Recipe- Mango Watermelon Smoothie

For a refreshing summer treat that is as good for you as it is delicious, follow this recipe before kicking back in your hammock!

Ingredients:

5 cups cubed watermelon

1 peeled, diced mango

½ cup water      

1 tablespoon white sugar

Ice cubes

Directions:

Blend watermelon with mango, ice and sugar in a blender on medium or “smoothie” setting until there are no remaining lumps.

Pour into glasses and garnish with pineapple wedges or watermelon slices for a festive look.

Enjoy!

Prep time: 10 minutes. Serves 6.

Old-Fashioned Potato Salad

Here’s a summertime favorite sure to make everyone at your barbecue or picnic smile!

Ingredients:

5 potatoes

3 eggs

1 cup celery, chopped

½ cup onion, chopped

½ cup sweet pickle relish

¼ teaspoon garlic salt

¼ teaspoon celery salt

1 tablespoon mustard

Ground black pepper to taste

¼ cup mayonnaise

Prep time: 45 min.  Cook time: 15 min. 

Directions:

Bring large pot of salted water to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender but still firm (about 15 minutes). Drain, cool, peel and chop potatoes.

Place eggs in saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil; cover, remove from heat and let eggs stand in hot water for 10-12 minutes. Remove from hot water, cool, peel and chop.

In a large bowl combine potatoes, eggs, celery, onion, relish, garlic salt, celery salt, mustard, pepper and mayonnaise. Mix together well and refrigerate until chilled.

Makes 8 servings

Bust the Dust!

Does it seem like you are always dusting? No matter how often I dust, it seems like a fine layer has settled back on every surface of the room before I’ve even finished! Although there is no way to ever completely get rid of dust, here are some tips and tricks for keeping it under control so your home can have a clean, dust-free appearance.

Throw out the feather duster. Sure, you may feel like a cute French maid while using it, but that doesn’t change the fact that you are essentially just moving the dust from one surface to another, not getting rid of it. When we dust off the top of a table or the entertainment center with a feather duster, we are just sending that dust airborne so that it can be redistributed on another surface of the room. Dusters like the Swiffer 360 are designed to trap and hold dust, which is better than the feather duster (and still looks very cute, actually!) but if you really want to banish dust long-term, consider using your vacuum with the crevice tool attachment to dust things like blinds, lampshades and hard-to-reach places like the ceiling fan.

Change those air filters. We live in an area with a high pollen count in the spring and summer months, and we have two dogs who shed like it’s their job to do so. Needless to say, it can become pretty obvious that it’s time to change the filters in our furnace and A/C unit when we let it go for too long. Try to change your filters once every three months, and you will see the difference in the amount of dust and dander you have to keep up with in your cleaning routine.

Close your windows. Yes, it’s tempting to keep the windows open during the spring and summer to reduce air-conditioning costs, but it’s also a great way to let in every speck of dust from the great outdoors. Dust particles move around naturally in the wind, so a delightful spring breeze is bringing a lot more than you think into your home. Keeping your windows closed, especially during high-pollen times of the year, will cut back on dust particles in your house and hopefully keep hay fever symptoms at bay.

Roundup: DIY Valentine’s Day Crafts

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and there is still time to turn your home into a love-themed haven of hearts with a little crafting magic. Here are our favorite V-Day craft ideas from the web:

String Art Heart (Source: HGTV)

Simple, yet unique, this bold heart design makes a statement in your home all year round. Instructions available on the website.

I Heart You Kitchen Towels (Source: BuzzFeed)

For a gift that is both thoughtful and practical, follow the tutorial to transform boring linen towels into something that will wow your recipient! Functional art at its finest.

Heart-Shaped Pot Holders (Source: Martha Stewart Living)

While we’re in the kitchen, follow the outlined steps to make a charming heart-shaped set of potholders guaranteed to make any kitchen cozy and loving.

Love (Yarn) Letters (Source: My Sister’s Suitcase)

Want to display your love in a big way? Spell it out- literally! Giant foam block letters and a couple balls of yarn is all you’ll need to create this fun home decoration.

Floating Heart Backdrop(Source: Hank & Hart)

For an ethereal heart-filled space in your home that doubles as an adorable backdrop for V-Day selfies, grab some fishing line, paper punch and card stock and get to work .

Are you inspired by any of these Valentine’s Day creations? Let us know how you like to decorate your home for Valentine’s Day in the comments below.

Banish the Winter Blues: 5 Fun DIY Projects

The groundhog may have predicted an early spring this year, but that’s still no consolation when you look out the window and see all that snow. Shake those late-winter blahs by shaking up your indoor décor- not only will you have a fun project to work on, but your home will look great in the end!

Add a Splash of Color- Sometimes all you need is an accent wall to brighten up your living space (not to mention your mood.) If the gloomy grays and browns of winter have got you down, head to your local hardware store and pick up a quart of paint in a cheerful hue, and get to work transforming a wall of your choice. Accent walls provide visual interest and can often create the illusion of space and depth.

Lighten Up- Replacing a boring light fixture or ugly chandelier with a fresh, modern look can give your room an instant facelift! And the fixture doesn’t necessarily have to be costly to make an impact- in addition to bargains at the big-box stores, if you scour thrift stores, flea markets and eBay you can find interesting, unique fixtures for cheap. Make a day of it!

Switch Up your Switch Plates- Who says everything has to be beige? For a fun and funky, as well as cheap and easy, upgrade to your home, opt for decorative, eye-catching light switch and wall outlet plates. Look online for all kinds of decorative options to fit your personal style (check out SnazzySwitch.com), or simply spray paint your existing plates with a vibrant color or striking metallic finish.

Clean Your Carpet- If you’ve got 30 bucks and a few spare weekend hours, why not get rid of some of that tracked-in winter dirt by cleaning your carpets? Machines like Rug Doctor are available for rent at Walmart and other local grocery stores, and most machines take less than 20 minutes to do a room. An added bonus is the workout you will receive from taking the DIY approach to shampooing your rugs- a great way to burn some calories on a cold day!

Invest in Some Vinyl- Vinyl tiles, that is. Peel-and-stick vinyl tiles are a perfect way to transform an ugly concrete or wooden floor with minimal time and cost. These days, vinyl tiles come in a variety of attractive patterns resembling stone, wood, or metal, to name a few finishes.