoulder width apart. Place the ball a little outside over the left knee and pretend to lift it towards the right shoulder while twisting and fully utilizing core muscles to do so. Untwist back to the same position to complete a rep. Switch legs and repeat the same with focus on right knee and lift towards the left shoulder.

Med Ball Mountain Climber

Young woman working out with medicine ball in the gym

Being an excellent cardio exercise, mountain climber is an all-round full-body workout and an absolute fat burner. While offering plenty of challenges in terms of body balance, this exercise is just perfect to be added to your fitness regimes.

Performing the Exercise:

Get in plank position using the medicine ball to place your hands. Keep neck and spine straight and bring your right knee close to your chest. Push it back to the original position while immediately pulling the left one towards the chest. Remember to maintain balance and move as swiftly as possible without bothering your exercise form and body motion to maximize core muscle benefits.

The above exercises have been handpicked to deliver you a quick and satisfactory workout that can be easily suited for beginners. However, these exercises can easily be manipulated to shift to advance levels by adding more complex movements and motions. So without a delay, select the top best medicine ball for your home gym and lead your way towards fitness, achieve toned muscles, enhance overall strength and give yourself a reason to embrace your curves using this awesome piece of gym equipment!

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Lifestyle

15 Fun Elf On The Shelf Ideas Your Kids Will Love

by Amber King
written by Amber King

With Christmas on its way, it’s time to bring out your family’s favorite holiday tradition—Elf on the Shelf! If you’re not familiar, Elf on the Shelf is a fun way to help your kids embrace the magic of Christmas. The rules are simple. Once the holiday decorations come out and the countdown to Christmas begins, Santa’s favorite elf comes to town to keep an eye on all the children. Every night, the elf reports back to Santa to let the big guy know who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. He travels back to the house before morning, and he always ends up in a different spot. Kids have to search the house to see what kind of trouble their Elf on the Shelf has gotten into while they were asleep. They also have to be good during the day if they want a positive report sent up north.

Kids look forward to Elf on the Shelf every year. Sometimes the elf simply moves from one room to another, but it’s even more fun if you get creative. Some parents go all out when it comes to Elf on the Shelf creativity. Kids wake up every morning thrilled to see Santa’s helper in yet another adorable, hilarious, or precarious situation. It keeps the magic alive, and seeing your kids’ excited faces is always worth the extra effort.

If you’re ready to step up your Elf on the Shelf game, check out these super fun and creative ideas!

1. No Humans Allowed!

 

2. Rock Climbing Adventure

 

3. Baby, It’s Cold in Here

 

4. Making Snowflakes

 

5. Snow Angels!

 

6. Syrup is one of the five main food groups.

 

7. HELP!

 

8. A meal fit for an elf.

 

9. This elf needs help!

 

10. Look at those Elf on the Shelf muscles!

 

11. Naughty elf!

 

12. Who needs snow to sled?

 

13. Pass the cereal, please!

 

14. Who said elves were short?

 

15. What a nutritious lunch.

What are your best Elf on the Shelf ideas?

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BeautyHealth

8 Ways To Protect Your Skin During Cold Weather

by LifeAsMama
written by LifeAsMama

Cold weather can leave your skin feeling dry, rough, itchy and prone to damage. So how do you and your skin survive the cold temperature, low humidity, and high wind? We’ve got you covered.

With just a few simple dermatologist recommended steps, you can guard your skin during the cold weather. Read on to learn more.

Moisturize Often

Cold weather can strip your skin of moisture. Lack of hydration can lead to dry skin and makes it susceptible to premature aging. Step up your moisturizer or moisturize your skin often to lock in the moisture.

Your skin’s outermost layer (stratum corneum) acts as a protective barrier [1]. It prevents water from escaping the skin and harmful bacteria from entering the skin. Water is essential in maintaining the strength of the barrier.

Moisturizers contain ingredients that help in water retention in the skin. Consider using a barrier repair moisturizer [2] that repairs the skin’s natural barrier. It has the property to prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL).

Moisturizers come in the form of creams, lotions, gels and serums for different skin types. Know your skin first and stick to a moisturizer that suits your skin.

It is best to apply a moisturizer after cleansing. The lotion will lock all the water that is saturated after cleansing.

Using a hand cream after washing your hands in cold weather also helps keep your hands soft and moisturized.

