Finding ripe avocados isn’t always easy. So when you’re stuck with the hard-as-rock variety—and you don’t have any time to let them soften—try this trick from California avocado grower Carol Steed: Place 2 peeled, pitted avocados in a blender with 1 cup peas (fresh, or frozen and thawed), and then pulse until smooth. The peas will help soften the consistency […]
Clean Your Patio Furniture Fast
The sun is finally shining here on the East Coast, and Memorial Day will be here before we know it. That means it’s time to haul out your outdoor furniture, and get it looking spiffy before company comes calling. Just remember: You’re not aiming for perfectly clean. Pretty clean is just fine when you’re tidying up in the outdoors! Here […]
Why You Should Shop in the Juniors’ Department
Next time you hit the mall or the department store, make sure to stop by the juniors’ department. True, you may not want to sport a midriff-baring crop top, and those studded neon jeans may not be to your taste, but do take some time to peruse the accessories. You’ll find a veritable treasure trove of stylish scarves, costume jewelry, […]
How to Get a Free Room Upgrade
Have you ever been tempted to shell out some extra dough for a bigger hotel room, but couldn’t justify the cost? Good news: Getting the upgrade you’ve been dreaming about can be as easy as asking for it. According to Consumer Reports, 78 percent of people who asked for a better room were granted either a lower rate or a free upgrade.
How to Prevent Makeup Stains
When you’re trying to get out of the house in a hurry, there’s few things more frustrating than spilling makeup on your freshly laundered blouse. Hopefully this trick will keep you from sending your shirt right back to the dry cleaner and running to the closet for an impromptu change.
Why Cold-Water Laundry Isn’t Foolproof
So to preserve colors and protect the environment, you’ve switched to cold water for the majority of your laundry. But—there’s always a but, isn’t there?—sometimes your clothes still smell once they’ve been through the wash. Now what do you do? As you might have guessed, while cold water does get your clothes clean, it isn’t always as effective at removing smells […]
How to Find Eco-Friendly Hotel Accomodations
Whether by switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs or simply using all-natural cleaners, there are plenty of painless changes you can make to create a green home. When you travel, however, many of those decisions aren’t up to you.
Do You Use a Neti Pot?
I don’t know about you, but seasonal allergies have been rough for me this spring, and I’m about to go back to using my neti pot, that I generally only have to use when I come down with a cold. The reason neti pots, or the squeeze bottle version that I prefer, work is that they flush any pollen, dander, […]
Foolproof Print Mixing
Mixing prints and patterns is a trend that just won’t go away. While this can be a tricky one to pull off—and look like you did it intentionally—one extremely easy way to make it work (every time!) is to mix a floral with a stripe. The two patterns are bold and different enough to look quirky together without looking confused. […]
