When the weather begins to get warmer, people are anxious to go outside. Get your home ready for summer by completing some outdoor tasks. Make sure these items are on your spring outdoor “to-do” list. Clean Gutters During the fall and winter months, leaves and twigs collect in the gutters. If the gutter is clogged, it can overflow and cause problems for your home. Incidentally, it’s also a good time to check the drainage around your home. April showers bring May flowers; make sure the gutter and drainpipes are clear. Clean Around the AC Take a look at your air…
Author Carlos
Cooking a large Easter meal takes time, careful planning, and a lot of work in the kitchen. While you are in the planning stage, you may want to think of some downtime after the big meal. Often we think of leftovers as an afterthought, but what if we decide to plan for them. When cooking for the big holiday meal, purchase a ham larger than the portions needed for the dinner. Have on hand recipes that can make meals a breeze using the leftover cooked ham. That will make the next few days easier for you. Here are some recipes…
The changing of the seasons brings warmer weather, outdoor fun, and a fresh, new spring wardrobe. Though shopping is a fun task for many, it’s hard if you’re on a tight budget. Instead of getting bummed out about not having the latest fashion trends, use these tips to update your closet without breaking the bank. Look Over Your Existing Wardrobe Check out the pieces you have in your closet and dresser. It’s unlikely that you will need to start from scratch to build your spring wardrobe. Look for classic pieces including jeans, a white blouse, a little black dress, a…
The themes that dominate Easter and Passover reveal the beauty of redemption, protection, and the promise of new horizons. While both holidays have some shared symbolism, they also have some that are uniquely their own. Personalize Place Cards for Passover Use some melted chocolate to create name tags on matzos. The procedure is simple. Melt some chocolate and pour it into a piping bag. Write the name of each guest onto the matzos. Allow the chocolate to cool. Once the chocolate has cooled, tuck the matzos into neatly folded napkins. Place this arrangement on each plate. Topiaries for Passover Topiaries…
Nothing beats a corned beef and cabbage meal to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this March. While recipes vary, there are a few unwritten rules you need to follow in order to create the best-corned beef and cabbage dinner to wow your friends and family. Main Ingredients • Corned Beef Brisket (roughly 4 pounds) with spice packet • Head of Cabbage (medium sized) • 10-12 Baby Carrots (3-5 large carrots cut) • 7-8 Small Red Potatoes Instructions 1) Start by trimming any excess fat from the brisket. (Don’t worry if you don’t get all of it, the remaining fat will liquefy.)…
Spring is coming even though it may not feel like it yet in Long Island. Now is the time to get out your tools and get to growing seedlings indoors for the spring planting. Get your garden tools, seed collections, and green thumb ready. Follow these steps and get your garden abuzz by the time spring graces us with her presence. Where to Have the Garden? Choose an area or create boxes in order to grow. The area needs to be level, get at least six hours of sunlight per day, be near a water source, as well as drain…
Whether you’re the proud parent of a dog, cat, horse, pig or bearded dragon, there’s one thing all pet parents have in common: We all love our babies! Did you know, though, that February 20th is actually designated as National Love Your Pet Day? “But I love my pet every day,” you may be thinking. That’s true, but National Love Your Pet Day is the nationally (albeit unofficial) designated day to love and appreciate your pets, just as Valentine’s Day is the nationally recognized day to love and appreciate the different human relationships in your life. Origins Although the exact…
Ever since 1976, our nation has officially recognized the month of February as Black History Month. This celebration originally started as a week given to enlighten the world about the history and the incredible achievements of black people. Over time, Black History Month has become a time for exploring the arts, the culture, and the contributions of African-Americans the world over. You don’t have to break the bank or spend forever planning an excursion to enjoy and celebrate this month. With just a little creativity and effort, you can have a month you will never forget. Here are some great…
It’s one of the cheesiest, best days of the year; National Cheddar Day! We’ve got some of the cheesy ways you can celebrate this special day. Lactose intolerant individuals might want to avert their eyes. National Cheddar Day History Can you imagine a world without cheese? The special kind of cheese called cheddar hit the streets in the village of Somerset, England in the 12th century. Cheddar accounts for a little more than a third of all the cheese sold in the US, but over half of the cheese sales in the UK. This holiday is relatively new to the…
February is often a month known for cold and dreary days with one bright spot on the fourteenth for Valentine’s Day, but there are other things to be aware of. It is the shortest month of the year, and it contains one of the best days possible. No, leap years only happen every four years, so the twenty-ninth is not even under consideration. Okay, just to help everyone along, it is on the ninth and it is called National Pizza Day. Yes, there is an entire day devoted to honoring that most beloved food. Here are a few ways to…