Exercise With Caution

Exercise offers a ton of benefits for your skin. It flushes out toxins in the form of sweat, clears pores and increases blood circulation. However, while the weather is cold, consider working out indoors. During cold weather, air lacks humidity and getting exposed to such air damages your skin.

Take Warm Showers, Not Hot

It is tempting to take a hot shower in cold weather but did you know that hot water can strip the moisture of your skin. Hot showers can make your skin feel like a dry and withered leaf. Warm shower with a hydrating body wash can protect your skin from the harsh weather.

Don’t wash your hands with hot water. According to dermatologists, washing hands with cold water is as effective at removing germs as hot water.

Choose Gentle Products

Switch to gentle skincare products in cold weather. Avoid products that contain fragrances, sulfates, parabens, alcohol and other toxic ingredients.

Pick a cleanser that is free of harsh chemicals and pH balanced. Harsh cleansers tend to wash off the natural oils from your skin leaving it dry.

Use a moisturizer that suits your skin otherwise it can clog your pores.

We can’t stress enough on the benefits of sunscreen. Sun can have a damaging effect on the skin, ranging         from dark spots to patches to tan to wrinkles to skin cancer. Don’t skip your sunscreen in winter thinking that it’s only for the summers.  The sun’s rays in winter are not as strong as they are in the summers but your skin still needs to be shielded from the UV rays. Pick a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 for the cold weather [3].

In cold weather, under eye skin has a tendency to get even drier. The skin around the eyes is extremely thin and needs an eye cream that hydrates it to keep it supple.

Avoid Wearing Irritating Clothes

Since the skin in cold weather feels dry and sensitive already, make sure you don’t wear synthetic clothes that may irritate your skin further. Breathable cotton fabrics are a great option in cold weather.

You could layer up with sweaters and gloves for the hands to keep yourself warm. Change out of wet clothes to prevent itchy skin.

Use A Humidifier

Air lacks humidity when the weather is cold. Use a humidifier at home to increase the humidity in the air. This can prevent your skin from drying a lot

Limit Exfoliation 

Exfoliation is crucial to get rid of the dead skin cells but limit it during the cold weather.

Exfoliation helps blemished skin, clogged pores, pigmentation, and suntan.

Exfoliating shouldn’t be done more than once a week since over exfoliation can strip off the natural oils from the skin and disrupt your skin’s pH balance, potentially leaving it even drier. 

Eat Right And Stay Hydrated

Eat a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables to give your skin the required vitamins.

Fatty fish, avocado, walnuts, bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, green tea, dark chocolate are some of the many foods that are great for your skin.

We don’t feel thirsty in cold weather but our skin needs the same amount of hydration irrespective of the external environment. Make sure to drink at least three liters of water every day. You could include warm herbal teas during the day which also work as an alternative to caffeine.

Let us know how your skin feels after incorporating these steps in your routine during cold weather.

REFERENCES:

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513299/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5849435/
  3. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/sunscreen-how-help-protect-your-skin-sun
  4. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002104.htm

Author Bio : 

Nisha is passionate about writing and loves to share her thoughts with the world. She is a regular contributor to skinkraft.com and a few other websites. She has written many articles on yoga, fitness, wellness, remedies, and beauty. She keeps herself updated by going through interesting blogs every day. This fuels her passion and motivates her to write appealing and engaging articles.

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Food

5 Ways for You and Your Family to Become Locavores

by Jennifer Landis
written by Jennifer Landis

As a parent, you put a lot of thought into what to feed your family. Weekly budgeting, meal planning and shopping — it all takes time and effort. Yet you take these steps to keep your family healthy.

Nevertheless, you can do more to make your diet nutritious and enriching. Many choose to become locavores, people who source food from local sources — anything less than 100 miles away. Locavores experience a slew of benefits.

For one, a purchase from a nearby farm travels less distance than grocery store goods. Therefore, the process uses less fuel and less carbon enters the atmosphere.

As a locavore, you’ll also experience added health benefits. Fresh produce loses 30% of its nutrients within three days of harvest. Spinach, for example, loses 90% within the first 24 hours. When you buy local, goods are fresher than those at big box stores.

Now that you’re ready to make the switch, discover how to turn your family into locavores.

Search Online

A straightforward way to find local fare is to search on the internet. Seek out farmers who sell their harvests. You can also look for nearby restaurants that source ingredients from local providers.

Don’t limit yourself to food. You can also find clothes, beauty products, office supplies and other useful items made in your hometown. If you can’t find anything, post a question on a local forum and wait for people to reach out. Many people have home-based businesses they’re dying to talk about.

Hit the Farmer’s Market

You can always find local fare at the farmer’s market. Locavores who shop at markets prove community-based business matters. When you support a local seller, you boost the city’s economy.

With an increase in demand for local food, you’ll begin to see more of it. Restaurants might add new local-inspired options. Boutiques might source items from nearby artists. This change will make it easier to maintain a locavore lifestyle — a win-win for you and the community.

Sign Up for a Co-Op

Once you’re fully on board with the locavore lifestyle, join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. You pay an upfront subscription fee in exchange for the regular delivery of locally-grown crops. Subscribers gain access to a range of products from a single farm or group. Each shipment is sure to inspire your weekly menu.

Another option is a co-op, a system where farmers pool resources and provide goods to individual members. To join, you pay a membership fee. In exchange, you receive well-sourced groceries. Some co-ops fill shelves with food from nearby farms. Others grow and harvest the food themselves with the help of volunteers. You may be asked to work in the field picking strawberries. You could also help members shopping in the store.

Start a Garden

You can’t get more local than a garden in your backyard. Step out the door into your personal supply of fresh fruits and veggies. Starting a garden might seem daunting, but it’s a simple process. Find a sunny spot and ensure the soil is loamy enough to support growth. A space of 160 square feet — about the size of a shed — is enough to grow food for a family of four.

Start with plants that are easy to grow and great additions to mealtime. Include options like:

  • Carrots
  • Zucchini
  • Tomatoes
  • Cucumbers
  • Green Beans

A garden is an activity the whole family can participate in. Teach your kids how to dig into the soil and plant seeds. Keep an eye out for symptoms of disease, such as leaf and stem rust, a golden residue that tends to seek out corn. You can even let Fido wander around the jungle as the whole family picks fresh goodies.

Preserve Crops Post-Harvest

Gardens don’t yield much in the cold months, but you can still enjoy your harvest year-round. Some foods stay fresh for months, as long as you know how to store them. For instance, sweet potatoes, squash and apples have long shelf lives. With the right preservation techniques, you can eat like a locavore until spring comes.

Preservation won’t keep fresh fruits and veggies in their original form. The result, however, is more nutritious than the canned variety at the grocers. For example, transform leftover tomatoes into salsa, spaghetti sauce or juice. Blend once-fresh peaches or raspberries into jams. You can also pickle cucumbers into a salty treat. Running out of recipes? Simply can your leftovers, a preservation method that requires a pressure cooker and glass jars.

Love Local and Become a Locavore

Eating local might take a bit of research on your part. However, the work will pale in comparison to the payoff. You and your family will get to eat fresh, tasty and nutritious food year-round. Local businesses will flourish as you buy products. Plus, you can learn the benefits of growing your own garden.

Start your quest to become a locavore today, and see how great you feel tomorrow.

 

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FoodLifestyleRecipesSeasonal

10 Thanksgiving Appetizers To Kick Off Your Holiday Feast

by Amber King
written by Amber King

Mmmm, it’s almost Thanksgiving, and we can already smell the turkey. That bird will always be the star of your Thanksgiving feast, but a superb holiday dinner can’t survive on turkey alone. There are the sides to think about, and of course, the desserts. But you’re still missing one very important step in your annual food coma. The appetizer!

The keys to a good Thanksgiving appetizer are making something that’s festive, delicious, and still leaves room for the main meal. Dishes earn bonus points if they’re easy to make and don’t require a lot of extra time spent in your already busy kitchen. Whether you’re cooking for a few or the entire family is headed to your house this holiday, these 10 Thanksgiving appetizers will kick off your main meal in all the right ways.

1. Cranberry Brie Bites

 

Cranberries are a Thanksgiving must-have, and these cranberry brie bites are both easy to make and super delicious. They’re made with crescent rolls, and they cook in only 15 minutes. 

Get the recipe with Delish.

2. Sweet Potato Skins

Sweet potatoes are another Thanksgiving staple you can’t do without. And if you want to mix it up and step away from the traditional sweet potato casserole, why not try this healthy Thanksgiving appetizer? These sweet potatoes skins have chickpeas and shallot along with just the right amount of cheese. 

Pinch of Yum has the recipe. 

3. Wrapped Asparagus with Balsamic Dipping Sauce

Not everyone is a fan of asparagus, but to be fair, not everyone has tried these yummy asparagus wrapped in fluffy pastry and then dipped in balsamic sauce. This recipe is healthy, easy to make, and you might even trick your kids into eating a vegetable on Thanksgiving. 

We found the recipe from CountryLiving.

4. Mac and Cheese Bites

If you have your doubts about kids reaching for the vegetable Thanksgiving appetizers, these mac and cheese bites are sure to win them over. They’re the perfect finger food, and you can even make them ahead of time. You’ll need a mini muffin pan and about 30 minutes to make these.

Chef in Training has the recipe.

5. Crock Pot Cranberry BBQ Meatballs

Any Thanksgiving appetizer that you can make in the crockpot is a winner, and these meatballs are no exception. They’re sweet and tangy and oh so tasty. Kids and adults both like them, and the recipe couldn’t be any simpler. You can use homemade meatballs if you want, but frozen meatballs are a lot easier when you’re juggling the other dishes in your multi-course meal.

Tastes Better From Scratch has a good recipe to follow. 

6. Cranberry Pomegranate Bruschetta

Bruschetta is a great appetizer no matter the occasion, and this festive take on the classic recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving. It’s different enough to be an exciting addition to your meal yet familiar enough for the picky eaters at the table. Better yet, it only takes a few minutes to put together.

Get the recipe from The Cafe Sucre Farine.

7. Pumpkin Hummus

Hummus is healthy, versatile, and it won’t fill you up before the main course. You can pair it with pita chips, vegetables, and you can even use it for deviled eggs and salads. There are countless different types of hummus, but for a Thanksgiving appetizer, we recommend a smooth and creamy pumpkin recipe. The pumpkin flavor is perfect for fall.

We found a great recipe from Kim’s Cravings. 

8. Simple Salmon Dip

Dips are great for appetizers. People can casually munch without filling up too fast, and you can get creative with providing crackers, vegetables, or crostini. This simple salmon dip won’t add a lot of extra work to your already busy cooking schedule, and you can even make it the day before. 

Snag the recipe from Once Upon a Chef

9. Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Perfect for munching, spicy pumpkin seeds are always a welcome addition to a Thanksgiving feast. They don’t take long to make, they’re healthy, and they definitely won’t ruin anyone’s meal. As the kids are carving their fall-themed pumpkins, you can collect the seeds and turn them into a tasty treat. If you know your kids won’t appreciate a lot of spice, you can adjust the recipe with your favorite seasonings.

She Wears Many Hats has a good recipe you can use for a Thanksgiving appetizer. 

10. Sweet Potato Crostini

Who doesn’t love crostini? They’re little toasts you can pile up with whatever you want, and this sweet potato version is perfect for a Thanksgiving appetizer. They’re not hard to make, so you can assign your junior chefs the job of putting together this festive finger food.

We found a good recipe with Taste of Home.

Is there a Thanksgiving appetizer that you make every year? Let us know in the comments!

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sunflower Christmas tree
HomeLifestyle

14 Sunflower Christmas Trees To Brighten Up Your Holiday Decorating Ideas

by Amber King
written by Amber King

For most of us, sunflowers are associated with the blue skies of summer and crisp air of early fall. They stand tall and proud spreading warmth for their season of joy, and then they disappear until the next year comes around. But thanks to this new holiday trend, you can deck your halls with boughs of holly AND enjoy the beauty of these special flowers. Sunflower Christmas trees are taking over, and we’re definitely okay with it. It’s time to liven up your holiday decorations and embrace the sunshine.

Pinterest recently announced its Christmas 2019 decor trends based on what people are searching for most. Sunflower Christmas trees are up 66% compared to past years. Themed Christmas trees have long-since been popular, but it seems decorators are looking for new, contemporary ways to adorn their trees. Sunflowers are this year’s answer, and we’ve already seen some seriously pretty trees from the season’s earliest trendsetters. 

Check out these sunflower Christmas trees to inspire your holiday decorating. 

One of the best things about these sunflower Christmas trees is that they’re fairly simple to create. Forget all those glass balls that always end up breaking. For this look, stock up on fake sunflowers from your nearest craft store. You might even get lucky and find all those summer flowers in the clearance section. Choose the long stem varieties to make it easier to stick your stems into the branches of your evergreen. You can also mix it up with blooms of different sizes. In addition to flowers, a lot of these examples use strategically placed ribbon to pull the look together.

If you’re looking for more of a rustic look for your sunflower Christmas tree, you can also weave some decorative burlap in between the branches and flower stems. Tuck everything in so it stays put, and position your lights to create a truly dazzling nighttime display. 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

So what do you think? Will there be a sunflower Christmas tree in your living room this year? 

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HolidayLifestyleTravel

Style Tricks: What to Pack for a Weekend Getaway

by LifeAsMama
written by LifeAsMama

For some people, packing for a weekend getaway is something they do with ease, but for the majority of us, this simply isn’t the case. Even though we are aware that we only need to bring a https://realisationpar.com/shop/weekend’s worth of clothes and shoes, many of us tend to get carried away and either overpack, and this is especially true for those of us who wait until the last minute to start packing their bags and then do it in a hurry. To help you pack smarter, quicker, and lighter, we’re sharing a list of essentials you should definitely bring for your weekend getaway.

A pair of basic denim jeans you can dress up and down

An essential in every capsule suitcase, a pair of plain, basic denim jeans can be used to create a range of outfits. A pair of jeans in a classic, timeless hue can be mixed and matched with virtually anything, and their versatility allows them to be worn for many occasions. A nifty transitional piece, denim jeans can easily be taken from a daytime to a nighttime outfit with the addition of elegant accessories. During the daytime, they can be worn with flat shoes and a plain tee, and when the sun goes down, they can be paired with cute heels, a feminine top, and statement jewelry to get a chic outfit for a night out.

A jacket that can be worn with multiple outfits

Another important item in a weekend travel bag, a versatile jacket that can be restyled and worn with multiple outfits is going to save a lot of space in your suitcase. Depending on the weather and season of the year, pack a jacket you can rock with different shirts – it’s best to stick within a neutral color palette and go with hues like beige, gray, black, and tan. If it’s cold, a cozy, camel coat may be the perfect garment to pack, but if it happens to be warm and sunny, you should bring a versatile denim jacket. As for autumn and spring, a trench coat or a quality leather jacket in a neutral color will do the trick.

A printed dress as a statement piece

While basic, neutral pieces are a must on every weekend packing list, it’s advisable to bring at least one or two statement pieces that call for attention. Not one garment can make a woman feel more in touch with her feminine nature than a chic, fitted dress. A beautiful Realisation Par dress can make a woman feel empowered and take any outfit from basic to chic in an instant. Be sure to pack at least one statement dress and maybe a skirt that you can wear during the day and turn it into a nighttime outfit by swapping out the accessories and changing the tone of the dress.

Lightweight tops you can layer

While it might be tempting to pack sweaters to keep you cozy during the winter, chances are, they’re going to overtake your suitcase, leaving no space for some other essentials. It’s better to pack several shirts you can layer, and combine them with a lightweight jacket or a simple coat. If it happens to be warm, wear an unbuttoned denim top paired with a simple tee or wear it as a shirt on its own. If you simply can’t afford not to bring your favorite knit, winter sweater for your weekendgetaway, consider wearing it while you’re traveling. This will help save space in your suitcase and keep your travel bag light, meaning you won’t be paying extra for luggage.

Neutral shoes that match all your outfit combinations

Another basic element on your weekend packing list, shoes can be used to tie the whole outfit together or support the look without attracting too much attention. When traveling, comfort is king, so it’s best to equip your suitcase with neutral, cozy shoes that you can match with all your outfits. Bring a pair you can wear while walking and sightseeing (sneakers or ballerina flats), one pair you can wear for any special activities you had in mind, and then one pair of shoes that will spice up your outfits and dress them up (heels or sandals). If the weather’s changing, be sure to pack a pair of shoes that accommodate those weather conditions (boots or flip-flops).

Women are notoriously known for bringing overflowing suitcases when traveling, even when it’s just for a couple of days. It’s high time females set the record straight and stop getting all the bad rap about overpacking. By mindfully organizing your travel bag and being strict with your outfit choices, you can master the art of packing light and make sure you’re all set for your weekend break.

About the Author

Mia Taylor is  33 year old blogger who writes about beauty, fashion and travel. She had always been passionate about fashion and over time she had developed a style of her own.  Mia loves  to mix and match and get inspire girls with her advice about outfit and accessories.  She loves telling a story about her travels, providing beauty tips with readers.

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